Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10
The Pañcarātra Vow (Haripañcaka Vrata): Observance from Śukla Ekādaśī to Pūrṇimā
वक्ष्यमाणेन मन्त्रेण ह्युपवासं समर्पयेत् । पञ्चरात्रं निराहारो ह्यद्यप्रभृति केशव ॥ १० ॥
vakṣyamāṇena mantreṇa hyupavāsaṃ samarpayet | pañcarātraṃ nirāhāro hyadyaprabhṛti keśava || 10 ||
Dengan mantra yang akan dinyatakan selepas ini, hendaklah seseorang mempersembahkan secara rasmi nazar berpuasa. “Mulai hari ini, wahai Keśava, selama lima malam aku akan berpantang tanpa makanan.”
Narada (instructional narration within a vrata context, addressed to Keśava as the deity of the vow)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that a fast is not merely physical restraint but a consecrated vow: the practitioner dedicates the upavāsa to Keśava through mantra, turning austerity into devotional offering (samarpana).
Bhakti is shown as intention-centered practice: the devotee addresses Keśava directly and offers the act of fasting to Him, making discipline an expression of loving surrender rather than self-powered merit alone.
Ritual application (kalpa-style practice) is emphasized: using a specific mantra for sankalpa/samarpana and defining the vrata’s duration (five nights) are procedural rules central to dharmic observance.