Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Manvantaras and Indras; Sudharmā’s Liberation through Viṣṇu-Pradakṣiṇā; Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti

Devanagari script

वैवस्वतो मनुश्चैव सूर्यसावर्णिरष्टमः । नवमो दक्षसावर्णिः सर्वदेवहिते रतः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

vaivasvato manuścaiva sūryasāvarṇiraṣṭamaḥ | navamo dakṣasāvarṇiḥ sarvadevahite rataḥ || 21 ||

Translation

വൈവസ്വത മനുവാണ് ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ യുഗത്തിലെ മനു. എട്ടാമൻ സൂര്യസാവർണി; ഒൻപതാമൻ ദക്ഷസാവർണി—സകല ദേവഹിതത്തിൽ നിരതൻ॥২১॥

Word by Word

• वैवस्वतः: Vaivasvata (name of Manu)
• वैवस्वतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• सूर्यसावर्णिः: Sūrya-sāvarṇi (name of Manu)
• सूर्यसावर्णिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य + सावर्णि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative: 'of Sūrya')

• अष्टमः: eighth
• अष्टमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal adjective)

• नवमः: ninth
• नवमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal adjective)

• दक्षसावर्णिः: Dakṣa-sāvarṇi (name of Manu)
• दक्षसावर्णिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष + सावर्णि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative: 'of Dakṣa')

• सर्वदेवहिते: in/for the welfare of all gods
• सर्वदेवहिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Object of devotion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वदेव + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('welfare of all gods')

• रतः: devoted/engaged
• रतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त/क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally): 'engaged/delighting'

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Suryasavarni
• Daksasavarni
• Sarvadeva (all Devas)

FAQs

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

It places human and divine history within dharmic time-cycles (manvantaras), showing that cosmic order is maintained through successive Manus who uphold righteousness and the welfare of the worlds and devas.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as service to cosmic harmony: a Manu like Dakṣasāvarṇi is praised for being devoted to the welfare of the devas, reflecting the bhakti ideal of selfless dedication to divine order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It supports Purāṇic chronology and calendrical reckoning used alongside Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology/astronomy): knowing manvantaras helps situate rituals and cosmological timelines within traditional time frameworks.