Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58
Bharata’s Attachment and the Palanquin Teaching on ‘I’ and ‘Mine’
वक्षस्थलं तथा बाहू स्कंधौ चोदरसंस्थितौ । स्कंधाश्रितयें शिबिका ममाधारोऽत्र किंकृतः ॥ ५८ ॥
vakṣasthalaṃ tathā bāhū skaṃdhau codarasaṃsthitau | skaṃdhāśritayeṃ śibikā mamādhāro'tra kiṃkṛtaḥ || 58 ||
Brust und Arme, und die auf dem Bauch ruhenden Schultern—diese Sänfte ruht auf den Schultern. Was also stützt hier das „Ich“, und was wird in Wahrheit getragen?
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It uses the metaphor of a palanquin to provoke self-inquiry: the body’s parts seem to support one another, yet the true ‘support’ is consciousness (Atman), which is not a physical limb—pointing to detachment and moksha.
By weakening identification with the body (‘who is really carried?’), the verse prepares the mind for pure devotion—turning attention from bodily support to the inner Self and ultimately to the Lord as the final refuge.
No specific Vedanga (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is philosophical viveka (discernment) used in moksha-dharma: analyze bodily claims of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ to reduce attachment.