Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 100
Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga
दुःखाज्ञानमया धर्माः प्रकृतेस्ते तुनात्मनः । जलस्य नाग्निना संगः स्थालीसंगात्तथापि हि ॥ ९८ ॥
duḥkhājñānamayā dharmāḥ prakṛteste tunātmanaḥ | jalasya nāgninā saṃgaḥ sthālīsaṃgāttathāpi hi || 98 ||
The qualities and conditions made of suffering and ignorance belong to Prakṛti, not to the Self. Just as water has no real contact with fire—its seeming association is only because it is in the same vessel—so too the Self only appears connected with those qualities.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches viveka: suffering and ignorance are products of Prakṛti and do not truly belong to the Ātman; liberation comes from recognizing this non-identification.
By separating the pure Self from prakṛtic distress, a devotee turns to the Lord with steadiness, not mistaking temporary mental states for the soul’s nature—supporting firm bhakti grounded in right understanding.
No specific Vedāṅga practice is taught; the verse is primarily sāṅkhya/vedānta-style discrimination used in Moksha-Dharma instruction rather than ritual, grammar, or jyotiṣa.