Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33
The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Viṣṇor Māhātmya
शून्यं विष्णुगृहं दृष्ट्वा प्रविष्टश्च स्त्रिया सह । निशि रामोपभोगार्थं शयितं तत्र कामिना ॥ ३३ ॥
śūnyaṃ viṣṇugṛhaṃ dṛṣṭvā praviṣṭaśca striyā saha | niśi rāmopabhogārthaṃ śayitaṃ tatra kāminā || 33 ||
Voyant le temple de Viṣṇu désert, l’homme en proie à la luxure y entra avec une femme ; et la nuit, voulant jouir des plaisirs charnels, il s’y allongea.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It highlights that a Viṣṇu-temple is a sacred space meant for worship; entering it with lustful intent and using it for sensual pleasure is a grave breach of dharma (a form of aparādha) that obstructs spiritual merit.
Bhakti requires reverence (śraddhā) and purity of intent; the verse contrasts devotion with kāma-driven behavior, implying that true Viṣṇu-bhakti is incompatible with treating the deity’s abode as a place for indulgence.
It implicitly points to dharma-śāstra style norms of śauca (ritual purity) and ācāra (proper conduct) connected with worship and sacred places, rather than a technical Vedāṅga like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.