Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण उवाच । भूयः पृच्छसि किं श्रेयः परमार्थेन पृच्छसि । श्रेयांसि परमार्थानि ह्यशेषाण्येन भूपते ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa uvāca | bhūyaḥ pṛcchasi kiṃ śreyaḥ paramārthena pṛcchasi | śreyāṃsi paramārthāni hyaśeṣāṇyena bhūpate || 12 ||

Translation

婆罗门说道：“你又问何为至善；你以至上宗旨而发问。诚然，国王啊，一切真实的‘善’无非就是那至高的终极目标本身。”

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇaḥ: the brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhūyaḥ: again / further
• bhūyaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• pṛcchasi: you ask
• pṛcchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• śreyaḥ: the good / the beneficial (highest good)
• śreyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramārthena: by/with the highest purpose (in the ultimate sense)
• paramārthena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); समास: parama + artha (तत्पुरुष)

• pṛcchasi: you ask
• pṛcchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śreyāṃsi: benefits / goods
• śreyāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• paramārthāni: ultimate / pertaining to the highest purpose
• paramārthāni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paramārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण; समास: parama + artha (तत्पुरुष)

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• aśeṣāṇi: without remainder / all
• aśeṣāṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण

• ena: by this / with this
• ena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūpate: O king
• bhūpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); समास: bhū + pati (तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Brāhmaṇa (unnamed teacher/sage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that the truest welfare (śreyas) is inseparable from the supreme end (paramārtha)—liberation—so sincere spiritual inquiry should be oriented toward the ultimate goal, not merely worldly benefit.

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

By defining “real good” as the supreme aim, it supports the Narada Purana’s bhakti-oriented worldview: devotion is valuable when it is pursued as a direct means to the highest end (paramārtha), not as a tool for temporary gains.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is hermeneutic—evaluate rituals, vows, and disciplines by whether they lead to paramārtha (the ultimate purpose).