Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 124
Sourceईश्वर उवाच। प्रबोधिन्याश्च माहात्म्यं पापघ्नं पुण्यवर्द्धनम् । मुक्तिदं तत्वबुद्धीनां शृणुष्व सुरसत्तम १। तावद्गर्जति सेनानि गंगा भागीरथी क्षितौ । यावन्नायाति पापघ्नी कार्तिके हरिबोधिनी २। तावद्गच्छंति तीर्थानि आसमुद्र सरांसि च । यावत्प्रबोधिनी विष्णोस्तिथिर्नायाति कार्तिके ३। अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च । एकेनैवोपवासेन प्रबोधिन्यां यथाऽभवत् ४। दुर्लभं चैव दुष्प्राप्यं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे । तदपि प्रार्थितं विप्र ददाति प्रतिबोधिनी ५। ऐश्वर्यं संसृतिं ज्ञानं राज्यं च सुखसंपदम् । ददात्युपोषिता विप्र हेलया हरिबोधिनी ६। मेरुमंदरतुल्यानि पापान्युपार्जितानि च । एकेनैवोपवासेन दहते हरिबोधिनी ७। उपवासं प्रबोधिन्यां यः करोति स्वभावतः । विधिना नरशार्दूल यथोक्तं लभते फलम् ८। पूर्वजन्मसहस्रेषु पापं यत्समुपार्जितम् । जागरेण प्रबोधिन्यां दह्यते तूलराशिवत् ९। शृणु षण्मुख वक्ष्यामि जागरस्य च लक्षणम् । यस्य विज्ञानमात्रेण दुर्लभो न जनार्दनः १०। गीतं वाद्यं च नृत्यं च पुराणपठनं तथा । धूपं दीपं च नैवेद्यं पुष्पं गंधानुलेपनम् ११। फलमर्घ्यं च श्रद्धा च दानमिंद्रियसंयमम् । सत्यान्वितं विनिद्रं च मुदायुक्तं क्रियान्वितम् १२। साश्चर्चं चैव सोत्साहमालस्यादिविवर्जितम् । प्रदक्षिणादिसंयुक्तं नमस्कारपुरःसरम् १३। नीराजनसमायुक्तमनिर्विण्णेन चेतसा । यामे यामे महाभाग कुर्वन्नीराजनं हरेः १४। एतैर्गुणैः समायुक्तं कुर्याज्जागरणं विभोः । एकाग्रमानसो यस्तु न पुनर्जायते भुवि १५। य एवं कुरुते भक्त्या वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितैः । जागरं वासरे विष्णोर्नीयते परमां गतिम् १६। पुरुषसूक्तेन यो नित्यं कार्तिके अर्चयेद्धरिम् । वर्षकोटिसहस्राणि पूजितस्तेन केशवः १७। यथोक्तेन विधानेन पंचरात्रोदितेन वै । कार्तिके त्वर्चयेन्नित्यं मुक्तिभागी भवेन्नरः १८। नमोनारायणायेति कार्तिके योऽर्चयेद्धरिम् । स मुक्तो नारकैर्दुःखैः पदं गच्छत्यनामयम् १९। हरेर्नामसहस्रं च गजराजस्य मोक्षणम् । कार्तिके पठते यस्तु पुनर्जन्म न विंदति २०। युगकोटिसहस्राणि मन्वंतरशतानि च । द्वादश्यां कार्तिके मासि जागरी वसते दिवि २१। कुले तस्य च संजाताः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । प्राप्नुवंति पदं विष्णोस्तस्मात्कुर्वीत जागरम् २२। कार्तिके पश्चिमे यामे स्तवं गानं करोति यः । श्वेतद्वीपे तु वसते पितृभिः सह भामिनि २३। नैवेद्यदानं हरये कार्तिके दिनसंक्षये । युगानि वसते स्वर्गे तावंति मुनिसत्तमाः २४। अक्षयं मुनिशार्दूल मालतीकमलार्चनम् । अर्चयेद्देवदेवेशं स याति परमं पदम् २५। कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु कृत्वा ह्येकादशीं नरः । प्रातर्दत्त्वा शुभान्कुंभान्स याति मम मंदिरम् २६। कार्त्तिकेय उवाच। भगवन्नुच्यतां पुण्यं व्रतानां परमं व्रतम् । कर्तव्यं कार्तिके मासि भवता भीष्मपंचकम् २७। विधानं तस्य च फलं तथैव सुरसत्तम । कथयस्व प्रसादान्मे मुनीनां च पितामह २८। ईश्वर उवाच। प्रवक्ष्यामि महापुण्यं व्रतं विधिमतां वरः । भीष्मेणैतद्यतः प्राप्तं व्रतं पंचदिनात्मकम् २९। सकाशाद्वासुदेवस्य तेनोक्तं भीष्मपंचकम् । व्रतस्यास्य गुणान्वक्तुं कः शक्तः केशवादृते ३०। कार्त्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु शृणु धर्मं पुरातनम् । वसिष्ठभृगुगर्गाद्यैश्चीर्णं कृतयुगादिषु ३१। अंबरीषेण भोगाद्यैश्चीर्णं त्रेतायुगादिषु । ब्राह्मणैर्ब्रह्मचर्येण जपहोमक्रियादिभिः ३२। क्षत्रियैश्च तथा वैश्यैः सत्यशौचपरायणैः । दुष्करं सत्यहीनानामशक्यं बालचेतसाम् ३३। दुष्करं भीष्ममित्याहुर्न शक्यं प्राकृतैर्नरैः । यस्तत्करोति विप्रेंद्र तेन सर्वं कृतं भवेत् ३४। व्रतं चैतन्महापुण्यं महापातकनाशनम् । अतो नरैः प्रयत्नेन कर्त्तव्यं भीष्मपंचकम् ३५। कार्तिकस्यामलेपक्षे स्नात्वा सम्यग्विधानतः । एकादश्यां तु गृह्णीयाद्व्रतं पंचदिनात्मकम् ३६। प्रातः स्नात्वा विशेषेण मध्याह्ने च तथा व्रती । नद्यां निर्झरगर्ते वा समालभ्य च गोमयम् ३७। यवव्रीहितिलैः सम्यक्पितॄन्संतर्पयेत्क्रमात् । स्नात्वा मौनं नरः कृत्वा धौतवासा दृढव्रतः ३८। भीष्मायोदकदानं च अर्घ्यं चैव प्रयत्नतः । पूजा भीष्मस्य कर्त्तव्या दानं दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः ३९। पंचरत्नं विशेषेण दत्त्वा विप्राय यत्नतः । वासुदेवोऽपि संपूज्यो लक्ष्मीयुक्तः सदा प्रभुः ४०। पंचके पूजयित्वा तु कोटिकल्पानि तुष्यति । यत्किंचित्क्रियते सर्वं पंचधातुप्रकल्पयेत् ४१। संवत्सरव्रतानां च लभते सकलं फलम् । कृत्वा तूदकदानं तु तथार्घ्यस्य च दापनम् ४२। मंत्रेणानेन यः कुर्यान्मुक्तिभागी भवेन्नरः ४३। वैयाघ्रपादगोत्राय सांकृते प्रवराय च । अपुत्राय ददाम्येतदुदकं भीष्मवर्मणे ४४। वसूनामवताराय शंतनोरात्मजाय च । अर्घ्यं ददामि भीष्माय आजन्मब्रह्मचारिणे ४५ इति अर्घ्यमंत्रः । अनेन विधिना यस्तु पंचकं तु समापयेत् । अश्वमेधसमं पुण्यं प्राप्नोत्यत्र न संशयः ४६। पंचाहमपि कर्तव्यं नियमं च प्रयत्नतः । नियमेन विना पुत्र न भाव्यं व्रतकर्मणा ४७। उत्तरायणहीनाय भीष्माय प्रददौ हरिः । उत्तरायणहीनोऽपि शुद्धिं लग्नं विना शुभाः ४८। ततः संपूजयेद्देवं सर्वपापहरं हरिम् । अनंतरं प्रयत्नेन कर्तव्यं भीष्मपंचकम् ४९। स्नापयेत जलैर्भक्त्या मधुक्षीरघृतेन च । तथैव पंचगव्येन गंधचंदनवारिणा 6.124.