Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

निदाधनामायोगज्ञस्तस्य शिष्योऽभवत्पुरा । दिव्ये वर्षसहस्त्रे तु समतीतेऽस्य तत्पुरम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

nidādhanāmāyogajñastasya śiṣyo'bhavatpurā | divye varṣasahastre tu samatīte'sya tatpuram || 40 ||

Translation

往昔，精通瑜伽的尼达陀那（Nidādhana）曾为其弟子；及至一千天年流逝之后，他便抵达其居处。

Word by Word

• निदाघ-नाम: (one) named Nidāgha
• निदाघ-नाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन्/नाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः = ‘निदाघः नाम यस्य सः’

• योग-ज्ञः: knower of yoga
• योग-ज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण to (निदाघ-नाम)

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

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/Imperfect-like past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: formerly)

• दिव्ये: divine
• दिव्ये: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन; विशेषण to वर्षसहस्त्रे

• वर्ष-सहस्त्रे: in a thousand years
• वर्ष-सहस्त्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• समतीते: when (it) had elapsed
• समतीते: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अति-इ (धातु)
• Form: कृत् (क्त) past participle used locative absolute; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन; (वर्षसहस्त्रे) understood

• अस्य: of this (one)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण to पुरम्

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nidādhana

FAQs

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

It highlights the guru–disciple transmission of yogic knowledge and indicates that sustained spiritual discipline culminates in reaching one’s destined spiritual abode after the maturation of time and practice.

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

While the verse is primarily yogic and lineage-focused, it supports Bhakti indirectly by affirming disciplined discipleship under a realized teacher—an essential framework also used in Vishnu-bhakti traditions for steady progress toward the Lord’s realm.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly employs puranic time-reckoning (“divine years”), aligning with Jyotisha-style chronological framing rather than a ritual or grammar instruction.