Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25
Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative
वेदो वा हरिभक्तिर्वा भक्तिर्वापि महेश्वरे । आचारात्पतितं मूढं न पुनाति द्विजोत्तम ॥ २५ ॥
vedo vā haribhaktirvā bhaktirvāpi maheśvare | ācārātpatitaṃ mūḍhaṃ na punāti dvijottama || 25 ||
اے بہترینِ دُویج! خواہ وید ہو، ہری کی بھکتی ہو یا مہیشور کی بھکتی بھی—جو آچار سے گِر چکا ہو، اس گمراہ کو ان میں سے کوئی پاک نہیں کرتا۔
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It asserts that inner purification depends on dharmic conduct (ācāra); even sacred learning or devotion loses its purifying power when a person lives contrary to righteous behavior.
It teaches that bhakti to Hari (and even to Maheśvara) must be supported by sadācāra—ethical discipline and proper conduct—otherwise devotion becomes ineffective for spiritual cleansing.
The verse foregrounds ācāra (normative conduct) as the practical application of Vedic life—implying that ritual knowledge and recitation must be accompanied by disciplined behavior in daily duties.