Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

यो देवो जगतामीशः कारणानां च कारणम् । युगान्ते निगदन्त्येतद्रुद्ररूपधरो हरिः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

yo devo jagatāmīśaḥ kāraṇānāṃ ca kāraṇam | yugānte nigadantyetadrudrarūpadharo hariḥ || 46 ||

Translation

జగత్తులన్నిటికి ఈశ్వరుడూ, కారణాలకూ కారణమైన ఆ దేవుని—యుగాంతంలో ‘రుద్రరూపధారి హరి’ అని ప్రకటిస్తారు.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• devaḥ: the God
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; in apposition to 'yaḥ'

• jagatām-īśaḥ: lord of the worlds
• jagatām-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; genitive-tatpurusha: 'lord of the worlds'

• kāraṇānām: of causes
• kāraṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• kāraṇam: the cause
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate nominative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)

• yugānte: at the end of an age
• yugānte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga-anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nigadanti: they declare/say
• nigadanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gad (धातु) with prefix ni-
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of 'nigadanti'

• rudra-rūpa-dharaḥ: the bearer of Rudra-form
• rudra-rūpa-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra + rūpa + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'bearer of Rudra-form'

• hariḥ: Hari (Vishnu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition/predicate subject

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Purva Bhaga dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Lord is the master of all worlds and the ultimate source behind every cause, and that even the fierce dissolving power associated with Rudra is a form assumed by Hari—pointing to one supreme reality governing creation and dissolution.

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

By identifying Hari as the highest cause and ruler, it grounds devotion in the Supreme rather than in limited powers; it also reduces sectarian division by showing Rudra’s cosmic function as encompassed within Hari’s sovereignty, encouraging single-pointed yet broad-minded bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly conveys Purāṇic theology rather than a Vedāṅga technique; indirectly, it reflects Nirukta-style interpretive principle—understanding divine names/forms (Hari, Rudra) by their functions in cosmic cycles (yuga-anta/pralaya).