Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76
Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga
परमार्थः कथं कोऽत्र यूयं नात्र विचक्षणाः । इत्युक्त्वा समुपेत्यैंनं स तु केशिध्वजं नृपम् ॥ ७४ ॥
paramārthaḥ kathaṃ ko'tra yūyaṃ nātra vicakṣaṇāḥ | ityuktvā samupetyaiṃnaṃ sa tu keśidhvajaṃ nṛpam || 74 ||
“ഇവിടെ പരമാർത്ഥം എങ്ങനെ ഉണ്ടാകും? നിങ്ങൾ ഇതിൽ വിവേകമുള്ളവർ അല്ല.” എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ് ഖാണ്ഡിക്യൻ കേശിധ്വജ രാജാവിനടുത്തേക്ക് ചെന്നു.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration; dialogue context within the Keśidhvaja episode)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It stresses viveka (discernment): without clear insight, people mistake lesser aims for paramārtha, so the seeker turns toward a truly qualified source of guidance.
Indirectly, it sets a prerequisite for bhakti—proper discernment—so devotion is directed toward the right teaching and the right object (the Supreme), not toward confused opinions.
The key practical takeaway is viveka in interpreting teaching—akin to careful application of Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style precision—so that “paramārtha” is not misunderstood through careless reading or hearing.