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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

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

Advaita

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

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

ดุจท้องฟ้าอันเดียวถูกเห็นว่าแตกต่างเป็นขาว น้ำเงิน เป็นต้น ฉันใด อาตมันก็ฉันนั้น แม้เป็นหนึ่งเดียว แต่ผู้มีทัศนะหลงผิดกลับเห็นว่าแยกเป็นหลายส่วน

सितनीलादिभेदेनby distinctions such as white and blue
सितनीलादिभेदेन:
Karana (करण/Instrument; cause of appearance)
TypeNoun
Rootसित + नील + आदि + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः: (सित-नील-आदि)-भेद = तत्पुरुष (differences such as white/blue etc.)
यथाjust as
यथा:
Upamana (उपमान/Comparison marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, उपमानवाचक (comparative: just as)
एकम्one (single)
एकम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
दृश्यतेis seen/appears
दृश्यते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)
नभःthe sky
नभः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
भ्रान्तदृष्टिभिःby deluded perceptions
भ्रान्तदृष्टिभिः:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootभ्रान्त + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (bhrāntā dṛṣṭiḥ)
आत्माthe Self
आत्मा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, particle (also/even)
तथाso/likewise
तथा:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (so/likewise)
एकःone (alone)
एकः:
Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
सन्being
सन्:
Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject qualifier)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formशतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
पृथक्separately
पृथक्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)
पृथक्distinctly (again)
पृथक्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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.

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.

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).