Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
बन्धुभिः सह भुंजीत स्वयं च प्रीतमानसः । एतद्व्रतं नरः कृत्वा भुक्त्वा भोगानिहोत्तमान् ॥ ६८ ॥
bandhubhiḥ saha bhuṃjīta svayaṃ ca prītamānasaḥ | etadvrataṃ naraḥ kṛtvā bhuktvā bhogānihottamān || 68 ||
Hendaklah ia makan bersama kaum kerabatnya, dan ia sendiri pun makan dengan hati yang gembira. Sesiapa yang menunaikan vrata ini akan menikmati kenikmatan yang paling utama di dunia ini.
Narada (teaching within a vrata-vidhi context; dialogic frame traditionally Narada ↔ Sanatkumara-s)
Vrata: Vara-vrata (implied by continuation into 113.69)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that a vow (vrata) is not only external austerity but also inner disposition—performing the observance with harmony (sharing with one’s bandhu-s) and a pleased mind is integral to its merit and results.
By emphasizing prīta-mānasa (a joyful, content heart), it aligns with bhakti’s core mood: offerings and observances become spiritually potent when done with gladness rather than resentment or pride.
It reflects Kalpa-style ritual discipline (vrata-vidhi) concerning bhojana-niyama (rules of eating/partaking) and the ethical-social dimension of ritual—sharing food and maintaining sattvika mental conduct.