Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

भृगुरुवाच । अमितानि महाष्टानि यांति भूतानि संभवम् । अतस्तेषां महाभूतशब्दोऽयमुपपद्यते ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

bhṛguruvāca | amitāni mahāṣṭāni yāṃti bhūtāni saṃbhavam | atasteṣāṃ mahābhūtaśabdo'yamupapadyate || 60 ||

Translation

婆利古说道：八种伟大本原无量无边，众生依凭它们而得以显现。因此，将它们称为“摩诃部多”（mahābhūta，伟大元素本原）是恰当的。

Word by Word

• भृगुः: Bhṛgu
• भृगुः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अमितानि: immeasurable/countless
• अमितानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतानि इति विशेषणम्

• महाष्टानि: the eight great (categories)
• महाष्टानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: द्विगु (numerical compound) ‘महान् अष्ट’ = ‘eight great (ones)’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतानि इति विशेषणम्

• यान्ति: go/attain
• यान्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• भूतानि: beings/elements
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सम्भवम्: origin/coming-into-being
• सम्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal particle: therefore/from this)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• महाभूतशब्दः: the term ‘mahābhūta’
• महाभूतशब्दः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभूत + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष (महाभूतानां शब्दः / ‘word “mahābhūta”’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपपद्यते: is appropriate/holds good
• उपपद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Bhṛgu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu

FAQs

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

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).

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

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.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

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.