Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

जगाम स ऋभुः शिष्यं निदाघमवलोकितुम् । स तस्य वैश्वदेवंति द्वारालोकनगोचरः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

jagāma sa ṛbhuḥ śiṣyaṃ nidāghamavalokitum | sa tasya vaiśvadevaṃti dvārālokanagocaraḥ || 41 ||

Translation

Bấy giờ Ṛbhu đi đến để gặp đệ tử Nidāgha. Khi ấy Nidāgha đang cử hành nghi lễ Vaiśvadeva, và Ṛbhu đứng nơi cửa, trong tầm mắt của người ấy.

Word by Word

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• ऋभुः: Ribhu
• ऋभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• शिष्यम्: disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

• निदाघम्: Nidāgha
• निदाघम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; शिष्यम् apposition

• अवलोकितुम्: to see/visit
• अवलोकितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक (purpose)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), एकवचन

• वैश्वदेव-अन्ति: near the Vaiśvadeva (shrine/rite place)
• वैश्वदेव-अन्ति: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वैश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; अन्ति = समीपे (near), whole used adverbially

• द्वार-आलोकन-गोचरः: coming within sight of the doorway
• द्वार-आलोकन-गोचरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + आलोकन (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण to सः

Speaker

Suta (narrating the episode within the Moksha-dharma discourse; traditional framing in Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Vaiśvadeva (nitya-karma, part of pañca-mahāyajña)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ṛbhu
• Nidāgha
• Vaiśvadeva

FAQs

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

It places a liberation-oriented teaching (mokṣa-dharma) inside ordinary life: the guru approaches while the disciple is performing daily duty, indicating that wisdom and realization are to be integrated with nitya-karmas rather than postponed.

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

By highlighting the Vaiśvadeva rite—an offering made in a spirit of reverence and gratitude—it points to devotional attitude expressed through daily worshipful action, which later matures into deeper surrender and self-knowledge in the Ṛbhu–Nidāgha dialogue.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa/karma-kāṇḍa application) is implied through Vaiśvadeva—timing, procedure, and offerings of a daily rite—showing how disciplined observance supports purity of mind, a prerequisite for mokṣa teachings.