Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 24
Sourceब्रह्मोवाच। भगवन्पुरुषस्येह स्त्रियाश्च वरदायकम्। शोकव्याधिभयं दुःखं न भवेद्येन तद्वद१। शंकर उवाच। श्रावणस्य द्वितीयायां कृष्णायां मधुसूदनः। क्षीरार्णवे सपत्नीकः सदा वसति केशवः२। तस्यां संपूज्य गोविंदं सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्। गोभूहिरण्यदानादि सप्तकल्पशतानुगम्३। आवाहनादिकां पूजां पूर्ववत्परिकल्पयेत्। अशून्यशयना नाम द्वितीयासौ प्रकीर्तिता४। तस्यां संपूजयेद्विष्णुमेभिर्मंत्रैर्विधानतः। श्रीवत्सधारिन्श्रीकांत श्रीपते श्रीधराव्यय५। गार्हस्थ्यं मा प्रणाशं मे यातु धर्मार्थकामदं। अग्नयो मा प्रणश्यंतु देवताः पुरुषोत्तम६। पितरो मा प्रणश्यंतु मम दांपत्यभेदतः। लक्ष्म्या वियुज्यते देवो न कदाचिद्यथा हरिः७। तथा कलत्रसंबंधो देव मा मे वियुज्यतां। लक्ष्म्या न शून्यं वरद यथा ते शयनं सदा८। शय्या ममाप्यशून्यास्तु तथैव मधुसूदन। गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषान्देवदेवस्य कारयेत्९। घंटा भवेदशक्तस्य सर्ववाद्यमयो यतः। एवं संपूज्य गोविंदमश्नीयात्तैलवर्जितम्१०। नक्तमक्षारलवणं यावत्तु स्याच्चतुष्टयं। ततः प्रभाते संजाते लक्ष्मीपतिसमन्विताम्११। दीपान्नभाजनैर्युक्तां शय्यां दद्याद्विलक्षणाम्। पादुकोपानहच्छत्र चामरासन संयुताम्१२। अभीष्टोपस्करैर्युक्तां शुक्लपुष्पांबरावृताम्। अव्यंगाय च विप्राय वैष्णवाय कुटुंबिने१३। दातव्या वेदविदुषे न वंध्यापतये क्वचित्। तत्रोपवेश्य दांपत्यमलंकृत्य विधानतः१४। पत्न्यास्तु भाजनं दद्याद्भक्ष्यभोज्यसमन्वितम्। ब्राह्मणस्यापि सौवर्णीमुपस्करसमन्विताम्१५। प्रतिमां देवदेवस्य सोदकुंभां निवेदयेत्। एवं यस्तु पुमान्कुर्यादशून्यशयनं हरेः१६। वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो नारायणपरायणः। न तस्य पत्न्या विरहः कदाचिदपि जायते१७। नारी वा विधवा ब्रह्मन्यावच्चंद्रार्कतारकं। न विरूपौ न शोकार्तौ दंपती भवतः क्वचित्१८। न पुत्रपशुरत्नानि क्षयं यांति पितामह। सप्तकल्पसहस्राणि सप्तकल्पशतानि च१९। कुर्वन्नशून्यशयनं विष्णुलोके महीयते। ब्रह्मोवाच। कथमारोग्यमैश्वर्यं मतिर्धर्मस्थितिस्सदा२०। अव्यंगाथ परे भक्तिर्विष्णौ चापि भवेत्कथम्। ईश्वर उवाच। साधु ब्रह्मंस्त्वया पृष्टमिदानीं कथयामि ते२१। विरोचनस्य संवादं भार्गवस्य च धीमतः। प्रह्लादस्य सुतं दृष्ट्वा द्विरष्टपरिवत्सरम्२२। तस्य रूपमिदं ब्रह्मन्सोहसद्भृगुनंदनः। साधुसाधु महाबाहो विरोचन शिवं तव२३। तत्तथा हसितं तस्य पप्रच्छ सुरसूदनः। ब्रह्मन्किमर्थमेतत्ते हास्यं वै मामकं कृतम्२४। साधुसाध्विति मामेवमुक्तवांस्त्वं वदस्व मे। तमेवं वादिनं युक्तमुवाच वदतां वरः२५। विस्मयाद्व्रतमाहात्म्याद्धास्यमेतत्कृतं मया। पुरा दक्षविनाशाय कुपितस्य त्रिशूलिनः२६। अपतद्भीमवक्त्रस्य