Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74
The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months
गन्धाद्यैरुपचारैस्तु विप्रान्संभोजयेत्ततः । एवं कृत्वा व्रतं विप्र दुर्गायाश्चैकभोजनः ॥ ७४ ॥
gandhādyairupacāraistu viprānsaṃbhojayettataḥ | evaṃ kṛtvā vrataṃ vipra durgāyāścaikabhojanaḥ || 74 ||
Kemudian, dengan persembahan seperti wangian dan upacāra kebiasaan yang lain, hendaklah dia menjamu para brāhmaṇa. Wahai brāhmaṇa, setelah melaksanakan vrata demikian, hendaklah dia juga berdisiplin makan sekali sahaja sebagai penghormatan kepada Durgā.
Narada
Vrata: Durgā-vrata (ekabhojana-niyama)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that a vow is completed not only by personal austerity but also by honoring sacred persons (brāhmaṇas) through proper offerings and feeding, and by maintaining disciplined restraint (single-meal observance) dedicated to Durgā.
Bhakti here is expressed through reverent upacāras (devotional services) and dedicating one’s bodily discipline (ekabhojana) to the deity—showing devotion through both worship and conduct.
Ritual procedure is emphasized: the proper sequence of upacāra and brāhmaṇa-bhojana as a concluding rite of a vrata, along with the niyama (rule) of ekabhojana as a practical observance.