Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14
Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative
असूयोपेतमनसां भक्तिदानादिकर्म्म यत् । अवेहि निष्फलं ब्रहंस्तेषां दूरतरो हरिः ॥ १४ ॥
asūyopetamanasāṃ bhaktidānādikarmma yat | avehi niṣphalaṃ brahaṃsteṣāṃ dūrataro hariḥ || 14 ||
Oh brāhmaṇa, sabe que cualesquiera actos que tales personas realicen—devoción (bhakti), caridad (dāna) y otros—cuando su mente está colmada de envidia que busca faltas, se vuelven estériles; para ellos, Hari permanece muy lejos.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'brahman')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that inner disposition determines spiritual fruit: if the mind is tainted by asūyā (jealous fault-finding), even outwardly pious acts like devotion and charity fail to bring one closer to Hari.
Bhakti is not merely performance; it must be accompanied by a non-envious, non-derisive heart. When devotion is mixed with contempt for others, the relationship with Vishnu does not mature, and Hari remains ‘distant’.
The verse underscores ritual efficacy principles central to Dharma-śāstra and Kalpa (practical application of rites): intention and mental purity are prerequisites for karmic and spiritual results, not mere external correctness.