Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2
The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months
Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana
चैत्रे तु शुक्लसप्तम्यां बहिः स्नानं समाचरेत् । स्थंडिले गोमयालिप्ते गौरमृत्तिकयास्तृते ॥ २ ॥
caitre tu śuklasaptamyāṃ bahiḥ snānaṃ samācaret | sthaṃḍile gomayālipte gauramṛttikayāstṛte || 2 ||
Au mois de Caitra, lors de la Saptamī de la quinzaine claire, on doit se baigner dehors selon le rite, sur un sthaṇḍila préparé, enduit de bouse de vache et recouvert d’une argile pâle et jaunâtre.
Narada (instructional narration within vrata/ritual context)
Vrata: Saptamī-vrata (Caitra śukla-saptamī; Sūrya context implied from 116.1)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It prescribes a specific tithi-based purification rite: bathing on Caitra-śukla-saptamī in a ritually prepared space, emphasizing śauca (purity) as the foundation for vrata and worship.
By detailing disciplined preparatory acts (snāna and a purified sthaṇḍila), it frames devotion as supported by proper conduct—cleanliness and rule-based observance that make worship and vows spiritually effective.
Kalpa-oriented ritual procedure is implied: tithi timing (Saptamī in Caitra śukla pakṣa) and the practical method of preparing a sacred ground (gomaya-lepana and mṛttikā-āstaraṇa) for rites.