Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16
The Exposition of the Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa
वाचकं पुस्तकं चापि पूजयित्वा विधानतः । गंधाद्यैर्भोज्यभक्ष्यैश्च कृत्वा नीराजनादिकम् ॥ १६ ॥
vācakaṃ pustakaṃ cāpi pūjayitvā vidhānataḥ | gaṃdhādyairbhojyabhakṣyaiśca kṛtvā nīrājanādikam || 16 ||
Having duly worshipped, according to the prescribed procedure, both the reciter and the sacred book, one should perform ārati and the related rites, offering fragrances and other items, along with cooked foods and edible offerings.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that scripture is to be approached as sacred—honoring both the text and the one who transmits it—so that listening/recitation becomes a consecrated act of dharma and devotion rather than mere reading.
By prescribing worship, offerings, and ārati around the act of recitation, the verse frames hearing and teaching Purāṇas as bhakti-sādhana—devotion expressed through reverent service (seva) to the word of the tradition.
It reflects ritual procedure (kalpa-style vidhi): correct sequencing of pūjā, naivedya (food offerings), and nīrājana (ārati) as part of a formal recitation setting.