Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

मिथ्यैतदन्यद्द्रव्यं हि नैतद्द्रव्यमयं यतः । तस्माच्छ्रेयांस्यशेषाणि नृपैतानि न संशयः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

mithyaitadanyaddravyaṃ hi naitaddravyamayaṃ yataḥ | tasmācchreyāṃsyaśeṣāṇi nṛpaitāni na saṃśayaḥ || 28 ||

Translation

ഈ മറ്റൊരു ‘ദ്രവ്യം’ വാസ്തവത്തിൽ മിഥ്യയാണ്; കാരണം അത് സത്യദ്രവ്യസ്വരൂപമല്ല. അതിനാൽ, ഹേ നൃപ, ഇവയൊക്കെയും സംശയമില്ലാതെ പരമ ശ്രേയസ്സുകളാണ്.

Word by Word

• मिथ्या: falsely/illusorily
• मिथ्या: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject/Object as context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular; pronoun)

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• द्रव्यम्: substance
• द्रव्यम्: विधेय/कर्म (Predicate noun / object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphatic/causal particle)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• द्रव्यमयम्: made of substance/material
• द्रव्यमयम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रव्य-मय (प्रातिपदिक; द्रव्य + मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• यतः: because
• यतः: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययम् (causal indeclinable: 'because/since')

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: अपादान/हेतु (Ablative: from that/therefore)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (ablative singular; pronoun)

• श्रेयांसि: better things/benefits
• श्रेयांसि: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative plural)

• अशेषाणि: all, without remainder
• अशेषाणि: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, nominative/accusative plural)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (masculine, vocative singular)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: अन्वय (Correlative pronoun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative plural)

• न: no/not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to a king within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It asserts that what appears as a separate, independent “substance” apart from the true reality is ultimately mithyā (misapprehended). Recognizing this clears delusion and establishes śreyas—the highest spiritual good—supporting liberation-oriented living (mokṣa-dharma).

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

By weakening attachment to what is deemed unreal or non-essential, the mind turns toward the highest good. In Narada Purana’s mokṣa-dharma frame, such discernment naturally matures into single-pointed devotion—placing the supreme reality (often taught as Viṣṇu) above transient appearances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa ritual procedure) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is viveka (discernment) used to guide conduct—choosing śreyas over preyas in daily decisions.