Chapter 190 - Mode of practising Akhaṇḍadvādaśī-vrata

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1-6. I shall describe the (mode of performing) Akhaṇḍadvādaśī vrata(unbroken twelfth day), that is complementary to all vows. The performer should worship lord Viṣṇu on the twelfth day in the bright (fortnight) in the (month of) mārgaśīrṣa (December-January) after fasting and bathing in water mixed with five things got from a cow and drinking the same. He should give to a brahmin a vessel with barley and rice on the twelfth day. “O Lord! that vow which has been broken by me in the (past) seven births let it now get complete for me by your grace. O Excellent Being! Just as you are the unbroken entire world, in the same way let all my vows get completed.” It is laid down for every month in the same way for four months. Otherwise (it may be practised) in the months of caitra (April-May) etc. Vessel (filled) with flour should be given as a gift. If the vow is begun in the (months of) śrāvaṇa (August-September) etc., one should break it at the end of kārttika (November-December). The deficiency in the vows (practised) in the seven (past) births gets fruitful by the performance (of this). One would get long life, health, fortune, kingdom and pleasures.