Shloka 36
ऋभु–निदाघ-संवादः—अद्वैत-उपदेशः, समता, वासुदेव-स्वरूप-एकत्वम्
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा निदाघेन प्रणिपातपुरःसरम् पूजितः परया भक्त्या इच्छातः प्रययाव् ऋभुः
tathety uktvā nidāghena praṇipātapuraḥsaram pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyā icchātaḥ prayayāv ṛbhuḥ
Having said, “So be it,” Ṛbhu—first received with Nidāgha’s prostration and then honored with supreme devotion—departed of his own accord, as he willed.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Concept: Supreme devotion expressed through prostration and worship completes the reception of wisdom, and the teacher departs freely once the disciple is established.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Seal study with devotion: offer gratitude, practice humility, and let insight mature through consistent worship and conduct.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti and prapatti-like reverence harmonize with jnana, reflecting the Vishishtadvaita integration of knowledge with loving surrender.
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
The verse frames spiritual reception as beginning with humility—Nidāgha’s prostration comes first, then worship—showing that reverence and surrender are prerequisites for receiving transformative instruction.
Parāśara depicts the disciple honoring the teacher with “supreme devotion,” while the teacher remains free and unattached—departing “by his own will”—highlighting both devotion in the student and detachment in the guide.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s Vaishnava ethos is upheld: bhakti, humility, and disciplined reverence are presented as the dharmic foundation that leads the seeker toward the Supreme Reality.