Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81
Śreyas and Paramārtha: The Ribhu–Nidāgha Teaching on Non-Dual Self
Advaita
उपर्यहं यथा राजा त्वमधःकुंजरो यथा । अवबोधाय ते ब्रह्मन्दृष्टांतो दर्शितो मया ॥ ८१ ॥
uparyahaṃ yathā rājā tvamadhaḥkuṃjaro yathā | avabodhāya te brahmandṛṣṭāṃto darśito mayā || 81 ||
Sebagaimana aku berada di atas seperti seorang raja, demikianlah engkau berada di bawah seperti seekor gajah. Wahai Brahmana, aku telah menunjukkan perumpamaan ini agar engkau memahami.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'brahman')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It emphasizes instruction through dṛṣṭānta (illustrative analogy): a teacher clarifies spiritual understanding by showing relative positions (higher/lower) so the listener gains avabodha (clear comprehension).
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by stressing humility and receptivity: recognizing one’s lower position before the guru and higher truth prepares the mind for surrender and steady devotion.
The verse models Nyāya-like pedagogical reasoning using dṛṣṭānta (example) as a teaching tool—useful for clear exposition, debate, and scriptural interpretation even though no specific Vedanga (like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa) is directly named.