Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
क्रूरे कर्माणि चाग्नेयाः सौम्याः सौम्य फलप्रदाः । शांतज्ञानेतिरौद्रेयशांतिजाति समन्वितः ॥ १२ ॥
krūre karmāṇi cāgneyāḥ saumyāḥ saumya phalapradāḥ | śāṃtajñānetiraudreyaśāṃtijāti samanvitaḥ || 12 ||
क्रूर कर्मे अग्नि-प्रकारची मानली जातात, आणि सौम्य कर्मे सौम्य फळ देतात। हा भेद ‘शांत’ व ‘ज्ञान’ असा ही सांगितला असून, रौद्र व शांती-जात कर्मप्रकारांशीही संबंधित आहे।
Narada (teaching within a Vedanga/ritual-taxonomy context, traditionally in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It teaches that actions/rites carry a corresponding “type” and therefore a corresponding result: fierce (Agni/raudra) acts generate fierce outcomes, while gentle (saumya/śānta) acts generate gentle, pacifying outcomes—guiding the practitioner to choose rites aligned with intended dharmic ends.
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by implying that sāttvika, śānta-oriented worship and conduct produce harmonious spiritual fruits; devotional practice is typically aligned with saumya/śānta dispositions rather than raudra, harm-causing impulses.
A technical, Vedanga-style categorization of ritual acts (karma) by their nature (Agni/saumya; raudra/śānti) and expected karma-phala, useful for selecting appropriate prayoga (ritual application) and śānti-karmas (appeasing rites).