Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 77
Sourceमहादेव उवाच- पप्रच्छाहं जगन्नाथं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । पुत्रपौत्रविवृद्ध्यर्थं सुखसौभाग्यदायकम् १। तवाग्रे संप्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु सुंदरि सांप्रतम् । इदं कथानकं दिव्यमृषीणां व्रतमुत्तमम् २। रजस्वला तु या नारी सहसा पापरूपिणी । कृतेन च व्रतेनैव महापापैः प्रमुच्यते । पितॄणामक्षयं देयं धर्मकामार्थसाधनम् ३। श्रीविष्णुरुवाच- पूर्वमासीन्महाबाहुर्ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । सदाध्ययनशीलस्तु देवशर्मा इति द्विजः ४। अग्निहोत्रक्रियायुक्तः षट्कर्मनिरतः सदा । सर्ववर्णेषु संपूज्यः सपुत्रपशुबांधवः ५। तस्य ब्राह्मणमुख्यस्य भग्ना च गृहवाहिनी । प्राप्ते भाद्रपदे मासे शुक्लपक्षे तु पंचमी ६। पितुःक्षयाहं कुरुते यतात्मा च जितेंद्रियः । रात्रौ निमंत्रयेद्विप्रान्सुखसौभाग्यदायकान् ७। प्रभाते विमले प्राप्ते भांडान्यन्यानि कारयेत् । पाकं सर्वेषु पात्रेषु स कारयति जायया ८। अष्टादशरसोपेतं पितॄणां प्रीतिदायकम् । आकारणं ततो दत्त्वा विप्राणां च पृथक्पृथक् ९। सर्वे विप्रास्तु संप्राप्ता मध्याह्ने वेदपाठकाः । अर्घपाद्यादि विधिवत्कृतवान्द्विजसत्तमः १०। रजसा दूषितः श्राद्धे प्रक्षाल्य विधिवत्तदा । गृहमध्ये गताः सर्वे आसने ते निरूपिताः ११। प्रदत्तं भोजनं तेन मिष्टान्नेन विशेषतः । विधिना च कृतं श्राद्धं पिंडदानप्रपूर्वकम् १२। तांबूलं दक्षिणां चैव वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । सर्वं ददौ द्विजेभ्यो वै पितृध्यानपरायणः १३। विप्रा विसर्जिताः सर्वे आशीर्वादपरायणाः । गोत्रिणां बांधवानां च अन्येषां च बुभुक्षताम् १४। दत्तमन्नं तदा तेन भोजने विधिपूर्वकम् । निशायां तु कुटीद्वारे उपविष्टो यदा तदा १५। ब्राह्मण्या वारि संगृह्य पादप्रक्षालनं कृतम् । तदा शुनी बलीवर्दौ परस्परमभाषताम् १६। शृणु कांत वचो मह्यं यादृक्कृतवती वधूः । तादृशं संप्रवक्ष्यामि नान्यथा प्रब्रवीम्यहम् १७। कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन गताहं पुत्रसद्मनि । तत्रस्थितं पयः पातुं वध्वा दृष्टं न तत्पुनः १८। पीतं पयस्तु सर्पेण तद्दृष्टं तु मया पुनः । पश्चात्पीतं मया सम्यक्दृष्टं वध्वा तदा पुनः १९। तेन संपर्कदोषेणकटिर्भग्ना च मे सदा । तेन दुःखेन भो स्वामिन्जाताहं दुःखभागिनी । भग्ना कटिश्च संजाता ह्याहारो नैव रोचते २०। बलीवर्द्द उवाच- शृणु त्वं शुनि वक्ष्यामि मम दुःखस्य कारणम् । अस्मिन्वै दिवसे प्राप्ते ब्राह्मणानां तु भोजनम् २१। कारितं मम पुत्रेण मम चिंता तु नो कृता । नोदकं न तृणं चैव न दत्तं केनचित्क्वचित् २२। अनाहारोह्यहं पापी बद्धोऽस्मिन्पापभावितः । पूर्वपापविशेषेण जातं शुनि न संशयः २३। तद्वाक्यं तु तदा देवि श्रुतं पुत्रेण धीमता । ममायं तु पिता साक्षाज्जातो मम गृहे पशुः २४। इयं तु जननी साक्षान्मम चैव न संशयः । दैवयोगाच्छुनी जाता किं करोमि सुनिश्चयम् २५। एवं विचार्यासौ विप्रो नैव निद्रामवाप सः । रात्रौ चिंतापरो भूत्वा स्मरन्विश्वेश्वरं परम् २६। नानाधर्मपरोऽहं च ममैवं च कथं शुभम् । विचारयित्वा च ततो रात्रौ सुप्तस्तदा पुनः २७। प्रभाते विमले प्राप्ते ऋषीणां पुरतो गतः । तेषां मध्ये वसिष्ठेन तस्य सुस्वागतं कृतम् २८। ब्रूहि