Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77
Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola
Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography
निष्कामो वा सकामो वा कुर्यात्कर्म यथाविधि । स्वाश्रमाचारशून्यश्च पतितः प्रोच्यते बुधैः ॥ ७७ ॥
niṣkāmo vā sakāmo vā kuryātkarma yathāvidhi | svāśramācāraśūnyaśca patitaḥ procyate budhaiḥ || 77 ||
Whether one acts without desire or with desire, one should perform one’s duties according to the prescribed rule; but one who is devoid of the conduct proper to one’s own āśrama is declared by the wise to be fallen.
Narada (instructional discourse context within Purva Bhaga teachings)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It defines dharma as disciplined, rule-based duty (yathāvidhi) and warns that abandoning one’s āśrama-ācāra is spiritually ruinous, regardless of whether one’s actions are desireless or desire-driven.
It supports bhakti indirectly by insisting that devotion is grounded in dharmic living—steady āśrama conduct and prescribed duties create purity and steadiness that sustain genuine devotion.
The emphasis on yathāvidhi points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style observance—performing rites and duties with correct method rather than improvisation.