Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16
Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama
आतुरे नियमो नास्ति महापदि तथैव च । गंधलेपक्षयकरं शौर्चं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः ॥ १६ ॥
āture niyamo nāsti mahāpadi tathaiva ca | gaṃdhalepakṣayakaraṃ śaurcaṃ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ || 16 ||
For one who is sick, no strict rule is to be enforced; the same applies in times of great calamity. A discerning person should perform such purification as removes foul smell and bodily soiling.
Narada (teaching within a dharma/śauca context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied for Book 1.1)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches apaddharma: when illness or major crisis prevents normal observances, dharma is preserved by doing the essential minimum—purification sufficient to remove impurity—rather than rigidly insisting on full ritual procedure.
By prioritizing practicable purity over strict formalism, the verse supports steady devotional life in difficult times—maintaining basic cleanliness and sincerity so worship and remembrance are not abandoned due to unavoidable constraints.
It reflects Kalpa-style ritual pragmatism: rules (niyamas) have contextual application, and in emergencies the operative standard is functional śauca—cleanliness that effectively removes defilement—rather than exhaustive procedure.