स्वेदबिंदुर्ललाटजः। भित्वा स सप्तपातालानदहत्सप्तसागरान्२७। अनेकवक्त्रनयनोज्वलज्ज्वलन भीषणः। वीरभद्र इति ख्यातः करपादायुतैर्युतः२८। कृत्वा स यज्ञमथनं पुनर्भूतस्य संप्लवः। त्रिजगद्दहनाद्भूयः शिवेन विनिवारितः२९। कृतं त्वया वीरभद्र दक्षयज्ञविनाशनं। इदानीमलमेतेन लोकदाहेन कर्मणा३०। शांतिप्रदानात्सर्वेषां ग्रहणां प्रथमो भव। प्रहृष्टाभिजनाः पूजां करिष्यंति कृतात्मनः३१। अंगारक इति ख्यातिं गमिष्यसि धरात्मज। देवलोके द्वितीयं च तव रूपं भविष्यति३२। ये च त्वां पूजयिष्यंति चतुर्थ्यां तु दिने नराः। रूपमारोग्यमैश्वर्यं तेष्वनंतं भविष्यति३३। एवमुक्तस्ततः शांतिमगमत्कामरूपधृत्। स जातस्तत्क्षणाद्राजन्ग्रहत्वमगमत्पुनः३४। स कदाचिद्भवांस्तस्य पूजार्घादिकमुत्तमं। दृष्टवान्क्रियमाणं च शूद्रेण त्वं व्यवस्थितः३५। तेन त्वं रूपवान्जातो सुरः शत्रुकुलाशनिः। विविधा च रुचिर्जाता यस्मात्तव विदूरगा३६। विरोचन इति प्राहुस्तस्मात् त्वां देवदानवाः। शूद्रेण क्रियमाणस्य व्रतस्य तव दर्शनात्३७। ईदृशी रूपसंपत्तिरिति विस्मितवानहम्। साधुसाध्विति तेनोक्तमहो माहात्म्यमुत्तमं३८। पश्यतोपि भवेद्रूपमैश्वर्यं किमु कुर्वतः। यस्माच्च भक्त्या धरणीसुतस्य विनिंद्यमानेन गवादिदानम्३९। आलोकितं तेन सुरारिगर्भे संभूतिरेषा तव दैत्य जाता। अथ तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भार्गवस्य महात्मनः४०। प्रह्लादनंदनो वीरः पुनः पप्रच्छ भार्गवम्। विरोचन उवाच। भगवंस्तद्व्रतं सम्यक्श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्वतः४१। दीयमानं तु यद्दानं मया दृष्टं भवांतरे। माहात्म्यं च विधिं तस्य यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि४२। इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विप्रः प्रोवाच सादरं। चतुर्थ्यंगारकदिने यदा भवति दानव४३। मृदास्नानं तदा कुर्यात्पद्मरागविभूषितः। अग्निर्मूर्द्धादिवो मंत्रं जपेत्स्नात उदङ्मुखः४४। शूद्रस्तूष्णीं स्मरन्भौममास्तां भोगविवर्जितः। अथास्तमित आदित्ये गोमयेनानुलेपयेत्४५। प्रांगणं पुष्पमालाभिरक्षताद्भिः समंततः। तदभ्यर्च्यालिखेत्पद्मं कुंकुमेनाष्टपत्रकम्४६। कुंकुमस्याप्यभावेन रक्तचंदनमिष्यते। चत्वारः करकाः कार्याः भक्ष्यभोज्यसमन्विताः४७। तंडुलै रक्तशालेयैः पद्मरागैश्च संयुताः। चतुःकोणेषु तान्कृत्वा फलानि विविधानि च ४८। गंधमाल्यादिकं सर्वं तथैव विनिवेशयेत्। सुवर्णशृंगां कपिलामथार्च्य रौप्यैः खुरैः कांस्यदोहां सवस्त्राम्४९। धुरंधरं रक्तखुरं च सौम्यं धान्यानि सप्तांबरसंयुतानि। अंगुष्ठमात्रं पुरुषं तथैव सौवर्णमप्यायतबाहुदंडम् 1.24.