Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
स्वधर्महीना भक्तिश्वाप्यकृतैव प्रकीर्तिता । यत्तु पृष्टं त्वया भूयस्तत्सर्वं गदितं मया ॥ १५६ ॥
svadharmahīnā bhaktiśvāpyakṛtaiva prakīrtitā | yattu pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā bhūyastatsarvaṃ gaditaṃ mayā || 156 ||
स्वधर्म से रहित भक्ति भी निष्फल कही गई है। और तुमने जो आगे पूछा था, वह सब मैंने कह दिया है।
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It emphasizes that devotion should be integrated with svadharma (one’s rightful duties); devotion that rejects dharma is taught here as spiritually unproductive, and the teacher concludes that the inquiry has been fully answered.
It frames bhakti as a disciplined path: devotion is not meant to be an excuse for abandoning righteous conduct, but to sanctify and fulfill one’s life of duty while moving toward liberation.
The verse points to dharma-application rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it reinforces the Vedic principle of aligning conduct with prescribed duties (smarta/vaidika discipline) while practicing devotion.