Chapter 19 - The Details of the Vow called Puṃsavana

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The King (Parikṣīt) asked:

1. I wish to know, Oh Brāhmaṇa Sage, the details of the vow called Puṃsavana which you have mentioned, as Lord Viṣṇu is propitiated thereby.

Śrī Śuka said:

2. With the permission and consent of her husband a woman should begin on the 1st day of the bright half of Mārgaśīrṣa this observance of vow which is calculated to confer all desires on one.

3. She should listen to the narrative about the birth of Maruts and consult the Brāhmaṇas. Cleansing her teeth white and having taken a bath, she should put on two white garments. Adorning herself with ornaments, she should worship Lord Viṣṇu along with Śrī in the morning, before taking the breakfast.

4. (She should pray as follows:) “Oh Lord of accomplished desires, I bow to you who, being endowed with enough of all things, are (hence) above wants and expectations. Salutations to you, the Lord of Lakṣmī, the master of all mystic powers.

5. Oh Lord! Possessor of excellences like supreme grace, fortune, prowess, glory, energy and other divine attributes as you are, you are the real omnipotent Supreme Ruler of the world.

6. Oh Divine consort of Viṣṇu, the supreme deluding power of the Lord, you possess the same characteristics as those of the Supreme Person Viṣṇu. Be propitious unto me, Oh Almighty Goddess. Oh Mother of the universe, I bow to you.

7. I offer worship to the glorious Lord designated by the sacred syllable OM, the Lord who is the Supreme Person, most mighty, the Lord of Mahālakṣmī, along with his highest potencies.

Invoking daily god Viṣṇu by chanting the aforesaid mantra, one should offer, with concentrated mind, articles of worship such as water for washing his (Viṣṇu’s) hands and feet, and rinse his (Viṣṇu’s) mouth and water for taking bath, silken garments, the sacred thread, ornaments, sandal-paste, flowers, incense, light, food and other articles.

8. Out of the food left after offering it to Viṣṇu, twelve oblations of that food should be offered to the fire with the mantra “Salutation to the glorious Supreme Person (Viṣṇu) of unlimited powers and denoted by the sacred syllable OM. I offer these oblations to you along with Lakṣmī.”

9. If one is desirous of securing all worldly prosperity, one should always devoutly worship goddess Lakṣmī and Lord Viṣṇu who confer boons and both of whom are the fountainheads of all blessings.

10. She should prostrate herself before them just like a rod on the ground, with her heart submissive in devotion. She should repeat the (above-mentioned) mantra for ten times and sing (the following) hymn:

11. “Both of you are the Lords of the universe, the ultimate cause of the world. This is verily the subtle Prakṛti, your deluding potency (Māyā) too formidable to be overcome.

12. You are directly her Supreme Ruler, the Supreme Person. You are the embodiment of all sacrifices while she is the sacrificial performance. She is activity itself while you are the enjoyer of the fruit thereof.

13. This goddess is the manifestation of guṇas, while you are the cause of that manifestation and the enjoyer of the guṇas. You are the Soul, the inner controller of all embodied beings, while Śrī is the body, senses and the inner organ. The glorious Lakṣmī represents the name and form, while you are their support and their illuminator.

14. Inasmuch as both of you Supreme Rulers confer boons on the three worlds, Oh Lord of hallowing renown, may my great desires be fulfilled.”

15. Eulogizing thus the Lord of Śrī along with Śrī who confers boons, one should remove all articles used in worship. Having offered water to rinse the mouth (to the deities), one should continue to worship, (known as uttara-pūjā)

16. She should then praise with the above hymn, with her mind merged in devotion, Smelling the remnants of the offerings to fire, she should again worship Hari.

17. Identifying with great devotion her husband with Lord Viṣṇu, she should serve him with various objects dear to him. The husband who is loving by nature, should himself help in all the activities of his wife, whether they be great or small, pertaining to the worship of God.

18. It is enough if this vow is observed by one of the couple (husband and wife). If the wife is incapable (for reasons of health) or disqualified (due to monthly course), the husband should observe it with concentrated mind.

19. This vow pertaining to Viṣṇu, if once undertaken, should not be violated under any circumstances. Every day she should worship with devotion Brāhmaṇas and women whose husbands are alive, by offering them wreaths of flowers, sandal-paste, food and ornaments, and should also worship Lord Viṣṇu.

20. After requesting the deity to retire to his abode, one should eat what was offered to the deity, for self-purification and attainment of all desires.

21. After performing such process of worship for a period of twelve months, the pious lady should observe fast on the last day of the month of Kārttika.

22. When the morrow dawns, she should touch water (take bath) and duly worship Lord Kṛṣṇa as before. The husband should offer twelve oblations according to pārvaṇa-sthālīpāka vidhāna (a kind of sacrificial performance) of rice cooked in milk and mixed with ghee, (in the sacrificial fire).^[1]

23. Having reverentially accepted the blessings pronounced by the Brāhmaṇas who are pleased, and having devoutly paid obeisance to them by bowing the head, she should take meals with their permission.

24. After feeding the preceptor first along with the relatives, the husband, with his speech restrained, should give the remnants of the caru, which is capable of conferring good progeny and ensuring good fortune, to his wife.

25. A man who observes this vow of the Almighty God with due formalities, gets his desired object. A woman who observes this will get good fortune, wealth, progeny, longevity to her husband (throughout her life), glory and a good house.

26. 27. An unmarried girl will get a husband possessing all good characteristics. A widow will be rid of her sins and attain to Liberation. A woman who loses her children in death) will get long-lived children. A woman if ill-fated in spite of wealthy condition, becomes blessed with good fortune and if ugly looking, becomes beautiful. A chronic patient of long period gets free from disease, and becomes energetic and virile in his senses and activities. If it is repeated at the time of auspicious ceremonies, it gives eternal and infinite satisfaction to forefathers and divinities.

28. If the Fire-God, the goddess Lakṣmī and Lord Viṣṇu are pleased after the completion of Homa (sacrifice), they confer all desired objects. Oh King, I have narrated to you the auspicious story of the birth of Maruts and the great vow observed by Diti.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The text of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa used by Bhāgavata Candrikā adds:

“Looking upon Brāhmaṇas as the embodiments or forms of the Supreme Soul, she should serve meals to them with devotion and should give to them sesamum seeds coated with jaggery and fried grains, and drinking vessels full of water.”