५०। चतुर्भुजं हेममयं च ताम्रपात्रे गुडस्योपरि सर्पियुक्तम्। सामस्वरज्ञाय जितेंद्रियाय वाग्रूपशीलान्वयसंयुताय५१। दातव्यमेतत्सकलं द्विजाय कुटुम्बिने नैव तु दंभयुक्ते। भूमिपुत्र महाभाग स्वेदोद्भव पिनाकिनः५२। रूपार्थी त्वां प्रपन्नोहं गृहाणार्घ्यं नमोऽस्तु ते। मंत्रेणानेन दत्वार्घ्यं रक्तचंदनवारिणा५३। ततोर्चयेद्विप्रवरं रक्तमाल्यांबरादिभिः। दद्यात्तेनैव मंत्रेण भौमं गोमिथुनान्वितम्५४। शय्यां च शक्तिमान्दद्यात्सर्वोपस्करसंयुताम्। यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्य दयितं गृहे५५। तत्तद्गुणवते देयं दत्तस्याक्षयमिच्छता। ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा विसृज्य द्विजसत्तमम्५६। नक्तं क्षीराशनं कुर्यादेवं चांगारकाष्टकम्। चतुरो वाथ वातस्य यत्पुण्यं तद्वदामि ते५७। रूपसौभाग्यसंपन्नः पुमान्जन्मनि जन्मनि। विष्णौ वाथ शिवे भक्तः सप्तद्वीपाधिपो भवेत्५८। सप्तकल्पसहस्राणि रुद्रलोके महीयते। तस्मात्वमपि दैत्येंद्र व्रतमेतत्समाचर५९। इत्येवमुक्तो भुगुनंदनेन चकार सर्वं व्रतमेव दैत्यः। त्वं चापि राजन्कुरु सर्वमेतद्यतोक्षयं वेदविदो वदंति६०। शृणोति यश्चैनमनन्यचेतास्तस्यापि सर्वं भगवान्विधत्ते६१।
brahmovāca| bhagavanpuruṣasyeha striyāśca varadāyakam| śokavyādhibhayaṃ duḥkhaṃ na bhavedyena tadvada1| śaṃkara uvāca| śrāvaṇasya dvitīyāyāṃ kṛṣṇāyāṃ madhusūdanaḥ| kṣīrārṇave sapatnīkaḥ sadā vasati keśavaḥ2| tasyāṃ saṃpūjya goviṃdaṃ sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt| gobhūhiraṇyadānādi saptakalpaśatānugam3| āvāhanādikāṃ pūjāṃ pūrvavatparikalpayet| aśūnyaśayanā nāma dvitīyāsau prakīrtitā4| tasyāṃ saṃpūjayedviṣṇumebhirmaṃtrairvidhānataḥ| śrīvatsadhārinśrīkāṃta śrīpate śrīdharāvyaya5| gārhasthyaṃ mā praṇāśaṃ me yātu dharmārthakāmadaṃ| agnayo mā praṇaśyaṃtu devatāḥ puruṣottama6| pitaro mā praṇaśyaṃtu mama dāṃpatyabhedataḥ| lakṣmyā viyujyate devo na kadācidyathā hariḥ7| tathā kalatrasaṃbaṃdho deva mā me viyujyatāṃ| lakṣmyā na śūnyaṃ varada yathā te śayanaṃ sadā8| śayyā mamāpyaśūnyāstu tathaiva madhusūdana| gītavāditranirghoṣāndevadevasya kārayet9| ghaṃṭā bhavedaśaktasya sarvavādyamayo yataḥ| evaṃ saṃpūjya goviṃdamaśnīyāttailavarjitam10| naktamakṣāralavaṇaṃ yāvattu syāccatuṣṭayaṃ| tataḥ prabhāte saṃjāte lakṣmīpatisamanvitām11| dīpānnabhājanairyuktāṃ śayyāṃ dadyādvilakṣaṇām| pādukopānahacchatra cāmarāsana saṃyutām12| abhīṣṭopaskarairyuktāṃ śuklapuṣpāṃbarāvṛtām| avyaṃgāya ca viprāya vaiṣṇavāya kuṭuṃbine13| dātavyā vedaviduṣe na vaṃdhyāpataye kvacit| tatropaveśya dāṃpatyamalaṃkṛtya vidhānataḥ14| patnyāstu bhājanaṃ dadyādbhakṣyabhojyasamanvitam| brāhmaṇasyāpi sauvarṇīmupaskarasamanvitām15| pratimāṃ devadevasya sodakuṃbhāṃ nivedayet| evaṃ yastu pumānkuryādaśūnyaśayanaṃ hareḥ16| vittaśāṭhyena rahito nārāyaṇaparāyaṇaḥ| na tasya patnyā virahaḥ kadācidapi jāyate17| nārī vā vidhavā brahmanyāvaccaṃdrārkatārakaṃ| na virūpau na śokārtau daṃpatī bhavataḥ kvacit18| na putrapaśuratnāni kṣayaṃ yāṃti pitāmaha| saptakalpasahasrāṇi saptakalpaśatāni ca19| kurvannaśūnyaśayanaṃ viṣṇuloke mahīyate| brahmovāca| kathamārogyamaiśvaryaṃ matirdharmasthitissadā20| avyaṃgātha pare bhaktirviṣṇau cāpi bhavetkatham| īśvara uvāca| sādhu brahmaṃstvayā pṛṣṭamidānīṃ kathayāmi te21| virocanasya saṃvādaṃ bhārgavasya ca dhīmataḥ| prahlādasya sutaṃ dṛṣṭvā dviraṣṭaparivatsaram22| tasya rūpamidaṃ brahmansohasadbhṛgunaṃdanaḥ| sādhusādhu mahābāho virocana śivaṃ tava23| tattathā hasitaṃ tasya papraccha surasūdanaḥ| brahmankimarthametatte hāsyaṃ vai māmakaṃ kṛtam24| sādhusādhviti māmevamuktavāṃstvaṃ vadasva me| tamevaṃ vādinaṃ yuktamuvāca vadatāṃ varaḥ25| vismayādvratamāhātmyāddhāsyametatkṛtaṃ mayā| purā dakṣavināśāya kupitasya triśūlinaḥ26| apatadbhīmavaktrasya svedabiṃdurlalāṭajaḥ| bhitvā sa saptapātālānadahatsaptasāgarān27| anekavaktranayanojvalajjvalana bhīṣaṇaḥ| vīrabhadra iti khyātaḥ karapādāyutairyutaḥ28| kṛtvā sa yajñamathanaṃ punarbhūtasya saṃplavaḥ| trijagaddahanādbhūyaḥ śivena vinivāritaḥ29| kṛtaṃ tvayā vīrabhadra dakṣayajñavināśanaṃ| idānīmalametena lokadāhena karmaṇā30| śāṃtipradānātsarveṣāṃ grahaṇāṃ prathamo bhava| prahṛṣṭābhijanāḥ pūjāṃ kariṣyaṃti kṛtātmanaḥ31| aṃgāraka iti khyātiṃ gamiṣyasi dharātmaja| devaloke dvitīyaṃ ca tava rūpaṃ bhaviṣyati32| ye ca tvāṃ pūjayiṣyaṃti caturthyāṃ tu dine narāḥ| rūpamārogyamaiśvaryaṃ teṣvanaṃtaṃ bhaviṣyati33| evamuktastataḥ śāṃtimagamatkāmarūpadhṛt| sa jātastatkṣaṇādrājangrahatvamagamatpunaḥ34| sa kadācidbhavāṃstasya pūjārghādikamuttamaṃ| dṛṣṭavānkriyamāṇaṃ ca śūdreṇa tvaṃ vyavasthitaḥ35| tena tvaṃ rūpavānjāto suraḥ śatrukulāśaniḥ| vividhā ca rucirjātā yasmāttava vidūragā36| virocana iti prāhustasmāt tvāṃ devadānavāḥ| śūdreṇa kriyamāṇasya vratasya tava darśanāt37| īdṛśī rūpasaṃpattiriti vismitavānaham| sādhusādhviti tenoktamaho māhātmyamuttamaṃ38| paśyatopi bhavedrūpamaiśvaryaṃ kimu kurvataḥ| yasmācca bhaktyā dharaṇīsutasya viniṃdyamānena gavādidānam39| ālokitaṃ tena surārigarbhe saṃbhūtireṣā tava daitya jātā| atha tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ40| prahlādanaṃdano vīraḥ punaḥ papraccha