Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20
Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā
साधवः कीदृशाः प्रोक्तास्तथा पुण्यं च कीदृशम् । स्मर्तव्यश्च कथं विष्णुस्तस्य पूजा च कीदृशी ॥ २० ॥
sādhavaḥ kīdṛśāḥ proktāstathā puṇyaṃ ca kīdṛśam | smartavyaśca kathaṃ viṣṇustasya pūjā ca kīdṛśī || 20 ||
«¿Qué clase de personas son declaradas verdaderos sādhus, los virtuosos? ¿Y qué se dice que es el mérito real (puṇya)? ¿De qué modo debe recordarse al Señor Viṣṇu, y cuál es la forma apropiada de adorarlo?»
Nārada (questioning Sanatkumāra and the Sanaka brothers’ teaching line)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse frames the core devotional inquiry: it asks for authoritative definitions of a true sādhu and true puṇya, and it seeks practical instruction on Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and Viṣṇu-pūjā—linking ethics (dharma) with devotion (bhakti).
Bhakti is presented as both remembrance and worship of Viṣṇu; the verse implies that genuine merit is not merely ritual action, but devotion guided by right understanding of saintly conduct and proper pūjā.
The verse points toward ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice) through its question about the proper form of pūjā, though it does not name a specific Vedāṅga explicitly in this line.