Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं तु जपेद्वै वेदमातरम् । पापानामधिकं पापं द्विजदैवतनिंदनम् ॥ ८९ ॥
aṣṭottarasahasraṃ tu japedvai vedamātaram | pāpānāmadhikaṃ pāpaṃ dvijadaivataniṃdanam || 89 ||
वेदमातेचा अष्टोत्तर-सहस्र जप निश्चयाने करावा. पर देवतुल्य द्विजांची निंदा ही सर्व पापांहूनही अधिक महापाप आहे.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on dharma and proper conduct)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It prioritizes inner purity and right conduct: even meritorious japa (1008 repetitions) is undermined by the grave fault of nindā—especially insulting those upheld as custodians of Vedic dharma.
Bhakti is not only repetition of sacred names/mantras but also humility and reverence; contempt toward dharmic elders and Vedic custodians is presented as a major obstacle to spiritual progress.
It reflects prayoga-based discipline: the standard count of 1008 for japa (a common ritual measure in mantra-sādhanā) and the dharma-śāstric principle that nindā-doṣa can negate religious merit.