Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52
Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court
न द्रष्टव्या विशेषा हि विशेषा हि प्रसंगिनः । अहंकारो न कर्तव्यो याज्ये तस्मिन्नराधिपे ॥ ५२ ॥
na draṣṭavyā viśeṣā hi viśeṣā hi prasaṃginaḥ | ahaṃkāro na kartavyo yājye tasminnarādhipe || 52 ||
Ne recherche ni n’exige des privilèges particuliers, car de telles distinctions n’engendrent que des entraves. Ne prends pas d’ego lorsque ce roi est le yajamāna, le patron du rite que l’on sert.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches vairāgya and humility: seeking special status creates further bondage, while dropping ego—especially in sacred duty—purifies the mind and supports mokṣa-oriented living.
Bhakti thrives on sevā-bhāva (service-mood). The verse warns that craving recognition and acting from ego obstructs sincere service; serving the yajamāna without pride aligns one’s actions with devotion and inner surrender.
It reflects ritual ethics tied to Kalpa (ritual procedure): the officiant should not demand ‘special considerations’ (viśeṣa) from the patron and must perform yajña-related duties without ahaṃkāra, maintaining proper priest–yajamāna conduct.