Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4
Śreyas and Paramārtha: The Ribhu–Nidāgha Teaching on Non-Dual Self
Advaita
नाहं वहामि शिबिकां शिबिका मयि न स्थिता । शरीरमन्यदस्मत्तो येनेयं शिबिका धृता ॥ ४ ॥
nāhaṃ vahāmi śibikāṃ śibikā mayi na sthitā | śarīramanyadasmatto yeneyaṃ śibikā dhṛtā || 4 ||
«Eu não carrego o palanquim, pois o palanquim não repousa em mim. O corpo é algo distinto de mim; é por este corpo que este palanquim é sustentado».
A self-realized sage/teacher (instructing through Atma-viveka within the Moksha-Dharma dialogue framework)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches deha–ātma-viveka: the Self is not the physical body and therefore is not the true “doer.” The palanquin metaphor points to liberation through dis-identification from bodily action and ego.
By loosening egoic doership (“I carry”), it supports surrender (śaraṇāgati). In Vishnu-bhakti, actions continue through the body, but the devotee inwardly offers agency to the Lord, cultivating humility and freedom from attachment.
Primarily Vyākaraṇa-level clarity of agency and instrumentality: “aham” (agent) is denied, while “yena” indicates the instrument (body). The practical takeaway is disciplined self-inquiry in daily action—separating the witness (ātman) from bodily function.