Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54
The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months
Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana
पृथवी वा सुवर्णं वा विसृज्याश्नीत च स्वयम् । अभयाख्यं व्रतं त्वेतत्सर्वस्याभयदं स्मृतम् ॥ ५४ ॥
pṛthavī vā suvarṇaṃ vā visṛjyāśnīta ca svayam | abhayākhyaṃ vrataṃ tvetatsarvasyābhayadaṃ smṛtam || 54 ||
Après avoir donné en don de la terre ou de l’or, qu’on prenne ensuite soi-même la nourriture. Ce vœu est appelé Abhaya-vrata et il est mémorisé comme accordant l’intrépidité, l’absence de peur, à tous.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; instructional passage on vrata-vidhi)
Vrata: Abhaya-vrata
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It defines the Abhaya-vrata as an observance centered on generosity (dāna) and the welfare of others—by giving land or gold, the practitioner cultivates and is credited with ‘abhaya’ (fearlessness/safety) for all beings.
Though not explicitly naming a deity here, the verse expresses a core bhakti ethic: selfless giving and protection of others. Such dharmic conduct is treated as a devotional offering in Purāṇic practice, aligning the devotee with compassion and divine guardianship.
This is primarily vrata-vidhi (ritual procedure) rather than a Vedāṅga science; it highlights the practical rule that dāna is performed first, followed by the concluding act of eating (parisamāpti), marking completion of the observance.