Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months
गन्धपुष्पैस्तथाभ्यर्च्य गीतवाद्यपुरःसरैः । तच्च दद्याद्द्विजेन्द्राय नैवेद्यादि द्विजोत्तम ॥ २३ ॥
gandhapuṣpaistathābhyarcya gītavādyapuraḥsaraiḥ | tacca dadyāddvijendrāya naivedyādi dvijottama || 23 ||
Nachdem man gebührend mit Duftstoffen und Blumen verehrt hat, begleitet von Gesang und Instrumentalmusik, soll man dann diese Gabe—zusammen mit Naivedya (Speiseopfer) und dergleichen—dem Vornehmsten unter den Zweimalgeborenen darbringen, o erhabener Brahmane.
Narada (in dialogue context of teachings transmitted among sages, commonly framed with Sanatkumara tradition in this section)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that worship is completed not only by inner devotion but also by respectful upacāras—fragrance, flowers, sacred music—and by concluding with dāna/offerings to a worthy dvija, turning pūjā into lived dharma.
Bhakti is shown as joyful, participatory worship—sung praise and instruments—joined with tangible service (naivedya and giving), indicating devotion that becomes generosity and reverence toward sacred recipients.
It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure): the sequence of pūjā upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, gīta-vādya) and the proper conclusion through naivedya and offering to an eligible dvijendra.