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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

आकाशानुगतत्वाद्धि दुर्ग्राह्यो हि निराश्रयः । तथा शरीरसंत्यागे जीवो ह्याकाशवत्स्थितः ॥ २४ ॥

ākāśānugatatvāddhi durgrāhyo hi nirāśrayaḥ | tathā śarīrasaṃtyāge jīvo hyākāśavatsthitaḥ || 24 ||

เพราะสอดคล้องกับสภาวะแห่งอากาศธาตุ (อากาศ/ākāśa) จึงยากจะยึดจับและไร้ที่พึ่งพิงทางวัตถุ ฉันใด เมื่อสละกายแล้ว ชีวะก็ดำรงดุจอากาศ—และสงบด้วยการระลึกถึงนารายณะฉันนั้น

आकाश-अनुगतत्वात्because of being pervaded by/merged in space
आकाश-अनुगतत्वात्:
Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootआकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगतत्व (प्रातिपदिक; अनुगत + त्व)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आकाशस्य अनुगतत्वम्)
हिindeed/for
हि:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (indeed/for)
दुर्ग्राह्यःhard to grasp
दुर्ग्राह्यः:
Visheshya-predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषण/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ग्रह् धातोः ण्यत्/यत्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त (graspable) with दुर्- (hard to)
हिindeed
हि:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (indeed)
निराश्रयःwithout support
निराश्रयः:
Visheshya-predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषण/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर् (उपसर्ग) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्गान्त-प्रातिपदिक (without support)
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Upamana/Prakara (प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; तद्वत्/एवमेव (in the same way)
शरीर-संत्यागेat the abandonment of the body
शरीर-संत्यागे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootशरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + संत्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शरीरस्य संत्यागः)
जीवःthe living being (jīva)
जीवः:
Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootजीव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
हिindeed
हि:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (indeed)
आकाशवत्like space
आकाशवत्:
Upamana (उपमान)
TypeAdjective
Rootआकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
Formअव्ययवत्-प्रयोग; उपमानवाचक तद्धितान्त (like space)
स्थितःabides/is situated
स्थितः:
Vidhaya (विधेय/प्रेडिकेट)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त; क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

It teaches that the jīva is subtle and non-material—like space—so it is not truly “held” by the body; death is described as the jīva’s remaining in its own subtle mode rather than being destroyed.

By loosening identification with the perishable body, the seeker can direct devotion toward the imperishable Lord; the verse supports bhakti with viveka (discernment) and vairāgya (detachment).

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is philosophical discernment (viveka) used in sādhana—seeing the jīva as subtle and not reducible to bodily form.