त्वं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तवागमनकारणम् । इति पृष्टस्तदा विप्रः प्रणाममकरोत्तदा २९। अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफला क्रिया । अद्य मे पितरस्तृप्ता दुर्लभात्तव दर्शनात् ३०। यथोक्तं च कृतं श्राद्धं द्विजाश्चैव सुभोजिताः । कुटुंबिनां तु सर्वेषां भोजनं कारितं तथा ३१। भोजनानंतरं प्राप्ता शुनी तत्र उवाच ह । अस्माकं तु गृहे ह्येको बलीवर्दस्तु वर्त्तते ३२। तं पतिं प्रतिवाक्यं यद्दिवज मत्तः शृणुष्व तत् । गृहेस्थितं दुग्धभांडमहिना दूषितं मया ३३। दृष्टं मे महती चिंता तदा जाता न संशयः । अनेन पयसा चैव पक्वमन्नं यदा भवेत् ३४। तदात्र सर्वे विप्राश्च म्रियंते भोजनात्ततः । एवं विचार्य तत्स्वामिन्दुग्धं पीतं तदा मया ३५। तदा दृष्टं तु वध्वा वै तया मे ताडनं कृतम् । चरामि तेन संभग्ना किं करोमि सुदुःखिता ३६। तस्या दुःखं तु संस्मृत्य वृषः प्राह शुनीं प्रति । शृणु शुनि प्रवक्ष्यामि मम दुःखस्य कारणम् ३७। अस्याहं तु पिता साक्षात्पूर्वजन्मनि वै शुनि । अद्य वै भोजिता विप्रा दत्तमन्नं तु भूरिशः ३८। न तृणं नोदकं चैव ममाग्रे संनिवेदितम् । तेन दुःखेन मे दुःखं जातं बहुतरं तदा ३९। एतत्कथानकं श्रुत्वा रात्रौ निद्रामवाप न । मम चिंता तु तत्रैव जाता वै ऋषिसत्तम ४०। वेदाध्ययनशीलोऽहं कुशलो वेदकर्मणि । अनयोश्च महद्दुःखं किं करोमीति चिंतयन् । आगतस्त्वत्समीपे तु ममकष्टं निवारय ४१। ऋषिरुवाच- उग्रजन्मन्शृणुष्व त्वं पूर्वजन्मनि यत्कृतम् । अयं वै तु द्विजश्रेष्ठो कुंडने नगरे शुभे ४२। मासे भाद्रपदे चैव पंचमी या समागता । तद्व्रतं तेन नाज्ञातं पितुः श्राद्धादिकारणात् ४३। स्त्रीधर्मेण तु संप्राप्ता क्षयहेतु तदानघ । तया चैव कृतं सर्वं ब्राह्मणानां च भोजनम् ४४। न ज्ञातं च कृतं तेन पापिष्ठेन दुरात्मना । प्रथमेऽहनि चांडाली द्वितीये ब्रह्मघातिनी ४५। तृतीये रजकी प्रोक्ता चतुर्थेऽहनि शुध्यति । तेन पापेन सा जाता शुनी स्वगृहचारिणी । बलीवर्दस्त्वयं जातः कर्मणानेन सुव्रत ४६। उग्रजन्मोवाच- व्रतं दानं तथा यज्ञं तीर्थं वाममसुव्रत । ब्रूहि येन विशेषेण मुक्तिः पित्रोर्भवेन्मम ४७। ऋषिरुवाच- मासे भाद्रपदे शुक्ले जायते ऋषिपंचमी । रजसा विकृतं पापं नश्यते करणाद्यतः ४८। पुत्रपौत्रप्रदात्री च पितॄणां मुक्तिदायिनी । नद्या कूपे तडागे वा ब्राह्मणस्य गृहे तथा ४९। गोमयं मंडलं कुर्यात्कुंभं तत्रैव विन्यसेत् । तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रमृषिधान्येन पूरितम् 6.77.५०। यज्ञोपवीतसूत्रं च सहिरण्यं फलं तथा । स्थाप्याश्च ऋषयः सप्त सुखसौभाग्यदायकाः ५१। आवाहयित्वा ते सर्वे पूजनीया व्रतस्थितैः । नैवेद्यमृषिधान्यं च ऋषिधान्यं तु भोजनम् ५२। एकभक्तेन कर्तव्यमृषीणामर्चनं तदा । पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या मंत्रेण विधिपूर्वकम् ५३। निर्वापं सघृतं देयं दक्षिणासंयुतं तदा । देयं विप्राय विधिवदृषीणां प्रीयतां प्रति ५४। कथां श्रुत्वा विधानेन कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणाम् । धूपं दीपं च नैवेद्यमर्घ्यं दद्यात्पृथक्पृथक् ५५। ऋषयः संतु मे नित्यं व्रतसंपूर्णकारिणः । पूजां गृह्णंतु मद्दत्तां ऋषिभ्योऽस्तु नमोनमः ५६। पुलस्त्यः पुलहश्चैव क्रतुः प्राचेतसस्तथा । वसिष्ठमरिचात्रेया अर्घं गृह्णंतु वो नमः ५७। एवं पूजा प्रकर्त्तव्या