Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60
Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā
भृगुरुवाच । अमितानि महाष्टानि यांति भूतानि संभवम् । अतस्तेषां महाभूतशब्दोऽयमुपपद्यते ॥ ६० ॥
bhṛguruvāca | amitāni mahāṣṭāni yāṃti bhūtāni saṃbhavam | atasteṣāṃ mahābhūtaśabdo'yamupapadyate || 60 ||
ภฤคุกล่าวว่า “มหาตัตตวะทั้งแปดนั้นหาประมาณมิได้ และด้วยสิ่งเหล่านั้นเองสรรพสัตว์จึงบังเกิดปรากฏ ดังนั้นคำว่า ‘มหาภูตะ’ จึงเหมาะสมแก่สิ่งเหล่านั้น”
Bhṛgu
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames creation as arising from vast, foundational principles (tattvas), encouraging detachment: when one sees beings as products of impersonal cosmic principles, the mind turns toward discrimination (viveka) and liberation (moksha).
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by clarifying that all manifested beings depend on higher principles; a devotee can then fix devotion on the ultimate source beyond manifestations rather than clinging to transient forms.
The verse is primarily philosophical (tattva-vicāra) rather than a Vedāṅga instruction; its practical takeaway is conceptual clarity used in meditation and teaching—precise definition of terms like “mahābhūta” for correct understanding.