Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5
The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Viṣṇor Māhātmya
संसारसागरं तर्तुं य इच्छेन्मुनिपुङ्गव । स भजेद्धरिभक्तानां भक्तान्वै पापहारिणः ॥ ५ ॥
saṃsārasāgaraṃ tartuṃ ya icchenmunipuṅgava | sa bhajeddharibhaktānāṃ bhaktānvai pāpahāriṇaḥ || 5 ||
O bester der Weisen! Wer den Ozean des Saṃsāra überqueren will, soll die Bhaktas Haris ehren und ihnen dienen—jenen Hingebenen, die wahrlich die Sünde hinwegnehmen.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)
FAQs
It teaches that liberation-oriented progress (crossing saṃsāra) is supported not only by direct worship of Hari but also by reverent association and service to Hari’s devotees, who are described as destroyers of sin.
Bhakti here is framed as practical devotion: one should “bhajet” (honor/serve) Hari-bhaktas. Serving devotees is presented as a powerful, purifying limb of Vaiṣṇava bhakti that helps one overcome karmic obstacles.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharmic conduct—sadhu-saṅga and seva (service)—as an applied discipline supporting purity and mokṣa.