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Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Unit 23 of 693Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 23Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 231 source entries

Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 23

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भीष्म उवाच वैष्णवा ये तु वै धर्मा यान्रुद्रः प्रोक्तवानिह तान्मे कथय विप्रेंद्र कीदृशास्ते फलं तु किम्।१। पुलस्त्य उवाच पुरा रथन्तरे कल्पे परिपृष्टो महात्मना मन्दरस्थो महादेवः पिनाकी ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्।२। कथमारोग्यमैश्वर्यमनंतममरेश्वर अल्पेन तपसा देव भवेन्मोक्षः सदा नृणां ३। किं तज्ज्ञानं महादेव त्वत्प्रसादादधोक्षज अल्पकेनापि तपसा महाफलमिहोच्यते।४। इति पृष्टस्स विश्वात्मा ब्रह्मणा लोकभावनः उमापतिरुवाचेदं मनसः प्रीतिकारकम्।५। ईश्वर उवाच अस्माद्रथंतरात्कल्पाद्भूयो विञ्शतिमो यदा वाराहो भविता कल्पस्तदा मन्वन्तरे शुभे।६। वैवस्वताख्ये सम्प्राप्ते सप्तमे सप्तलोकधृक् द्वापराख्यंयुगं तस्मिन्सप्तविंशतिमं यदा।७। तस्यां ते तु महातेजा वासुदेवो जनार्दनः भारावतरणार्थाय त्रिधा विष्णुर्भविष्यति।८। द्वैपायन ऋषिस्तत्र रौहिणेयोथ केशवः कंसारिः केशिमथनः केशवः क्लेशनाशनः९ पुरीं द्वारवतीं नाम साम्प्रतं या कुशस्थली दिव्यानुभावसंयुक्तामधिवासाय शार्ङ्गिणः।१०। त्वष्टा तदाज्ञया ब्रह्मन्करिष्यति जगत्पतेः तस्यां कदाचिदासीनः सभायां सोऽमितद्युतिः।११। भार्याभिर्वृष्णिविद्वद्भिभूरिभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः कुरुभिर्देवगन्धर्वैरन्वितः कैटभार्दनः।१२। प्रवृत्तासु पुराणासु धर्मसम्बन्धधिनीषु च कथासु भीमसेनेन परिपृष्टः प्रतापवान्।१३। त्वया पृष्टस्य धर्मस्य वक्ष्यत्यस्य च भेददृक् भविता स तदा ब्रह्मन्कर्ता चैव वृकोदरः।१४। प्रवर्तकोऽस्य धर्मस्य पाण्डुसूनुर्महाबलः यस्य तीक्ष्णो वृको नाम जठरे हव्यवाहनः।१५। सम्भाष्यते स धर्मात्मा तेन चासौ वृकोदरः अतीव स्वादशीलश्च नागायुत बलो महान्।१६। धार्मिकस्याप्यशक्तस्य तीव्राग्नित्वादुपोषणे इदं व्रतमशेषाणां व्रतानामधिकं यतः।१७। कथयिष्यति विश्वात्मा वासुदेवो जगद्गुरुः अशेषयज्ञफलदमशेषाघविनाशनम्।।१८। अशेषदुष्टशमनमशेषसुरपूजितम् पवित्राणां पवित्रं यन्मगलानां च मङ्गलम् भविष्यं च भविष्याणां पुराणानां पुरातनम्।१९। वासुदेव उवाच यद्यष्टमी चतुर्द्दश्योर्द्वादशीषु च भारत अन्येष्वपि दिनर्क्षेषु नशक्तस्त्वमुपोषितुम्।२०। ततस्त्वग्र्यामिमां भीम तिथिं पापप्रणाशिनीम् उपोष्य विधिनानेन गच्छ विष्णोः परं पदं।२१। माघमासस्य दशमी यदा शुक्ला भवेत्तदा घृतेनाभ्यंजनं कृत्वा तिलैः स्नानं समाचरेत्।२२। तथैव विष्णुमभ्यर्चेन्नमो नारायणाय च कृष्णाय पादौ संपूज्य शिरःकृष्णात्मनेति च।२३। वैकुण्ठायेति वैकुण्ठमुरः श्रीवत्सधारिणे शङ्खिने गदिने चैव चक्रिणे वरदाय वै।२४। सर्वं नारायणन्त्वेवं सम्पूज्यावाहनक्रमात् दामोदरायेत्युदरं कटिं पञ्चजनाय वै।२५। ऊरूसौभाग्यनाथाय जानुनी भूतधारिणे नमो नीलाय वै जङ्घे पादौ विश्वभुजे पुनः।२६। नमो देव्यै नमः शांत्यै नमो लक्ष्म्यै नमः श्रियै नमस्तुष्ट्यै नमः पुष्ट्यै धृत्यै व्युष्ट्यै नमो नमः।२७। नमो विहङ्गनाथाय वायुवेगाय पक्षिणे विषप्रमथनायेति गरुडं चाभिपूजयेत्।२८। एवं सम्पूज्य गोविन्दमुमापतिविनायकौ गन्धैर्माल्यैस्तथा धूपैर्भक्ष्यैर्नानाविधैरपि।२९। गव्येन पयसा सिक्तां कृसरामथ पायसम् सर्पिषा सह भुक्त्वा तु गत्वा स्थानांतरं पुनः।३०। नैयग्रोधं दन्तकाष्ठमथवा खादिरं बुधः गृहीत्वा धावयेद्दन्तानाचान्तः प्रागुदङ्मुखः।३१। ब्रूयात्सायन्तनीं कृत्वा सन्ध्यामस्तमिते रवौ नमो नारायणायेति त्वामहं शरणं गतः।३२। एकादश्यां निराहारः समभ्यर्च्य च केशवम् तां रात्रिं सकलां स्थित्वा शेषपर्यंकशायिनम्।३३। सर्पिषा विश्वदहनं हुत्वा ब्राह्मणपुङ्गवैः सहैव पुण्डरीकाक्षं द्वादश्यां क्षीरभोजनम्।३४। करिष्यामि यथात्मानं निर्विघ्नेनास्तु तच्च मे एवमुक्त्वा स्वपेद्भूमावितिहासकथां पुनः।३५। श्रुत्वा प्रभाते सञ्जाते नदीं गत्वा विशाम्पते स्नानं कृत्वा मुदा तद्वत्पाषण्डानभिवर्जयेत्।३६। उपास्य सन्ध्यां विधिवत्कृत्वा च पितृतर्पणम् प्रणम्य च हृषीकेशं शेषपर्यङ्कशायिनम्।३७। गृहस्य पुरतो भक्त्या मण्डपं कारयेद्बुधः चतुर्हस्तां शुभां कुर्याद्वेदीमरिनिषूदन।३८। चतुर्हस्तप्रमाणं तु विन्यसेत्तत्र तोरणम् मध्ये च कलशं तत्र माषमात्रेण सञ्युतम्।३९। छिद्रेण जलसम्पूर्णमधः कृष्णाजिने स्थितः तस्य धारां च शिरसा धारयेत्सकलां निशाम्।४०। धाराभिर्भूरिभिर्भूरि फलं वेदविदो विदुः यस्मात्तस्मात्कुरुश्रेष्ठ कारयेत्प्रयतो द्विजः।४१। दक्षिणे चार्धचन्द्रं तु पश्चिमे वर्तुलं तथा अश्वत्थपत्राकारं च उत्तरेण तु कारयेत्।४२। मध्ये तु पद्माकारं च कारयेद्वैष्णवो द्विजः पूर्वतो वेदिकां स्थो न स्थो न याम्ये च कल्पयेत्।४३। पानीयधारां शिरसि धारयेद्विष्णुतत्परः द्वितीया वेदी देवस्य तत्र पद्मं सकर्णिकम्।