Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75
द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्
Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months
अत्राशोकस्य पूजा स्यादेकभक्तं तथा स्मृतम् । कृत्वाऽशोकव्रतं नारी ह्यशोका शोकजन्मनि ॥ ७५ ॥
atrāśokasya pūjā syādekabhaktaṃ tathā smṛtam | kṛtvā'śokavrataṃ nārī hyaśokā śokajanmani || 75 ||
Hier soll die Verehrung des Aśoka (Baum/Gottheit) vollzogen werden, und ebenso ist ekabhakta vorgeschrieben, nämlich nur eine Mahlzeit zu nehmen. Eine Frau, die das Aśoka-vrata ausführt, wird wahrhaft „aśokā“, frei von Kummer, selbst in einer Geburt, die sonst von Leid geprägt wäre.
Narada (teaching in a vrata-vidhi context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: Aśoka-vrata
Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)
Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)
FAQs
It teaches that disciplined vow-observance (vrata) combined with worship (pūjā) transforms one’s karmic experience, granting the state of aśoka—freedom from sorrow—even when circumstances would normally produce grief.
Bhakti is expressed here through pūjā performed with niyama (rule-bound discipline). The verse highlights devotion embodied as a concrete ritual commitment—worship plus controlled living (ekabhakta).
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: it specifies a vrata component—ekabhakta (single daily meal)—as part of correct observance, showing how ritual rules structure religious practice.