Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69
The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months
Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana
तपस्यशुक्लसप्तम्यां व्रतमर्कपुटं चरेत् । अर्कपत्रैर्यजेदर्कमर्कपत्राणि चाश्नुयात् ॥ ६९ ॥
tapasyaśuklasaptamyāṃ vratamarkapuṭaṃ caret | arkapatrairyajedarkamarkapatrāṇi cāśnuyāt || 69 ||
ในวันสัปตมีข้างขึ้น เดือนตปัสยะ (ผาลคุณ) พึงปฏิบัติพรตชื่อ ‘อรกปุฏะ’ พึงบูชาอรกด้วยใบอรก และรับประทานใบอรกเป็นอาหารตามพิธีด้วย.
Narada (teaching the vrata procedure within the dialogue framework)
Vrata: Arkapuṭa-vrata
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches a specific vrata (Arkapuṭa) timed to Śukla Saptamī in Tapasya, emphasizing disciplined observance through leaf-offerings and regulated intake as a means of accruing puṇya and ritual purification.
Bhakti here is expressed as concrete upacāra (devotional service): worshipping the chosen sacred form (Arka) with its own leaves and aligning one’s diet with the vow, turning everyday actions into devotional discipline.
It highlights calendrical and ritual precision—tithi-based timing (Śukla Saptamī, Tapasya month) and procedural rules of worship (patra-dravya selection and vrata-āhāra), reflecting applied Jyotiṣa (timing) and Kalpa (ritual method).