Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38
Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation
यदि क्रोधादिदुष्टात्मा पूजाध्यानपरो भवेत् । न तस्य तुष्यते विष्णुर्यतो धर्मपतिः स्मृतः ॥ ३८ ॥
yadi krodhādiduṣṭātmā pūjādhyānaparo bhavet | na tasya tuṣyate viṣṇuryato dharmapatiḥ smṛtaḥ || 38 ||
यदि कोई क्रोध आदि से दूषित अंतःकरण वाला होकर भी पूजा और ध्यान में लगा रहे, तो भी विष्णु उससे प्रसन्न नहीं होते; क्योंकि वे धर्म के स्वामी माने गए हैं।
Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in the dharma-bhakti discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that external devotion (pūjā, dhyāna) must be grounded in dharma and inner purification; anger-driven conduct contradicts the very Lord being worshiped, who is Dharma’s master.
Bhakti is not only ritual performance but a transformation of character—control of krodha and allied faults is essential for devotion to become pleasing to Viṣṇu.
It emphasizes prayoga (right application) of ritual and discipline: worship must align with dharma and sadācāra (ethical conduct); otherwise the intended fruit of pūjā is obstructed by inner doṣas like anger.