Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20
Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative
स्वाचारमनतिक्रम्य हरिभक्तिपरो हि यः । स याति विष्णुभवनं यद्वै पश्यन्ति सूरयः ॥ २० ॥
svācāramanatikramya haribhaktiparo hi yaḥ | sa yāti viṣṇubhavanaṃ yadvai paśyanti sūrayaḥ || 20 ||
One who does not transgress his own proper conduct (svācāra) and is devoted to Hari in bhakti indeed goes to the abode of Viṣṇu—that realm beheld by the wise seers.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that liberation-oriented devotion is not lawless; steadfast Hari-bhakti must be grounded in svācāra (one’s rightful dharma), leading to Viṣṇu’s abode known to realized seers.
Bhakti is presented as single-pointed devotion to Hari, but practiced without abandoning ethical and scriptural conduct—this integrated path is said to culminate in attaining Viṣṇu-bhavana.
The verse emphasizes applied dharma through right conduct (ācāra), which in practice relies on smṛti-based norms and correct observance of rites—supported indirectly by Vedāṅga disciplines like Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Vyākaraṇa (clarity of scriptural meaning).