४४। तस्य मध्ये स्थितं देवं कुर्याद्वै पुरुषोत्तमम् हस्तमात्रं च तत्कुण्डं कृत्वा तत्र त्रिमेखलम्४५ योनिवक्त्रं ततस्तस्मिन्ब्राह्मणैर्यवसर्पिषी तिलाञ्श्च विष्णुदेवत्यैर्मंत्रैरेवानले हुनेत्।४६। कृत्वा तु वैष्णवं सम्यग्यागं तत्र प्रकल्पयेत् आज्यधारा मध्यमे तु कुंडे दद्यात्तु यत्नतः।४७। क्षीरधारां देवदेवे वारिधारात्मनोपरि निष्पावार्धप्रमाणां वै धारामाज्यस्य पातयेत्।४८। स्वेच्छया क्षीरजलयोरविच्छिन्नां च शर्वरीं जलकुम्भान्महावीर्य स्थापयित्वा त्रयोदश।४९। भक्ष्यैर्नानाविधैर्युक्तान्सितवस्त्रैरलङ्कृतान् प्रतानौदुम्बरैः पात्रैः पञ्चरत्नसमन्वितैः।1.23.५०। चतुर्भिर्बह्वृचैर्होमः कार्यस्तत्र उदङ्मुखैः रुद्रजाप्यश्चतुर्भिश्च यजुर्वेदपरायणैः।५१। वैष्णवानि च सामानि चतुर्भिः सामवेदिभिः एवं द्वादश वै विप्रान्वस्त्रमाल्यानुलेपनैः।५२। पूजयेदङ्गुलीयैश्च कटकैर्हेमसूत्रकैः वासोभिः शयनीयैश्च वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः।५३। एवं क्षपातिवाह्या वै गीतमङ्गलनिःस्वनैः उपाध्यायस्य च पुनर्द्विगुणं सर्वमेव तु।५४। ततः प्रभाते विमले समुत्थाय त्रयोदश गावो देयाः कुरुश्रेष्ठ सौवर्णशृङ्गसंवृताः।५५। पयस्विन्यः शीलवत्यः कांस्यदोहसमन्विताः रौप्यखुराः सवत्साश्च चन्दनेनाभिभूषिताः।५६। तास्तु तेषां ततो दत्वा भक्ष्यभोज्येन तर्पितान् कृत्वा वै ब्राह्मणान्सर्वान्छत्रैर्नानाविधैस्तथा।५७। भुक्त्वा चाक्षारलवणमात्मना च विसर्जयेत् अनुगम्य पदान्यष्टौ पुत्रभार्यासमन्वितः।५८। प्रीयतामत्र देवेशः केशवः क्लेशनाशनः एवं गुर्वाज्ञया कुम्भान्गाश्चैव शयनानि च।५९। वासांसि चैव सर्वेषां गृहाणि प्रापयेद्बुधः अभावे बहुशय्यानामेकामपि सुसंस्कृताम्।६०। शय्यां दद्याद्गृही भीम सर्वोपस्करसंयुताम् इतिहासपुराणानि वाचयित्वा तु वाहयेत्।६१। तद्दिनं कुरुशार्दूल य इच्छेद्विपुलां श्रियम् तस्मात्त्वं सत्त्वमालंब्य भीमसेन विमत्सरः।६२। कुरु व्रतमिदं सम्यक्स्नेहाद्गुह्यं मयोदितम् त्वया कृतमिदं वीर त्वन्नाम्ना च भविष्यति।६३। सा भीमद्वादशी ह्येषा सर्वपापहरा शुभा या तु कल्याणिनी नाम पुरा कल्पेषु पठ्यते।६४। त्वं चादिकर्ता भव सौकरेस्मिन्कल्पे महावीर वरप्रधान यस्याः स्मृतेः कीर्तनतोप्यशेषं पापं प्रणष्टं त्रिदशाधिपस्य।६५। दृष्ट्वा च तामप्सरसामभीष्टां वेश्याकृतामन्यभवान्तरेषु। आभीरकन्या हि कुतूहलेन सैवोर्वशी सम्प्रति नाकपृष्ठे।६६। जाताऽथ सा वैश्यकुलोद्भवापि पुलोमकन्या पुरुहूतपत्नी।। तत्रापि तस्याः परिचारिकेयं मम प्रिया सम्प्रति सत्यभामा।६७। कृतं पुरा मंगलमेतदेव द्विजात्मजा वेदवती बभूव।६८। अस्यां च कल्याणतिथौ विवस्वान्सहस्रधारेण सहस्ररश्मिः स्नातः पुरा मण्डलमेत्य तद्वत्तेजोमयं खेटपतिर्बभूव।६९। इदमेवकृतं महेंद्रमुख्यैर्बहुभिर्देवसुरारिकोटिभिश्च फलमस्येह न शक्यते हि वक्तुं यदि जिह्वायुतकोटयो मुखे स्युः।७०। कलिकलुषविदारिणीमनन्तामपि कथयिष्यति यादवेंद्रसूनुः अथ नरकगतान्पितॄनथैषा ह्यलमुद्धर्तुमिहैव यः करोति।७०। इदमनघशृणोति वक्ति भक्त्या परिपठतीह परोपकारहेतोः इह पंकजनाभभक्तिमान्भवेदथ शक्रस्य सपूज्यतामुपैति।७१। कल्याणिनी नाम पुरा विसर्गे या द्वादशी माघसितेभिपूज्या सा पाण्डुपुत्रेण कृता भविष्यत्यंनतपुण्यानघभीमपूर्वा।७२ ब्रह्मोवाच वर्णाश्रमाणां प्रभवः पुराणेषु मया श्रुतः सदाचारश्च भगवान्धर्मशास्त्रांगविस्तरैः।७३। पण्यस्त्रीणां समाचारं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्वतः ईश्वर उवाच तस्मिन्नेव पुरे ब्रह्मन्सहस्राणि तु षोडश७४ वासुदेवस्य नारीणां भविष्यंत्यंबुजोद्भव ताभिर्वसंतसमये कोकिलालिकुलाकुले७५ पुष्पितोपवने फुल्लकल्हारसरसस्तटे निर्भरं सहपत्नीभिः प्रशस्ताभिरलंकृतः७६ रमयिष्यति विश्वात्मा कृष्णो यदुकुलोद्वहः कुरंगनयनः श्रीमान्मालतीकृतशेखरः७७ गच्छन्समीपमार्गेण सांबो जांबवतीसुतः साक्षात्कंदर्परूपेण सर्वाभरणभूषितः७८ अनंगशरतप्ताभिः साभिलाषमवेक्षितः प्रबुद्धो मन्मथस्तासां भविष्यति यदात्मनि७९ तदवेक्ष्य जगन्नाथस्सर्वज्ञो ध्यानचक्षुषा स्वयंप्रभुर्वक्ष्यति ता वो हरिष्यंति दस्यवः८० अपरोक्षं यतस्त्वेवं स्निग्धमेतद्विचिंतितम् ततः प्रसादितो देव इदं वक्ष्यति शार्ङ्गभृत्८१ ताभिः शापाभितप्ताभिर्भगवान्भूतभावनः उत्तराश्रितदाशानामुद्धर्ता ब्राह्मणप्रियः८२ उपदेक्ष्यत्यनंतात्मा भावि कल्याणकारकम् भवतीनामृषिर्दाल्भ्यो यद्व्रतं कथयिष्यति८३ इत्युक्त्वा ताः परित्यज्य गतोन्तर्धानमीश्वरः ततः कालेन महता भारावतरणे कृते८४ निवृत्ते मौसले तद्वत्केशवे दिवमागते शून्ये यदुकुले सर्वे चोरैरपि जितेर्जुने८५ हृतासु कृष्णपत्नीषु दाशभोग्यासु चार्बुदे तिष्ठंतीषु च दौर्गत्यसंतप्तासु चतुर्मुख८६ आगमिष्यति योगात्मा दाल्भ्योनाम महातपाः तास्तमर्घ्येण संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य पुनःपुनः८७ लालप्यमाना बहुशो वाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणाः स्मरंत्यो विविधान्भोगान्दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपनान्८८ भर्त्तारं जगतामीशमनंतमपराजितम् दिव्यानुभावां च पुरींनानारत्नगृहाणि च८९ द्वारकावासिनः सर्वान्देवरूपान्कुमारकान् प्रश्नमेतं करिष्यंति मुनेरभिमुखंस्थिताः९० दस्युमिर्भगवन्सर्वाः परिभुक्ता वयं