Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33
Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa
वक्रां दग्धां खंडितां च भिन्नमूर्द्धदृशं पुनः । स्पष्टां वाप्यन्त्यजाद्यैश्च प्रतिमां नैव पूजयेत् ॥ ३३ ॥
vakrāṃ dagdhāṃ khaṃḍitāṃ ca bhinnamūrddhadṛśaṃ punaḥ | spaṣṭāṃ vāpyantyajādyaiśca pratimāṃ naiva pūjayet || 33 ||
لا ينبغي قطّ عبادة صورةٍ معوجّة، أو محترقة، أو مكسورة، أو متفتّتة؛ ولا صورةٍ تضرّر رأسُها أو نظرتُها. وكذلك الصورة غير المتقنة الصنع أو المشوّهة بالعيوب واللطخات وما شابهها لا تُعبد.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It teaches that worship must be offered to a properly formed and ritually fit pratimā; defects and defilement obstruct the intended sacred focus and the integrity of the rite.
Bhakti here is disciplined devotion: reverence is expressed by maintaining purity, correctness, and care in the external supports of worship, so the mind can rest steadily on the deity.
It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge (kalpa/ācāra and allied śilpa considerations): identifying pratimā-doṣas (iconic defects) and knowing when an image is unfit for pūjā.