Chapter 177 - Vows observed on the second lunar day

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1-8. I shall describe vows (performed) on the second lunar day which would confer enjoyment, emancipation etc. Eating flower one should worship Aśvins the celestials. One who practises vow for a year would get good fortune and reach heaven. One should worship the god of Death on the second day of the bright fortnight in (the month of) kārttika (November-December). A practiser of the vow fasting for a year would reach heaven and (would) not (go to) hell. I shall describe the vow (called) aśūnyaśayana (the bed that has not become empty) which would confer (the fruit of) not becoming a widow. This should be practised on the second lunar day in the dark fortnight in (the month of) śravaṇa (August-September). “O Bearer of śrīvatsa (a mark on the chest of lord Viṣṇu)! Consort of Śrī! (Lakṣmī)! Abode of Śrī (Lakṣmī)! Consort of Śrī! Immutable! May not my life of a householder get destroyed. Let it be the conferer of virtue, materials and desire. Let not the (sacred) fires be destroyed. Let not the deities be destroyed. Let not my ancestors be destroyed on account of my married life being shattered. Just as you the lord never get separated from (Goddess) Lakṣmī, so also 0 lord! let not my association with my wife get separated. O Conferer ofboons, O Lord! Just as your bed does not become devoid of (Goddess) Lakṣmī, O Slayer of (demon) Madhu! Let my bed also be not empty. One should worship (Goddess) Lakṣmī and (Lord) Viṣṇu for a year and bed and fruits should be given away (as gift).

9-12. Libation should be offered to Soma (moon) every month with the (recitation of) sacred syllables. One who lights up the courtyard of the sky! One who is born from the churning of the milky ocean! Enjoyer of the starry quarters of heaven! Younger brother of Lakṣmī! Obeisance to you. Oṃ śriṃ obeisance to the Sustainer of Śrī! One should worship lord Hari of the form of the Moon. Dhaṃ, ḍhaṃ, bhaṃ, haṃ obeisance to Śrī! to the great soul of ten forms! Oblation (should be made) in the night with ghee. A bed may be given to a brahmin. A pot with water and an image of the deity together with a lamp, food vessel, umbrella, shoe, seat and a vessel (may be given) then.

13-14. One who does so in the company of his wife would get enjoyment and emancipation. I shall describe the kāntivrata (the vow that makes one shining). It should be done in the white (fortnight) of (the month of) kārttika (November-December). Taking food only in the night on the second lunar day, one should worship Bala (rāma) (brother of Viṣṇu in his manifestation as Kṛṣṇa) and Keśava for a year. One gets shining (body), long life and health etc.

15-20. Then I shall describe the Viṣṇuvrata which gets the mentally desired (fruits), after doing it for four days in the second lunar day in the white (fortnight) of (the month of) pauṣa (January—February) etc. One should bathe on the first (day) with white mustard, then with black sesamum the second day) and with vacā (aconis calamus) on the third day and with all herbs on the fourth (day). Murāmāṃsī, Vacā, kuṣṭha, uṣṭha śaileya (bitumen), the two (kinds of) rajanī, śaṭī, campaka and musta are remembered to be the collection of herbs. One should worship with (the repetition of) the names Kṛṣṇa, Acyuta (unslipping), Ananta (endless), Hṛṣīkeśa (the lord of the senses) with flowers duly at the foot, navel, eye and head. Libation (should be made) to Moon with the (repetition of the) names śaśi, candra, śaśāṅka and indu. The person (who does the vow should eat in the night before the moon sets. (By the practice of) this purifying (vow) for a year and a half, the performer would get all things. This vow was practised by the kings and women in the past.