Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87
Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga
राज्यं यज्ञांश्च विविधान्भोगे पुण्यक्षयं तथा । तदिदं ते मनो दिष्ट्या विवेकैश्चर्यतां गतम् ॥ ८५ ॥
rājyaṃ yajñāṃśca vividhānbhoge puṇyakṣayaṃ tathā | tadidaṃ te mano diṣṭyā vivekaiścaryatāṃ gatam || 85 ||
Kerajaan, pelbagai yajña, dan kenikmatan duniawi juga membawa kepada susutnya pahala kebajikan. Maka berbahagialah engkau—dengan viveka, hatimu telah beralih menuju jalan perilaku benar dan pengekangan yang bijaksana.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that worldly power (rājya), ritual merit (yajña), and pleasures (bhoga) are finite and consume accumulated puṇya; liberation requires viveka—discerning what is lasting and turning the mind toward disciplined spiritual conduct.
By devaluing temporary attainments, it prepares the seeker for single-pointed surrender: when the mind recognizes the limits of merit-based results, it naturally seeks a higher, enduring refuge—classically fulfilled in steady devotion to the Supreme (often expressed in the Purana as Vishnu-bhakti).
The verse implicitly distinguishes karma-kāṇḍa results from liberation: it points to the practical insight that ritual action yields finite puṇya subject to kṣaya, encouraging a shift from mere ritual performance to disciplined sādhana guided by viveka (a foundational principle used when interpreting Vedic rites and their results).