Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

उपर्यहं यथा राजा त्वमधःकुंजरो यथा । अवबोधाय ते ब्रह्मन्दृष्टांतो दर्शितो मया ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

uparyahaṃ yathā rājā tvamadhaḥkuṃjaro yathā | avabodhāya te brahmandṛṣṭāṃto darśito mayā || 81 ||

Translation

ดังที่เราสถิตอยู่เบื้องบนดุจพระราชา ฉันใด เจ้าก็อยู่เบื้องล่างดุจช้างฉันนั้น โอ้พราหมณ์ เราได้แสดงอุปมานี้เพื่อให้เจ้าบังเกิดความเข้าใจ

Word by Word

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle/adverb

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• अधःकुञ्जरः: the below (one), the elephant below
• अधःकुञ्जरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधः+कुञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय (अधः स्थितः कुञ्जरः)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle/adverb

• अवबोधाय: for understanding
• अवबोधाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose (for understanding)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th), Singular

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दृष्टान्तः: example, illustration
• दृष्टान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दर्शितः: shown
• दर्शितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with दृष्टान्तः

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'brahman')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

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).

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

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.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

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.