Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91
The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months
एवं नियमकृद्विप्र उपवासं समाचरेत् । शक्तोऽशक्तुस्तु मतिमानेकभुक्तं न नक्तकम् ॥ ९१ ॥
evaṃ niyamakṛdvipra upavāsaṃ samācaret | śakto'śaktustu matimānekabhuktaṃ na naktakam || 91 ||
Demikianlah, wahai brāhmaṇa, sesiapa yang menunaikan pantang-larang yang ditetapkan hendaklah mengamalkan upavāsa (puasa) dengan sempurna. Orang bijaksana—sama ada mampu atau tidak mampu berpuasa ketat—hendaklah memilih ekabhukta (sekali makan) dan bukan naktaka (makan malam).
Narada (instructional voice within the Narada Purana’s vrata-niyama discourse)
Vrata: Upavāsa (fasting) / Ekabhukta observance
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It emphasizes that vrata is sustained by niyama (disciplined restraint) and that a wise, workable austerity—like ekabhukta—can preserve steadiness in dharma better than less disciplined patterns such as night-eating.
By recommending regulated living and controlled intake, the verse supports the devotional principle that the body and senses should be governed so the mind remains fit for remembrance, worship, and steady practice.
It reflects Kalpa-style procedural dharma (ritual and vow-regulation): defining permissible food-timing and the hierarchy of observances (upavasa, ekabhukta, naktaka) as practical rules for vrata performance.