Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य परमार्थाश्रितं नृप । प्रणिपत्य महाभागो निदाघो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

ityākarṇya vacastasya paramārthāśritaṃ nṛpa | praṇipatya mahābhāgo nidāgho vākyamabravīt || 64 ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา ครั้นได้สดับถ้อยคำของท่านที่ตั้งอยู่ในสัจธรรมสูงสุดแล้ว นิดาฆะผู้มีบุญยิ่งได้กราบนอบน้อม แล้วจึงกล่าวถ้อยคำต่อไป

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-निपात (thus)

• ākarṇya: having heard
• ākarṇya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√kṛṇ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘आकर्ण्य’ = having heard

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• paramārtha-āśritam: based on the highest truth
• paramārtha-āśritam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (परमार्थं आश्रितम् = based on highest truth)

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• praṇipatya: having prostrated
• praṇipatya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘प्रणिपत्य’ = having bowed down

• mahābhāgaḥ: the fortunate one
• mahābhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्य)

• nidāghaḥ: Nidāgha
• nidāghaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidāgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• vākyam: a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating); verse reports Nidagha speaking next

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nidagha

FAQs

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

It highlights the Moksha-Dharma attitude of śravaṇa (attentive listening) followed by praṇipāta (humble surrender), showing that receptivity and reverence prepare the seeker for higher instruction rooted in paramārtha (ultimate truth).

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

Though not explicitly naming bhakti, the act of bowing after hearing truth-bearing instruction reflects devotional humility and guru-vandana—key dispositions that support Vishnu-bhakti and steady spiritual practice in Narada Purana’s Moksha context.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the discipline of śravaṇa and respectful conduct toward the teacher, which underpins effective learning of śāstra and its technical sciences.