Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Manvantaras and Indras; Sudharmā’s Liberation through Viṣṇu-Pradakṣiṇā; Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti

Devanagari script

इन्द्र उवाच । बृहस्पते महाभाग सर्वतत्त्वार्थकोविद । अतीतब्रह्मणः कल्पे सृष्टिः कीदृग्विधा प्रभो ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

indra uvāca | bṛhaspate mahābhāga sarvatattvārthakovida | atītabrahmaṇaḥ kalpe sṛṣṭiḥ kīdṛgvidhā prabho || 4 ||

Translation

因陀罗说道：“噢布里哈斯帕提，大福德者，通达一切真理（tattva）之义的尊者！在梵天往昔的劫（kalpa）中，创造是以何种方式展开的？”

Word by Word

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bṛhaspate: O Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• mahā-bhāga: O greatly fortunate one
• mahā-bhāga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; used as epithet “greatly fortunate”

• sarva-tattva-artha-kovida: O knower of the meaning of all truths
• sarva-tattva-artha-kovida: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; “knower of the meanings of all principles”

• atīta-brahmaṇaḥ: of the former Brahmā
• atīta-brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atīta (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; “of the past Brahmā” (i.e., of a former Brahmā)

• kalpe: in the kalpa
• kalpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; “in the aeon/kalpa”

• sṛṣṭiḥ: creation
• sṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kīdṛk-vidhā: of what kind
• kīdṛk-vidhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kīdṛś (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying sṛṣṭiḥ: “of what kind/how constituted”

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Indra

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Brihaspati
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames a humility-based inquiry: even Indra seeks guidance from a guru (Bṛhaspati) to understand cosmic order (kalpa and sṛṣṭi), implying that true knowledge of creation is accessed through right questioning and authoritative teaching.

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

Bhakti is implied through reverent address—Indra approaches Bṛhaspati as “Prabhu” and “sarva-tattvārtha-kovida,” modeling surrender to enlightened guidance, which is a key devotional attitude before higher teachings unfold.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to tattva-vicāra (principle-based inquiry) and kalpa-knowledge (ritual/cosmic ordering). While not naming a Vedāṅga directly, it aligns with disciplined doctrinal analysis used in Purāṇic cosmology and the kalpa-framework that also underlies ritual timing.