बलात् स्वधर्मश्च्यावितोस्माकमस्मिन्नः शरणं भवान्९१ आदिष्टोसि पुरा ब्रह्मन्केशवेन च धीमता कस्मादीशेन संयोगं प्राप्य वेश्यात्वमागताः९२ वेश्यानामपि यो धर्मस्तं नो ब्रूहि तपोधन कथयिष्ये वदत्तासां यद्दाल्भ्यश्चैकितायनः९३ दाल्भ्य उवाच जलक्रीडाविहारेषु पुरा सरसि मानसे भवतीनां सगर्वाणां नारदोभ्याशमागतः९४ हुताशनसुताः सर्वा भवत्योप्सरसः पुरा अप्रणम्यावलेपेन परिपृष्टः स योगवित्९५ कथं नारायणोस्माकं भर्त्ता स्यादित्युपादिश तस्माद्वरप्रदानं च शापश्चायमभूत्पुरा९६ शय्याद्वयप्रदानेन मधुमाधवमासयोः सुवर्णोपस्करोत्संगं द्वादश्यां शुक्लपक्षतः९७ भर्ता नारायणो नूनं भविष्यत्यन्यजन्मनि यदकृत्वा प्रणामं मे रूपसौभाग्यमत्सरात्९८ परिपृष्टोस्मि तेनाशु वियोगो वो भविष्यति चोरैरपहृताः सर्वा वेश्यात्वं समवाप्स्यथ९९ एवं नारदशापेन केशवस्य च शापतः वेश्यात्वमागताः सर्वा भवत्यः काममोहिताः1.23.१०० इदानीमपि यद्वक्ष्ये तच्छ्रणुध्वं वरांगनाः पुरा दैवासुरे युद्धे हतेषु शतशः सुरैः१०१ दानवासुरदैत्येषु राक्षसेषु ततस्ततः तेषां दारसहस्राणि शतशोथ सहस्रशः१०२ परिणीतानि यानि स्युर्बलाद्भुक्तानि यानि वै तानि सर्वाणि देवेशः प्रोवाच वदतां वरः१०३ वेश्याधर्मेण वर्तध्वमधुना नृपमंदिरे भक्तिमत्यो वरारोहास्तथा देवकुलेषु च१०४ राजतः स्वामिनश्चापि जीविकां च प्रलप्स्यथ भविष्यति च सौभाग्यं सर्वासामपि शक्तितः१०५ यः कश्चिच्छुल्कमादाय गृहमेष्यति वः सदा निश्छद्मनैवोपचर्यः प्रीतिभावैरदांभिकैः१०६ देवतानां पितॄणां च पुण्येह्नि समुपस्थिते गोभूहिरण्यधान्यानि प्रदेयानि च शक्तितः१०७ यद्व्रतं चोपदेक्ष्यामि तत्कुरुध्वं च सर्वशः संसारोत्तारणायालमेतद्वेदविदो विदुः१०८ यदा सूर्यदिने हस्तः पुष्यो वाथ पुनर्वसुः भवेत्सर्वौषधिस्नानं सम्यक्नारी समाचरेत्१०९ तदा पंचशरात्मा तु हरिस्सन्निधिमेष्यति अर्चयेत्पुंडरीकाक्षमनंगस्यानुकीर्तनैः११० कामाय पादौ संपूज्य जंघे वै मोहकारिणे मेढ्रं कंदर्पनिधये कटिं प्रीतिमते नमः१११ नाभिं सौख्यसमुद्राय वामनाय तथोदरम् हृदयं हृदयेशाय स्तनावाह्लादकारिणे११२ उत्कंठायेति वै कंठमास्यमानंदकारिणे वामांसं पुष्पचापाय पुष्पबाणाय दक्षिणम्११३ मानसायेति वै मालि विलोलायेति मूर्द्धजम् सर्वात्मने शिरस्तद्वद्देवदेवस्य पूजयेत्११४ नमः शिवाय शांताय पाशांकुशधराय च गदिने पीतवस्त्राय शंखचक्रधराय च११५ नमो नारायणायेति कामदेवात्मने नमः नमः शांत्यै नमः प्रीत्यै नमारेत्यै नमः श्रियै११६ नमः पुष्ट्यै नमस्तुष्ट्यै नमः सर्वार्थसंपदे एवं संपूज्य गोविंदमनंगात्मकमीश्वरम्११७ गंधमाल्यैस्तथा धूपैर्नैवेद्येन च भामिनी तत आहूय धर्मज्ञं ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम्११८ अव्यंगमथ संपूज्य गंधपुष्पार्चनादिभिः शालेयतंडुलप्रस्थं घृतपात्रेण संयुतम्११९ तस्मै विप्राय वै दद्यान्माधवः प्रीयतामिति यथेष्टाहारसंभुक्तमेनं द्विजमनुत्तमम्१२० रत्यर्थं कामदेवोयमिति चित्ते च धारयेत् यद्यदिच्छति विप्रेंद्रस्तत्तत्कुर्याद्विलासिनी१२१ सर्वभावेन चात्मानमर्पयेत्स्मितभाषिणी एवमादित्यवारेण सर्वमेतत्समाचरेत्।१२२। तंडुलप्रस्थदानं च यावन्मासास्त्रयोदश ततस्त्रयोदशे मासि संप्राप्ते चास्य भामिनी।१२३। विप्रस्योपस्करैर्युक्तां शय्यां दद्याद्विचक्षणा सोपधानां सविन्यासां स्वास्तरावरणां शुभाम्।१२४। दीपिकोपानहच्छत्र पादुकासनसंयुताम् सपत्नीकमलंकृत्य हेमसूत्रांगुलीयकैः१२५ सूक्ष्मवस्त्रैः सकटकैर्धूपमाल्यानुलेपनैः कामदेवं सपत्नीकं गुडकुम्भोपरिस्थितम्।१२६। ताम्रपात्रासनगतं हेमनेत्रपटावृतम् सुकांस्यभाजनोपेतमिक्षुदंडसमन्वितम्१२७ दद्यादनेन मन्त्रेण तथैकां गां पयस्विनीम् यथांतरं न पश्यामि कामकेशवयोः सदा।१२८। तथैव सर्वकामाप्तिरस्तु विप्र सदा मम तथा च कांचनं देवं प्रतिगृह्य द्विजोत्तमः।१२९। कोदात्कामोदादिति वैदिकं मंत्रमुदीरयेत् ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य विसृज्य द्विजपुंगवम्।१३०। शय्यासनादिकं सर्वं ब्राह्मणस्य गृहं नयेत् ततः प्रभृति योऽन्योपि रत्यर्थं गेहमागतः।१३१। सम्मान्य सूर्यवारेण स संपूज्यो भवेत्सदा एवं त्रयोदशं यावन्मासमेकं द्विजोत्तमम्।१३२। तर्पयित्वा यथाकामं प्रेषयेच्चैव मंदिरम् तदनुज्ञया रूपवंतं यावदस्यागमो भवेत्।१३३। आत्मनोपि यदा विघ्नं गर्भसूतकराजकम् दैवं वा मानुषं वा स्यादुपरागेण वा ततः।१३४। सावारा नष्टपंचाशद्यथाशक्ति समर्पयेत् एतद्धि कथितं सम्यग्भवतीनां विशेषतः।१३५। स्वधर्मोयं यतो भाव्यो वेश्यानामिह सर्वदा शय्यया त्यज्यते देव न कदाचिद्यथा भवान्।१३६। शय्या ममाप्यशून्येयं तथास्तु मधुसूदन गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं देवदेवस्य कारयेत्।१३७। एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं वेश्याधर्ममशेषतः पुरुहूतेन यत्प्रोक्तं दानवीषु पुरा मया।१३८। तदिदं सांप्रतं सर्वं भवतीष्वपि युज्यते सर्वपापप्रशमनमनंतफलदायकम्।१३९। कल्याणिनीनां कथितं तदेतद्दुश्चरं व्रतम् करोति याऽशेषमुदग्रमेतत्कल्याणिनी माधवलोकसंस्था।१४०। सा पूजिता देवगणैरशेषैरानंदकृत्स्थानमुपैति विष्णोः तपोधनः सोप्यभिधाय चैतदनंगदानव्रतमंगनानाम्।१४१। स्वस्थानमेष्यंति समस्तमित्थं व्रतं करिष्यंति च देवयोने।१४२।

