Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38
Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation
यदि क्रोधादिदुष्टात्मा पूजाध्यानपरो भवेत् । न तस्य तुष्यते विष्णुर्यतो धर्मपतिः स्मृतः ॥ ३८ ॥
yadi krodhādiduṣṭātmā pūjādhyānaparo bhavet | na tasya tuṣyate viṣṇuryato dharmapatiḥ smṛtaḥ || 38 ||
क्रोध इत्यादी दोषांनी अंतःकरण दूषित असले तरी कोणी पूजा-ध्यानात तत्पर राहिला, तरी विष्णु त्याच्यावर प्रसन्न होत नाहीत; कारण ते धर्माचे स्वामी मानले आहेत.
Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in the dharma-bhakti discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that external devotion (pūjā, dhyāna) must be grounded in dharma and inner purification; anger-driven conduct contradicts the very Lord being worshiped, who is Dharma’s master.
Bhakti is not only ritual performance but a transformation of character—control of krodha and allied faults is essential for devotion to become pleasing to Viṣṇu.
It emphasizes prayoga (right application) of ritual and discipline: worship must align with dharma and sadācāra (ethical conduct); otherwise the intended fruit of pūjā is obstructed by inner doṣas like anger.