Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
मार्गशुक्लचतुर्थ्यां तु वर्षं यावन्मुनीश्वरा । क्षपयेदेकभक्तेन नक्तेनाथ द्वितीयकम् ॥ ५५ ॥
mārgaśuklacaturthyāṃ tu varṣaṃ yāvanmunīśvarā | kṣapayedekabhaktena naktenātha dvitīyakam || 55 ||
Ó melhor dos sábios, começando no quarto dia lunar (Caturthī) da quinzena clara de Mārgaśīrṣa, deve-se observar este voto por um ano inteiro: durante o dia, apenas uma refeição (ekabhakta), e a segunda observância como nakta, jejuando de dia e alimentando-se à noite.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada and assembled sages)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It prescribes a disciplined year-long vrata aligned to a specific lunar tithi, emphasizing self-restraint (upavāsa) as a dharmic means to purify conduct and stabilize devotion.
By regulating food and daily routine through ekabhakta and nakta, the practitioner reduces sensory distraction and sustains steady devotional focus—an applied form of bhakti supported by vrata.
It uses tithi- and month-based timing (lunar calendar practice connected to Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga) and specifies fasting modes (vrata-vidhi) such as ekabhakta and nakta.