Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74
Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam
The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya
पानीयदाननिरता येऽन्नदानरतास्तथा । एकादशीव्रतरता ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ॥ ७४ ॥
pānīyadānaniratā ye'nnadānaratāstathā | ekādaśīvrataratā te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 74 ||
Những ai chuyên tâm bố thí nước uống, cũng hoan hỷ bố thí thức ăn, và kiên định giữ giới nguyện Ekādaśī—những người ấy thật là bậc tối thượng trong hàng tín đồ của Bhagavān.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Narada Purana dialogue frame)
Vrata: Ekādaśī
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It defines “bhāgavatottama” not merely by belief but by lived devotion—serving beings through essential charity (water and food) and honoring Viṣṇu through Ekādaśī-vrata.
Bhakti is shown as both worship and compassion: Ekādaśī aligns the devotee with Bhagavān, while water- and food-giving express devotion as selfless service (sevā) to living beings.
The observance of Ekādaśī relies on calendrical timing from Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology) to identify the lunar tithi correctly, integrating ritual discipline with sacred timekeeping.