bhīṣma uvāca vaiṣṇavā ye tu vai dharmā yānrudraḥ proktavāniha tānme kathaya vipreṃdra kīdṛśāste phalaṃ tu kim|1| pulastya uvāca purā rathantare kalpe paripṛṣṭo mahātmanā mandarastho mahādevaḥ pinākī brahmaṇā svayam|2| kathamārogyamaiśvaryamanaṃtamamareśvara alpena tapasā deva bhavenmokṣaḥ sadā nṛṇāṃ 3| kiṃ tajjñānaṃ mahādeva tvatprasādādadhokṣaja alpakenāpi tapasā mahāphalamihocyate|4| iti pṛṣṭassa viśvātmā brahmaṇā lokabhāvanaḥ umāpatiruvācedaṃ manasaḥ prītikārakam|5| īśvara uvāca asmādrathaṃtarātkalpādbhūyo viñśatimo yadā vārāho bhavitā kalpastadā manvantare śubhe|6| vaivasvatākhye samprāpte saptame saptalokadhṛk dvāparākhyaṃyugaṃ tasminsaptaviṃśatimaṃ yadā|7| tasyāṃ te tu mahātejā vāsudevo janārdanaḥ bhārāvataraṇārthāya tridhā viṣṇurbhaviṣyati|8| dvaipāyana ṛṣistatra rauhiṇeyotha keśavaḥ kaṃsāriḥ keśimathanaḥ keśavaḥ kleśanāśanaḥ9 purīṃ dvāravatīṃ nāma sāmprataṃ yā kuśasthalī divyānubhāvasaṃyuktāmadhivāsāya śārṅgiṇaḥ|10| tvaṣṭā tadājñayā brahmankariṣyati jagatpateḥ tasyāṃ kadācidāsīnaḥ sabhāyāṃ so'mitadyutiḥ|11| bhāryābhirvṛṣṇividvadbhibhūribhirbhūridakṣiṇaiḥ kurubhirdevagandharvairanvitaḥ kaiṭabhārdanaḥ|12| pravṛttāsu purāṇāsu dharmasambandhadhinīṣu ca kathāsu bhīmasenena paripṛṣṭaḥ pratāpavān|13| tvayā pṛṣṭasya dharmasya vakṣyatyasya ca bhedadṛk bhavitā sa tadā brahmankartā caiva vṛkodaraḥ|14| pravartako'sya dharmasya pāṇḍusūnurmahābalaḥ yasya tīkṣṇo vṛko nāma jaṭhare havyavāhanaḥ|15| sambhāṣyate sa dharmātmā tena cāsau vṛkodaraḥ atīva svādaśīlaśca nāgāyuta balo mahān|16| dhārmikasyāpyaśaktasya tīvrāgnitvādupoṣaṇe idaṃ vratamaśeṣāṇāṃ vratānāmadhikaṃ yataḥ|17| kathayiṣyati viśvātmā vāsudevo jagadguruḥ aśeṣayajñaphaladamaśeṣāghavināśanam||18| aśeṣaduṣṭaśamanamaśeṣasurapūjitam pavitrāṇāṃ pavitraṃ yanmagalānāṃ ca maṅgalam bhaviṣyaṃ ca bhaviṣyāṇāṃ purāṇānāṃ purātanam|19| vāsudeva uvāca yadyaṣṭamī caturddaśyordvādaśīṣu ca bhārata anyeṣvapi dinarkṣeṣu naśaktastvamupoṣitum|20| tatastvagryāmimāṃ bhīma tithiṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm upoṣya vidhinānena gaccha viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padaṃ|21| māghamāsasya daśamī yadā śuklā bhavettadā ghṛtenābhyaṃjanaṃ kṛtvā tilaiḥ snānaṃ samācaret|22| tathaiva viṣṇumabhyarcennamo nārāyaṇāya ca kṛṣṇāya pādau saṃpūjya śiraḥkṛṣṇātmaneti ca|23| vaikuṇṭhāyeti vaikuṇṭhamuraḥ śrīvatsadhāriṇe śaṅkhine gadine caiva cakriṇe varadāya vai|24| sarvaṃ nārāyaṇantvevaṃ sampūjyāvāhanakramāt dāmodarāyetyudaraṃ kaṭiṃ pañcajanāya vai|25| ūrūsaubhāgyanāthāya jānunī bhūtadhāriṇe namo nīlāya vai jaṅghe pādau viśvabhuje punaḥ|26| namo devyai namaḥ śāṃtyai namo lakṣmyai namaḥ śriyai namastuṣṭyai namaḥ puṣṭyai dhṛtyai vyuṣṭyai namo namaḥ|27| namo vihaṅganāthāya vāyuvegāya pakṣiṇe viṣapramathanāyeti garuḍaṃ cābhipūjayet|28| evaṃ sampūjya govindamumāpativināyakau gandhairmālyaistathā dhūpairbhakṣyairnānāvidhairapi|29| gavyena payasā siktāṃ kṛsarāmatha pāyasam sarpiṣā saha bhuktvā tu gatvā sthānāṃtaraṃ punaḥ|30| naiyagrodhaṃ dantakāṣṭhamathavā khādiraṃ budhaḥ gṛhītvā dhāvayeddantānācāntaḥ prāgudaṅmukhaḥ|31| brūyātsāyantanīṃ kṛtvā sandhyāmastamite ravau namo nārāyaṇāyeti tvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ|32| ekādaśyāṃ nirāhāraḥ samabhyarcya ca keśavam tāṃ rātriṃ sakalāṃ sthitvā śeṣaparyaṃkaśāyinam|33| sarpiṣā viśvadahanaṃ hutvā brāhmaṇapuṅgavaiḥ sahaiva puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ dvādaśyāṃ kṣīrabhojanam|34| kariṣyāmi yathātmānaṃ nirvighnenāstu tacca me evamuktvā svapedbhūmāvitihāsakathāṃ punaḥ|35| śrutvā prabhāte sañjāte nadīṃ gatvā viśāmpate snānaṃ kṛtvā mudā tadvatpāṣaṇḍānabhivarjayet|36| upāsya sandhyāṃ vidhivatkṛtvā ca pitṛtarpaṇam praṇamya ca hṛṣīkeśaṃ śeṣaparyaṅkaśāyinam|37| gṛhasya purato bhaktyā maṇḍapaṃ kārayedbudhaḥ caturhastāṃ śubhāṃ kuryādvedīmariniṣūdana|38| caturhastapramāṇaṃ tu vinyasettatra toraṇam madhye ca kalaśaṃ tatra māṣamātreṇa sañyutam|39| chidreṇa jalasampūrṇamadhaḥ kṛṣṇājine sthitaḥ tasya dhārāṃ ca śirasā dhārayetsakalāṃ niśām|40| dhārābhirbhūribhirbhūri phalaṃ vedavido viduḥ yasmāttasmātkuruśreṣṭha kārayetprayato dvijaḥ|41| dakṣiṇe cārdhacandraṃ tu paścime vartulaṃ tathā aśvatthapatrākāraṃ ca uttareṇa tu kārayet|42| madhye tu padmākāraṃ ca kārayedvaiṣṇavo dvijaḥ pūrvato vedikāṃ stho na stho na yāmye ca kalpayet|43| pānīyadhārāṃ śirasi dhārayedviṣṇutatparaḥ dvitīyā vedī devasya tatra padmaṃ sakarṇikam|44| tasya madhye sthitaṃ devaṃ kuryādvai puruṣottamam hastamātraṃ ca tatkuṇḍaṃ kṛtvā tatra trimekhalam45 yonivaktraṃ tatastasminbrāhmaṇairyavasarpiṣī tilāñśca viṣṇudevatyairmaṃtrairevānale hunet|46| kṛtvā tu vaiṣṇavaṃ samyagyāgaṃ tatra prakalpayet ājyadhārā madhyame tu kuṃḍe dadyāttu yatnataḥ|47| kṣīradhārāṃ devadeve vāridhārātmanopari niṣpāvārdhapramāṇāṃ vai dhārāmājyasya pātayet|48| svecchayā kṣīrajalayoravicchinnāṃ ca śarvarīṃ jalakumbhānmahāvīrya sthāpayitvā trayodaśa|49| bhakṣyairnānāvidhairyuktānsitavastrairalaṅkṛtān pratānaudumbaraiḥ pātraiḥ pañcaratnasamanvitaiḥ|1.23.50| caturbhirbahvṛcairhomaḥ kāryastatra udaṅmukhaiḥ rudrajāpyaścaturbhiśca yajurvedaparāyaṇaiḥ|51| vaiṣṇavāni ca sāmāni caturbhiḥ sāmavedibhiḥ evaṃ dvādaśa vai viprānvastramālyānulepanaiḥ|52| pūjayedaṅgulīyaiśca kaṭakairhemasūtrakaiḥ vāsobhiḥ śayanīyaiśca vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ|53| evaṃ kṣapātivāhyā vai gītamaṅgalaniḥsvanaiḥ upādhyāyasya ca punardviguṇaṃ sarvameva tu|54| tataḥ prabhāte vimale samutthāya trayodaśa gāvo deyāḥ kuruśreṣṭha sauvarṇaśṛṅgasaṃvṛtāḥ|55| payasvinyaḥ śīlavatyaḥ kāṃsyadohasamanvitāḥ raupyakhurāḥ savatsāśca candanenābhibhūṣitāḥ|56| tāstu teṣāṃ tato datvā bhakṣyabhojyena tarpitān kṛtvā vai brāhmaṇānsarvānchatrairnānāvidhaistathā|57| bhuktvā cākṣāralavaṇamātmanā ca visarjayet anugamya padānyaṣṭau putrabhāryāsamanvitaḥ|58| prīyatāmatra deveśaḥ keśavaḥ kleśanāśanaḥ evaṃ gurvājñayā kumbhāngāścaiva śayanāni ca|59| vāsāṃsi caiva sarveṣāṃ gṛhāṇi prāpayedbudhaḥ abhāve bahuśayyānāmekāmapi susaṃskṛtām|60| śayyāṃ dadyādgṛhī bhīma sarvopaskarasaṃyutām itihāsapurāṇāni vācayitvā tu vāhayet|61| taddinaṃ kuruśārdūla ya icchedvipulāṃ śriyam tasmāttvaṃ sattvamālaṃbya bhīmasena vimatsaraḥ|62| kuru vratamidaṃ samyaksnehādguhyaṃ mayoditam tvayā kṛtamidaṃ vīra tvannāmnā ca bhaviṣyati|63| sā bhīmadvādaśī hyeṣā sarvapāpaharā śubhā yā tu kalyāṇinī nāma purā kalpeṣu paṭhyate|64| tvaṃ cādikartā bhava saukaresminkalpe mahāvīra varapradhāna yasyāḥ smṛteḥ kīrtanatopyaśeṣaṃ pāpaṃ praṇaṣṭaṃ tridaśādhipasya|65| dṛṣṭvā ca tāmapsarasāmabhīṣṭāṃ veśyākṛtāmanyabhavāntareṣu| ābhīrakanyā hi kutūhalena saivorvaśī samprati nākapṛṣṭhe|66| jātā'tha sā vaiśyakulodbhavāpi pulomakanyā puruhūtapatnī|| tatrāpi tasyāḥ paricārikeyaṃ mama priyā samprati satyabhāmā|67| kṛtaṃ purā maṃgalametadeva dvijātmajā vedavatī babhūva|68| asyāṃ ca kalyāṇatithau vivasvānsahasradhāreṇa sahasraraśmiḥ snātaḥ purā maṇḍalametya tadvattejomayaṃ kheṭapatirbabhūva|69| idamevakṛtaṃ maheṃdramukhyairbahubhirdevasurārikoṭibhiśca phalamasyeha na śakyate hi vaktuṃ yadi jihvāyutakoṭayo mukhe syuḥ|70| kalikaluṣavidāriṇīmanantāmapi