Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85
Śreyas and Paramārtha: The Ribhu–Nidāgha Teaching on Non-Dual Self
Advaita
ऋभुरुवाच । तवोपदेशदानाय पूर्वशुश्रूषणात्तव । गुरुस्नेहादृभुर्नामनिदाघं समुपागतः ॥ ८५ ॥
ṛbhuruvāca | tavopadeśadānāya pūrvaśuśrūṣaṇāttava | gurusnehādṛbhurnāmanidāghaṃ samupāgataḥ || 85 ||
ഋഭു പറഞ്ഞു—നിനക്ക് ഉപദേശം നൽകുവാൻ, നിന്റെ മുൻകാല ഭക്തിപൂർവ്വമായ ശുശ്രൂഷ കാരണം, ഗുരുസ്നേഹത്താൽ, ‘ഋഭു’ എന്ന നാമമുള്ള ഞാൻ നിദാഘന്റെ അടുക്കൽ വന്നിരിക്കുന്നു.
Ṛbhu
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
The verse establishes that liberating instruction (upadeśa) is transmitted through the guru–śiṣya bond, and that sincere prior service (śuśrūṣā) ripens into the guru’s compassionate guidance—an essential condition for Moksha-Dharma teachings to bear fruit.
It highlights bhakti in the form of humble attendance and service to the teacher; such śuśrūṣā is treated as a devotional discipline that draws the guru’s grace, enabling the disciple to receive transformative instruction.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the discipline of śuśrūṣā—attentive listening and service—as the method for properly receiving and retaining śāstric instruction.