धूपैर्दीपैर्मनोरमैः । पितॄणां जायते मुक्तिः कृतस्यास्य प्रभावतः ५८। पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन रजसा दोषभावतः । कृतं ह्येवं तु भो वत्स मुक्तिस्तस्य न संशयः ५९। तद्व्रतं च कृतं तेन मुक्त्यर्थं पितृहेतवे । ते गता मुक्तिमार्गेण आशीर्वादपरायणाः ६०। ऋषिपंचमीव्रतं पुण्यं विप्राय परिकीर्तितम् । ये कुर्वंति नरश्रेष्ठास्ते ज्ञेयाः पुण्यभागिनः ६१। ये कुर्वंति नरश्रेष्ठ ऋषिव्रतमनुत्तमम् । भुक्त्वात्र भोगान्विपुलान्यांति विष्णोः पदं तु ते ६२। इतिश्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे उमापतिनारद। संवादे ऋषिपंचमीव्रतंनाम सप्तसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः ७७।
mahādeva uvāca- papracchāhaṃ jagannāthaṃ vratānāmuttamaṃ vratam | putrapautravivṛddhyarthaṃ sukhasaubhāgyadāyakam 1| tavāgre saṃpravakṣyāmi śṛṇu suṃdari sāṃpratam | idaṃ kathānakaṃ divyamṛṣīṇāṃ vratamuttamam 2| rajasvalā tu yā nārī sahasā pāparūpiṇī | kṛtena ca vratenaiva mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate | pitṝṇāmakṣayaṃ deyaṃ dharmakāmārthasādhanam 3| śrīviṣṇuruvāca- pūrvamāsīnmahābāhurbrāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ | sadādhyayanaśīlastu devaśarmā iti dvijaḥ 4| agnihotrakriyāyuktaḥ ṣaṭkarmanirataḥ sadā | sarvavarṇeṣu saṃpūjyaḥ saputrapaśubāṃdhavaḥ 5| tasya brāhmaṇamukhyasya bhagnā ca gṛhavāhinī | prāpte bhādrapade māse śuklapakṣe tu paṃcamī 6| pituḥkṣayāhaṃ kurute yatātmā ca jiteṃdriyaḥ | rātrau nimaṃtrayedviprānsukhasaubhāgyadāyakān 7| prabhāte vimale prāpte bhāṃḍānyanyāni kārayet | pākaṃ sarveṣu pātreṣu sa kārayati jāyayā 8| aṣṭādaśarasopetaṃ pitṝṇāṃ prītidāyakam | ākāraṇaṃ tato dattvā viprāṇāṃ ca pṛthakpṛthak 9| sarve viprāstu saṃprāptā madhyāhne vedapāṭhakāḥ | arghapādyādi vidhivatkṛtavāndvijasattamaḥ 10| rajasā dūṣitaḥ śrāddhe prakṣālya vidhivattadā | gṛhamadhye gatāḥ sarve āsane te nirūpitāḥ 11| pradattaṃ bhojanaṃ tena miṣṭānnena viśeṣataḥ | vidhinā ca kṛtaṃ śrāddhaṃ piṃḍadānaprapūrvakam 12| tāṃbūlaṃ dakṣiṇāṃ caiva vastrāṇi vividhāni ca | sarvaṃ dadau dvijebhyo vai pitṛdhyānaparāyaṇaḥ 13| viprā visarjitāḥ sarve āśīrvādaparāyaṇāḥ | gotriṇāṃ bāṃdhavānāṃ ca anyeṣāṃ ca bubhukṣatām 14| dattamannaṃ tadā tena bhojane vidhipūrvakam | niśāyāṃ tu kuṭīdvāre upaviṣṭo yadā tadā 15| brāhmaṇyā vāri saṃgṛhya pādaprakṣālanaṃ kṛtam | tadā śunī balīvardau parasparamabhāṣatām 16| śṛṇu kāṃta vaco mahyaṃ yādṛkkṛtavatī vadhūḥ | tādṛśaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi nānyathā prabravīmyaham 17| kadāciddaivayogena gatāhaṃ putrasadmani | tatrasthitaṃ payaḥ pātuṃ vadhvā dṛṣṭaṃ na tatpunaḥ 18| pītaṃ payastu sarpeṇa taddṛṣṭaṃ tu mayā punaḥ | paścātpītaṃ mayā samyakdṛṣṭaṃ vadhvā tadā punaḥ 19| tena saṃparkadoṣeṇakaṭirbhagnā ca me sadā | tena duḥkhena bho svāminjātāhaṃ duḥkhabhāginī | bhagnā kaṭiśca saṃjātā hyāhāro naiva rocate 20| balīvardda uvāca- śṛṇu tvaṃ śuni vakṣyāmi mama duḥkhasya