Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27
Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State
अस्ति नास्तीति चाप्येतत्तस्मिन्नसितलक्षणे । किमधिष्टाय तद् ब्रूयाल्लोकयात्राविनिश्चयम् ॥ २७ ॥
asti nāstīti cāpyetattasminnasitalakṣaṇe | kimadhiṣṭāya tad brūyāllokayātrāviniścayam || 27 ||
Dans ce principe aux marques indéterminées, on parle même en termes de «cela existe» et «cela n’existe pas». Sur quelle base, dès lors, pourrait-on énoncer avec certitude la règle de la conduite mondaine et le cours de la vie ?
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It highlights the limits of purely speculative metaphysics—when reality is described as indeterminate, contradictory claims (“exists/does not exist”) arise, so spiritual life must be grounded in a clearer pramāṇa (valid means of knowledge) and lived discipline leading toward mokṣa.
By questioning uncertain doctrines, the verse implicitly supports taking refuge in a reliable foundation—such as devotion to Bhagavan taught by śāstra and guru—so one’s life-path (lokayātrā) becomes steady rather than shaken by abstract doubt.
It points to the need for pramāṇa-based clarity central to śāstric reasoning (closely aligned with Nyāya-style discernment); without a firm basis for meaning and certainty, even correct practice and dharma-guidance become difficult to establish.