Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

भरद्वाज उवाच । पुष्करो यदि संभूतो ज्येष्ठं भवति पुष्करम् । ब्रह्माणं पूर्वजं चाह भवान्संदेह एव मे ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

bharadvāja uvāca | puṣkaro yadi saṃbhūto jyeṣṭhaṃ bhavati puṣkaram | brahmāṇaṃ pūrvajaṃ cāha bhavānsaṃdeha eva me || 38 ||

Translation

भरद्वाज म्हणाले—जर पुष्कर उत्पन्न झाला असेल, तर तोच पुष्कर ज्येष्ठ कसा म्हणावा? आणि आपण ब्रह्माला पूर्वजही म्हणता; हाच माझा संशय आहे.

Word by Word

• भरद्वाजः: Bharadvāja
• भरद्वाजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्करः: Puṣkara
• पुष्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तसूचक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• सम्भूतः: born/produced
• सम्भूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठम्: the eldest/elder
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate complement)

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्करम्: Puṣkara (as object/name)
• पुष्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पूर्वजम्: the earlier-born/elder
• पूर्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ब्रह्माणम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; आदरसूचक सर्वनाम-प्रयोग

• सन्देहः: doubt
• सन्देहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मे: my/to me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Bharadvaja

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pushkara
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It models the dharmic method of inquiry: a seeker openly states a logical doubt about creation-order and asks for clarification, preparing the ground for right understanding (jñāna) that supports mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: sincere bhakti is strengthened by removing confusion. By respectfully questioning apparent contradictions, the listener becomes fit to receive a clearer teaching that can later be anchored in devotion to the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the discipline of precise meaning and logical consistency (aligned with Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style clarity): terms like 'jyeṣṭha' (eldest) and 'pūrvaja' (earlier-born) must be reconciled in context.