Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

भृगुरुवाच । प्रजाविसर्गं विविधं मानसो मनसाऽसृजत् । संरक्षणार्थं भूतानां सृष्टं प्रथमतो जलम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

bhṛguruvāca | prajāvisargaṃ vividhaṃ mānaso manasā'sṛjat | saṃrakṣaṇārthaṃ bhūtānāṃ sṛṣṭaṃ prathamato jalam || 42 ||

Translation

Bhṛgu berkata: Sang Mind-born mencipta pancaran makhluk yang beraneka hanya dengan minda. Demi perlindungan dan pemeliharaan semua makhluk, air diciptakan terlebih dahulu.

Word by Word

• भृगुः: Bhṛgu
• भृगुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• प्रजा-विसर्गम्: creation of creatures
• प्रजा-विसर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां विसर्गः)

• विविधम्: various
• विविधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मानसः: the mind-born one (Brahmā)
• मानसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (ब्रह्मा) मानसिकः/मानसजः इति भावः

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संरक्षण-अर्थम्: for the purpose of protection
• संरक्षण-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संरक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (संरक्षणस्य अर्थः)

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/for whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• सृष्टम्: was created
• सृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (जलम्)

• प्रथमतः: firstly
• प्रथमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/time/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: firstly/at first)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Bhṛgu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Brahmā (implied as the mind-born creator)
• Jala (Water)

FAQs

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

It frames creation as a purposeful, ordered act: beings arise through subtle (mental) causation, and the first tangible provision is water—symbolizing preservation, nourishment, and the conditions required for life to endure.

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

By showing that the cosmos is sustained through deliberate divine order, it supports Bhakti as trustful surrender to the cosmic protector—recognizing that preservation (saṁrakṣaṇa) is intrinsic to the Lord’s governance of creation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with Vedic cosmological reasoning used in Kalpa (ritual procedure): water is foundational in rites (ācamana, abhiṣeka, saṅkalpa), reflecting its primacy as a purifying and sustaining element.