Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Exposition of the Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

यत्राहं सर्वदेवानामादिकर्ता समुद्गतः । सृष्ट्यर्थं तत्र संजातो मनुः स्वार्थभुवः पुरा ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yatrāhaṃ sarvadevānāmādikartā samudgataḥ | sṛṣṭyarthaṃ tatra saṃjāto manuḥ svārthabhuvaḥ purā || 2 ||

Translation

Mula sa pinagmulan na yaon, kung saan ako’y lumitaw bilang unang tagapaglikha ng lahat ng mga deva, para sa gawain ng paglikha, noong unang panahon ay isinilang doon si Manu na tinawag na Svārthabhuva.

Word by Word

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/relative locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध-स्थानवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• sarva-devānām: of all the gods
• sarva-devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• ādi-kartā: the primordial creator
• ādi-kartā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; apposition to aham

• sam-udgataḥ: arisen, emerged
• sam-udgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + ud + gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle/कृत्-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपसर्गः सम्-, उद्-; (arisen/emerged)

• sṛṣṭi-artham: for the purpose of creation
• sṛṣṭi-artham: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (there)

• saṃ-jātaḥ: was born, arose
• saṃ-jātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + jan (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपसर्गः सम्-

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• svāyambhuvaḥ: Svāyambhuva (self-born)
• svāyambhuvaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayam (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + bhuva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Manu-विशेषण/नाम (epithet)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly/once)

Speaker

Narada (narrating a puranic summary/lineage of creation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Svārthabhuva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic order as proceeding from a primordial source and highlights Manu as the appointed progenitor through whom creation and dharma-based social order unfold.

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

Indirectly, it grounds bhakti and religious practice in a divinely ordered cosmos—creation is purposeful, and devotion aligns the practitioner with that sacred order established through Manu and the devas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly reflects puranic cosmology and genealogy (anukramanika-style). It supports Dharma-śāstra orientation (Manu as lawgiver) rather than a specific Vedanga technique like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.