Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2
Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline
य ऊष्मभाव आग्नेयो वह्निनैवोपलभ्यते । अग्निर्जरयते चैतत्तदा जीवो निरर्थकः ॥ २ ॥
ya ūṣmabhāva āgneyo vahninaivopalabhyate | agnirjarayate caitattadā jīvo nirarthakaḥ || 2 ||
That state of heat, fiery in nature, is known only through fire itself. And when that fire consumes and ages this body, then the jīva—if taken to be merely that heat-life—proves meaningless as an identity.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It teaches viveka (discernment): bodily warmth and life-signs belong to the fire-element and are impermanent; therefore liberation requires not mistaking the jīva for a mere bodily function.
By weakening body-identification, it supports pure devotion: when one stops equating the self with perishable heat/prāṇa, the mind can turn toward the eternal Lord as the true refuge beyond the elements.
A basic tattva-viveka aligned with Vedic cosmology: recognizing agni/tejas as the principle behind bodily heat, useful for contemplative analysis (not a ritual instruction, but a practical aid for self-inquiry).