Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31
Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State
प्रेतभूतप्रियश्चैव देवता ह्युपयाचनम् । मृतकर्मनिवत्तिं च प्रमाणमिति निश्चयः ॥ ३१ ॥
pretabhūtapriyaścaiva devatā hyupayācanam | mṛtakarmanivattiṃ ca pramāṇamiti niścayaḥ || 31 ||
C’est une conclusion établie que voici les signes : une divinité qui se complaît parmi les pretas et les bhūtas, la demande (par cette divinité) d’offrandes, et l’encouragement de rites destinés aux morts—tout cela est tenu pour preuve (d’une telle nature).
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It gives discernment: worship that centers on pretas/bhūtas, demands offerings through solicitation, and leans toward dead-rites is presented as a recognizable sign of a lower, binding ritual tendency rather than a liberating (moksha-oriented) path.
By contrast, it implies that sāttvika bhakti is not driven by fear of spirits or transactional begging for offerings; it turns the seeker toward higher devotion and inner purification rather than preta-centered propitiation.
Ritual discernment (kalpa-oriented practical judgment) is implied—how to evaluate the character of a worship practice by its stated focus (preta/bhūta), its mode (upayācana), and its ritual aim (mṛtakarma).