Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41
The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months
मार्गशीर्षे शक्लषष्ठ्यां निहतस्तारकासुरः । स्कंदेन सत्कृतिः प्राप्ता ब्रहमाद्यैः परिकल्पिता ॥ ४१ ॥
mārgaśīrṣe śaklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ nihatastārakāsuraḥ | skaṃdena satkṛtiḥ prāptā brahamādyaiḥ parikalpitā || 41 ||
Au sixième jour clair (Śukla-Ṣaṣṭhī) de Mārgaśīrṣa, Skanda abattit l’asura Tārakāsura ; et Skanda reçut les honneurs qui lui étaient dus, tels que les ordonnèrent Brahmā et les autres dieux.
Narada (in an anukramaṇikā-style narration within Book 1.4)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It sanctifies a specific sacred time (Mārgaśīrṣa Śukla-Ṣaṣṭhī) by linking it to Skanda’s victory over adharma (Tārakāsura) and to the divine recognition of dharmic order established by Brahmā and the gods.
Bhakti is expressed through remembrance of Skanda’s divine deed and through offering satkāra (reverent honor) to the deity, aligning one’s worship with the precedents set by the devas.
It highlights calendrical discipline—using the lunar tithi (Śukla-Ṣaṣṭhī) and month (Mārgaśīrṣa) for timing rites—an applied aspect of Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) used in Narada Purana rituals.