Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Śreyas and Paramārtha: The Ribhu–Nidāgha Teaching on Non-Dual Self

Advaita

Devanagari script

मुक्तिसाधनभूतत्वात्परमार्थो न साधनम् । ध्यानमेवात्मनो भूपपरमार्थार्थशब्दितम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

muktisādhanabhūtatvātparamārtho na sādhanam | dhyānamevātmano bhūpaparamārthārthaśabditam || 26 ||

Translation

لأن الغاية العليا (paramārtha) هي بذاتها وسيلة التحرّر (mokṣa)، فهي ليست أداةً منفصلة تُنال بالإنجاز. بل يا أيها الملك، إن التأمّل في الذات (Ātman) وحده هو الذي يُسمّى «paramārtha»، أي المقصد الأسمى الحق.

Word by Word

• मुक्ति: liberation
• मुक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• साधन: means/instrument
• साधन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• भूतत्वात्: because of being
• भूतत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (कृदन्त, भू-धातु) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन; ‘because of being’ (state/abstract)

• परमार्थः: ultimate truth
• परमार्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• साधनम्: a means
• साधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; predicate

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• आत्मनः: of the self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• भूप: O king
• भूप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (vocative)

• परमार्थार्थ: the meaning of ‘paramārtha’
• परमार्थार्थ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member); ‘meaning of paramārtha’

• शब्दितम्: is called/termed
• शब्दितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; ‘is termed/called’ (predicate)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to a king in the instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest truth (paramārtha) is not an external instrument to be used; realizing the Self through meditation is itself the direct liberating principle.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports inner absorption as the essence of the highest aim—devotion matures into one-pointed contemplation that culminates in Self-realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is yogic discipline—steady dhyāna on the ātman as the core moksha-sādhana.