Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

सितनीलादिभेदेन यथैकं दृश्यते नभः । भ्रांतदृष्टिभिरात्मापि तथैकः सन्पृथक् पृथक् ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

sitanīlādibhedena yathaikaṃ dṛśyate nabhaḥ | bhrāṃtadṛṣṭibhirātmāpi tathaikaḥ sanpṛthak pṛthak || 90 ||

Translation

ଯେପରି ଏକ ନଭ ଶ୍ୱେତ-ନୀଳ ଆଦି ଭେଦରେ ଭିନ୍ନ ଭିନ୍ନ ଦିଶେ, ସେପରି ଆତ୍ମା ମଧ୍ୟ ଏକ ହୋଇ ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ଭ୍ରାନ୍ତଦୃଷ୍ଟିଙ୍କୁ ପୃଥକ୍ ପୃଥକ୍ ଭାବେ ଲାଗେ।

Word by Word

• सितनीलादिभेदेन: by distinctions such as white and blue
• सितनीलादिभेदेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; cause of appearance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सित + नील + आदि + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः: (सित-नील-आदि)-भेद = तत्पुरुष (differences such as white/blue etc.)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक (comparative: just as)

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• नभः: the sky
• नभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भ्रान्तदृष्टिभिः: by deluded perceptions
• भ्रान्तदृष्टिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रान्त + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (bhrāntā dṛṣṭiḥ)

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (also/even)

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (so/likewise)

• एकः: one (alone)
• एकः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

• पृथक्: distinctly (again)
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches non-dual insight: the Self is one, but due to भ्रम (bhrānti, delusion) it is perceived as many—like the single sky seeming to have different colors.

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

By removing mistaken perception, devotion becomes purified: the devotee learns to see one divine Reality behind all names and forms, strengthening single-pointed bhakti rather than fragmented attachment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is viveka—discriminating between reality (one Atman) and appearance (many due to deluded vision).