Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15
Māsopavāsa (Month-long Fast) and Repeated Parāka Observances: Procedure and Fruits
चतुः कृत्वः कृतं येन पाराकं मुनिसत्तम । स लभेत्परमं पुण्यमष्टान्गिष्टोमसंभवम् ॥ १५ ॥
catuḥ kṛtvaḥ kṛtaṃ yena pārākaṃ munisattama | sa labhetparamaṃ puṇyamaṣṭāngiṣṭomasaṃbhavam || 15 ||
Wahai yang terbaik di antara para resi, siapa yang melaksanakan vrata Pārāka empat kali, ia meraih kebajikan tertinggi, setara dengan pahala yang lahir dari delapan yajña Agniṣṭoma.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)
Vrata: Pārāka
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It elevates vrata-based tapas (austere fasting) as a potent source of puṇya, stating that repeating the Pārāka fast four times yields merit comparable to major Vedic sacrifices.
While the verse focuses on vrata and merit, it supports bhakti-oriented discipline by valuing self-restraint and vow-observance—common devotional supports—alongside (and even comparable to) large ritual sacrifices.
Ritual-knowledge is implied through the reference to Agniṣṭoma (a Śrauta yajña), showing how Purāṇic vrata-phala literature maps austerities to the merit-scale of Vedic sacrificial rites.