Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

विवकिनस्तु संयोगः श्रेयोऽसौ परमात्मना । कर्मयज्ञादिकं श्रेयः स्वर्लोकपलदायि यत् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

vivakinastu saṃyogaḥ śreyo'sau paramātmanā | karmayajñādikaṃ śreyaḥ svarlokapaladāyi yat || 14 ||

Translation

Für den Unterscheidenden jedoch ist die Vereinigung mit dem höchsten Selbst, dem Paramātman, das höchste Heil; Riten wie Handeln und Opfer sind ein geringeres Heil, denn sie verleihen nur die Früchte der Himmelswelten.

Word by Word

• vivakinaḥ: of the discerning one
• vivakinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivakin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण (of the discerning/one who discriminates)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrastive

• saṃyogaḥ: union / association
• saṃyogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śreyaḥ: beneficial / the good
• śreyaḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• asau: that (he/this)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramātmanā: by/with the Supreme Self
• paramātmanā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); समास: parama + ātman (कर्मधारय)

• karma-yajña-ādikam: rituals like action-sacrifices, etc.
• karma-yajña-ādikam: Karta/Karma (कर्ता/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); समास: (karma-yajña) + ādi + ka (तत्पुरुष; ‘etc.’ sense)

• śreyaḥ: (is) beneficial
• śreyaḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• svarloka-phala-dāyi: giving the fruit of heaven
• svarloka-phala-dāyi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarloka (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + dāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण; समास: svarloka-phalaṃ dadāti iti (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/यत्-तत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यत्-शब्द), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the supreme goal (śreyas) as inner union with the Paramātman, while placing ritual merit in a lower category because it culminates in temporary heavenly results rather than liberation.

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

By valuing direct communion with the Supreme over reward-seeking rites, it supports devotion aimed at God-realization itself (not svarga-phala), aligning bhakti with moksha-oriented surrender and single-pointed remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly frames ritual action (karma, yajña)—governed by Vedic injunctions and disciplines like Kalpa (ritual procedure)—as effective for svarga-phala, while indicating that moksha requires higher spiritual realization beyond ritual technique.