Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

पुनवर्षसहस्त्रंते समायातो नरेश्वर । निदाघज्ञानदानाय तदेव नगरं गुरुः ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

punavarṣasahastraṃte samāyāto nareśvara | nidāghajñānadānāya tadeva nagaraṃ guruḥ || 69 ||

Translation

Ô roi, après encore mille ans, le Guru revint dans cette même cité afin d’accorder la connaissance à Nidāgha.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb: again)

• वर्ष-सहस्र-अन्ते: at the end of a thousand years
• वर्ष-सहस्र-अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (time-locative)

• समायातः: having come/returned
• समायातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + सम्-आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle, active sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नर-ईश्वर: O king (lord of men)
• नर-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन

• निदाघ-ज्ञान-दानाय: for giving knowledge to Nidāgha
• निदाघ-ज्ञान-दानाय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of नगरम्)

• एव: indeed, the very same
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• नगरम्: city
• नगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (within the Nārada Purāṇa’s Mokṣa-dharma discourse, recounting the Guru–Nidāgha episode to the king)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nidāgha
• Guru
• Nareśvara (King)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that liberating knowledge (jñāna) is transmitted through timely Guru-upadeśa, even after long periods—showing patience, ripening of the disciple, and the inevitability of true instruction when one is ready.

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

Though the verse centers on jñāna, it supports bhakti indirectly by highlighting surrender to the Guru and faithful waiting for instruction—key devotional attitudes that prepare the heart for realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is the primacy of śāstra-based Guru instruction (upadeśa) as the method for conveying mokṣa-oriented knowledge.