bhārgavam| virocana uvāca| bhagavaṃstadvrataṃ samyakśrotumicchāmi tatvataḥ41| dīyamānaṃ tu yaddānaṃ mayā dṛṣṭaṃ bhavāṃtare| māhātmyaṃ ca vidhiṃ tasya yathāvadvaktumarhasi42| iti tadvacanaṃ śrutvā vipraḥ provāca sādaraṃ| caturthyaṃgārakadine yadā bhavati dānava43| mṛdāsnānaṃ tadā kuryātpadmarāgavibhūṣitaḥ| agnirmūrddhādivo maṃtraṃ japetsnāta udaṅmukhaḥ44| śūdrastūṣṇīṃ smaranbhaumamāstāṃ bhogavivarjitaḥ| athāstamita āditye gomayenānulepayet45| prāṃgaṇaṃ puṣpamālābhirakṣatādbhiḥ samaṃtataḥ| tadabhyarcyālikhetpadmaṃ kuṃkumenāṣṭapatrakam46| kuṃkumasyāpyabhāvena raktacaṃdanamiṣyate| catvāraḥ karakāḥ kāryāḥ bhakṣyabhojyasamanvitāḥ47| taṃḍulai raktaśāleyaiḥ padmarāgaiśca saṃyutāḥ| catuḥkoṇeṣu tānkṛtvā phalāni vividhāni ca 48| gaṃdhamālyādikaṃ sarvaṃ tathaiva viniveśayet| suvarṇaśṛṃgāṃ kapilāmathārcya raupyaiḥ khuraiḥ kāṃsyadohāṃ savastrām49| dhuraṃdharaṃ raktakhuraṃ ca saumyaṃ dhānyāni saptāṃbarasaṃyutāni| aṃguṣṭhamātraṃ puruṣaṃ tathaiva sauvarṇamapyāyatabāhudaṃḍam 1.24.50| caturbhujaṃ hemamayaṃ ca tāmrapātre guḍasyopari sarpiyuktam| sāmasvarajñāya jiteṃdriyāya vāgrūpaśīlānvayasaṃyutāya51| dātavyametatsakalaṃ dvijāya kuṭumbine naiva tu daṃbhayukte| bhūmiputra mahābhāga svedodbhava pinākinaḥ52| rūpārthī tvāṃ prapannohaṃ gṛhāṇārghyaṃ namo'stu te| maṃtreṇānena datvārghyaṃ raktacaṃdanavāriṇā53| tatorcayedvipravaraṃ raktamālyāṃbarādibhiḥ| dadyāttenaiva maṃtreṇa bhaumaṃ gomithunānvitam54| śayyāṃ ca śaktimāndadyātsarvopaskarasaṃyutām| yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yaccāsya dayitaṃ gṛhe55| tattadguṇavate deyaṃ dattasyākṣayamicchatā| tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā visṛjya dvijasattamam56| naktaṃ kṣīrāśanaṃ kuryādevaṃ cāṃgārakāṣṭakam| caturo vātha vātasya yatpuṇyaṃ tadvadāmi te57| rūpasaubhāgyasaṃpannaḥ pumānjanmani janmani| viṣṇau vātha śive bhaktaḥ saptadvīpādhipo bhavet58| saptakalpasahasrāṇi rudraloke mahīyate| tasmātvamapi daityeṃdra vratametatsamācara59| ityevamukto bhugunaṃdanena cakāra sarvaṃ vratameva daityaḥ| tvaṃ cāpi rājankuru sarvametadyatokṣayaṃ vedavido vadaṃti60| śṛṇoti yaścainamananyacetāstasyāpi sarvaṃ bhagavānvidhatte61|
English translation
Brahmā said :
1. O revered sir, tell me (about) that (vow) which causes blessing (i.e. divine favour) to a man as well as a woman, and by (the observance of) which there will be no grief, disease, fear or sorrow.
