Chapter 257 - Pārvatī’s Penance

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Pārvatī said:

1. Describe to me in detail the greatness of the twelve-syllabled Mantra syllable-wise along with the merit of each and the mode of recitation by me.

Śrī Mahādeva said:

2. In the case of the twice-born, the twelve-syllabled Mantra is associated with Oṃkāra. In the case of women and Śūdras it is cited as preceded by obeisance i.e. nemo bhagavate vāsudevāya.

3. In the case of Prakṛtis (laymen) the name of Rāma in the six-syllabled form is allowed (rāmāya te nemaḥ). That too is without Praṇava as decided by Purāṇas and Smṛtis.

4. This is the procedure in the case of all castes and Prakṛtis (low castes) always. If a man performs the Japa without the regular order, the Lord becomes angry and sends him to Naraka etc.

Pārvatī said:

5. O Lord, the Lord of the universe is served by me with three Māntrās (syllabic time). He is beyond the reach of words. How do I know his form?

Īśvara said:

6. O lady of excellent complexion, you are not authorised to utter Praṇava. You have always to perform the Japa as namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.

Pārvatī said:

7. If the twelve-syllabled Mantra is made inclusive of Praṇava, how can it be meditated upon? As I have not been authorized in the use of Praṇava, how is the Japa possible, O Dhūrjaṭi?

Īśvara said:

8. Praṇava has been glorified as the origin of all the Devas. Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva reside therein accompanied by their beloved ones.

9. All the Bhūtas (living beings) and all the Tīrthas are stationed there partially. It is Kaivalya (salvation); it is Brahman.

10. O lady of auspicious countenance, when you perform penance during Cāturmāsya for propitiating Hari, you will be entitled thereto.

11. Cherished desire is attained through penance; great merit is acquired through penance. Everything takes place through penance; everything is easily acquired by men through penance.

12. Fame, incomparable conjugal felicity, qualities like forbearance, truthfulness etc, are easily acquired through penance, but penance cannot be performed.

13. When penance flourishes, there will be devotion to Hari. If it is performed without devotion, it involves the loss of penance.

14. When one always remembers Viṣṇu, when the tip of the tongue becomes pure, austerities roar in the bodies of men always.

15. Just as great darkness perishes when a lamp burns brightly, so also sin gets destroyed when Hari’s story (is narrated and listened to).

16. Hence, O Pārvatī, assiduously perform penance along with Praṇava when Hari is asleep at the advent of Cāturmāsya.

17. Remaining pure in heart, perform the Japa of this king of Mantras consisting of twelve syllables. The Lord shall surely become pleased.

18. The Lord will grant the greatest knowledge in the form of the entire Brahman. Do perform the Japa of the twelve-syllabled Mantra in the course of crores of Brahmakalpas.

19a. He who meditates on this great Mantra including Praṇava will not meet with difficulty. (Text defective).

19b. On being told thus, she who was bent on performing penance proceeded to perform it.

20. When Cāturmāsya arrived, she came to the peak of Himālaya. She wore three clothes^[1] and adopted the vow of celibacy.

21. She meditated on Hari, the benefactor. Her body was subjected to strain as before, at the time of the adoration of Śaṅkara.

22. That lady of wide eyes, endowed with qualities of forbearance etc.; performed the penance on a charming peak of her father (Himālaya). She was accompanied by her companions.

Gālava said:

23. Pārvatī is worthy of being meditated upon by leading Yogins; she is worthy of being saluted. She is adored by the entire universe and is the mother of the universe. Even she performed penance being urged by desire (to do so).

24. She is in the form of Prakṛti and Sat (the Absolute Reality). Her lustre is equal to that of ten millions of lightning streaks. She is devoid of Rajas quality and is herself worthy of being saluted. She who transcends the Guṇas (the three attributes), performed the penance.

25. They know her as identical with Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether; she is in the form of the primordial Prakṛti, (yet) she performed the excellent penance.

26. She who stays pervading mobile and immobile beings of the universe, who is greater than Prakṛti and who is the bestower of contentment in the form of Spṛhā (desire) etc. attained purity by means of the penance when the Lord was asleep.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

vasana-traye. This should better be emended as savana-traya ‘three baths’ as it is more appropriate, as three baths at morning, noon and evening are essential in penance.