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 ||
Dengan membawa aku di dalam mulutnya sendiri, dan kerana takut akan ugutan serta ejekan orang lain, dia pun mengelilingi kuil Tuhan Viṣṇu dalam pradakṣiṇā, wahai Tuan.
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.