Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

रुद्रो वै विष्णुरुपेण पालयत्यखिलंजगत् । ब्रह्मरुपेण सृजति प्रान्तेः ह्येतत्त्रयं हरः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

rudro vai viṣṇurupeṇa pālayatyakhilaṃjagat | brahmarupeṇa sṛjati prānteḥ hyetattrayaṃ haraḥ || 47 ||

Translation

Quả thật, Rudra mang hình Viṣṇu để hộ trì toàn thể vũ trụ; mang hình Brahmā để sáng tạo. Vì thế, trong vòng chu kỳ và nơi tận cùng, tam vị ấy quy về Hara (Śiva) mà thôi.

Word by Word

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक)

• viṣṇu-rūpeṇa: by/with the form of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-rūpeṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; means/instrument

• pālayati: protects
• pālayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pāl (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• akhilam: entire
• akhilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying 'jagat'

• jagat: world
• jagat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• brahma-rūpeṇa: by/with the form of Brahmā
• brahma-rūpeṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• sṛjati: creates
• sṛjati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• prānte: at the end
• prānte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; temporal locus

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (हेतौ/निश्चये), often 'for/indeed'

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative adjective qualifying 'trayam'

• trayam: the triad (threefold)
• trayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; collective 'triad'

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to subject

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Hara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches the essential unity behind the three cosmic functions—creation, preservation, and dissolution—showing them as manifestations of one supreme principle, here expressed as Hara (Śiva).

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

By presenting Viṣṇu and Brahmā as forms through which Rudra operates, it encourages non-sectarian bhakti—devotion that recognizes one divine reality expressed through multiple names and functions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys purāṇic tattva (metaphysical doctrine) about cosmic roles rather than ritual, grammar, or jyotiṣa.