Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
व्रतमध्ये मृगैर्वापि रोगैर्वापि निषूदितः । गोनिमित्तं द्विजार्थं वा प्राणान्वापि परित्यजेत् ॥ १३ ॥
vratamadhye mṛgairvāpi rogairvāpi niṣūditaḥ | gonimittaṃ dvijārthaṃ vā prāṇānvāpi parityajet || 13 ||
Si, au milieu du vœu, l’on est tué par des bêtes sauvages ou terrassé par la maladie, ou si l’on abandonne même sa vie pour une vache ou pour le bien d’un brāhmaṇa, une telle mort est tenue pour juste selon le dharma.
Narada (teaching within Vrata-Dharma context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that steadfastness in vrata-dharma is so weighty that even death occurring during the observance—or self-sacrifice for protecting a cow or aiding a brāhmaṇa—is treated as a righteous, meritorious end aligned with dharma.
While not explicitly naming a deity here, it supports bhakti through the ethic of surrender and steadfastness: a devotee’s vow (vrata) is upheld even under extreme adversity, reflecting single-pointed commitment that underlies Vishnu-bhakti disciplines.
It primarily reflects Kalpa (ritual law) principles—how vrata observances are evaluated under unforeseen conditions like disease or fatal accidents—clarifying dharmic outcomes when a vow is interrupted by unavoidable death.