Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

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

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । कथं ससर्ज ब्रह्मादीनादिदेवः पुरा विभुः । तन्ममाख्याहि सनक सर्वज्ञोऽस्ति यतो भवान् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | kathaṃ sasarja brahmādīnādidevaḥ purā vibhuḥ | tanmamākhyāhi sanaka sarvajño'sti yato bhavān || 1 ||

Translation

நாரதர் கூறினார்—ஓ சனகா! ஆதிதேவனாகிய அனைத்திலும் வியாபித்திருக்கும் பிரபு, பழங்காலத்தில் பிரம்மா முதலிய தேவர்களை எவ்வாறு படைத்தான்? நீர் சர்வஞ்ஞன்; எனவே அதை எனக்குச் சொல்லும்.

Word by Word

• nāradaḥ: Narada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit (Perfect), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• katham: how
• katham: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative Adverb

• sasarja: created
• sasarja: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Lit (Perfect), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• brahmādīn: Brahma and others
• brahmādīn: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• ādidevaḥ: the primal God
• ādidevaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādideva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• purā: in the past/ancient times
• purā: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

• vibhuḥ: all-pervading/powerful
• vibhuḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• mama: to me
• mama: Sampradana (Recipient context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular

• ākhyāhi: tell/explain
• ākhyāhi: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + khyā (धातु)
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular

• sanaka: O Sanaka
• sanaka: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• sarvajñaḥ: all-knowing
• sarvajñaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• asti: is
• asti: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Lat (Present), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• yataḥ: since/because
• yataḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• bhavān: you (honorific)
• bhavān: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanaka
• Brahma
• Adideva (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

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

It frames creation (sarga) as a sacred inquiry: Nārada approaches a realized sage (Sanaka) to understand the Supreme Lord as the ultimate source behind Brahmā and the gods, emphasizing humility and authoritative transmission of knowledge.

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

Though it is a cosmology question, the bhakti tone appears in Nārada’s reverent address to the Adideva as the true cause; recognizing the Supreme Lord as the origin of all deities supports devotion directed to the highest source.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse models the Vedic method of learning—approaching a competent teacher (ācārya) for a precise explanation—an essential prerequisite for disciplined study of śāstra, even before technical Vedāṅga topics are introduced.