Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81
द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्
Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months
तत्रकुर्याद्गवां पूजां गोग्रासं गोप्रदक्षिणाम् । गवानुगमनं दानं वांछन्सर्वाश्च संपदः ॥ ८१ ॥
tatrakuryādgavāṃ pūjāṃ gogrāsaṃ gopradakṣiṇām | gavānugamanaṃ dānaṃ vāṃchansarvāśca saṃpadaḥ || 81 ||
An diesem Tag soll man die Kühe verehren, ihnen einen Bissen Futter (gogrāsa) darbringen und sie in Pradakṣiṇā rechtsum umschreiten. Wer alle Wohlergehen wünscht, soll den Kühen ehrfürchtig folgen und Gaben in Wohltätigkeit spenden.
Narada (teaching in a dharma/ritual instruction context)
Vrata: Gopāṣṭamī-vrata (context continuation)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
The verse presents go-sevā (service to cows)—worship, feeding, and circumambulation—as a dharmic act that generates puṇya and supports overall well-being (sampad), linking prosperity with compassionate, sattvic conduct.
By prescribing reverent acts like go-pūjā and pradakṣiṇā, it frames devotion as embodied service and honour toward sacred life, cultivating humility and gratitude—core dispositions that nourish bhakti.
It primarily highlights ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct): prescribed acts such as pradakṣiṇā and dāna as structured observances, rather than technical Vedāṅga disciplines like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.