Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 131
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
यावत्कणानुकल्पं तु तिष्ठेत देवसन्निधौ । मृदा धातुविकारैर्वा यो लिम्पेद्देवतागृहम् ॥ १३१ ॥
yāvatkaṇānukalpaṃ tu tiṣṭheta devasannidhau | mṛdā dhātuvikārairvā yo limpeddevatāgṛham || 131 ||
Walau hanya seketika—seumpama masa sebutir zarah—sesiapa yang berada di hadapan Deva, atau yang menampal dan membaiki rumah Tuhan dengan tanah liat atau ramuan daripada logam, perbuatannya menjadi pahala yang amat besar.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It elevates simple proximity to the Deity and practical temple upkeep (plastering/repair) as powerful acts of dharma, showing that devotion expressed through service yields great spiritual merit even when the act seems small or brief.
Bhakti here is defined as tangible seva: being present before the Deity with reverence and supporting the Deity’s abode through maintenance—devotion becomes action, not merely emotion.
Ritual praxis (kalpa-oriented temple service) is implied: correct, respectful maintenance of a devatā-gṛha is treated as a regulated devotional act within dharma, emphasizing applied ritual discipline rather than grammar or astrology.