kāraṇam | asminvai divase prāpte brāhmaṇānāṃ tu bhojanam 21| kāritaṃ mama putreṇa mama ciṃtā tu no kṛtā | nodakaṃ na tṛṇaṃ caiva na dattaṃ kenacitkvacit 22| anāhārohyahaṃ pāpī baddho'sminpāpabhāvitaḥ | pūrvapāpaviśeṣeṇa jātaṃ śuni na saṃśayaḥ 23| tadvākyaṃ tu tadā devi śrutaṃ putreṇa dhīmatā | mamāyaṃ tu pitā sākṣājjāto mama gṛhe paśuḥ 24| iyaṃ tu jananī sākṣānmama caiva na saṃśayaḥ | daivayogācchunī jātā kiṃ karomi suniścayam 25| evaṃ vicāryāsau vipro naiva nidrāmavāpa saḥ | rātrau ciṃtāparo bhūtvā smaranviśveśvaraṃ param 26| nānādharmaparo'haṃ ca mamaivaṃ ca kathaṃ śubham | vicārayitvā ca tato rātrau suptastadā punaḥ 27| prabhāte vimale prāpte ṛṣīṇāṃ purato gataḥ | teṣāṃ madhye vasiṣṭhena tasya susvāgataṃ kṛtam 28| brūhi tvaṃ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha tavāgamanakāraṇam | iti pṛṣṭastadā vipraḥ praṇāmamakarottadā 29| adya me saphalaṃ janma adya me saphalā kriyā | adya me pitarastṛptā durlabhāttava darśanāt 30| yathoktaṃ ca kṛtaṃ śrāddhaṃ dvijāścaiva subhojitāḥ | kuṭuṃbināṃ tu sarveṣāṃ bhojanaṃ kāritaṃ tathā 31| bhojanānaṃtaraṃ prāptā śunī tatra uvāca ha | asmākaṃ tu gṛhe hyeko balīvardastu varttate 32| taṃ patiṃ prativākyaṃ yaddivaja mattaḥ śṛṇuṣva tat | gṛhesthitaṃ dugdhabhāṃḍamahinā dūṣitaṃ mayā 33| dṛṣṭaṃ me mahatī ciṃtā tadā jātā na saṃśayaḥ | anena payasā caiva pakvamannaṃ yadā bhavet 34| tadātra sarve viprāśca mriyaṃte bhojanāttataḥ | evaṃ vicārya tatsvāmindugdhaṃ pītaṃ tadā mayā 35| tadā dṛṣṭaṃ tu vadhvā vai tayā me tāḍanaṃ kṛtam | carāmi tena saṃbhagnā kiṃ karomi suduḥkhitā 36| tasyā duḥkhaṃ tu saṃsmṛtya vṛṣaḥ prāha śunīṃ prati | śṛṇu śuni pravakṣyāmi mama duḥkhasya kāraṇam 37| asyāhaṃ tu pitā sākṣātpūrvajanmani vai śuni | adya vai bhojitā viprā dattamannaṃ tu bhūriśaḥ 38| na tṛṇaṃ nodakaṃ caiva mamāgre saṃniveditam | tena duḥkhena me duḥkhaṃ jātaṃ bahutaraṃ tadā 39| etatkathānakaṃ śrutvā rātrau nidrāmavāpa na | mama ciṃtā tu tatraiva jātā vai ṛṣisattama 40| vedādhyayanaśīlo'haṃ kuśalo vedakarmaṇi | anayośca mahadduḥkhaṃ kiṃ karomīti ciṃtayan | āgatastvatsamīpe tu mamakaṣṭaṃ nivāraya 41| ṛṣiruvāca- ugrajanmanśṛṇuṣva tvaṃ pūrvajanmani yatkṛtam | ayaṃ vai tu dvijaśreṣṭho kuṃḍane nagare śubhe 42| māse bhādrapade caiva paṃcamī yā samāgatā | tadvrataṃ tena nājñātaṃ pituḥ śrāddhādikāraṇāt 43| strīdharmeṇa tu saṃprāptā kṣayahetu tadānagha | tayā caiva kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ ca bhojanam 44| na jñātaṃ ca kṛtaṃ tena pāpiṣṭhena durātmanā | prathame'hani cāṃḍālī dvitīye brahmaghātinī 45| tṛtīye rajakī proktā caturthe'hani śudhyati | tena pāpena sā jātā śunī svagṛhacāriṇī | balīvardastvayaṃ jātaḥ karmaṇānena suvrata 46| ugrajanmovāca- vrataṃ dānaṃ tathā yajñaṃ tīrthaṃ vāmamasuvrata | brūhi yena viśeṣeṇa muktiḥ pitrorbhavenmama 47| ṛṣiruvāca- māse bhādrapade śukle jāyate ṛṣipaṃcamī | rajasā