Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

श्रेय स्तस्यैव संयोगः श्रेयो यः परमात्मनः । श्रेयांस्येवमनेकानि शतशोऽथ सहस्त्रशः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śreya stasyaiva saṃyogaḥ śreyo yaḥ paramātmanaḥ | śreyāṃsyevamanekāni śataśo'tha sahastraśaḥ || 16 ||

Translation

至善确是那合一本身——即由与至尊我（Paramātman）相应而生的无上之善。如此，诸般有益之道多不胜数，或以百计，乃至以千计。

Word by Word

• śreyaḥ: the good
• śreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• saṃyogaḥ: union
• saṃyogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śreyaḥ: (is) beneficial
• śreyaḥ: Vidhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: which / who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यत्-शब्द), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramātmanaḥ: of the Supreme Self
• paramātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); समास: parama + ātman (कर्मधारय)

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

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• anekāni: many
• anekāni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds
• śataśaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Distributive adverb (विभागवाचक अव्यय)

• atha: and then / also
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), sequential

• sahasraśaḥ: by thousands
• sahasraśaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Distributive adverb (विभागवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on Moksha-dharma and śreyas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman

FAQs

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

It defines true śreyas (the highest welfare) as saṃyoga—direct union/communion with the Paramātman—placing liberation above all secondary goods.

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

By identifying the supreme good as communion with the Supreme Self, it supports the bhakti ideal of continual connection (yoga) with the Divine as the culmination of all auspicious practices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is discernment (viveka) between many lesser ‘goods’ and the highest goal—union with the Paramātman.