Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16
Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama
आतुरे नियमो नास्ति महापदि तथैव च । गंधलेपक्षयकरं शौर्चं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः ॥ १६ ॥
āture niyamo nāsti mahāpadi tathaiva ca | gaṃdhalepakṣayakaraṃ śaurcaṃ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ || 16 ||
病者不当强行严苛之规；逢大灾难之时亦复如是。明辨之人，当行能除秽臭与身垢之清净法。
Narada (teaching within a dharma/śauca context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied for Book 1.1)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches apaddharma: when illness or major crisis prevents normal observances, dharma is preserved by doing the essential minimum—purification sufficient to remove impurity—rather than rigidly insisting on full ritual procedure.
By prioritizing practicable purity over strict formalism, the verse supports steady devotional life in difficult times—maintaining basic cleanliness and sincerity so worship and remembrance are not abandoned due to unavoidable constraints.
It reflects Kalpa-style ritual pragmatism: rules (niyamas) have contextual application, and in emergencies the operative standard is functional śauca—cleanliness that effectively removes defilement—rather than exhaustive procedure.