Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58
Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā
भरद्वाज उवाच । य एते धातवः पंच रक्ष्या यानसृजत्प्रभुः । आवृता यैरिमे लोका महाभूताभिसंज्ञितैः ॥ ५८ ॥
bharadvāja uvāca | ya ete dhātavaḥ paṃca rakṣyā yānasṛjatprabhuḥ | āvṛtā yairime lokā mahābhūtābhisaṃjñitaiḥ || 58 ||
بھردواج نے کہا—وہ کون سے پانچ دھاتُو ہیں جنہیں پربھو نے پیدا کیا اور جن کی حفاظت واجب ہے؟ جن ‘مہابھوتوں’ سے یہ سب لوک پھیلے ہوئے اور ڈھکے ہوئے ہیں؟
Bharadvāja
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames a tattva-inquiry: understanding the five mahābhūtas that pervade all worlds is presented as foundational knowledge for mokṣa-oriented discernment (viveka) between the material constituents and the Lord who creates them.
By distinguishing the created elements from the Creator (Prabhu), the verse supports bhakti’s theistic focus: devotion is directed to the Lord beyond the mahābhūtas, while the elements are understood as His manifested order.
The verse is more philosophical than technical; it mainly supports clear definition (nirvacana) of categories—useful for disciplined study and teaching—rather than a specific Vedāṅga practice like ritual procedure or astrology.