Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55
Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline
जंगमानामसंख्येयाः स्थावराणां च जातयः । तेषां विविधवर्णानां कुतो वर्णविनिश्चयः ॥ ५५ ॥
jaṃgamānāmasaṃkhyeyāḥ sthāvarāṇāṃ ca jātayaḥ | teṣāṃ vividhavarṇānāṃ kuto varṇaviniścayaḥ || 55 ||
Innombrables sont les espèces des êtres mobiles, et innombrables aussi les sortes d’êtres immobiles. Quand leurs couleurs et leurs formes sont si variées, comment établir avec certitude une « varṇa » fixe ?
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-Dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It cultivates viveka by pointing out the vast diversity of life, undermining rigid, superficial labels and turning the seeker toward inner qualities that support moksha.
By weakening pride in external identity and classification, it supports humility—an essential bhakti disposition—so devotion is grounded in surrender and character rather than mere social designation.
It indirectly stresses the need for precise semantic discernment (nirukta-like clarity) between varṇa as ‘color/classification’ and spiritual worth, warning against simplistic literalism in interpreting terms.