Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45
Manvantaras and Indras; Sudharmā’s Liberation through Viṣṇu-Pradakṣiṇā; Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti
वहन्मां स्वमुखेनैव भीतोऽन्यैर्भषणैस्तथा । गतः प्रदक्षिणा कारं विष्णोस्तन्मंदिरं प्रभो ॥ ४५ ॥
vahanmāṃ svamukhenaiva bhīto'nyairbhaṣaṇaistathā | gataḥ pradakṣiṇā kāraṃ viṣṇostanmaṃdiraṃ prabho || 45 ||
തന്റെ തന്നെ വായിൽ എന്നെ വഹിച്ച്, മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ ഭീഷണിയും പരിഹാസവും കണ്ടു ഭയപ്പെട്ട്, ഹേ പ്രഭോ, അവൻ ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ ആ ക്ഷേത്രത്തെ പ്രദക്ഷിണയായി ചുറ്റി നടന്നു।
Narada (narrating within the Purva-bhaga dialogue tradition to the Sanatkumara brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It highlights pradakṣiṇā of Viṣṇu’s temple as a powerful devotional act: even when performed under fear or pressure, turning one’s movement and attention around the Lord becomes a karmically purifying, merit-producing gesture of reverence.
Bhakti is shown as action-centered and accessible: physically honoring Viṣṇu (mandira-pradakṣiṇā) can arise even from imperfect motives, yet it still directs the devotee toward surrender and remembrance of the Lord.
The verse reflects ritual etiquette rather than a technical Vedāṅga: it implies correct temple practice—pradakṣiṇā (keeping the deity to one’s right) as a standard dharmic observance in Viṣṇu worship.