Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91
द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्
Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months
माघमासे सिताष्टम्यां भीष्मं संतर्पयद्द्विज । संततिं त्वव्यवच्छिन्नामिच्छंश्चाप्यपराजयम् ॥ ९१ ॥
māghamāse sitāṣṭamyāṃ bhīṣmaṃ saṃtarpayaddvija | saṃtatiṃ tvavyavacchinnāmicchaṃścāpyaparājayam || 91 ||
Ô deux-fois-né, au huitième jour lunaire de la quinzaine claire du mois de Māgha, on doit offrir la satisfaction rituelle à Bhīṣma, désirant une descendance ininterrompue et l’invincibilité (l’absence de défaite).
Narada
Vrata: Bhīṣmāṣṭamī (implied by tithi and act)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It prescribes Bhīṣma-tarpaṇa on Māgha śukla aṣṭamī as a dharmic act that strengthens one’s lineage (saṃtati) and grants the protective merit associated with “aparājaya” (non-defeat).
Though framed as a ritual act, it reflects bhakti through reverent remembrance and offering (tarpaṇa) to an exalted devotee/hero like Bhīṣma, treating sacred memory and gratitude as a form of devotional practice.
It uses calendrical ritual timing—month (Māgha) and tithi (śukla aṣṭamī)—which aligns with Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) for determining auspicious days for prescribed rites.