Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76
Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala
भोक्ता च श्राद्धकृत्तस्यां रजन्यां मैथुनं त्यजेत् । तथा स्वाध्यायमध्वानं प्रयत्नेन परित्यजेत् ॥ ७६ ॥
bhoktā ca śrāddhakṛttasyāṃ rajanyāṃ maithunaṃ tyajet | tathā svādhyāyamadhvānaṃ prayatnena parityajet || 76 ||
On that night, both the one who partakes of the śrāddha meal and the performer of the śrāddha should abstain from sexual intercourse; likewise, they should carefully refrain from svādhyāya (Vedic self-recitation) and from travel.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It frames śrāddha as a disciplined rite requiring restraint and ritual focus; abstaining from sensuality, travel, and even svādhyāya that night preserves śauca (purity) and steadiness of mind for honoring the ancestors.
By prescribing self-control and reverence during śrāddha, it supports bhakti as disciplined service—placing sacred duty above personal pleasure—thereby aligning conduct with dharmic devotion.
It highlights ritual discipline (kalpa/ācāra) in practice: timing-based restrictions and behavioral niyamas for śrāddha, emphasizing procedural correctness and purity rules central to Vedic rites.