Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
यावत्पांसु युगावासं वैष्णवे मन्दिरे लभेत् । शीर्णं स्फटिकलिङ्गं तु यः संदध्यान्नृपोत्तम ॥ १२८ ॥
yāvatpāṃsu yugāvāsaṃ vaiṣṇave mandire labhet | śīrṇaṃ sphaṭikaliṅgaṃ tu yaḥ saṃdadhyānnṛpottama || 128 ||
Wahai raja terbaik, sebagaimana tinggal dan melayani di kuil Vaiṣṇava walau sekejap memberi pahala besar, demikian pula pahala itu diperoleh oleh orang yang memperbaiki dan menegakkan kembali lambang kristal (liṅga) yang telah aus.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It elevates temple-service (mandira-sevā) to a high dharmic act, teaching that even brief association with a Vaiṣṇava temple yields immense merit, and that restoring sacred icons is a powerful form of puṇya and devotion.
Bhakti here is expressed as practical service—maintaining the Lord’s abode and repairing sacred emblems—showing devotion through preservation, care, and reverence rather than mere speech.
Ritual competence (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the proper repair/re स्थापना (saṃdhāna) of sacred icons and temple upkeep as regulated religious duty, especially relevant for rulers overseeing dharma.