Shloka 48

Description of the Origin of the Cosmic Egg (Brahmāṇḍa) and the Ocean as King of Tīrthas

Devanagari script

तत्तेजः सर्वदा देवि निर्गुणं गुणकृन्मतम् । गुणास्तदंशवो भद्रे सर्वे व्याकृतरूपिणः ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

tattejaḥ sarvadā devi nirguṇaṃ guṇakṛnmatam | guṇāstadaṃśavo bhadre sarve vyākṛtarūpiṇaḥ || 48 ||

Translation

O Diyosa, ang Kataas-taasang Liwanag na yaon ay laging lampas sa mga katangian (nirguṇa), gayunma’y kinikilalang siyang lumilikha ng mga guṇa. O mapalad, ang lahat ng guṇa ay mga bahagi Niya, na nahahayag bilang sari-saring anyo.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तेजः: radiance
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• निर्गुणम्: without guṇas
• निर्गुणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तेजः’)

• गुण-कृत्-मतम्: considered as producing/causing guṇas
• गुण-कृत्-मतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त from कृ धातु) + मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्ध: ‘गुणं करोति इति गुणकृत्’ + ‘मतम्’ (considered/held)

• गुणाः: the guṇas
• गुणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तत्-अंशवः: its parts/rays
• तत्-अंशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘तस्य अंशवः’

• भद्रे: O auspicious one
• भद्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘गुणाः/अंशवः’)

• व्याकृत-रूपिणः: having manifested forms
• व्याकृत-रूपिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकृत (कृदन्त/PPP from वि-आ-कृ धातु) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘व्याकृतं रूपं येषां ते’ (having manifested forms)

Speaker

Narada (teaching to Devi in a didactic dialogue style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Reality is intrinsically nirguṇa (beyond attributes) while still being the causal ground from which all manifest qualities and forms arise—guiding the seeker to look past changing guṇas to the unchanging source.

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

By distinguishing the nirguṇa source from the saguna manifestations, it supports Bhakti that begins with worship of manifest divine forms and matures into steady remembrance of the transcendent Lord beyond all guṇas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is philosophical discrimination (viveka) between guṇa-driven states and the nirguṇa divine principle that devotees and practitioners aim to realize.