Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana
नारायण परो भूत्वा स्वयं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः । इति यः कुरुते भक्त्या केशवार्चनमुत्तमम् ॥ २३ ॥
nārāyaṇa paro bhūtvā svayaṃ bhuñjīta vāgyataḥ | iti yaḥ kurute bhaktyā keśavārcanamuttamam || 23 ||
Devenant tout entier voué à Nārāyaṇa et maîtrisant sa parole, qu’on prenne sa nourriture avec discipline. Celui qui, de cette manière, accomplit avec bhakti l’adoration suprême de Keśava—son culte est vraiment excellent.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the discipline of Vishnu-bhakti and worship)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that Keśava-worship becomes “uttama” (supreme) when grounded in single-pointed devotion to Nārāyaṇa and supported by inner discipline—especially restraint of speech and mindful conduct even in eating.
Bhakti here is not only ritual offering but a transformed orientation—“nārāyaṇa-para”—expressed through self-control (vāk-yama) and regulated living, showing that devotion is both love and disciplined practice.
The verse emphasizes ritual discipline (niyama) and purity of conduct during worship—closely aligned with Kalpa (rules of ritual procedure) and Śikṣā-like attention to controlled speech (vāk-saṃyama) as part of sacred practice.