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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 ||

جیسے ایک ہی آسمان سفید، نیلا وغیرہ بھیدوں سے مختلف دکھائی دیتا ہے، ویسے ہی آتما بھی ایک ہو کر بھٹکی ہوئی نظر والوں کو جدا جدا معلوم ہوتی ہے۔

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).