Śaṅkara said :
2-3. On the second day of the dark half of Śrāvaṇa , Madhusūdana always lives with his wife in the milky ocean. A man would get (i.e. fulfil) all his desires by worshipping Govinda on that (day). He should give the present of a cow, gold etc. as was done in seven hundred Kalpas .
4. He should arrange invocation, worship as (told) before. This dvitīyā (i.e. the second day) is called Aśūnyaśayanā .
5-10. On that day, having worshipped Viṣṇu according to the proper procedure with the following sacred texts he should have the sound of singing and musical instruments: “O Śrīvatsadhārin, O Śrīkānta , O Śrīpati , O Śrīdhara , O Avyaya (the immutable one), may not my stage of a householder, which grants righteousness, worldly prosperity and desire of sensual enjoyments, perish. O Puruṣottama , may my fires, my deities not perish. May my manes not perish, due to the discord between husband and wife. As god Hari is never separated from Lakṣmī , in the same way let my relation with the wife be not severed. O Varada (granter of boons), O Madhusādana, as your bed is not unoccupied by Lakṣmī, in the same way may my bed also remain occupied.” A person (who is economically) weak, (should use) the bell, as it contains (the sounds of) all musical instruments.
11a. Having worshipped Govinda thus he should take meals without oil. At night (he should eat food) free from salt till the four watches (pass).
11b-14a. When the morning breaks, he should give an unusual bed with a lamp, food, vessels, and with wooden sandals, shoes, an umbrella, a chowrie, and also with the desired articles, and covered with white flowers and cloth to a brāhmaṇa who is not deformed who is a devotee of Viṣṇu, who is a man of family and who is well-versed in the Vedas , but never to the husband of a barren woman.
14b-16a. Having seated there a (brāhmaṇa-) couple and adorning them properly he should give the wife a vessel with (articles of) food. To the brāhmaṇa also he should give a golden image of the god of gods with (other) ornaments along with a pitcher of water.
16b-20a. A man who, in this way, free from the vanity of wealth and intent upon Nārāyaṇa (i.e. Viṣṇu), observes (the vow of) Aśūnyaśayana (in honour) of Hari, is never separated from his wife. O Brahman , a woman also (who observes this vow does not become) a widow as long as the moon, the sun and the stars last. A couple also does not become deformed and afflicted with grief. O grandsire, his sons, beasts and jewels do not perish. One who observes (this vow of) Aśūnyaśayana is honoured in the world of Viṣṇu for thousands and hundreds of Kalpas.
Brahmā said :
20b-21a. How can there be (i.e. how can one have) good health, prosperity, intellect and firmness in religious practices? How also can there be (i.e. can one have) perfect devotion for Viṣṇu?
The Lord said :
21b. O Brahman, you have asked well. I shall now tell you about the conversation between Virocana and Bhārgava .
22-23. O Brahman, seeing the sixteen-year old son of Prahlāda and seeing his form that son of Bhṛgu laughed. “O Virocana of mighty arms, bravo, well-being to you.”
24-25a. The destroyer of the gods (i.e. Virocana) seeing him laughing, asked him: “O brahman, why did you laugh at me like this and why did you say to me ‘Bravo’?”
25b-27a. The best among speakers (i.e. Bhārgava) said to him who spoke like this: “I laughed through wonder due to the greatness of the vow. Formerly when the trident-holder (i.e. Śiva ) was angry (and ready) for destroying Dakṣa , a drop of perspiration produced on the forehead of him of a fearful face, dropped down.
27b-28. That (drop) having broken asunder the seven nether regions consumed the seven oceans. He was having many faces and eyes and terrible like bright fire. Being endowed with hands and feet, he was known as Vīrabhadra .
29-33. He who had destroyed (Dakṣa’s) sacrifice, and had submerged the beings was prevented from burning the three worlds by Śiva (who said:) ‘O Vīrabhadra, you have destroyed Dakṣa’s sacrifice; now desist from this act of burning the (three) worlds. By giving peace (to all) be the foremost among all the planets. Purified in mind people will worship you, (and) O son of the earth, you will be known as Aṅgāraka . Your form will be matchless in the world of gods. Those men, who will worship you on the fourth day (of the month), will have unending beauty, (good) health and prosperity.’
