Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72
द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्
Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months
ततस्तु चतुरो विप्रान् षोडशापि सुवासिनीः । मिष्टान्नेनाशयित्वा तु विसृजेत्ताः सदक्षिणाः ॥ ७२ ॥
tatastu caturo viprān ṣoḍaśāpi suvāsinīḥ | miṣṭānnenāśayitvā tu visṛjettāḥ sadakṣiṇāḥ || 72 ||
Dann soll man vier Brahmanen und ebenso sechzehn suvāsinīs, glückverheißende verheiratete Frauen, mit süßer Speise bewirten; nachdem man sie zufrieden gestellt hat, soll man sie ehrerbietig entlassen, zusammen mit angemessener dakṣiṇā.
Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; ritual instruction voice)
Vrata: none (vrata-vidhi context; specific name not stated here)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It emphasizes dharmic completion of a rite through annadāna (feeding) and dakṣiṇā—honoring worthy recipients so the ritual bears merit (puṇya) and becomes ethically whole.
By directing the devotee to serve and honor others after worship, it frames devotion as practical seva—offering food and gifts as an extension of reverence and gratitude.
Ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice): specific recipients (vipras, suvāsinīs), the act of feeding (bhojana), and concluding with dakṣiṇā as a prescribed completion step.