Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

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

Advaita

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मण उवाच । तथेत्युक्त्वा निदाधेन प्रणिपातपुरः सरम् । पूजितः परया भक्त्यानिच्छितः प्रययौ विभुः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaṇa uvāca | tathetyuktvā nidādhena praṇipātapuraḥ saram | pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyānicchitaḥ prayayau vibhuḥ || 68 ||

Translation

梵天说道：“如是。”言毕，那位大能者即刻离去——在此之前，尼达迦先行顶礼伏地，以至高的奉爱供奉他，尽管主并未求取此等礼敬。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: so, indeed
• तथा: Vākyopapada (वाक्योपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुमत्यर्थ/प्रकारवाचक (assent: ‘so be it’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)

• निदाधेन: by Nidāgha
• निदाधेन: Kartṛ-sahakārī / Agent-instrument (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रणिपात-पुरःसरम्: with prostration in front (as the foremost act)
• प्रणिपात-पुरःसरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणिपात (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (प्रणिपातः पुरः यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as manner/attendant circumstance)

• सरम्: the lake/pond
• सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजितः: having been honored/worshipped
• पूजितः: Karta (कर्ता) (of ‘prayayau’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परया: supreme, highest
• परया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of भक्त्या)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनिच्छितः: unasked, unsolicited
• अनिच्छितः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न + इच्छित (इष्/इच्छ् धातु से क्त)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकार-निषेधपूर्वक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विभुः)

• प्रययौ: departed, went away
• प्रययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विभुः: the Lord, the mighty one
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Nidagha
• Vibhu (Lord)

FAQs

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

It highlights that true devotion expresses itself as humble surrender (praṇipāta) and reverent worship, and that the Divine does not require praise—yet grace flows when devotion is offered sincerely.

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

Bhakti is shown as “parā bhakti”—supreme devotion—manifesting through respectful approach, prostration, and honoring the Lord/teacher without bargaining for outcomes; the Lord’s departure “unsought” underscores divine independence and the purity of selfless devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects practical dharmic conduct rather than a technical Vedāṅga: proper ācāra in approaching a revered being—praṇipāta (obeisance) and pūjā (honoring)—as foundational discipline supporting higher mokṣa-oriented instruction.