34. O King, thus addressed, he who took any form at his will, became calm, and at that very moment turned into a planet.
35-36a. Once standing near, you saw that (planet) being worshipped with oblations etc. by a Śūdra . Due to that you became a handsome demon-fire to the family of your enemies.
36b-37a. Since from you, far-going lustre of various types was produced, therefore gods and demons call you Virocana.
37b-38. I was amazed because (merely) by seeing the vow (being observed) by a Śūdra, you got such a handsome form. Therefore I uttered (the word) ‘Bravo’, O your excellent greatness!
39-41a. If merely by seeing (the vow being performed) one gets handsomeness and prosperity, then what (would one get) who observes (the vow)? O demon, since you saw the worship of the son of the earth (i.e. Aṅgāraka) which was offered with devotion by a Śūdra, you were born from the womb (of the wife) ofthe enemy of gods.” Having heard these words of the great-souled Bhārgava, the hero, the son of Prahlāda again asked Bhārgava.
Virocana said :
41 b-42. O revered sir, I desire to listen to (the account of) that vow fully and accurately. Please explain to me the gift that was seen by me when it was being given (to a brāhmaṇa) and about the importance and procedure of that vow.
43-46. Hearing these words (of Virocana) the brāhmaṇa (i.e. Bhārgava) spoke respectfully:
“O demon, when the fourth day of a month falls on Tuesday, a man adorned with a ruby should bathe with (i.e. after anointing himself with) clay. Having bathed, and facing the north, he should mutter the sacred text: ‘Fire is the head of the heaven’. Free from any enjoyment, a Śūdra, remembering Bhauma , should observe silence; and when the sun has set, he should smear the courtyard with cowdung and having decorated it with garlands of flowers and sacred grains all round, should draw there a lotus having eight leaves, with saffron.
47. In the absence of saffron, red sandal is recommended. Four pots containing food should be prepared, along with anointed śāli -rice and rubies.
48-52a. Putting them in four corners, he should put various fruits and also everything like sandal, flower etc. Having adorned a tawny cow having golden horns and udders of bell-metal with silver hoofs and a piece of cloth, and also having adorned an auspicious bull with red hoofs, he should give them and grains with seven garments, as well as a golden (image of) man of the size of the thumb, having four long arms and hands made of gold (and placed) in a copper vessel on jaggery and with ghee —he should give all this to a brāhmaṇa, who knows the notes of the Sārna ( veda ), who has restrained his senses, who is endowed with (good) speech, (handsome) form and (good) character, who is a man with a family and who does not have religious hypocrisy.
52b-53a. ‘O illustrious son of the earth, O you born of the sweat of the trident-holder (i.e. Śiva), I, desiring a (handsome) form, am seeking your refuge; accept my respectful offering; my salutation to you.’
53b-54. Having offered a respectful offering with sandal-water to the accompaniment of this sacred text he should then honour the brāhmaṇa with flowers, garments etc. To the accompaniment of the same sacred text he should give (the representation of) Bhauma along with a pair of a cow and a bull.
55-56a. He, who has the capacity should give a fully-furnished bed. Desiring the imperishability of whatever is given (in charity) he should give whatever is most liked in the world and desired in the house to a virtuous brāhmaṇa.
56b-57. Then having circumambulated the best brāhmaṇa he should allow him to go. At night he should take (sweetened) milk. In this way (he should observe this vow of) Aṅgāraka eight times or four times. I shall tell you what religious merit is (got by observing this vow).
58-61. A devotee of Viṣṇu or Śiva endowed with good form and fortune in every existence would become the king of the seven islands. For seven Kalpas he is honoured in the world of Rudra . Therefore O lord of demons, you too observe the full vow (i.e. observe it fully). O king, you too observe all this, since those well-versed in the Vedas describe it to be inexhaustible. The lord bestows everything on him who listens to its account with a concentrated mind.”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 33749, revision 332870 (2022-02-22T01:06:25Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364145.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.