Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

पादाङ्गुष्टाग्रनिर्यातगङ्गाशीताम्बुपावनः । सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतरो देवो ब्रह्माण्डग्रासंबृंहितः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

pādāṅguṣṭāgraniryātagaṅgāśītāmbupāvanaḥ | sūkṣmātsūkṣmataro devo brahmāṇḍagrāsaṃbṛṃhitaḥ || 45 ||

Translation

ആരുടെ പാദാംഗുഷ്ഠത്തിന്റെ അഗ്രത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ശീതളജലമുള്ള പാവന ഗംഗ ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്നുവോ—ആ ദേവൻ സൂക്ഷ്മത്തിലും സൂക്ഷ്മൻ; എങ്കിലും ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡം മുഴുവൻ ഗ്രസിക്കുവാൻ പോരുന്ന മഹാവിരാടൻ।

Word by Word

• pādāṅguṣṭāgraniryātagaṅgāśītāmbupāvanaḥ: Purified by the cool water of the Ganga flowing from the tip of His big toe
• pādāṅguṣṭāgraniryātagaṅgāśītāmbupāvanaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pādāṅguṣṭāgraniryātagaṅgāśītāmbupāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sūkṣmāt: Than the subtle
• sūkṣmāt: Apadana (Source/Comparison/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• sūkṣmataraḥ: Subtler
• sūkṣmataraḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣmatara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Comparative Degree

• devaḥ: The Divine Lord
• devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• brahmāṇḍagrāsaṃbṛṃhitaḥ: Swollen/Full from swallowing the universe
• brahmāṇḍagrāsaṃbṛṃhitaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmāṇḍagrāsaṃbṛṃhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ganga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It presents the Lord as simultaneously immanent and transcendent: the source of Gaṅgā’s purifying grace, subtler than all subtle realities, yet possessing the cosmic magnitude to contain the entire universe—guiding devotion toward an all-pervading Vishnu.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By focusing the mind on Vishnu’s auspicious signs (Gaṅgā arising from His toe) and His limitless nature, the verse encourages reverent remembrance (smaraṇa) and surrender—core movements of Vishnu-bhakti in the Narada Purana’s teaching style.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it supports tīrtha and snāna (ritual bathing) doctrine by identifying Gaṅgā as intrinsically purifying due to divine origin—useful for dharma-oriented practice and pilgrimage context.