Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20
Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation
आचार्यः प्लाविता तस्य ज्ञानं प्लव इहोच्यते । विज्ञाय कृतकृत्यस्तु तीर्णस्तत्रोभयं त्यजेत् ॥ २० ॥
ācāryaḥ plāvitā tasya jñānaṃ plava ihocyate | vijñāya kṛtakṛtyastu tīrṇastatrobhayaṃ tyajet || 20 ||
สำหรับผู้นั้น อาจารย์คือผู้พาข้ามฝั่ง และญาณในที่นี้เรียกว่าเรือข้ามฟาก ครั้นรู้ตัตตวะแล้วเป็นผู้สำเร็จกิจ เมื่อข้ามถึงฝั่งแล้วพึงวางทั้งสอง—อาจารย์และญาณ—ในฐานะเป็นเพียงอุปายะ।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that guru and jñāna are indispensable means to cross saṃsāra, but after direct realization one should not cling to the instruments—freedom includes non-attachment even to sacred means.
While the verse is framed in jñāna-language, it supports bhakti by emphasizing surrender to guidance (ācārya) and then resting in the attained truth without egoic clinging to methods—mature devotion culminates in effortless abiding.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is sādhanā-viveka—treat teachings and techniques as a raft for crossing, not as possessions to be held onto after realization.