Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
मृदैव कुरुते यस्तु देवतायतनं नरः । यावत्पुण्यं भवेत्तस्य तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ ५ ॥
mṛdaiva kurute yastu devatāyatanaṃ naraḥ | yāvatpuṇyaṃ bhavettasya tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu || 5 ||
Wer für eine Gottheit ein Heiligtum (einen Tempel) errichtet, selbst wenn nur aus Lehm, erlangt ein Maß an Verdienst. Höre, wie ich darlege, wie groß dieses Verdienst ist.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It elevates even simple, accessible acts—like making a deity’s shrine from clay—into a powerful dharmic deed, emphasizing intention, reverence, and support of worship as sources of puṇya.
By valuing the creation of a devatāyatana, the verse points to bhakti expressed through tangible service (sevā): preparing a sacred space that enables remembrance, worship, and ongoing devotion.
Ritual application (kalpa in practice) is implied: establishing a proper place for worship and consecratory intent, even if the material is simple (clay), is treated as a meritorious religious act.