Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22
Uttaraloka
Northern Higher World), Dharma–Adharma Viveka, and Adhyatma-Prashna (Prelude
भृगुरुवाच । अध्यात्ममिति विप्रर्षे यदेतदनुपृच्छसि । तद्व्याख्यांस्यामि ते तात श्रेयस्करतमं सुखम् ॥ २२ ॥
bhṛguruvāca | adhyātmamiti viprarṣe yadetadanupṛcchasi | tadvyākhyāṃsyāmi te tāta śreyaskaratamaṃ sukham || 22 ||
Bhṛgu dit : « Ô le meilleur des brāhmaṇas, puisque tu as interrogé sur ce qu’on appelle “adhyātma”, la réalité spirituelle intérieure, je te l’expliquerai, cher enfant ; cette connaissance apporte le bien le plus élevé et la joie véritable. »
Bhṛgu
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It frames adhyātma as a liberating teaching: a clarified understanding of the inner self/spiritual reality that yields śreyas (the highest good) and lasting sukha (true happiness).
This verse functions as a preface: by promising the explanation of adhyātma, it prepares the ground for inner purification and right understanding—key supports for steady Vishnu-bhakti in Moksha Dharma discussions, even though bhakti is not named explicitly here.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is methodological—earnest inquiry (anupṛcchā) and systematic explanation (vyākhyā) as the discipline for receiving spiritual instruction.