Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

विज्ञानं परमार्थोऽसौ वेत्ति नोऽतथ्यदर्शनः । वेणुरंघ्रविभेदेन भेदः षङ्जादिसंज्ञितः ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

vijñānaṃ paramārtho'sau vetti no'tathyadarśanaḥ | veṇuraṃghravibhedena bhedaḥ ṣaṅjādisaṃjñitaḥ || 32 ||

Translation

Quien conoce el vijñāna, el saber verdadero, y ese paramārtha, la Realidad suprema, ése comprende; mas quien mira con visión falsa no lo sabe. Así como, por la diferencia de los orificios que cubren los dedos en la flauta, se designan las divisiones musicales con nombres como Ṣaḍja y los demás.

Word by Word

• विज्ञानम्: knowledge; discernment
• विज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; abstract noun

• परमार्थः: the highest truth
• परमार्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘परमः अर्थः’

• असौ: that (he/this one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• वेत्ति: knows
• वेत्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• उ: indeed
• उ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/assurance)

• अतथ्यदर्शनः: one who sees falsely
• अतथ्यदर्शनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतथ्य + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘अतथ्यं दर्शनं यस्य/अतथ्यस्य दर्शनम्’ (one whose seeing is untrue / seeing of the untrue)

• वेणु: bamboo; flute
• वेणु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; first member in compound

• रंघ्र: hole; aperture
• रंघ्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रंघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (lexical), प्रातिपदिक; ‘छिद्र’ sense; compound member

• विभेदेन: by the differentiation
• विभेदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), एकवचन; in compound context ‘विभेदेन’ = by differentiation

• वेणुरंघ्रविभेदेन: by the differentiation of the flute-holes
• वेणुरंघ्रविभेदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु + रंघ्र + विभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘वेणोः रंघ्राणां विभेदेन’ (by the differentiation of the flute’s holes)

• भेदः: difference; variety
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• षङ्ज: ṣaḍja (the note Sa)
• षङ्ज: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड् + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; ‘षड्ज’ (the note ‘Sa’, born of six / sixth) as compound member

• आदि: etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘and so on’ (etc.)

• संज्ञितः: named; designated
• संज्ञितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संज्ञा + इ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘संज्ञित’ = named/called

• षङ्जादिसंज्ञितः: called by names like ṣaḍja
• षङ्जादिसंज्ञितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षङ्ज + आदि + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘षड्ज-आदि-नाम्ना संज्ञितः’ (designated by names such as ṣaḍja)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-Dharma discourse; using a technical analogy from musical science)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka: the realized knower apprehends paramārtha (ultimate truth), while the deluded remain in atathya-darśana (false seeing). The flute-note analogy shows how apparent differences arise from conditions, not from the essence.

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

By implying that devotion should be grounded in right vision: when perception is purified, the seeker recognizes the One Reality behind changing names and forms—supporting steady Vishnu-bhakti rather than devotion based on confusion or mere externals.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It gestures toward Śikṣā (phonetics/sound discipline) and nāda-based understanding: like notes (ṣaḍja etc.) arising from precise finger/air positions, spiritual insight also depends on correct method and discernment.