Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91
द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्
Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months
माघमासे सिताष्टम्यां भीष्मं संतर्पयद्द्विज । संततिं त्वव्यवच्छिन्नामिच्छंश्चाप्यपराजयम् ॥ ९१ ॥
māghamāse sitāṣṭamyāṃ bhīṣmaṃ saṃtarpayaddvija | saṃtatiṃ tvavyavacchinnāmicchaṃścāpyaparājayam || 91 ||
Wahai yang dua kali lahir, pada hari kelapan (Aṣṭamī) dalam separuh terang bulan Māgha, hendaklah dipersembahkan santarpana kepada Bhīṣma, dengan hasrat memperoleh zuriat yang tidak terputus serta keteguhan yang tidak terkalahkan.
Narada
Vrata: Bhīṣmāṣṭamī (implied by tithi and act)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It prescribes Bhīṣma-tarpaṇa on Māgha śukla aṣṭamī as a dharmic act that strengthens one’s lineage (saṃtati) and grants the protective merit associated with “aparājaya” (non-defeat).
Though framed as a ritual act, it reflects bhakti through reverent remembrance and offering (tarpaṇa) to an exalted devotee/hero like Bhīṣma, treating sacred memory and gratitude as a form of devotional practice.
It uses calendrical ritual timing—month (Māgha) and tithi (śukla aṣṭamī)—which aligns with Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) for determining auspicious days for prescribed rites.