Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
अश्वमेधायुतफलं भवेत्तस्य जनेश्वर । भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैः फलैर्वापि शून्यं लिङ्गं प्रपूज्य च ॥ १२५ ॥
aśvamedhāyutaphalaṃ bhavettasya janeśvara | bhakṣyairbhojyaiḥ phalairvāpi śūnyaṃ liṅgaṃ prapūjya ca || 125 ||
O Herr der Menschen, für ihn wird die Frucht derjenigen von zehntausend Aśvamedha gleich, wenn er den formlosen (unmanifesten) Liṅga gebührend verehrt, selbst mit einfachen Gaben—Speisen, zubereiteten Gerichten oder Früchten.
Narada (teaching in a didactic passage; addressing a king/householder as 'janeśvara')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It elevates sincere Liṅga-pūjā—performed even with modest offerings—by declaring its merit comparable to vast Vedic sacrifices, emphasizing inner devotion over ritual expense.
By stating that fruits, food, or simple edibles are sufficient for great spiritual reward, the verse teaches accessibility of worship: heartfelt reverence to the Liṅga is paramount, not opulence.
Ritual practice (kalpa-style procedure) is implied: proper pūjā (prapūjya) with permissible naivedya offerings (bhakṣya, bhojya, phala) and the doctrine of ritual fruit (phala-śruti).