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

جس طرح میں اوپر بادشاہ کی مانند ہوں، اسی طرح تم نیچے ہاتھی کی مانند ہو۔ اے برہمن! تمہیں سمجھانے کے لیے میں نے یہ مثال (دِرِشٹانت) دکھائی ہے۔

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.