॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ एकोनविंशोऽध्यायः - १९ ॥
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Discourse XIX
The procedure of observing the sacred vow of Puṁsavana (Preamble)
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राजोवाच ।
व्रतं पुंसवनं ब्रह्मन् भवता यदुदीरितम् ।
तस्य वेदितुमिच्छामि येन विष्णुः प्रसीदति ॥ १॥
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The king (Parikṣit) said : I wish to know the procedure of observing the (sacred) vow of Puṁsavana, which has just been mentioned by you, O holy one, and by which Lord Viṣṇu is (easily) propitiated. (1) (1)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
शुक्ले मार्गशिरे पक्षे योषिद्भर्तुरनुज्ञया ।
आरभेत व्रतमिदं सार्वकामिकमादितः ॥ २॥
निशम्य मरुतां जन्म ब्राह्मणाननुमन्त्र्य च ।
स्नात्वा शुक्लदती शुक्ले वसीतालङ्कृताम्बरे ।
पूजयेत्प्रातराशात्प्राग्भगवन्तं श्रिया सह ॥ ३॥
अलं ते निरपेक्षाय पूर्णकाम नमोऽस्तु ते ।
महाविभूतिपतये नमः सकलसिद्धये ॥ ४॥
यथा त्वं कृपया भूत्या तेजसा महिमौजसा ।
जुष्ट ईश गुणैः सर्वैस्ततोऽसि भगवान् प्रभुः ॥ ५॥
विष्णुपत्नि महामाये महापुरुषलक्षणे ।
प्रीयेथा मे महाभागे लोकमातर्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ६॥
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Śrī Śuka replied : A wife should start observing this vow, which is calculated to grant all one's desires, from the very first day of the bright fortnight of (the month of) Mārgaśīrṣa with the permission of her husband. (2)
Having listened to the story of the birth of the Maruts (the forty-nine wind-gods) and (duly) consulted the Brāhmaṇas, she should after cleaning her teeth and finishing her bath cover herself with a pair of white pieces of cloth and adorn herself (with ornaments). She should (then) worship the Lord along with His (divine Consort) Śrī (the goddess of beauty and prosperity) before her breakfast (and pray:) (3)
"Whatever You already have is enough for You, (absolutely) unconcerned as You are, O Lord whose desire is (ever) sated ! My obeisance be to You, the Lord of Mahālakṣmī (who embodies in Herself the highest glory and fortune) ! Hail to You, the Abode of all mystic powers ! (4)
You are fully endowed with compassion, fortune, glory, majesty, virility and all other excellences, O Lord; You are therefore the almighty Ruler. (5)
O (divine) Consort of Lord Viṣṇu, O Embodiment of marvellous powers, possessing as You do the characteristics of the Supreme Person, may You be pleased with me, O highly blessed one. (My) obeisance be to You, O Mother of the universe !" (6) (2-6)
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ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महानुभावाय
महाविभूतिपतये सह महाविभूतिभिर्बलिमुप-
हराणीति अनेनाहरहर्मन्त्रेण विष्णोरावाहना-
र्घ्यपाद्योपस्पर्शनस्नानवासौपवीतविभूषण-
गन्धपुष्पधूपदीपोपहाराद्युपचारांश्च
समाहितोपाहरेत् ॥ ७॥
हविःशेषं तु जुहुयादनले द्वादशाहुतीः ।
ओं नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महाविभूतिपतये
स्वाहेति ॥ ८॥
श्रियं विष्णुं च वरदावाशिषां प्रभवावुभौ ।
भक्त्या सम्पूजयेन्नित्यं यदीच्छेत्सर्वसम्पदः ॥ ९॥
प्रणमेद्दण्डवद्भूमौ भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा ।
दशवारं जपेन्मन्त्रं ततः स्तोत्रमुदीरयेत् ॥ १०॥
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"Hail to Lord Viṣṇu (the Supreme Person), denoted by the mystical syllable OM and possessed of the highest glory, the Spouse of Goddess Mahālakṣmī ! Let me offer worship to You along with Your highest potencies (Goddess Lakṣmī and others) !" While repeating this sacred text the worshipper should offer everyday to Lord Viṣṇu with a concentrated mind (loving) invocation, water to wash His hands and feet and rinse His mouth and water for His bath, a pair of pieces of linen to cover His Body, a sacred thread and ornaments, sandal-paste, flowers, burning incense, light, food and other articles of worship. (7)
Out of the food left after being offered to the Lord one should pour twelve oblations into the sacred fire while repeating the following prayer:—"Hail to Lord Viṣṇu (the Supreme Person), denoted by the mystical syllable OM, the Spouse of Goddess Mahālakṣmī ! I offer this oblation to Him !!" (8)
One should duly worship with devotion everyday Goddess Śrī and (Her Consort) Lord Viṣṇu, both of whom are disposed to confer boons (on Their devotees) and yield one's desired blessings in an abundant degree, if one is desirous of having all kinds of fortune. (9)