kathayiṣyati yādaveṃdrasūnuḥ atha narakagatānpitṝnathaiṣā hyalamuddhartumihaiva yaḥ karoti|70| idamanaghaśṛṇoti vakti bhaktyā paripaṭhatīha paropakārahetoḥ iha paṃkajanābhabhaktimānbhavedatha śakrasya sapūjyatāmupaiti|71| kalyāṇinī nāma purā visarge yā dvādaśī māghasitebhipūjyā sā pāṇḍuputreṇa kṛtā bhaviṣyatyaṃnatapuṇyānaghabhīmapūrvā|72 brahmovāca varṇāśramāṇāṃ prabhavaḥ purāṇeṣu mayā śrutaḥ sadācāraśca bhagavāndharmaśāstrāṃgavistaraiḥ|73| paṇyastrīṇāṃ samācāraṃ śrotumicchāmi tatvataḥ īśvara uvāca tasminneva pure brahmansahasrāṇi tu ṣoḍaśa74 vāsudevasya nārīṇāṃ bhaviṣyaṃtyaṃbujodbhava tābhirvasaṃtasamaye kokilālikulākule75 puṣpitopavane phullakalhārasarasastaṭe nirbharaṃ sahapatnībhiḥ praśastābhiralaṃkṛtaḥ76 ramayiṣyati viśvātmā kṛṣṇo yadukulodvahaḥ kuraṃganayanaḥ śrīmānmālatīkṛtaśekharaḥ77 gacchansamīpamārgeṇa sāṃbo jāṃbavatīsutaḥ sākṣātkaṃdarparūpeṇa sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ78 anaṃgaśarataptābhiḥ sābhilāṣamavekṣitaḥ prabuddho manmathastāsāṃ bhaviṣyati yadātmani79 tadavekṣya jagannāthassarvajño dhyānacakṣuṣā svayaṃprabhurvakṣyati tā vo hariṣyaṃti dasyavaḥ80 aparokṣaṃ yatastvevaṃ snigdhametadviciṃtitam tataḥ prasādito deva idaṃ vakṣyati śārṅgabhṛt81 tābhiḥ śāpābhitaptābhirbhagavānbhūtabhāvanaḥ uttarāśritadāśānāmuddhartā brāhmaṇapriyaḥ82 upadekṣyatyanaṃtātmā bhāvi kalyāṇakārakam bhavatīnāmṛṣirdālbhyo yadvrataṃ kathayiṣyati83 ityuktvā tāḥ parityajya gatontardhānamīśvaraḥ tataḥ kālena mahatā bhārāvataraṇe kṛte84 nivṛtte mausale tadvatkeśave divamāgate śūnye yadukule sarve corairapi jiterjune85 hṛtāsu kṛṣṇapatnīṣu dāśabhogyāsu cārbude tiṣṭhaṃtīṣu ca daurgatyasaṃtaptāsu caturmukha86 āgamiṣyati yogātmā dālbhyonāma mahātapāḥ tāstamarghyeṇa saṃpūjya praṇipatya punaḥpunaḥ87 lālapyamānā bahuśo vāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇāḥ smaraṃtyo vividhānbhogāndivyamālyānulepanān88 bharttāraṃ jagatāmīśamanaṃtamaparājitam divyānubhāvāṃ ca purīṃnānāratnagṛhāṇi ca89 dvārakāvāsinaḥ sarvāndevarūpānkumārakān praśnametaṃ kariṣyaṃti munerabhimukhaṃsthitāḥ90 dasyumirbhagavansarvāḥ paribhuktā vayaṃ balāt svadharmaścyāvitosmākamasminnaḥ śaraṇaṃ bhavān91 ādiṣṭosi purā brahmankeśavena ca dhīmatā kasmādīśena saṃyogaṃ prāpya veśyātvamāgatāḥ92 veśyānāmapi yo dharmastaṃ no brūhi tapodhana kathayiṣye vadattāsāṃ yaddālbhyaścaikitāyanaḥ93 dālbhya uvāca jalakrīḍāvihāreṣu purā sarasi mānase bhavatīnāṃ sagarvāṇāṃ nāradobhyāśamāgataḥ94 hutāśanasutāḥ sarvā bhavatyopsarasaḥ purā apraṇamyāvalepena paripṛṣṭaḥ sa yogavit95 kathaṃ nārāyaṇosmākaṃ bharttā syādityupādiśa tasmādvarapradānaṃ ca śāpaścāyamabhūtpurā96 śayyādvayapradānena madhumādhavamāsayoḥ suvarṇopaskarotsaṃgaṃ dvādaśyāṃ śuklapakṣataḥ97 bhartā nārāyaṇo nūnaṃ bhaviṣyatyanyajanmani yadakṛtvā praṇāmaṃ me rūpasaubhāgyamatsarāt98 paripṛṣṭosmi tenāśu viyogo vo bhaviṣyati corairapahṛtāḥ sarvā veśyātvaṃ samavāpsyatha99 evaṃ nāradaśāpena keśavasya ca śāpataḥ veśyātvamāgatāḥ sarvā bhavatyaḥ kāmamohitāḥ1.23.100 idānīmapi yadvakṣye tacchraṇudhvaṃ varāṃganāḥ purā daivāsure yuddhe hateṣu śataśaḥ suraiḥ101 dānavāsuradaityeṣu rākṣaseṣu tatastataḥ teṣāṃ dārasahasrāṇi śataśotha sahasraśaḥ102 pariṇītāni yāni syurbalādbhuktāni yāni vai tāni sarvāṇi deveśaḥ provāca vadatāṃ varaḥ103 veśyādharmeṇa vartadhvamadhunā nṛpamaṃdire bhaktimatyo varārohāstathā devakuleṣu ca104 rājataḥ svāminaścāpi jīvikāṃ ca pralapsyatha bhaviṣyati ca saubhāgyaṃ sarvāsāmapi śaktitaḥ105 yaḥ kaścicchulkamādāya gṛhameṣyati vaḥ sadā niśchadmanaivopacaryaḥ prītibhāvairadāṃbhikaiḥ106 devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca puṇyehni samupasthite gobhūhiraṇyadhānyāni pradeyāni ca śaktitaḥ107 yadvrataṃ copadekṣyāmi tatkurudhvaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ saṃsārottāraṇāyālametadvedavido viduḥ108 yadā sūryadine hastaḥ puṣyo vātha punarvasuḥ bhavetsarvauṣadhisnānaṃ samyaknārī samācaret109 tadā paṃcaśarātmā tu harissannidhimeṣyati arcayetpuṃḍarīkākṣamanaṃgasyānukīrtanaiḥ110 kāmāya pādau saṃpūjya jaṃghe vai mohakāriṇe meḍhraṃ kaṃdarpanidhaye kaṭiṃ prītimate namaḥ111 nābhiṃ saukhyasamudrāya vāmanāya tathodaram hṛdayaṃ hṛdayeśāya stanāvāhlādakāriṇe112 utkaṃṭhāyeti vai kaṃṭhamāsyamānaṃdakāriṇe vāmāṃsaṃ puṣpacāpāya puṣpabāṇāya dakṣiṇam113 mānasāyeti vai māli vilolāyeti mūrddhajam sarvātmane śirastadvaddevadevasya pūjayet114 namaḥ śivāya śāṃtāya pāśāṃkuśadharāya ca gadine pītavastrāya śaṃkhacakradharāya ca115 namo nārāyaṇāyeti kāmadevātmane namaḥ namaḥ śāṃtyai namaḥ prītyai namāretyai namaḥ śriyai116 namaḥ puṣṭyai namastuṣṭyai namaḥ sarvārthasaṃpade evaṃ saṃpūjya goviṃdamanaṃgātmakamīśvaram117 gaṃdhamālyaistathā dhūpairnaivedyena ca bhāminī tata āhūya dharmajñaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ vedapāragam118 avyaṃgamatha saṃpūjya gaṃdhapuṣpārcanādibhiḥ śāleyataṃḍulaprasthaṃ ghṛtapātreṇa saṃyutam119 tasmai viprāya vai dadyānmādhavaḥ prīyatāmiti yatheṣṭāhārasaṃbhuktamenaṃ dvijamanuttamam120 ratyarthaṃ kāmadevoyamiti citte ca dhārayet yadyadicchati vipreṃdrastattatkuryādvilāsinī121 sarvabhāvena cātmānamarpayetsmitabhāṣiṇī evamādityavāreṇa sarvametatsamācaret|122| taṃḍulaprasthadānaṃ ca yāvanmāsāstrayodaśa tatastrayodaśe māsi saṃprāpte cāsya bhāminī|123| viprasyopaskarairyuktāṃ śayyāṃ dadyādvicakṣaṇā sopadhānāṃ savinyāsāṃ svāstarāvaraṇāṃ śubhām|124| dīpikopānahacchatra pādukāsanasaṃyutām sapatnīkamalaṃkṛtya hemasūtrāṃgulīyakaiḥ125 sūkṣmavastraiḥ sakaṭakairdhūpamālyānulepanaiḥ kāmadevaṃ sapatnīkaṃ guḍakumbhoparisthitam|126| tāmrapātrāsanagataṃ hemanetrapaṭāvṛtam sukāṃsyabhājanopetamikṣudaṃḍasamanvitam127 dadyādanena mantreṇa tathaikāṃ gāṃ payasvinīm yathāṃtaraṃ na paśyāmi kāmakeśavayoḥ sadā|128| tathaiva sarvakāmāptirastu vipra sadā mama tathā ca kāṃcanaṃ devaṃ pratigṛhya dvijottamaḥ|129| kodātkāmodāditi vaidikaṃ maṃtramudīrayet tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya visṛjya dvijapuṃgavam|130| śayyāsanādikaṃ sarvaṃ brāhmaṇasya gṛhaṃ nayet tataḥ prabhṛti yo'nyopi ratyarthaṃ gehamāgataḥ|131| sammānya sūryavāreṇa sa saṃpūjyo bhavetsadā evaṃ trayodaśaṃ yāvanmāsamekaṃ dvijottamam|132| tarpayitvā yathākāmaṃ preṣayeccaiva maṃdiram tadanujñayā rūpavaṃtaṃ yāvadasyāgamo bhavet|133| ātmanopi yadā vighnaṃ garbhasūtakarājakam daivaṃ vā mānuṣaṃ vā syāduparāgeṇa vā tataḥ|134| sāvārā naṣṭapaṃcāśadyathāśakti samarpayet etaddhi kathitaṃ samyagbhavatīnāṃ viśeṣataḥ|135| svadharmoyaṃ yato bhāvyo veśyānāmiha sarvadā śayyayā tyajyate deva na kadācidyathā bhavān|136| śayyā mamāpyaśūnyeyaṃ tathāstu madhusūdana gītavāditranirghoṣaṃ devadevasya kārayet|137| etadvaḥ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ veśyādharmamaśeṣataḥ puruhūtena yatproktaṃ dānavīṣu purā mayā|138| tadidaṃ sāṃprataṃ sarvaṃ bhavatīṣvapi yujyate sarvapāpapraśamanamanaṃtaphaladāyakam|139| kalyāṇinīnāṃ kathitaṃ tadetadduścaraṃ vratam karoti yā'śeṣamudagrametatkalyāṇinī mādhavalokasaṃsthā|140| sā pūjitā devagaṇairaśeṣairānaṃdakṛtsthānamupaiti viṣṇoḥ tapodhanaḥ sopyabhidhāya caitadanaṃgadānavratamaṃganānām|141| svasthānameṣyaṃti samastamitthaṃ vrataṃ kariṣyaṃti ca devayone|142|

