Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
स्वधर्महीना भक्तिश्वाप्यकृतैव प्रकीर्तिता । यत्तु पृष्टं त्वया भूयस्तत्सर्वं गदितं मया ॥ १५६ ॥
svadharmahīnā bhaktiśvāpyakṛtaiva prakīrtitā | yattu pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā bhūyastatsarvaṃ gaditaṃ mayā || 156 ||
Even devotion (bhakti) that is devoid of one’s own prescribed duties (svadharma) has been described as ineffective. And whatever more you asked of me—everything has been explained by me.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It emphasizes that devotion should be integrated with svadharma (one’s rightful duties); devotion that rejects dharma is taught here as spiritually unproductive, and the teacher concludes that the inquiry has been fully answered.
It frames bhakti as a disciplined path: devotion is not meant to be an excuse for abandoning righteous conduct, but to sanctify and fulfill one’s life of duty while moving toward liberation.
The verse points to dharma-application rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it reinforces the Vedic principle of aligning conduct with prescribed duties (smarta/vaidika discipline) while practicing devotion.