Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
आश्रमं कारयेद्यस्तु बहुजन्तूपकारकम् । स याति ब्रह्मभुवनं कुलत्रयसमन्वितः ॥ १८ ॥
āśramaṃ kārayedyastu bahujantūpakārakam | sa yāti brahmabhuvanaṃ kulatrayasamanvitaḥ || 18 ||
جو بہت سے جانداروں کے فائدے کے لیے آشرم بنواتا ہے، وہ اپنے خاندان کی تین نسلوں سمیت برہما کے لوک کو پاتا ہے۔
Narada (teaching in a dharma-upadesha context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that dharmic public welfare—creating a place of refuge that helps many beings—becomes a powerful source of puṇya that can lead to higher heavenly attainment, specifically Brahmaloka.
While not directly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it supports bhakti in practice by emphasizing compassionate service (dayā and loka-hita) as a dharmic expression of devotion, where care for beings is treated as spiritually elevating.
It highlights applied dharma rather than a specific Vedāṅga: the practical principle of loka-saṅgraha (public benefit) guiding righteous works such as establishing shelters/āśramas as a meritorious act.