English translation

Bhīṣma said :

1. O lord of brāhmaṇas , tell me what kind of practices in honour of Viṣṇu are (observed), as Rudra had told them, and. what their fruit is.

Pulastya said :

2-4. Formerly, in the Rathantara Kalpa , Mahādeva (i.e. Śiva ), the trident-holder (who was), living on Mandara , was asked by Brahmā , the great-souled one, himself: “How can men always have good health, endless prosperity and salvation by (practising) little penance, O god? O Adhokṣaja [1] what is that knowledge, which (obtained) through your favour even by little penance is said to be very fruitful in this world?”

5. Thus asked by Brahmā, (Śiva), the lord of Umā, the universal soul, the creator of the worlds, said this (that) delights the mind:

The god said :

6-9. When from this Rathantara Kalpa , there again will come the twentieth Varāha Kalpa , and when the seventh auspicious Manu -period called Vaivasvata will arrive, and when there will be a yuga numbering twenty-seventh called Dvāpara , at the end of it, Vāsudeva Janārdana (i.e.) Viṣṇ U will be born in three ways for taking down the burden (i.e. for destroying demons etc.) as the sage Dvaipāyana , Balarāma and Keśava (i.e. Kṛṣṇa called) Kaṃsāri, Kesimathana, Keśava and Kleśanāśana.

10-12. O Brahmā, Tvaṣṭṛ will, at the order of the lord of the world, fashion a city, which is now called Kuśasthalī , named Dvāravatī , endowed with divine splendour, for the residence of Śārṅgin (i.e. Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa). Sometime he, of an unlimited lustre and killer of Kaiṭabha (would) be seated in his assembly, along with his wives, Yādavas , many learned men (receiving) large (fees), Kurus , gods and Gandharvas .

13. When old and religious stories would be going on, he, the valiant one observing distinctions (i.e. a keen observer), on being asked by Bhīmasena , will explain the religious practices (about which a question is) asked by you.

14-17a. O Brahmā, he will be the founder of the practices and the very mighty Vṛkodara , Pāṇḍu ’s son, will be the propagator. He, the religious-minded one, is (called) Vṛkodara because in his belly lies the sharp fire called Vṛka . The great one, who would have the strength of a myriad of elephants, would be a great eater, (for) even the fire of hunger of a religious but weak person is sharp while fasting.

17b-19. This vow is superior to all (other) vows since Vāsudeva, the lord of the world will tell (so). The vow gives the fruit of all sacrifices and destroys all sins. It subdues all evils; it is honoured by all gods. It is the (most) pure of the pure (objects); and the (most) auspicious of the auspicious things; it is the best among the future and the past things.

Vasudeva said :

20-21. O Bhīma , if you are not able to observe a fast on the eighth or fourteenth or on other days (with the rise) of auspicious stars, then having fasted on this excellent day, tḥe destroyer of sin, according to the proper rite, reach the highest position of Viṣṇu.

22-28. When it is the tenth day of the bright half of Māgha , anointing his body with ghee , a man should bathe with sesamum; similarly (saying) ‘(My) salutation to Nārāyaṇa ’ he should worship Viṣṇu. Worshipping the feet (of the deity he should say) ‘My salutation to Kṛṣṇa’; worshipping the head (of the deity he should say) ‘My salutation to Kṛṣṇātman’; worshipping the throat (he should say) 'My salutation to Vaikuṇṭha ’; and worshipping the chest (he should say) ‘My salutation to Śrīvatsadhārin, to Śaṅkhin, Gadin , Cakrin and Varada ’. Thus having worshipped Sava Nārāyaṇa, invoking (him by various epithets) in due order, he should further worship the belly (saying) ‘My salutation to Dāmodra’; he should worship the waist (saying) ‘My salutation to Pañcajana ’; he should worship the thighs (saying) ‘My salutation to Saubhāgyanātha’; he should worship the knees (saying) ‘My salutation to Bhūtadhārin’; he should worship the shanks (saying) ‘My salutation to Nīla ’; he should worship the feet saying ‘My salutation to Viśvabhuj’. (He should also say), ‘My salutation to Devī , to Śānti , to Lakṣmī , to Śrī, to Tuṣṭi , to Puṣṭi , to Dhṛti , to Vyuṣṭi ’. He should worship Garuḍa (saying), ‘My salutation to the bird, viz. Vihaṅganātha (i.e. the lord of birds), Vāyuvega (i.e. having the speed of wind), and Viṣapramathana’.

