Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
नाशयत्येव पापानि विष्णुर्हृद्गमनः सताम् । संपर्काद्यदि वा मोहाद्यस्तु पूजयते हरिम् ॥ ९६ ॥
nāśayatyeva pāpāni viṣṇurhṛdgamanaḥ satām | saṃparkādyadi vā mohādyastu pūjayate harim || 96 ||
Viṣṇu—who abides in the hearts of the virtuous—surely destroys sins. Even if someone worships Hari merely due to association, or even out of delusion, that worship still becomes sin-destroying.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches that Hari-bhakti has intrinsic purifying power: Viṣṇu destroys sins, and even imperfect or accidental beginnings of worship can still lead to purification.
Bhakti is shown as effective even when initiated through saṅga (association) or confusion; once worship of Hari begins, it becomes a cleansing force that turns the mind toward the Lord who dwells in the hearts of the good.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is sādhana-guidance: keep holy association (satsaṅga) and continue pūjā, since even an imperfect start yields spiritual purification.