Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19
समाप्य यज्ञनिष्क्रांतो वशिष्टः स्नातकोऽपि च । अत्रान्तरे राक्षसोऽसौ नृपहिम्सितभार्यकः । कर्तुं प्रतिक्रियां राज्ञे समायातोरुषान्वितः ॥ १९ ॥
samāpya yajñaniṣkrāṃto vaśiṣṭaḥ snātako'pi ca | atrāntare rākṣaso'sau nṛpahimsitabhāryakaḥ | kartuṃ pratikriyāṃ rājñe samāyātoruṣānvitaḥ || 19 ||
Matapos ganapin ang yajña, si Vasiṣṭha—na natapos din ang paglilinis na paliligo ng isang snātaka—ay umalis. Samantala, ang rākṣasa na yaon, na ang asawa’y napinsala dahil sa hari, ay dumating na nag-aalab sa galit upang maghiganti sa hari.
Suta (narrating the Purana’s account)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It contrasts ritual completion (yajña and snātaka purity) with moral failure in kingship: dharma is not upheld by rites alone, and harmful acts trigger inevitable karmic reactions through conflict and retaliation.
Indirectly, it sets the ethical ground for bhakti: devotion in the Purāṇic vision rests on ahiṃsā, self-restraint, and dharmic conduct; without these, even sacred rites cannot prevent suffering and turmoil.
Ritual discipline is implied through the yajña’s completion and the snātaka observance—pointing to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and the idea of post-ritual purity and conduct expected after a sacrifice.