Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti

Devanagari script

तद्वीर्यं जीवप्रवेशात्पञ्चाहात्कललं भवति अर्द्धमासे । पलवलभावमुपेत्य मासे प्रादेशमात्रत्वमापद्यते ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

tadvīryaṃ jīvapraveśātpañcāhātkalalaṃ bhavati arddhamāse | palavalabhāvamupetya māse prādeśamātratvamāpadyate || 10 ||

Translation

当个体灵魂进入那种子后，五天之内变成凝滑（Kalala）。半个月后进一步发育，一个月内达到小肉团（Palvala）的状态，大小约为一拃（Prādeśa）。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; 'वीर्यम्' विशेषण

• वीर्यं: seed/virile essence
• वीर्यं: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• जीवप्रवेशात्: from the entry of the jīva
• जीवप्रवेशात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जीव + प्रवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative; कारण/हेतु), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे 'from/after the entry of life'

• पञ्चाहात्: after five days
• पञ्चाहात्: Kala-avadhi (काल-अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (पञ्च + अह); पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative; काल-पर्यवसान), एकवचन; 'after five days'

• कललं: a gelatinous embryo-mass (kalala)
• कललं: Karya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (predicate nominative)

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अर्धमासे: in half a month
• अर्धमासे: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्धमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्ध + मास); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पलवलभावम्: the state of a fleshy lump (palvala-like)
• पलवलभावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलवल + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• उपेत्य: having attained
• उपेत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund); 'having attained'

• मासे: in a month
• मासे: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्रादेशमात्रत्वम्: the condition of being only a span in size
• प्रादेशमात्रत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रादेश + मात्र + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आपद्यते: reaches/comes to
• आपद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a doctrinal explanation of creation and embodied life)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Jiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that embodiment begins when the jīva associates with matter, showing how the soul’s karmic journey takes concrete form through gradual development in the womb.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by highlighting the fragility and conditioned nature of embodied existence—encouraging remembrance of the Lord and pursuit of liberation beyond repeated birth.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects traditional śāstric physiology/embryology used in dharma discussions (e.g., stages of gestation), aligning with technical śāstra reasoning though not a direct Vedāṅga procedure like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.