Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40
Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation
तपः पूजाध्यानपरोयस्त्वसूयारतो भवेत् । तत्तपः सा च पूजा च तद्ध्यानं हि निरर्थकम् ॥ ४० ॥
tapaḥ pūjādhyānaparoyastvasūyārato bhavet | tattapaḥ sā ca pūjā ca taddhyānaṃ hi nirarthakam || 40 ||
أما إذا كان المداوم على الزهد والنسك والعبادة والتأمل قد استغرق في الحسد وسوء الظن وتتبّع العيوب، فإن ذلك النسك وتلك العبادة وذلك التأمل يغدو حقًّا بلا ثمرة.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches that inner defects like asūyā (envy and fault-finding) cancel the spiritual fruit of tapas, pūjā, and dhyāna; outer practice must be supported by inner purity.
Bhakti requires humility and goodwill; if one worships while harboring malice toward others, devotion becomes performative and loses its transformative power.
It emphasizes the practical discipline behind ritual life: correct conduct (ācāra) and mental restraint are essential supports for meaningful pūjā and meditative practice, beyond mere technical performance.