vikṛtaṃ pāpaṃ naśyate karaṇādyataḥ 48| putrapautrapradātrī ca pitṝṇāṃ muktidāyinī | nadyā kūpe taḍāge vā brāhmaṇasya gṛhe tathā 49| gomayaṃ maṃḍalaṃ kuryātkuṃbhaṃ tatraiva vinyaset | tasyopari nyasetpātramṛṣidhānyena pūritam 6.77.50| yajñopavītasūtraṃ ca sahiraṇyaṃ phalaṃ tathā | sthāpyāśca ṛṣayaḥ sapta sukhasaubhāgyadāyakāḥ 51| āvāhayitvā te sarve pūjanīyā vratasthitaiḥ | naivedyamṛṣidhānyaṃ ca ṛṣidhānyaṃ tu bhojanam 52| ekabhaktena kartavyamṛṣīṇāmarcanaṃ tadā | pūjayetparayā bhaktyā maṃtreṇa vidhipūrvakam 53| nirvāpaṃ saghṛtaṃ deyaṃ dakṣiṇāsaṃyutaṃ tadā | deyaṃ viprāya vidhivadṛṣīṇāṃ prīyatāṃ prati 54| kathāṃ śrutvā vidhānena kṛtvā caiva pradakṣiṇām | dhūpaṃ dīpaṃ ca naivedyamarghyaṃ dadyātpṛthakpṛthak 55| ṛṣayaḥ saṃtu me nityaṃ vratasaṃpūrṇakāriṇaḥ | pūjāṃ gṛhṇaṃtu maddattāṃ ṛṣibhyo'stu namonamaḥ 56| pulastyaḥ pulahaścaiva kratuḥ prācetasastathā | vasiṣṭhamaricātreyā arghaṃ gṛhṇaṃtu vo namaḥ 57| evaṃ pūjā prakarttavyā dhūpairdīpairmanoramaiḥ | pitṝṇāṃ jāyate muktiḥ kṛtasyāsya prabhāvataḥ 58| pūrvakarmavipākena rajasā doṣabhāvataḥ | kṛtaṃ hyevaṃ tu bho vatsa muktistasya na saṃśayaḥ 59| tadvrataṃ ca kṛtaṃ tena muktyarthaṃ pitṛhetave | te gatā muktimārgeṇa āśīrvādaparāyaṇāḥ 60| ṛṣipaṃcamīvrataṃ puṇyaṃ viprāya parikīrtitam | ye kurvaṃti naraśreṣṭhāste jñeyāḥ puṇyabhāginaḥ 61| ye kurvaṃti naraśreṣṭha ṛṣivratamanuttamam | bhuktvātra bhogānvipulānyāṃti viṣṇoḥ padaṃ tu te 62| itiśrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe umāpatinārada| saṃvāde ṛṣipaṃcamīvrataṃnāma saptasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 77|
English translation
Mahādeva said:
1-11. I asked the lord of the world about the vow best among the vows, leading to the prosperity of sons and grandsons, and giving pleasure and good fortune. Now, O beautiful lady, I shall tell it to you. Listen. This account of the excellent vow of the sages is divine. A woman in her menses, a great sinner, is necessarily freed from great sins after observing this vow. O goddess, it becomes inexhaustible to the dead ancestors, and is the means of righteousness, worldly welfare and satisfaction of sexual desires.
Śrī Viṣṇu said :
Formerly there was a brāhmaṇa named Devaśarman , of great arms, master of the Vedas , and always devoted to study. He maintained the sacred fire; he was always engaged in the six [1] duties (of a brāhmaṇa). He was well honoured by all castes; and had sons, animals and kinsmen. The wife of that chief brāhmaṇa was in her menses when the month of Bhādrapada came, and it was the fifth of the bright half. He, with his mind controlled and senses restrained, performed śrāddha of his father. At night he would invite (i.e. he invited) brāhmaṇas , giving happiness and good fortune. When it was the bright morning, he would make (ready) other vessels. He made