Shloka 2

ऋभु–निदाघ-संवादः—अद्वैत-उपदेशः, समता, वासुदेव-स्वरूप-एकत्वम्

Devanagari script

श्रूयतां नृपशार्दूल यद् गीतम् ऋभुणा पुरा अवबोधं जनयता निदाघस्य द्विजन्मनः

Transliteration

śrūyatāṃ nṛpaśārdūla yad gītam ṛbhuṇā purā avabodhaṃ janayatā nidāghasya dvijanmanaḥ

Translation

O tiger among kings, listen: this was sung long ago by Ṛbhu—words that awakened true understanding in Nidāgha, the twice-born, and led him to clear realization.

Word by Word

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard; please listen
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), पुरुषः—मध्यमः (2nd), वचनम्—बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive): ‘श्रूयताम्’ = ‘let it be heard / please listen’

• नृपशार्दूल: O tiger among kings
• नृपशार्दूल: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (नृपः एव शार्दूलः)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धः—‘गीतम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (relative pronoun)

• गीतम्: (that which was) sung/uttered
• गीतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गै (धातु) → गीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम् (past passive participle used nominally): ‘sung/uttered’

• ऋभुणा: by Ṛbhu
• ऋभुणा: Karana/Agent-in-passive (Instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly; long ago
• पुरा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• अवबोधम्: understanding; awakening
• अवबोधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• जनयता: causing; generating
• जनयता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जनयत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तं वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्तम् (present active participle): ‘producing/causing’—‘ऋभुणा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• निदाघस्य: of Nidāgha
• निदाघस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• द्विजन्मनः: of the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजन्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘द्विजन्मन्’ = ब्राह्मणः (twice-born)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; addressing him with royal honorific style)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Transmission of liberating instruction via the Ṛbhu–Nidāgha dialogue

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Liberating realization (avabodha) arises through hearing a realized teacher’s instruction and assimilating it.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Seek qualified guidance, practice śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana, and test understanding in lived discernment.

Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is received through a personal guru-disciple channel, aligning liberation with grace-mediated instruction rather than self-generated insight alone.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Ṛbhu
• Nidāgha

FAQs

What is the significance of the Ṛbhu–Nidāgha teaching in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse introduces a revered instruction that “awakens understanding,” framing the coming teaching as a liberating insight transmitted through a guru-disciple lineage.

How does Sage Parāśara structure the teaching for Maitreya here?

Parāśara signals a shift into an illustrative ancient dialogue (Ṛbhu teaching Nidāgha), using it as an authoritative model for conveying realization rather than mere information.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework treats true knowledge and cosmic order as grounded in Vishnu’s supreme reality, with instruction aimed at recognizing that ultimate sovereignty.