Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14
The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months
Tṛtīyā-vrata
अक्षतैः पूजयेद्विष्णुं स्नायादप्यक्षतैर्नरः । सक्तून्संभोजयेद्विप्रान्स्वयमभ्यवहरेच्च तान् ॥ १४ ॥
akṣataiḥ pūjayedviṣṇuṃ snāyādapyakṣatairnaraḥ | saktūnsaṃbhojayedviprānsvayamabhyavaharecca tān || 14 ||
മനുഷ്യൻ അക്ഷതം (അഖണ്ഡ അരി) കൊണ്ട് ശ്രീവിഷ്ണുവിനെ പൂജിക്കണം; അക്ഷതം കൊണ്ടുതന്നെ സ്നാനവും ചെയ്യണം. ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാർക്ക് സത്തു (യവപ്പൊടി) ഭോജനം നൽകുകയും താനും അതേ പ്രസാദമായി സ്വീകരിക്കുകയും വേണം.
Narada (teaching in a dharma/vrata context; dialogue tradition within Narada Purana commonly framed with Sanatkumara brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches a simple, sattvic form of Viṣṇu-upāsanā: purity (snāna), devotion (pūjā with akṣata), and merit through honoring brāhmaṇas with food—then sharing the consecrated remainder oneself.
Bhakti here is expressed through accessible ritual acts—offering akṣata to Viṣṇu, maintaining bodily and mental purity, and serving devotees/brāhmaṇas—showing devotion as worship plus compassionate, dharmic conduct.
It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the correct use of akṣata in pūjā and the dharmic etiquette of brahmana-bhojana and partaking of the same offering as prasāda.