his wife cook food in all the vessels. It had eighteen flavours, and gave delight to the manes. Then he separately gave invitations to brāhmaṇas. All the brāhmaṇas, the reciters of the Vedas came at mid-day. The best brāhmaṇa gave them respectful offering and water for washing their feet etc. Polluted by the menstrual flow he duly washed (their feet etc.) at that time. All they went into the house, and (sat) upon the seats indicated to them.
12-20. He specially offered them food with sweets. He performed the śrāddha duly and after offering the piṇḍas . He, engrossed in meditating upon his dead ancestors, gave everything to the brāhmaṇas like tāmbūla , gifts and various garments. (Then) he dismissed all the brāhmaṇas, intent on (giving) blessing. Then to his hungry relatives and kinsmen, he duly gave food at the time of the meal. When he had sat at the door of his hut at night, the brāhmaṇa’s wife brought water and washed his feet; then the bitch and the bull talked to each other. (The bitch said:) “O dear one, listen to my words—as to how the daughter-in-law acted towards me. I shall tell (just) like that. I shall not tell otherwise (i.e. in a different way). Some time by chance I went into (our) son’s house to protect the milk that was there. It was not seen by the daughter-in-law. The milk was drunk by a serpent; and it was seen by me. Then I drank it all. The daughter-in-law saw it. Due to that fault (of me) of touching the milk, my waist was broken for good. O lord, due to that grief, I have been miserable, My waist is broken. I do not relish food.”
The bull said :
21-30. O bitch, listen. I shall tell you the cause of my misery. When this day came, my son gave food to brāhmaṇas, but did not care for me. He did not at all, at any time, give me water and grass. I, a sinner, conceived to be so, have been tied without food. O bitch, this has undoubtedly happened due to my former sin.
O goddess, at that time the words were heard by the wise son. “This is actually my father who has been an animal in my house. And undoubtedly this is actually my mother. Due to (ill) luck she became a bitch. What should I definitely do?” Thinking like this, the brāhmaṇa did not get sleep. At night he became very thoughtful and remembered the highest lord. “I have sincerely practised many righteous acts. How shall I have auspicious (things)?” Thinking like this, he again slept at night. When it was the bright morning, he went to the sages. Among them Vasiṣṭha offered him a good welcome. (Vasiṣṭha said to him:) “O best brāhmaṇa, tell the reason of your arrival.” The brāhmaṇa who was thus asked, then saluted (Vasiṣṭha). “Today my existence is fruitful. My acts are fruitful today; my dead ancestors are pleased on (my) having had your sight which is difficult to be had.
