Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
मार्गशुक्लचतुर्थ्यां तु वर्षं यावन्मुनीश्वरा । क्षपयेदेकभक्तेन नक्तेनाथ द्वितीयकम् ॥ ५५ ॥
mārgaśuklacaturthyāṃ tu varṣaṃ yāvanmunīśvarā | kṣapayedekabhaktena naktenātha dvitīyakam || 55 ||
Ô le meilleur des sages, à partir de la Caturthī (quatrième jour lunaire) de la quinzaine claire de Mārgaśīrṣa, qu’on observe ce vœu pendant une année entière : le jour, un seul repas (ekabhakta), puis la seconde observance en nakta, jeûnant le jour et prenant nourriture la nuit.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada and assembled sages)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It prescribes a disciplined year-long vrata aligned to a specific lunar tithi, emphasizing self-restraint (upavāsa) as a dharmic means to purify conduct and stabilize devotion.
By regulating food and daily routine through ekabhakta and nakta, the practitioner reduces sensory distraction and sustains steady devotional focus—an applied form of bhakti supported by vrata.
It uses tithi- and month-based timing (lunar calendar practice connected to Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga) and specifies fasting modes (vrata-vidhi) such as ekabhakta and nakta.