Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69
The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months
Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana
तपस्यशुक्लसप्तम्यां व्रतमर्कपुटं चरेत् । अर्कपत्रैर्यजेदर्कमर्कपत्राणि चाश्नुयात् ॥ ६९ ॥
tapasyaśuklasaptamyāṃ vratamarkapuṭaṃ caret | arkapatrairyajedarkamarkapatrāṇi cāśnuyāt || 69 ||
Pada hari ketujuh paruh terang dalam bulan Tapasya (Phālguna), hendaklah diamalkan vrata yang dinamakan Arkapuṭa. Hendaklah menyembah pokok Arka dengan daun Arka, dan turut memakan daun Arka sebagai makanan ritual.
Narada (teaching the vrata procedure within the dialogue framework)
Vrata: Arkapuṭa-vrata
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches a specific vrata (Arkapuṭa) timed to Śukla Saptamī in Tapasya, emphasizing disciplined observance through leaf-offerings and regulated intake as a means of accruing puṇya and ritual purification.
Bhakti here is expressed as concrete upacāra (devotional service): worshipping the chosen sacred form (Arka) with its own leaves and aligning one’s diet with the vow, turning everyday actions into devotional discipline.
It highlights calendrical and ritual precision—tithi-based timing (Śukla Saptamī, Tapasya month) and procedural rules of worship (patra-dravya selection and vrata-āhāra), reflecting applied Jyotiṣa (timing) and Kalpa (ritual method).