Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
कथयन्तश्च तत्कर्म नयन्ते नरकान्क्रमात् । अन्यं भजन्ते भूपाल पतिं त्यक्त्वा च याः स्त्रियः ॥ ७२ ॥
kathayantaśca tatkarma nayante narakānkramāt | anyaṃ bhajante bhūpāla patiṃ tyaktvā ca yāḥ striyaḥ || 72 ||
Y aquellos que hablan aprobando tal conducta conducen (a sí mismos y a otros) paso a paso hacia los infiernos. Oh rey, también aquellas mujeres que abandonan a su marido y se asocian con otro (incurren en tal caída).
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to the king as 'bhūpāla')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)
Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)
FAQs
It warns that not only wrongful acts, but also endorsing or narrating them approvingly, becomes a cause of spiritual decline—leading one gradually toward naraka; it also stresses the gravity of breaking marital vows.
By implication, bhakti requires śuddha-ācāra (pure conduct) and śuddha-vāk (pure speech); praising adharma and violating vows obstruct devotion by strengthening pāpa-saṃskāras and turning the mind away from dharmic living.
No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti regarding speech (vāk-śuddhi) and household ethics (gṛhastha-dharma), which support correct ritual and devotional life.