Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
दुर्वृत्ताः सागराः सर्वे लोकोपद्र वकारिणः । अनुष्ठानवतां नित्यमन्तराया भवन्ति ते ॥ ७४ ॥
durvṛttāḥ sāgarāḥ sarve lokopadra vakāriṇaḥ | anuṣṭhānavatāṃ nityamantarāyā bhavanti te || 74 ||
Tous les océans ont une nature indocile et troublent le monde ; pour ceux qui s’adonnent aux observances du dharma, ils deviennent sans cesse des obstacles sur la voie de la pratique.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the “ocean” as a symbol of restless, world-disturbing forces that repeatedly test a practitioner’s steadiness in anuṣṭhāna (disciplined observance), highlighting the need for perseverance despite recurring impediments (antarāya).
By stressing constant obstacles to practice, it implies that bhakti and vrata require unwavering continuity—devotion is proven by steadiness when external conditions (like vast, turbulent “oceans” of life) disrupt routine worship and vows.
The verse emphasizes anuṣṭhāna-prayoga (the practical execution of rites and vows): maintaining regularity, anticipating interruptions, and preserving ritual discipline—an applied ritual principle rather than a technical lesson in śikṣā or vyākaraṇa.