29-32. Having thus worshipped Govinda (i.e. Viṣṇu), and Śiva and Vināyaka (i.e. Garuḍa) with sandal, flowers, incense and eatables of various kinds, and having eaten with ghee, the (boiled) mixture of rice and peas with a few spices, [2] sprinkled over with ghee (prepared from the milk) of cow, and having gone to another place, should take a piece of stick of nyagrodha or khadira and clean his teeth; and facing the north-east direction he should offer the evening prayer at the sunset; he should say, ‘My salutation to Nārāyaṇa; I have sought your refuge.’

33-35a. Going without food on the eleventh day and having worshipped Keśava, and remaining that night by him, who lies on the bed of Śeṣa (i.e. Viṣṇu) and having offered (an oblation) to fire with ghee through best brāhmaṇas, (he should say), ‘I shall have the food with sweetened milk on the twelfth; let me have it without any difficulty’.

35b-38. O king, having said so, he should sleep on the ground; having heard a historical story and having, when the dawn has broken, gone to the river and having taken a bath he should avoid heretics.

Having offered the Sandhyā (prayer) according to the proper procedure and having offered libation to the manes, and having saluted Hṛṣīkeśa , lying on a bed, the wise one should get fashioned a pavilion in front of his house; and also, O killer of enemies, he should fashion an altar four hands (in length and breadth).

39-41. There he should put an ornamental arch of the length of four hands; in the middle he should put a pitcher with a hole of the size of a bean and full of water; sitting on the deer-hide, under the pitcher, he should sustain (i.e. allow to fall) the stream of water with (i.e. on) his head for the whole night. Since those who are well-versed in the Vedas know that many streams give great fruit, therefore, O best of the Kurus, a restrained brāhmaṇa should get it done.

42-44a. He should get fashioned a crescent moon in the south, a circle in the west and the figure of an aśvattha -leaf in the north; the brāhmaṇa, devoted to Viṣṇu, should get fashioned a lotus-figure in the centre; and also at various spots to the east and south of the altar; and being intent on Viṣṇu, he should sustain on the head the stream of water (i.e. allow the stream of water to fall on his head).

44b-45a. The second altar is of (i.e. meant for) the deity; there he should fashion a lotus with a pericarp; in the centre of it he should install (the image of) the god viz. Puruṣottama (i.e. Viṣṇu).

45b-46. He should, having made there a basin, having three girdles (i.e. parts), and having the face like the female organ of generation, offer into the fire in it, barley, ghee and sesamum through brāhmaṇas, (to the accompaniment) of (the recital of) sacred texts.

47-48, Having done (this) he should perform there a sacrifice in honour of Viṣṇu. He should carefully offer (i.e. drop) a stream of ghee into the central (part of the) basin; he should drop a stream of milk on (the image of) the god of gods and that water on himself. He should drop the stream of pure ghee of half the size (of the water stream).

49-51a. O you of great might, he should also (drop) the streams of water and milk if he so desires for the whole night. Having put thirteen water-pitchers along with eatables of various kinds, decorated with white garments and with vessels having udumbara -shoots and jewels of five kinds, he should get a sacrifice performed by four brāhmaṇas knowing many Ṛgvedic verses and facing the north.

51b-53. He should also get the Rudra (-prayers) repeated by four brāhmaṇas well-versed in Yajurveda . He should get the songs of praise of Viṣṇu recited by four brāhmaṇas well-versed in Sāmaveda . Thus he, free from the vanity of wealth, should honour the twelve brāhmaṇas by (giving them) clothes, flowers, anointment, rings, bracelets, golden chains, and also garments and beds.

54. He should thus pass the night with songs and auspicious sounds. All these (presents mentioned above) should be (given) in duplicate to the (family-) preceptor.

55-56. Then O best of the Kurus, having got up in the clear (i.e. bright) morning, he should give thirteen good-natured milch cows with their horns covered with gold, with udders, (adorned) with bell-metal, with their hoofs (decorated) with silver, with calves, and decorated with sandal.

57-58. Having given these (cows) to the brāhmaṇas, pleased with (their having eaten articles of) food, and having given various kinds of umbrellas to them, and himself having eaten food without salt, he should allow (the brāhmaṇas) to go, following them, with his sons and wife for seven or eight steps.

59-61a. (At this time he should say) ‘May the lord of gods viz. Keśava, the destroyer of sufferings, be pleased here (i.e. with this)’. In this way, by the order of his preceptor he should send the pitchers, the cows, the beds, the garments to the houses of all (the brāhmaṇas). O Bhīma, in the absence of many beds, a householder should give (at least) one fully furnished bed.

61b-63. O foremost of the Kurus, he who desires ample wealth, should pass that day having read (i.e. by reading accounts in) history and Purāṇas . Therefore, O Bhīmasena, mustering courage and being free from jealousy, observe properly this vow as told by me to you through love. This vow observed by you will be (known) by your name.

64. This is that auspicious Bhīmadvādaśī which destroys all sins and which was called Kalyāṇinī in former Kalpas .

65. O you best among the great heroes, be the first observer (of this vow of Bhīmadvādaśī ) by remembering and telling (about) which all the sin of the lord of gods was destroyed.

66. Having seen her (i.e. Śacī ) dear to the celestial nymphs and made a prostitute ( veśyā ) in other existences, (the lord favoured her and) though she was born in a Vaiśya family, she, the daughter of Puloman [3] , became the wife of Indra .

67. There (i.e. in that existence) also she (i.e. Śacī, wife of Indra) had an attendant who is now my (wife) Satyabhāmā . She formerly did this very auspicious thing; and so became (i.e. was born as) Vedavatī , a brāhmaṇa’s daughter.

68. Formerly the Sun, of a thousand rays, bathed with a thousand streams on this auspicious day; he then having reached the lustrous orb, became the lord of the stars and planets.

69. This vow (alone) was observed by great Indras , and many crores of gods and their enemies. Even though there be myriads of tongues in the mouths it is not possible to describe the fruit of this (vow).

70. Even the son of the lord of Yādavas will tell that the (observance of this) vow destroys the sins in the Kali age and (gives) unending (fruit). He, who observes this (vow), is able to emancipate his manes even though they have gone to a hell.

71-72. O sinless one, he who listens to (the account of) this (vow), or talks about it, or recites it with devotion for obliging others, would be Viṣṇu’s devotee and would be honoured by Indra. O sinless one, that twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Māgha, which was called Kalyāṇinī in a former creation, will be observed (as auspicious) by Pāṇḍu’s son, will give inexhaustible merit and will have (its name) preceded by (the word) Bhīma (i.e. will be called Bhīmadvādaśī ).

Brahmā said :

73-74a. O revered one, in (i.e. from) the Purāṇas, I have heard about the origin of the castes and the stages of human life; and also I have learnt about good conduct along with the details of the branches of the science of religion. I (now) desire to hear the true account of the conduct of prostitutes.

The Lord said :

74b-77. O Brahman , born from the lotus, in the same city there will be sixteen thousand wives of Vāsudeva. Kṛṣṇa, the universal soul, having eyes like those of a deer, the dignified scion of Yadu family, who had put the garland of Mālatī flowers on his head, and being adorned with his praiseworthy wives, will enjoy with them in a garden rich with flowers, and situated on the bank of a lake, in the spring season abounding in cuckoos and swarms of bees.

78-79. Sāmba , Jāmbavatī ’s son, adorned with all (kinds of ornaments), going along with the path nearby, really of the form of Cupid, will be longingly seen by the ladies and passion will be aroused in the hearts of them who will be tormented by the arrows of Cupid.

80-83. He, the lord of the world, the omniscient master, having perceived it with his eye of contemplation, will say to them: “The evil being will kidnap you, since you have thus entertained the passion of love (for Sāmba) in my presence.” Then the revered lord, the cause of beings, the holder of the bow made of horn, being propitiated (by the ladies) tormented with the curse, will say this: “(You will observe) the vow, beneficial in the future, which sage Dālbhya , emancipator of the fishermen living in the north and of an unlimited (generosity of) mind will tell you.”

