Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
आश्रमं कारयेद्यस्तु बहुजन्तूपकारकम् । स याति ब्रह्मभुवनं कुलत्रयसमन्वितः ॥ १८ ॥
āśramaṃ kārayedyastu bahujantūpakārakam | sa yāti brahmabhuvanaṃ kulatrayasamanvitaḥ || 18 ||
Whoever causes an āśrama (a shelter or hermitage) to be built for the benefit of many living beings attains Brahmā’s world, accompanied by merit that uplifts three generations of his lineage.
Narada (teaching in a dharma-upadesha context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that dharmic public welfare—creating a place of refuge that helps many beings—becomes a powerful source of puṇya that can lead to higher heavenly attainment, specifically Brahmaloka.
While not directly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it supports bhakti in practice by emphasizing compassionate service (dayā and loka-hita) as a dharmic expression of devotion, where care for beings is treated as spiritually elevating.
It highlights applied dharma rather than a specific Vedāṅga: the practical principle of loka-saṅgraha (public benefit) guiding righteous works such as establishing shelters/āśramas as a meritorious act.