५०। चंदनेन सुगंधेन कुंकुमेनाथ केशवम् । कर्पूरोशीरमिश्रेण लेपयेद्गरुडध्वजम् ५१। अर्चयेद्रुचिरैः पुष्पैर्गंधधूपसमन्वितैः । गुग्गुलुं घृतंसंयुक्तं दहेत्कृष्णाय भक्तिमान् ५२। दीपकं तु दिवारात्रौ दद्यात्पंचदिनादिषु । नैवेद्यं देवदेवस्य परमान्नं निवेदयेत् ५३। एवमभ्यर्चयेद्देवं संस्मृत्य च प्रणम्य च । ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय जपेदष्टोत्तरं शतम् ५४। जुहुयाच्च घृताभ्यक्तैस्तिलव्रीहियवादिभिः । षडक्षरेण मंत्रेण स्वाहाकारान्वितेन च ५५। उपास्य पश्चिमां संध्यां प्रणम्य गरुडध्वजम् । जपित्वा पूर्ववन्मंत्रं क्षितिशायी भवेद्व्रती ५६। सर्वमेतद्विधानं तु कार्यं पंचदिनानि तु । विशेषोऽत्र व्रते ह्यस्मिन्यदन्यूनं शृणुष्व तत् ५७। प्रथमेऽह्नि हरेः पादौ पूजयेत्कमलैर्व्रती । द्वितीये बिल्वपत्रेण जानुदेशं समर्चयेत् ५८। ततोनुपूजयेच्छीर्षं मालत्या चक्रपाणिनः । कार्तिक्यां देवदेवस्य भक्त्या तद्गतमानसः ५९। अर्चित्वा तं हृषीकेशमेकादश्यां समासतः । निष्प्राश्य गोमयं सम्यगेकादश्यामुपावसेत् ६०। गोमूत्रं मंत्रवद्भूमौ द्वादश्यां प्राशयेद्व्रती । क्षीरं चैव त्रयोदश्यां चतुर्दश्यां तथा दधि ६१। संप्राश्य कायशुद्ध्यर्थं लंघयित्वा चतुर्दिनम् । पंचमे दिवसे स्नात्वा विधिवत्पूज्य केशवम् ६२। भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम् । पापबुद्धिं परित्यज्य ब्रह्मचर्येण धीमता ६३। मद्यं मांसं परित्यज्य मैथुनं पापकारिणम् । शाकाहारेण मुन्यन्नैः कृष्णार्चनपरो नरः ६४। ततो नक्तं समाश्नीयात्पंचगव्यपुरः सरम् । एवं सम्यक्समाप्तस्य यथोक्तं फलमाप्नुयात् ६५। मद्यपो यत्पिबेन्मद्यं जन्मनो मरणांतिकम् । एतद्भीष्मव्रतं कृत्वा प्राप्नोति परमं पदम् ६६। स्त्रीभिर्ब्राह्मणवाक्येन कर्तव्यं धर्मवर्द्धनम् । विधवाभिश्च कर्तव्यं मोक्षसौख्याभिवृद्धये ६७। सर्वकामसमृद्ध्यर्थं पुण्यार्थमपि पावके । नित्यस्नाने तथा दाने ये कार्तिकमुपासते ६८। वैश्वदेवश्च कर्तव्यो विष्णुध्यानपरायणैः । आरोग्य पुत्रदो वत्स महापातकनाशनः ६९। तीर्थेषु कार्तिकं कुर्यात्सर्वयत्नेन षण्मुख । संवत्सरव्रतानां तु समाप्तिः कार्तिके मता ७०। पापस्य प्रतिमा कार्या रौद्रवस्त्राति भीषणा । खड्गहस्ता विनिष्क्रांता लोहदंष्ट्राकरालिनी ७१। तिलप्रस्थोपरि स्थाप्या कृष्णवस्त्राभिवेष्टिता । रक्तपुष्पकृतापीडा ज्वलत्कांचनकुंडला ७२। संपूज्य परया भक्त्या धर्मराजस्य नामभिः । इममुच्चारयेन्मंत्रं गृहीतकुसुमांजलिः ७३। यदन्यजन्मनि कृतमिह जन्मनि वा पुनः । पापं प्रशममायातु तव पादप्रसादतः ७४। एवं संपूज्य विधिवत्प्रतिमां तां च कांचनीम् । कृत्वा पूजां यथाशक्त्या विप्राणां वेदवादिनाम् ७५। प्रीतये देवदेवस्य कृष्णस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः । ब्राह्मणाय प्रदातव्यं धर्मो मे प्रीयतामिति ७६। वाचकाय प्रदातव्या यथाशक्त्या च दक्षिणा । दद्याद्धिरण्यं गाश्चैव कृष्णो मे प्रीयतामिति ७७। कृतकृत्य स्थितो भूत्वा विरक्तः संयतो भवेत् । अन्येषामपि दातव्यं स्वशक्त्या दानमुत्तमम् ७८। शांतचित्तो निरपराधः परं पदमवाप्नुयात् । नीलोत्पलदलश्यामश्चतुर्दंष्ट्रश्चतुर्भुजः ७९। अष्टपादैकनयनः शंकुकर्णः खरस्वनः । जडी द्विजिह्वस्ताम्राक्षो मृगराजतनुच्छदः ८०। चिंतनीयो महादेवो यस्य रूपं न विद्यते । इदं भीष्मेण कथितं शरतल्पगतेन मे ८१। तदेतत्ते मयाख्यातं दुष्करं भीष्मपंचकं । धन्यं पुण्यं पापहरं युधिष्ठिर महाव्रतम् । यत्कृत्वा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ८२। यद्भीष्मपंचकमिति प्रथितं पृथिव्यामेकादशीप्रभृतिपंचदशी निरुद्धम् । उक्तं न भोजनपरस्य तदा निषेधस्तस्मिन्व्रते शुभफलं प्रददाति विष्णुः ८३। सूत उवाच। एतत्सर्वाधिकं पुण्यं दुर्लभं भुवने कृतम् । इदं गुह्यं मयाख्यातं शास्त्रसारसमुच्चयम् ८४। सुराणां गोपितं सर्वमतिगुह्यं च मोक्षदम् । श्रुत्वा चैकपदे देवि अगम्यागमने रताः ८५। कन्याविक्री स्वसाविक्री ह्युभयं तु विमोचयेत् । मोक्षदं च इदं शास्त्रं प्रकाशं नेतरे जने ८६। श्रुत्वा चैकपदे यस्तु मोक्षं गच्छति मानवः । गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन ये चापि त्यागिनो नराः ८७। न तेषां कथ्यते पुण्यं सत्यं सत्यं च षण्मुख । इत्येतत्सर्वमाख्यातं कार्तिकस्य तु यत्फलम् ८८। श्रीविष्णुरुवाच। कथितं देवदेवेन पुत्राय हितकाम्यया । पितुस्तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य षण्मुखो हर्षनिर्भरः ८९। ऊचुः प्रांजलयः सर्वे तं देवं जगदायुषम् । कृतकृत्या वयं जाताः श्रुत्वा कार्तिकजं फलम् ९०। अपरं नास्ति श्रोतव्यं प्राप्तं मे जन्मनः फलम् । माहात्म्यमेतदाकर्ण्य पूजयेद्यस्तु पाठकम् ९१। गोभूहिरण्यवस्त्रैश्च विष्णुतुल्यो यतो हि सः । वाचके पूजिते यस्माद्विष्णुर्भवति पूजितः ९२। तथा तं पूजयेन्नित्यं यदीच्छेत्सफलं शुभम् । धर्मशास्त्रं पुराणं च वेदविद्यादिकं च यत् ९३। पुस्तकं वाचकायैव दातव्यं धर्ममिच्छता । पुराणविद्या दातारो ह्यनंतफलभोजिनः ९४। यः पठेत इदं भक्त्या श्रुत्वा चैवावधारयेत् । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ९५। धनं धान्यं यशः पुत्रानायुरारोग्यमेव च । माहात्म्यश्रवणादेव लभ्यते च न संशयः ९६। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्त्रसंहितायामुत्तरखंडे कार्तिकमाहात्म्ये श्रीकृष्णसत्यभामासंवादे चतुर्विंशत्यधिकशततमोध्यायः १२४।
