Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17
Māsopavāsa (Month-long Fast) and Repeated Parāka Observances: Procedure and Fruits
मासोपवाषट्कं यः करोति सुसमाहितः । ज्योतिष्टोस्य यज्ञस्य फलं सोऽष्टगुणं लभेत् ॥ १७ ॥
māsopavāṣaṭkaṃ yaḥ karoti susamāhitaḥ | jyotiṣṭosya yajñasya phalaṃ so'ṣṭaguṇaṃ labhet || 17 ||
যি ব্যক্তি সুসমাহিত চিত্তে ছয়টা মাসিক উপবাস কৰে, সি জ্যোতিষ্টোম যজ্ঞৰ ফল অষ্টগুণ লাভ কৰে।
Narada
Vrata: māsa-upavāsa (monthly fast observance; sixfold cycle)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It elevates disciplined fasting (vrata/upavāsa) done with mental steadiness as a powerful dharmic practice, declaring it can yield merit surpassing major Vedic soma-sacrifices.
Though it speaks in terms of merit, the emphasis on being "susamāhita" (collected and intent) highlights inner sincerity—an essential bhāva that supports devotional observances and steadies the mind for worship.
It references the Jyotiṣṭoma yajña, pointing to śrauta ritual knowledge (kalpa) and the traditional framework of measuring phala (ritual merit) by comparison with recognized Vedic sacrifices.