Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
व्रतमध्ये मृगैर्वापि रोगैर्वापि निषूदितः । गोनिमित्तं द्विजार्थं वा प्राणान्वापि परित्यजेत् ॥ १३ ॥
vratamadhye mṛgairvāpi rogairvāpi niṣūditaḥ | gonimittaṃ dvijārthaṃ vā prāṇānvāpi parityajet || 13 ||
若于持戒之中，或为猛兽所害，或为疾病所夺；乃至为护一牛、为成就婆罗门之福祉而舍身——此等死亡，皆被称许为合乎正法。
Narada (teaching within Vrata-Dharma context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that steadfastness in vrata-dharma is so weighty that even death occurring during the observance—or self-sacrifice for protecting a cow or aiding a brāhmaṇa—is treated as a righteous, meritorious end aligned with dharma.
While not explicitly naming a deity here, it supports bhakti through the ethic of surrender and steadfastness: a devotee’s vow (vrata) is upheld even under extreme adversity, reflecting single-pointed commitment that underlies Vishnu-bhakti disciplines.
It primarily reflects Kalpa (ritual law) principles—how vrata observances are evaluated under unforeseen conditions like disease or fatal accidents—clarifying dharmic outcomes when a vow is interrupted by unavoidable death.