īśvara uvāca| prabodhinyāśca māhātmyaṃ pāpaghnaṃ puṇyavarddhanam | muktidaṃ tatvabuddhīnāṃ śṛṇuṣva surasattama 1| tāvadgarjati senāni gaṃgā bhāgīrathī kṣitau | yāvannāyāti pāpaghnī kārtike haribodhinī 2| tāvadgacchaṃti tīrthāni āsamudra sarāṃsi ca | yāvatprabodhinī viṣṇostithirnāyāti kārtike 3| aśvamedhasahasrāṇi rājasūyaśatāni ca | ekenaivopavāsena prabodhinyāṃ yathā'bhavat 4| durlabhaṃ caiva duṣprāpyaṃ trailokye sacarācare | tadapi prārthitaṃ vipra dadāti pratibodhinī 5| aiśvaryaṃ saṃsṛtiṃ jñānaṃ rājyaṃ ca sukhasaṃpadam | dadātyupoṣitā vipra helayā haribodhinī 6| merumaṃdaratulyāni pāpānyupārjitāni ca | ekenaivopavāsena dahate haribodhinī 7| upavāsaṃ prabodhinyāṃ yaḥ karoti svabhāvataḥ | vidhinā naraśārdūla yathoktaṃ labhate phalam 8| pūrvajanmasahasreṣu pāpaṃ yatsamupārjitam | jāgareṇa prabodhinyāṃ dahyate tūlarāśivat 9| śṛṇu ṣaṇmukha vakṣyāmi jāgarasya ca lakṣaṇam | yasya vijñānamātreṇa durlabho na janārdanaḥ 10| gītaṃ vādyaṃ ca nṛtyaṃ ca purāṇapaṭhanaṃ tathā | dhūpaṃ dīpaṃ ca naivedyaṃ puṣpaṃ gaṃdhānulepanam 11| phalamarghyaṃ ca śraddhā ca dānamiṃdriyasaṃyamam | satyānvitaṃ vinidraṃ ca mudāyuktaṃ kriyānvitam 12| sāścarcaṃ caiva sotsāhamālasyādivivarjitam | pradakṣiṇādisaṃyuktaṃ namaskārapuraḥsaram 13| nīrājanasamāyuktamanirviṇṇena cetasā | yāme yāme mahābhāga kurvannīrājanaṃ hareḥ 14| etairguṇaiḥ samāyuktaṃ kuryājjāgaraṇaṃ vibhoḥ | ekāgramānaso yastu na punarjāyate bhuvi 15| ya evaṃ kurute bhaktyā vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaiḥ | jāgaraṃ vāsare viṣṇornīyate paramāṃ gatim 16| puruṣasūktena yo nityaṃ kārtike arcayeddharim | varṣakoṭisahasrāṇi pūjitastena keśavaḥ 17| yathoktena vidhānena paṃcarātroditena vai | kārtike tvarcayennityaṃ muktibhāgī bhavennaraḥ 18| namonārāyaṇāyeti kārtike yo'rcayeddharim | sa mukto nārakairduḥkhaiḥ padaṃ gacchatyanāmayam 19| harernāmasahasraṃ ca gajarājasya mokṣaṇam | kārtike