Chapter 205 - Mode of performing the Bhīṣmapañcaka-vrata

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1. I shall describe the Bhīṣmapañcaka,^[1] that is the foremost among the vows and that which yields everything. It should be done on the eleventh day in the bright fortnight in kārttika.

2. (The observer of the vow) should bathe thrice (daily) for five days and satisfy gods and manes with five kinds of grains and sesamum. He should worship lord Hari silently.

3. Having bathed the deity with the five things got from a cow and with the five sweet things, sandal paste should be besmeared and guggulu should be burnt along with ghee.

4. A lamp should be offered. Food offering shou1d be made day and night. He should then repeat (the syllable) “Oṃ obeisance to Vāsudeva” one hundred and eight times.

5. The performer of the vow should then make oblations of sesamum and rice dipped in ghee with the sacred syllable of six letters along with the word ‘oblations.’

6-8. He should worship the feet with lotuses (on the first day), the knee and thigh with the bilva leaves on the second day, the navel with the bhṛṅgarāja on the third day, with the bāṇa, bilva and japā (flowers) on the fourth day and with mālatī on the fifth day. The votary should lie down (only) on the (bare) floor. (He should use) cowdung on the eleventh day and cow’s urine, curd and milk (on the subsequent days). (He should use) five things got from a cow on the fifth day. He should take food only in the night on the full moon day. The votary would get enjoyment and emancipation.

9. After having practised the (Bhīṣmapañcaka) Bhīṣma reached lord Hari. That is why (it is known as) Bhīṣmapañcaka. One should worship lord Brahmā and fast while practising the vow.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The five days from the eleventh to the fifteenth of the bright half of kārttika said to be sacred to Bhīṣma. See chapter 205 below.