Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 142
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
देवापूजापरान्दृष्ट्वा मात्सर्याद्योऽर्चयेद्धीरम् । सा भक्तिः पृथिवीपाल तामसी चोत्तमा स्मृता ॥ १४२ ॥
devāpūjāparāndṛṣṭvā mātsaryādyo'rcayeddhīram | sā bhaktiḥ pṛthivīpāla tāmasī cottamā smṛtā || 142 ||
Wahai pelindung bumi, melihat orang lain tekun dalam pemujaan kepada Tuhan, lalu karena iri ia memuja orang yang teguh—bhakti itu dikenang sebagai tāmasika jenis ‘utama’.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; addressing a king as 'pṛthivīpāla')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It classifies devotion by inner motive: worship arising from jealousy (mātsarya) is labeled tāmasī, showing that intention—not mere outward ritual—determines spiritual quality.
It warns that bhakti should be rooted in reverence and purity; imitating worship only because others are devoted, and doing so with envy, keeps the heart in tamas and blocks genuine devotion.
No specific Vedanga technique is taught; the practical takeaway is dharma-application in ritual life—examining one’s bhāva (inner disposition) before pūjā so that worship aligns with sattva rather than tamas.