Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77
Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama
भृत्यमित्रादिसंयुक्तः स्वयं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः । द्विजानां भोज्यमश्रीयात्पात्रं नैव परित्यजेत् ॥ ७७ ॥
bhṛtyamitrādisaṃyuktaḥ svayaṃ bhuñjīta vāgyataḥ | dvijānāṃ bhojyamaśrīyātpātraṃ naiva parityajet || 77 ||
Accompanied by servants, friends, and the like, one should eat oneself with speech restrained. One should partake of food fit for the dvijas (twice-born), and one should never disrespectfully discard one’s eating vessel.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It frames eating as a dharmic act: restraint in speech, choosing appropriate (pure) food, and maintaining respect for ritual implements like the eating vessel—supporting inner discipline (saṃyama) and purity (śauca).
While not directly praising Bhakti, it supports devotional life by cultivating sattvic habits—controlled speech and clean conduct—which are treated in Purāṇic teaching as foundations for steady worship and mantra practice.
It most closely aligns with Kalpa (ritual discipline) and Smārta-ācāra: practical rules of purity, proper consumption, and respectful handling of utensils used in daily observances.