Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68
Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama
यस्तु संध्यादिकर्माणि कूटयुक्तिविशारदः । परित्यजति तं विद्यान्महापातकिनां वरम् ॥ ६८ ॥
yastu saṃdhyādikarmāṇi kūṭayuktiviśāradaḥ | parityajati taṃ vidyānmahāpātakināṃ varam || 68 ||
Kẻ nào tuy tinh ranh trong lối biện luận gian trá mà lại từ bỏ nghi lễ Sandhyā và các bổn phận thánh thiện hằng ngày—hãy biết người ấy là kẻ đứng đầu trong hàng đại tội nhân.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-upadesha context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)
Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)
FAQs
It warns that neglecting obligatory daily disciplines like Sandhyā is not a minor lapse but a serious spiritual fall, especially when justified through clever, misleading arguments.
It implies that genuine devotion is supported by integrity and steadiness in prescribed duties; abandoning foundational practices through rationalization undermines sincerity and inner purity needed for bhakti.
Ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented practice of nitya-karmas) is emphasized, along with discernment against sophistry—using reasoning to evade śāstric injunctions.