Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30
Śokanivāraṇa: Non-brooding, Impermanence, Contentment, and Śuka’s Renunciation
देवानिष्ट्वा तपस्तप्त्वा कृपणैः पुत्रहेतुभिः । दशमासान्परिधृता जायते कुलपांसनाः ॥ ३० ॥
devāniṣṭvā tapastaptvā kṛpaṇaiḥ putrahetubhiḥ | daśamāsānparidhṛtā jāyate kulapāṃsanāḥ || 30 ||
देवों की पूजा और तप करने पर भी, यदि कृपण लोग केवल पुत्र-प्राप्ति के लोभ से ऐसा करें, तो दस मास गर्भ में धारण होकर जो संतान जन्मती है, वह कुल की धूल-सी कलंक बनती है।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It warns that ritual (deva-yajana) and austerity (tapas) performed with narrow, selfish intent—especially mere progeny-seeking—can yield spiritually barren results, producing outcomes that burden the family and obstruct dharma and moksha.
By implication, it contrasts desire-based worship with worship offered in a purified spirit. Bhakti is not bargaining for results; it is devotion aligned with dharma and inner transformation, not merely achieving worldly aims like a son.
It highlights the principle of ritual intentionality central to Vedic practice (yajna/tapas): the motive (hetu) and inner disposition (kṛpaṇatā vs. purity) determine the fruit, a key practical takeaway for conducting rites and vows in a dharmic way.