Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

परमार्था भवंत्यत्र न भवंति च वै ततः । ऋग्यजुःसामनिष्पाद्यं यज्ञकर्म मतं तव ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

paramārthā bhavaṃtyatra na bhavaṃti ca vai tataḥ | ṛgyajuḥsāmaniṣpādyaṃ yajñakarma mataṃ tava || 21 ||

Translation

Hier werden wahrlich die höchsten geistigen Ziele erlangt; doch entstehen sie nicht bloß aus jener äußeren Ausführung. Nach deiner Ansicht ist das Opferhandeln (yajña-karma) das Ritual, das auf Grundlage der Ṛg-, Yajus- und Sāma-Veden vollzogen wird.

Word by Word

• paramārthāḥ: ultimate purposes
• paramārthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• bhavanti: become/are
• bhavanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लट् (Present), पुरुषः—प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्—बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—देशवाचक (here)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निषेध

• bhavanti: become/are
• bhavanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लट् (Present), पुरुषः—प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्—बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय (and)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (emphatic particle: indeed)

• tataḥ: therefore/from that
• tataḥ: Hetu/Source marker (अपादान/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्यय—अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक (from that/therefore)

• ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma-niṣpādyam: to be produced from Ṛg, Yajus and Sāman
• ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma-niṣpādyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛc (प्रातिपदिक) + yajus (प्रातिपदिक) + sāman (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣpādya (कृदन्त; √niṣ-pad/√pad धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (ṛg+yajuḥ+sāma) ततः ‘niṣpādya’ (gerundive/तव्यत्-प्रायः) as qualifier: ‘to be produced/derived from Ṛg, Yajus, Sāman’

• yajña-karma: sacrificial ritual/action
• yajña-karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः): ‘यज्ञस्य कर्म’ (sacrificial act/ritual)

• matam: (is) the opinion
• matam: Pradhāna-predicative/Complement (पूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mata (कृदन्त; √man धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त—क्त (past participle) used as noun: ‘opinion/accepted view’

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in a teacher–student dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Rigveda
• Yajurveda
• Samaveda

FAQs

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

It distinguishes ultimate spiritual attainment (paramārtha) from mere external ritualism, indicating that the highest good is not automatically produced simply by performing sacrifices.

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

By implying that external Vedic rites alone are insufficient for the highest end, it supports the Moksha-Dharma emphasis that inner orientation—such as devotion and surrender—must accompany or transcend ritual action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights yajña-karma as grounded in the three Vedas (Ṛg, Yajus, Sāma), pointing to practical ritual competence supported by Vedāṅga disciplines like Śikṣā (phonetics), Kalpa (ritual procedure), and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) for correct execution.