Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37
The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months
Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana
स्त्री नरो दक्षिणे चैव यावद्वर्षं समाप्यते । संभोज्य विप्रान्सप्तैव पायसेन विसृज्यस तान् ॥ ३७ ॥
strī naro dakṣiṇe caiva yāvadvarṣaṃ samāpyate | saṃbhojya viprānsaptaiva pāyasena visṛjyasa tān || 37 ||
Seorang wanita dan seorang lelaki hendaklah diberikan sebagai dakṣiṇā hingga genap setahun. Kemudian, setelah menjamu tujuh orang Brahmana dengan pāyasa (bubur susu manis), hendaklah mereka dipersilakan pulang dengan hormat.
Narada (instructional narration within a vrata/ritual context; traditionally framed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It emphasizes that a vow (vrata) is completed not only by personal austerity but by dharmic giving—dakṣiṇā and feeding Brahmanas—so the merit becomes socially and ritually well-founded.
Though framed as ritual duty, it supports bhakti culture by directing the devotee to conclude observances with reverence, generosity, and service to the learned—acts traditionally offered to God through His devotees.
It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): specifying a time-span (one year), a fixed number (seven vipras), a prescribed offering (pāyasa), and the formal concluding act of visarga (respectful dismissal).