paṭhate yastu punarjanma na viṃdati 20| yugakoṭisahasrāṇi manvaṃtaraśatāni ca | dvādaśyāṃ kārtike māsi jāgarī vasate divi 21| kule tasya ca saṃjātāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ | prāpnuvaṃti padaṃ viṣṇostasmātkurvīta jāgaram 22| kārtike paścime yāme stavaṃ gānaṃ karoti yaḥ | śvetadvīpe tu vasate pitṛbhiḥ saha bhāmini 23| naivedyadānaṃ haraye kārtike dinasaṃkṣaye | yugāni vasate svarge tāvaṃti munisattamāḥ 24| akṣayaṃ muniśārdūla mālatīkamalārcanam | arcayeddevadeveśaṃ sa yāti paramaṃ padam 25| kārtike śuklapakṣe tu kṛtvā hyekādaśīṃ naraḥ | prātardattvā śubhānkuṃbhānsa yāti mama maṃdiram 26| kārttikeya uvāca| bhagavannucyatāṃ puṇyaṃ vratānāṃ paramaṃ vratam | kartavyaṃ kārtike māsi bhavatā bhīṣmapaṃcakam 27| vidhānaṃ tasya ca phalaṃ tathaiva surasattama | kathayasva prasādānme munīnāṃ ca pitāmaha 28| īśvara uvāca| pravakṣyāmi mahāpuṇyaṃ vrataṃ vidhimatāṃ varaḥ | bhīṣmeṇaitadyataḥ prāptaṃ vrataṃ paṃcadinātmakam 29| sakāśādvāsudevasya tenoktaṃ bhīṣmapaṃcakam | vratasyāsya guṇānvaktuṃ kaḥ śaktaḥ keśavādṛte 30| kārttike śuklapakṣe tu śṛṇu dharmaṃ purātanam | vasiṣṭhabhṛgugargādyaiścīrṇaṃ kṛtayugādiṣu 31| aṃbarīṣeṇa bhogādyaiścīrṇaṃ tretāyugādiṣu | brāhmaṇairbrahmacaryeṇa japahomakriyādibhiḥ 32| kṣatriyaiśca tathā vaiśyaiḥ satyaśaucaparāyaṇaiḥ | duṣkaraṃ satyahīnānāmaśakyaṃ bālacetasām 33| duṣkaraṃ bhīṣmamityāhurna śakyaṃ prākṛtairnaraiḥ | yastatkaroti vipreṃdra tena sarvaṃ kṛtaṃ bhavet 34| vrataṃ caitanmahāpuṇyaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam | ato naraiḥ prayatnena karttavyaṃ bhīṣmapaṃcakam 35| kārtikasyāmalepakṣe snātvā samyagvidhānataḥ | ekādaśyāṃ tu gṛhṇīyādvrataṃ paṃcadinātmakam 36| prātaḥ snātvā viśeṣeṇa madhyāhne ca tathā vratī | nadyāṃ nirjharagarte vā samālabhya ca gomayam 37| yavavrīhitilaiḥ samyakpitṝnsaṃtarpayetkramāt | snātvā maunaṃ naraḥ kṛtvā dhautavāsā dṛḍhavrataḥ 38| bhīṣmāyodakadānaṃ ca arghyaṃ caiva prayatnataḥ | pūjā bhīṣmasya karttavyā dānaṃ dadyātprayatnataḥ 39| paṃcaratnaṃ viśeṣeṇa dattvā viprāya yatnataḥ | vāsudevo'pi saṃpūjyo lakṣmīyuktaḥ sadā prabhuḥ 40| paṃcake pūjayitvā tu koṭikalpāni tuṣyati | yatkiṃcitkriyate sarvaṃ paṃcadhātuprakalpayet 41| saṃvatsaravratānāṃ ca labhate