Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60
The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge
Jñāna-pradarśanam
वेदमालिरुवाच । ममचित्तमतिभ्रान्तं गुरो ब्रह्मविदां वर । कोऽहं मम क्रिया का च मम जन्म कथं वद ॥ ६० ॥
vedamāliruvāca | mamacittamatibhrāntaṃ guro brahmavidāṃ vara | ko'haṃ mama kriyā kā ca mama janma kathaṃ vada || 60 ||
वेदमाली बोले—हे गुरुदेव, ब्रह्मविदों में श्रेष्ठ! मेरा चित्त और बुद्धि भ्रमित हो गए हैं। मैं कौन हूँ? मेरा कर्तव्य क्या है? और मेरा जन्म कैसे हुआ—कृपा करके बताइए।
Vedamāli
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the classic mokṣa-oriented inquiry—identity (ko 'ham), right action (kriyā), and the cause of birth (janma)—and places the solution in brahma-vidyā received from a qualified guru.
Though not explicitly naming bhakti, it shows the essential bhakti attitude: humility and surrender to the guru for clarity about one’s dharma and spiritual direction, which later culminates in devotion grounded in right understanding.
The verse prioritizes brahma-vidyā (liberating knowledge) over technical detail; it implicitly indicates that ritual action (kriyā) should be guided by correct discernment taught by the guru, rather than performed in confusion.