Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

एते द्वीपाः समुद्रैस्तु सत्पसत्पभिरावृताः । लवणेक्षुसुरासर्पिर्दधिक्षीरजलैः समम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

ete dvīpāḥ samudraistu satpasatpabhirāvṛtāḥ | lavaṇekṣusurāsarpirdadhikṣīrajalaiḥ samam || 44 ||

Translation

ଏହି ସମସ୍ତ ଦ୍ୱୀପ ସମୁଦ୍ରଦ୍ୱାରା ଆବୃତ; କ୍ରମେ ସେ ସମୁଦ୍ର ଲବଣଜଳ, ଇକ୍ଷୁରସ, ସୁରା, ଘୃତ, ଦଧି ଓ କ୍ଷୀରଜଳର।

Word by Word

• ete: these
• ete: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural (Pronoun)

• dvīpāḥ: islands
• dvīpāḥ: Karma (Object - Passive Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvīpa (द्वीप)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• samudraiḥ: by oceans
• samudraiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (समुद्र)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु)
• Form: Particle

• saptasaptabhiḥ: by seven each (text has typo 'satpa')
• saptasaptabhiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptasaptan (सप्तसप्तन्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural (Repetitive/Vipsa)

• āvṛtāḥ: surrounded
• āvṛtāḥ: Vidheya (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āvṛta (आवृत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural (Past Passive Participle)

• lavaṇekṣusurāsarpirdadhikṣīrajalaiḥ: salt, cane-juice, wine, ghee, curd, milk, and water
• lavaṇekṣusurāsarpirdadhikṣīrajalaiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to samudraiḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇekṣusurāsarpirdadhikṣīrajala (लवणेक्षुसुरासर्पिर्दधिक्षीरजल)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• samam: equally/respectively
• samam: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (सम)
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It presents the Purāṇic map of the world as an ordered, concentric cosmos, implying a divinely structured creation where every realm is bounded and sustained by specific cosmic principles (symbolized by the different oceans).

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

Direct bhakti practice is not described here; instead, the verse supplies the cosmological setting that Purāṇas use to orient devotion—reminding the listener that the universe is an arranged manifestation of the Supreme (commonly understood as Viṣṇu in Purāṇic theology), worthy of reverence and contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys Purāṇic cosmography used as background for later dharma, vrata, and tīrtha discussions.