(Nay,) one should fall prostrate on the ground with a mind humble through devotion, repeat the aforementioned sacred text ten times and (then) utter the following hymn:—(10) (7-10)
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युवां तु विश्वस्य विभू जगतः कारणं परम् ।
इयं हि प्रकृतिः सूक्ष्मा मायाशक्तिर्दुरत्यया ॥ ११॥
तस्या अधीश्वरः साक्षात्त्वमेव पुरुषः परः ।
त्वं सर्वयज्ञ इज्येयं क्रियेयं फलभुग्भवान् ॥ १२॥
गुणव्यक्तिरियं देवी व्यञ्जको गुणभुग्भवान् ।
त्वं हि सर्वशरीर्यात्मा श्रीः शरीरेन्द्रियाशया ।
नामरूपे भगवती प्रत्ययस्त्वमपाश्रयः ॥ १३॥
यथा युवां त्रिलोकस्य वरदौ परमेष्ठिनौ ।
तथा म उत्तमश्लोक सन्तु सत्या महाशिषः ॥ १४॥
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"You are the Sovereigns of the universe as well as the ultimate cause of the world. (And) She (Mahālakṣmī) is undoubtedly the unmanifest Prakṛti (primordial matter), as well as the deluding potency, (so) difficult to overcome. (11)
You (O Lord) are no other than the Supreme Person, the very Controller of Prakṛti. You embody all sacrificial performances; while She is an embodiment of faith (that inspires and sustains all human endeavours to carry on such sacrificial activities). While She is (worldly) activity, You are the enjoyer of its fruit. (12)
This goddess is the manifestation of the (three) Guṇas (in the form of the universe); while You are the Time-Spirit (that prompts the three Guṇas to manifest themselves in this way) as well as the Cosmic Person (who enjoys the Guṇas so manifested). (Again,) You are the Soul of all embodied beings; while Goddess Śrī represents their body, the senses and the inner sense. (Nay,) the almighty goddess represents the various names and forms (constituting the universe); while You are their illuminator and ground. (13)
(Just) as You are the supreme Rulers of (all) the three worlds, conferring boons on Your devotees, so let my lofty aspirations prove true, O Lord of excellent renown." (14) (11-14)
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इत्यभिष्टूय वरदं श्रीनिवासं श्रिया सह ।
तन्निःसार्योपहरणं दत्त्वाऽऽचमनमर्चयेत् ॥ १५॥
ततः स्तुवीत स्तोत्रेण भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा ।
यज्ञोच्छिष्टमवघ्राय पुनरभ्यर्चयेद्धरिम् ॥ १६॥
पतिं च परया भक्त्या महापुरुषचेतसा ।
प्रियैस्तैस्तैरुपनमेत्प्रेमशीलः स्वयं पतिः ।
बिभृयात्सर्वकर्माणि पत्न्या उच्चावचानि च ॥ १७॥
कृतमेकतरेणापि दम्पत्योरुभयोरपि ।
पत्न्यां कुर्यादनर्हायां पतिरेतत्समाहितः ॥ १८॥
विष्णोर्व्रतमिदं बिभ्रन्न विहन्यात्कथञ्चन ।
विप्रान् स्त्रियो वीरवतीः स्रग्गन्धबलिमण्डनैः ।
अर्चेदहरहर्भक्त्या देवं नियममास्थिता ॥ १९॥
उद्वास्य देवं स्वे धाम्नि तन्निवेदितमग्रतः ।
अद्यादात्मविशुद्ध्यर्थं सर्वकामर्धये तथा ॥ २०॥
एतेन पूजाविधिना मासान् द्वादश हायनम् ।
नीत्वाथोपरमेत्साध्वी कार्तिके चरमेऽहनि ॥ २१॥
श्वोभूतेऽप उपस्पृश्य कृष्णमभ्यर्च्य पूर्ववत् ।
पयःशृतेन जुहुयाच्चरुणा सह सर्पिषा ।
पाकयज्ञविधानेन द्वादशैवाहुतीः पतिः ॥ २२॥
आशिषः शिरसाऽऽदाय द्विजैः प्रीतैः समीरिताः ।
प्रणम्य शिरसा भक्त्या भुञ्जीत तदनुज्ञया ॥ २३॥
आचार्यमग्रतः कृत्वा वाग्यतः सह बन्धुभिः ।
दद्यात्पत्न्यै चरोः शेषं सुप्रजस्त्वं सुसौभगम् ॥ २४॥
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Having thus extolled Lord Viṣṇu (the Abode of Śrī, the goddess of beauty and prosperity), the Bestower of boons (on His devotees), along with Goddess Śrī, and after removing the food (served before Them) and offering Them water to rinse their mouth, one should (continue to) worship Them (by offering betel leaves etc.). (15)
Then with a mind humble through devotion one should extol Him by means of a hymn and, after smelling the remnants of the offerings, should duly worship Śrī Hari once more. (16)
The woman should serve her husband too with supreme devotion, offering him his beloved objects and accounting him the Supreme Person (Himself); while the loving husband should personally assist in all the duties of his wife, high and low (alike). (17)
A thing done by even one (member) of a married couple is conducive to the benefit of both. (Therefore,) in the event of the wife being unfit (due to illness or menstruation etc.) the husband should do (all) this with a concentrated mind. (18)
