Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57
The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months
Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas
वर्षं नयेद्व्रतांते तु प्रतिमा द्वादशापि च । हैमीः संपूज्य विधिना भोजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् ॥ ५७ ॥
varṣaṃ nayedvratāṃte tu pratimā dvādaśāpi ca | haimīḥ saṃpūjya vidhinā bhojayitvā dvijottamān || 57 ||
Debe llevar el voto durante un año entero; y al concluir la observancia, ha de venerar debidamente doce imágenes de oro y luego alimentar a los más eminentes de los dos veces nacidos (excelentes brāhmaṇas).
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada Purana dialogue frame)
Vrata: Dvādaśa-Āditya-vrata
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that a vow is perfected not only by personal restraint over time (a full year) but also by a disciplined concluding rite—formal worship and charitable feeding—so the merit becomes complete (pūrṇa) and socially beneficial.
Bhakti here is expressed through regulated worship (vidhinā sampūjya) and service to sacred persons (feeding dvijottamas), showing devotion as both ritual reverence and compassionate offering.
It emphasizes Kalpa (ritual procedure): performing vrata for a fixed duration, concluding with prescribed pratimā-pūjā and brāhmaṇa-bhojana as part of correct vrata-vidhi.