Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31
Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative
स्वाश्रमाचारयुक्तस्य हरिभक्तिर्यदा भवेत् । न तस्य त्रिषु लोकेषु सदृशोऽस्त्यजनन्दन ॥ ३१ ॥
svāśramācārayuktasya haribhaktiryadā bhavet | na tasya triṣu lokeṣu sadṛśo'styajanandana || 31 ||
ಹೇ ಅಜನಂದನ! ಸ್ವಾಶ್ರಮಾಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿತನಾದವನಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಿಭಕ್ತಿ ಉದಯವಾದಾಗ, ಮೂರು ಲೋಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಸಮಾನನಾದವನು ಯಾರೂ ಇಲ್ಲ.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares that the highest excellence is attained when Hari-bhakti blossoms in a person who faithfully lives according to their āśrama-dharma; such a devotee becomes unsurpassed in all the worlds.
Bhakti is shown as harmonizing with dharma: devotion to Hari is not presented as disorderly emotion, but as the mature fruit of disciplined life and right conduct within one’s āśrama.
It emphasizes applied dharma—ācāra (proper conduct) aligned with one’s āśrama—rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is that scripturally guided discipline supports the rise of bhakti.