31-41. I performed the śrāddha as told (in the sacred texts). I well fed the brāhmaṇas. I gave food to all members of my family. After the meals, the bitch came there and spoke (to the bull, as) we have a bull in our house. O brāhmaṇa, hear from me the words which she spoke to him. “The milk-pot in the house was polluted by a serpent. I saw it, and was undoubtedly very anxious: ‘When with this milk itself, food would be cooked, then due to that food, all brāhmaṇas will die’. O lord, having thought like this, I drank (all) the milk. The daughter-in-law saw it and beat me. Due to that I becoming lame am moving. Being very grieved what do I do?” Knowing her grief, the bull said to the bitch: ‘O bitch, listen. I shall tell (you) the cause of my misery. O bitch, I am actually his father in the former existence. Today he fed brāhmaṇas, and gave them much food. But he did not place grass or water before me. Due to that grief at that time, I have become miserable.’ On hearing this account, I did not get sleep during the night. O best sage, my anxiety started just then only. I am given to Vedic studies. I am proficient in Vedic rites. The two are very miserable. So thinking ‘What shall I do?’ I have come to you. Remove my grief.”
The sage said :
42-47. O Ugrajanman, listen to what you did in the former existence. This one was the best brāhmaṇa in the auspicious city of Kuṇḍanagara. In the month of Bhādrapada, the vow of Pañcamī that fell then, was neglected by him due to the śrāddha of his father etc. On that śrāddha day, O innocent one, his wife had menstruation. She did all like giving food to the brāhmaṇas. The most sinful and wicked one did not know it and performed (the śrāddha). On the first day she is a cāṇḍāla woman; on the second the killer of a brāhmaṇa. On the third she is said to be a washerwoman, and is purified on the fourth day. Due to that sin his wife became a bitch; and O you of good vow, this one was born as a bull due to that act.
Ugrajanman said :
O you of a good vow, tell me especially that vow, gift, sacrifice or (visit to a) holy place, due to which my parents would have salvation.
The sage said :
48-62. In the bright half of Bhādrapada, there is Ṛṣipañcamī . By doing (the vow of) it the sin of the menstrual flow, perishes. It gives sons and grandsons and gives salvation to the dead ancestors. In a river (i.e. on the bank of river), or a well, a tank , or in a brāhmaṇa’s house, a circle with cow-dung should be fashioned. He should put a pitcher there. On it he should put a vessel which is full of grains used by the sages. So also (he should put) a sacred thread, a fruit with gold. He should also install seven (images) of sages, causing happiness and good fortune. Those who have kept the vow, should invoke all of them and worship them. He (who observes the vow) should, eating once a day, offer eatables made from the corn used by the sages, and should eat that food (after) worshipping the sages. He should properly, very devoutly and with hymns, worship them. Then with ghee and gifts he should offer the libation. He should duly give (these) to a brāhmaṇa, (saying), ‘May this please the sages’. Having listened to the account properly, having gone round (the images), he should separately offer incense, ghee, eatables of five kinds, and a respectful offering. “May the sages always abide by me. May they complete my vow. May they accept the worship offered by me. Repeated salutations to sages. May Pulastya , Pulaha , Kratu , so also Prācetasa , Vasiṣṭha, Marica , Ātreya accept my worship. Salutation to you.” With incenses and charming lamps he should thus offer the worship. By the power of this being done the dead ancestors are at once released. O child, due to the ripening of the former acts and the power of the blemish of menstruation this was done. There is no doubt that he will get release.
For the salvation of his dead ancestors he observed the vow. They, intent upon giving him blessings, went along the path of salvation. Those best men who observe the vow of Ṛṣipañcamī, as told to the brāhmaṇa, should be known as meritorious. Those best men who observe this excellent vow of the sages, enjoy many pleasures in this world, and go to Viṣṇu ’s position.
[1]: [1] : Ṣaṭkarma—The six duties of a brāhmaṇa are: studying, teaching, sacrificing, acting as a priest at a sacrifice, giving gifts, and accepting gifts.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14695, revision 336473 (2022-04-22T22:45:55Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365654.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.