Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
हस्ते गृहीत्वा मुष्कं तु गच्छंद्वै नैऋतीं दिशम् । गच्छन्मार्गै सुखं दुःखं न कदाचिद्विचारयेत् ॥ ५८ ॥
haste gṛhītvā muṣkaṃ tu gacchaṃdvai naiṛtīṃ diśam | gacchanmārgai sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ na kadācidvicārayet || 58 ||
Держа (отсеченное) в руке, следует идти в юго-западном направлении; и, двигаясь по пути, никогда не следует помышлять об удовольствии или боли.
Narada (in instruction mode within the Purva-bhaga dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches disciplined conduct: even during bodily or ritual procedures, one should follow prescribed rules and remain mentally steady, not oscillating with pleasure and pain.
By emphasizing equanimity toward sukha and duḥkha, it supports the bhakti ideal of steadiness—performing one’s duties and observances without being driven by personal comfort, keeping the mind fit for remembrance of the Divine.
It reflects applied ritual procedure and discipline (kalpa-style conduct) and uses traditional directional awareness (diśā-jñāna), a common feature in Vedic/Smārta ritual manuals referenced across Purāṇic instruction.