A man observing this vow sacred to Lord Viṣṇu should not break it under any circumstance whatsoever. (Thus) observing (strict) discipline, one should worship everyday with devotion the Brāhmaṇas as well as women whose husbands are (still) living by offering them wreaths of flowers, sandal-paste, (articles of) cooked food and ornaments, and should (also) worship the Deity (Lord Viṣṇu). (19)
Having requested the Deity (as devoutly as He had been invoked) to retire to His (divine) Abode one should eat what was offered to Him, after feeding in the first instance one's preceptor and others, for the purification of one's mind as well as for the gratification of all one's desires. (20)
After spending a year of twelve months (an year other than an intercalary year) according to this (aforementioned) process of worship, a pious wife should observe a fast on the last day of (the month of) Kārtika (the day immediately preceding the bright half of Mārgaśīrṣa). (21)
Having bathed at sunrise on the following day and worshipped Lord Viṣṇu (the Enchanter of all) as before, the husband alone should pour into the sacred fire twelve oblations of rice boiled in milk and mixed with clarified butter according to the procedure laid down for a Pākayajña (a variety of sacrificial performances mentioned in the Gṛhya-Sūtras). (22)
Receiving with his head bent low the benedictions duly pronounced by the Brāhmaṇas, (highly) pleased with him, and devoutly greeting them with bowed head, he should silently take his meal with their permission along with his kinsmen after feeding his preceptor in the first instance. He should (then) give to his wife the remnant of the sacrificial offering, which ensures a good progeny and the height of good fortune. (23-24) (15-24)
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एतच्चरित्वा विधिवद्व्रतं विभो-
रभीप्सितार्थं लभते पुमानिह ।
स्त्री त्वेतदास्थाय लभेत सौभगं
श्रियं प्रजां जीवपतिं यशो गृहम् ॥ २५॥
कन्या च विन्देत समग्रलक्षणं
वरं त्ववीरा हतकिल्बिषा गतिम् ।
मृतप्रजा जीवसुता धनेश्वरी
सुदुर्भगा सुभगा रूपमग्र्यम् ॥ २६॥
विन्देद्विरूपा विरुजा विमुच्यते
य आमयावीन्द्रियकल्पदेहम् ।
एतत्पठन्नभ्युदये च कर्म-
ण्यनन्ततृप्तिः पितृदेवतानाम् ॥ २७॥
तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति समस्तकामान्
होमावसाने हुतभुक् श्रीर्हरिश्च ।
राजन् महन्मरुतां जन्म पुण्यं
दितेर्व्रतं चाभिहितं महत्ते ॥ २८॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे वैयासक्यामष्टादशसाहस्र्यां
पारमहंस्यां संहितायां षष्ठस्कन्धे पुंसवनव्रतकथनं
नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ १९॥
॥ इति षष्ठस्कन्धः समाप्तः ॥
॥ ॐ तत्सत् ॥
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Duly observing this vow, sacred to the Lord, a man attains his coveted object during his (very) lifetime; while a wife, undertaking it, should secure good fortune, affluence, progeny, the longevity of her husband, glory and a (comfortable) house. (25)
Nay, a maid should secure a match endowed with all good characteristics, while a widow should attain final beatitude after being rid of (all) sins. A woman who has lost her issue should get long-lived progeny; a woman who, though owning a large property, is highly ill-fated is blessed with good fortune; and an ugly-looking girl is endowed with exquisite beauty. He who is suffering from a malady is rid of his acute illness and is blessed with a sound body and healthy Indriyas. Nay, there ensues the eternal gratification of the souls of the departed ancestors as well as of the tutelary deities of the man who recites this discourse on the occasion of auspicious undertaking (such as a sacrificial performance and Śrāddha). (26-27)
(Nay,) pleased with him, the fire-god, Goddess Śrī (the divine Consort of Lord Viṣṇu) as well as Lord Śrī Hari (Himself) confer on him all the objects of his desire at the end of a sacrificial performance. O king (Paṅkṣit), the highly sacred story of the birth of the Maruts (the wind-gods) as well as of the very sacred vow observed by Diti has (hereby) been related to you. (28)
Thus ends the nineteenth discourse entitled "The procedure of observing the vow of Puṃsavana detailed", in Book Six of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahāṃsa-Saṃhitā, composed by the (divine) sage Vedavyāsa and consisting of eighteen thousand Ślokas.
END OF BOOK SIX (25-28)
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