Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

तदेतदुपदिष्टं ते संक्षेपेण महामते । परमार्थसारभूतं यत्तदद्वैतमशेषतः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

tadetadupadiṣṭaṃ te saṃkṣepeṇa mahāmate | paramārthasārabhūtaṃ yattadadvaitamaśeṣataḥ || 86 ||

Translation

ಹೇ ಮಹಾಮತೇ! ನಿನಗೆ ಸಂಕ್ಷೇಪವಾಗಿ ಉಪದೇಶಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟದ್ದು ಇದೇ—ಪರಮಾರ್ಥದ ಸಾರಭೂತವಾದ, ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಅದ್ವೈತ ತತ್ತ್ವ.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (deictic)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश

• उपदिष्टम्: has been taught/instructed
• उपदिष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु) → उपदिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्/एतत्’ इत्यस्य विधेयम्

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• संक्षेपेण: briefly/in summary
• संक्षेपेण: Karana/Prakāra (करण/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रकार/उपाय (manner)

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• परमार्थसारभूतम्: being the essence of the highest truth
• परमार्थसारभूतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्/एतत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; अर्थः: परमार्थस्य सारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) तद्भूतम्

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्-प्रत्यय (correlative)

• अद्वैतम्: non-duality
• अद्वैतम्: Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अशेषतः: entirely
• अशेषतः: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्या-अव्यय (adverb), ‘completely/without remainder’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It declares that the heart of the teaching is Advaita—non-dual ultimate reality—presented as the complete, essential summary leading to moksha.

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

While the verse is framed as jnana-oriented, it supports bhakti by pointing devotion toward the highest truth—seeing the Lord and the Self as rooted in one non-dual reality, which purifies devotion from dualistic fear and desire.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is pedagogical—core metaphysical truth can be conveyed in a concise “sara” (essence) summary for spiritual practice.