84-87a. Saying so and leaving them, the lord vanished. Then after a (long) time when the burden (on the earth as a result of the great Bhārata war) will be lightened and when the fight with clubs [4] (among the Yādavas) will be over, when Keśava will have come back to the heaven, when the entire Yadu-family will be no more, when even Arjuna will be defeated by the thieves, when Kṛṣṇa’s wives will be kidnapped and will be enjoyed by the fishermen for a hundred million years and when they will be (thus) tormented, a devout soul, Dālbhya by name, with great penance (to his credit) will come there.

87b-90. Having honoured him with a respectful offering, having saluted him again and again, (and) being frequently talked to, with their eyes full of tears and remembering various enjoyments and divine flowers and anointment, and also their husband, the undefeated and endless lord of the worlds, (also remembering) the ( Dvārakā ) city of a divine prowess, and the many jewelled houses, as well as all the residents of Dvārakā and the boys of a divine form, they, standing before the sage, will put to him this question:

91-93. “O revered sir, all of us have been per force enjoyed by the evil beings; we have slipped from (i.e. erred in) our duty. You are our refuge. O brāhmaṇa, you have been formerly instructed by the intelligent Keśava. Why have we become prostitutes after having come in contact with the lord? O you, whose wealth is penance, explain to us the duties of the prostitutes.”

I shall tell you what Dālbhya Caikitāyana said to them.

Dālbhya said :

94-95. Formerly Nārada approached you, who were proud, while (you were) sporting in the water of the Mānasa lake. All of you were daughters of Agni and were the nymphs in olden days. Not saluting Nārada through haughtiness you asked the sage conversant with deep and abstract meditation:

96-99. “Advise us as to how Nārāyaṇa will be our husband.” From him, this boon and this curse came forth (i.e. Nārada gave this boon to and prouounced this curse on the ladies) in ancient days: “By giving a couple of beds with articles of gold (to a brāhmaṇa) on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Caitra and Vaiśākha , Nārāyaṇa will certainly be your husband (i.e. you will obtain Nārāyaṇa as your husband); (and) since, you asked me (a question) without saluting me, due to your selfish addiction to your beauty and good fortune, you will be kidnapped by thieves and will become prostitutes.”

100-106. Thus, due to the curse of Nārada and also that of Keśava, all of you, deluded by passion, have become prostitutes ( veśyā ). O you excellent ladies, listen, even now, to what I shall say. The lord of lords, the best speaker, formerly said to the hundreds and thousands of thousands of the wives of the demons, the asuras (the evil spirits—enemies of gods), the sons of Diti and the goblins, when these (ladies) were married and enjoyed by force (by the gods), after hundreds of the asuras and demons were killed by the gods in the war between gods and asuras (that took place) in ancient days: “O you devout and beautiful ladies, now live as prostitutes in king’s residences and in temples of gods; you will obtain your livelihood from the king and the master; and all of you will have good fortune as per your capacity. He, who enters your house with the fee should be served by you with attitude of love void of deceit.

107. When the days auspicious to deities and manes approach, you should give, according to your capacity, cows, land, gold and grains.

108. Observe fully the vow which I shall tell you (now). Those who are conversant with the Vedas say that this vow is powerful enough to get one across (the ocean of) mundane existence.

109. When (the rise of the constellation) Hasta , Puṣya or Punarvasu falls on a Sunday, a lady should bathe properly with (her body anointed with) herbs.

110. At that time, he, having the five arrows as his soul (i.e. Cupid), will go (i.e. remain) near Hari . She should worship the lotus-eyed (god i.e. Viṣṇu), followed bv eulogies of Cupid.

111-117a. She should worship the feet (of the image of the deity saying:) ‘My salutation to Kāma ’; (she should worship) the shanks (saying:) ‘My salutation to Vaimohakārin’; (she should worship) the generative organ (of the image of the deity saying:) ‘My salutation to Kandarpanidhi’; (she should worship) the waist of (the image of the deity saying:) ‘My salutation to Prītimān’; (she (should worship) the navel of the deity’s image saying:) ‘My salutation to Saukhyasamudra’; similarly (she should worship) the belley (of the deity’s image saying:) ‘My salutation to Vāmana ’; (she should worship) the heart (of the deity’s image saying:) ‘My salutation to Hṛdayeśa ’; (she should worship) the breasts (i.e. the chest of the deity’s image saying;) ‘My salutation to Ālhādakārin’; she should worship the left shoulder (of the deity’s image saying:) ‘My salutation to Puṣpabāṇa ;’ (she should worship) the head (of the deity saying) my salutation to Mānasa’; (she should worship) the hair (of the deity’s image saying) ‘My salutation to Vilola’; similarly she should worship the head of the god of gods (saying:) ‘My salutation to the soul of all’. (She should also say:) ‘My salutation to Śiva, Śānta , Cāpāṅkuśadhara (the holder of a bow and goad), to Gadin (holder of a mace), to Pītavastra, and Śaṅkhacakradhara (holder of the conch and disc).’ ‘My salutation to Nārāyaṇa, to Kāmadevātman. My salutation to Śānti, Prīti , Rati , Śrī, Puṣṭi, Tuṣṭi, and Sarvārthasampadā (i.e. having all kinds of wealth)’.

117b-121. Having thus worshipped Govinda, the lord of the form of Anaṅga , the lady having made an offering with sandal, flowers and incense, and then having invited a brāhmaṇa knowing customary observances, who has mastered the Vedas and who is without any deformity, and then having honoured him with adoration of sandal, flowers etc. she should give the brāhmaṇa rice of the measure of a prastha [5] along with a pot of ghee, (saying:) ‘May Mādhava be pleased’. She should bear in mind that the best brāhmaṇa, who has eaten well according to his sweet will, is Kāmadeva meant for Rati. The lady should do whatever the best brāhmaṇa desires.

122-123a. She, speaking with a smile, should offer herself with all sincerity (to the brāhmaṇa). In this way she should do all this on a Sunday. The offering of rice of the measure of a prastha (should be made) for thirteen months.

123b-130a. Then when the thirteenth month arrives, the wise lady should give the brāhmaṇa a furnished bed, well-arranged with a pillow and an auspicious coverlet, along with a lamp, shoes, an umbrella, and wooden shoes. Having adorned him, along with his wife, with golden strings and rings, fine garments with bracelets, and incense, flowers and anointment, she should give the brāhmaṇa with the accompaniment of the sacred text, ‘As I never see any difference between Kāma and Keśava, so like that only I should always have my desires fulfilled’, the image of Kāmadeva with that of his wife, fixed on a pitcher (full) of jaggery, and seated on a copper pot, with golden eyes and covered over with (a piece of) cloth, along with a pot of bell-metal and a sugar-cane, and also and complete cow. Similarly the best brāhmaṇa should accept the golden (image of the) deity and should recite the Vedic text ‘Who gave it? Kāma gave it’.

130b-132a. Then having circumambulated and allowed the best brāhmaṇa to go, she should take all (the articles) like the bed, the seat, to the brāhmaṇa’s house. Since then whosoever comes to her house for sexual enjoyment should be similarly honoured on a Sunday and should always be adored.

132b-135. Thus till the thirteenth month arrives, she should gratify a brāhmaṇa and then send him to his house; with his permission (she may entertain) a handsome (person) till he arrives (to her residence). When she has a difficulty as a result of impurity due to child-birth or abortion or from the king or a difficulty due to divine or human (forces) or due to an eclipse, then she should offer herself according to her capacity, for fifty-eight times.

136-142. This (vow) I have especially narrated to you, since this is the duty that should be always performed by the prostitutes ( veśyā ) in this world. (She should pray to God:) “O god, as you are never abandoned by (i.e. as you are always in contact with) your bed, similarly, O Madhusūdana , may my bed be always occupied.” She should also get produced (i.e. have) the sound of songs and musical instruments. I have told you this entire practice (to be followed) by prostitutes, which was formerly narrated by Indra to the demonesses. Therefore now it is proper for you too (to follow it). She, the auspicious lady, who serves this exalted vow, destroying all sins and giving an unending fruit, and which is said to be difficult to be observed by auspicious ladies, establishes herself in the world of Mādhava. Being honoured by all the hosts of gods she goes to Viṣṇu’s position, causing delight.

Having told the ladies this vow called Anaṅgadāna, that (sage) whose wealth is his penance, will go to his place; and O you superhuman being, the ladies will observe this full vow.

[1]: [1] : Adhokṣaja —an epithet of Viṣṇu.

[2]: [2] : Kṛsara : a dish consisting of sesamum and grains, mixture of rice and peas with a few spices.

[3]: [3] : Puloman : Name of a demon, the father-in-law of Indra ( Puruhūta ).

[4]: [4] : Mausala : The civil war among the Yādavas.

[5]: [5] : Prastha : a particular measure of capacity equal to 32 palas.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 33748, revision 407492 (2025-02-18T11:14:58Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364144.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.