Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

तेषां ब्रह्ममयी वाणी सर्वेषां श्रोत्रमागमत् । दिव्या सरस्वती तत्र संबभूव नभस्तलात् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

teṣāṃ brahmamayī vāṇī sarveṣāṃ śrotramāgamat | divyā sarasvatī tatra saṃbabhūva nabhastalāt || 48 ||

Translation

แล้วเสียงวาจาอันเปี่ยมด้วยพรหมัน ดุจอิ่มด้วยรสพระเวท ก็เข้าสู่โสตของพวกเขาทั้งปวง; ณ ที่นั้น พระนางสรัสวตีผู้ทิพย์ได้ปรากฏจากคุ้งฟ้า॥ ๔๘ ॥

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• ब्रह्ममयी: consisting of Brahman
• ब्रह्ममयी: विशेषण (Adjectival to वाणी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• वाणी: speech, voice
• वाणी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• श्रोत्रम्: ear, hearing
• श्रोत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आगमत्: came, reached
• आगमत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: विशेषण (Adjectival to सरस्वती)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• संबभूव: arose, came into being
• संबभूव: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• नभः-तलात्: from the surface of the sky
• नभः-तलात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the episode in the Moksha-dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It presents śruti (revealed sound) as a descending grace: Brahman-infused speech is not merely spoken but is “received” through hearing, and Sarasvatī symbolizes the divine source of true knowledge.

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

By emphasizing hearing (śravaṇa) as the gateway—devotion matures when divine truth is received as sacred sound; Sarasvatī’s appearance indicates that bhakti and jñāna are supported by purified speech and attentive listening.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds śikṣā (phonetics and proper recitation) and the primacy of śrotra (hearing) in transmitting Vedic knowledge—suggesting that correct reception of sacred sound is essential for learning and practice.