Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative
आचाराणांतु सर्वेषां योगानां चैव सत्तम् । हरिभक्तेपरि तथा निदानं भक्तिरिष्यते ॥ २८ ॥
ācārāṇāṃtu sarveṣāṃ yogānāṃ caiva sattam | haribhaktepari tathā nidānaṃ bhaktiriṣyate || 28 ||
Parmi toutes les règles de conduite et toutes les disciplines du yoga, ô le meilleur des vertueux, la dévotion (bhakti) est proclamée comme la cause décisive — surtout lorsqu’elle est dévotion à Hari.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It establishes bhakti—specifically devotion to Hari—as the root cause and crowning principle that gives efficacy and direction to all dharmic conduct and yogic practice.
It frames bhakti not as one option among many, but as the decisive nidāna (primary basis) that elevates and fulfills other paths—especially when centered on Hari (Vishnu).
No specific Vedanga (e.g., Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is that correct ācāra (right conduct) and yogic methods should be anchored in Hari-bhakti to bear their highest fruit.