Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
धर्मराज उवाच । देवतायतनं यस्तु कुरुते कारयत्यपि । शिवस्यापि हरेर्वापि तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु 1. ॥ १ ॥
dharmarāja uvāca | devatāyatanaṃ yastu kurute kārayatyapi | śivasyāpi harervāpi tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu 1. || 1 ||
ધર્મરાજ બોલ્યા—જે કોઈ દેવતાનું મંદિર બનાવે છે અથવા બનાવડાવે છે, તે શિવનું હોય કે હરિ (વિષ્ણુ)નું, તેના પુણ્યફળને હવે સાંભળો।
Dharmaraja
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates temple construction (or commissioning it) as a high dharmic act whose merit (puṇya-phala) is explicitly affirmed, framing devotion as something that can be expressed through enduring sacred infrastructure.
Bhakti is shown here as seva expressed through creating a permanent abode for the deity—whether for Śiva or Hari—emphasizing sincere worship and support of public devotion rather than sectarian limitation.
The verse primarily highlights ritual-dharma (temple-related religious duty) rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it points to correct religious patronage—funding/organizing sacred construction as an accepted dharmic practice.