sakalaṃ phalam | kṛtvā tūdakadānaṃ tu tathārghyasya ca dāpanam 42| maṃtreṇānena yaḥ kuryānmuktibhāgī bhavennaraḥ 43| vaiyāghrapādagotrāya sāṃkṛte pravarāya ca | aputrāya dadāmyetadudakaṃ bhīṣmavarmaṇe 44| vasūnāmavatārāya śaṃtanorātmajāya ca | arghyaṃ dadāmi bhīṣmāya ājanmabrahmacāriṇe 45 iti arghyamaṃtraḥ | anena vidhinā yastu paṃcakaṃ tu samāpayet | aśvamedhasamaṃ puṇyaṃ prāpnotyatra na saṃśayaḥ 46| paṃcāhamapi kartavyaṃ niyamaṃ ca prayatnataḥ | niyamena vinā putra na bhāvyaṃ vratakarmaṇā 47| uttarāyaṇahīnāya bhīṣmāya pradadau hariḥ | uttarāyaṇahīno'pi śuddhiṃ lagnaṃ vinā śubhāḥ 48| tataḥ saṃpūjayeddevaṃ sarvapāpaharaṃ harim | anaṃtaraṃ prayatnena kartavyaṃ bhīṣmapaṃcakam 49| snāpayeta jalairbhaktyā madhukṣīraghṛtena ca | tathaiva paṃcagavyena gaṃdhacaṃdanavāriṇā 6.124.50| caṃdanena sugaṃdhena kuṃkumenātha keśavam | karpūrośīramiśreṇa lepayedgaruḍadhvajam 51| arcayedruciraiḥ puṣpairgaṃdhadhūpasamanvitaiḥ | gugguluṃ ghṛtaṃsaṃyuktaṃ dahetkṛṣṇāya bhaktimān 52| dīpakaṃ tu divārātrau dadyātpaṃcadinādiṣu | naivedyaṃ devadevasya paramānnaṃ nivedayet 53| evamabhyarcayeddevaṃ saṃsmṛtya ca praṇamya ca | oṃ namo vāsudevāya japedaṣṭottaraṃ śatam 54| juhuyācca ghṛtābhyaktaistilavrīhiyavādibhiḥ | ṣaḍakṣareṇa maṃtreṇa svāhākārānvitena ca 55| upāsya paścimāṃ saṃdhyāṃ praṇamya garuḍadhvajam | japitvā pūrvavanmaṃtraṃ kṣitiśāyī bhavedvratī 56| sarvametadvidhānaṃ tu kāryaṃ paṃcadināni tu | viśeṣo'tra vrate hyasminyadanyūnaṃ śṛṇuṣva tat 57| prathame'hni hareḥ pādau pūjayetkamalairvratī | dvitīye bilvapatreṇa jānudeśaṃ samarcayet 58| tatonupūjayecchīrṣaṃ mālatyā cakrapāṇinaḥ | kārtikyāṃ devadevasya bhaktyā tadgatamānasaḥ 59| arcitvā taṃ hṛṣīkeśamekādaśyāṃ samāsataḥ | niṣprāśya gomayaṃ samyagekādaśyāmupāvaset 60| gomūtraṃ maṃtravadbhūmau dvādaśyāṃ prāśayedvratī | kṣīraṃ caiva trayodaśyāṃ caturdaśyāṃ tathā dadhi 61| saṃprāśya kāyaśuddhyarthaṃ laṃghayitvā caturdinam | paṃcame divase snātvā vidhivatpūjya keśavam 62| bhojayedbrāhmaṇānbhaktyā tebhyo dadyācca dakṣiṇām | pāpabuddhiṃ parityajya brahmacaryeṇa dhīmatā 63| madyaṃ māṃsaṃ parityajya maithunaṃ pāpakāriṇam | śākāhāreṇa munyannaiḥ kṛṣṇārcanaparo naraḥ 64| tato naktaṃ samāśnīyātpaṃcagavyapuraḥ saram | evaṃ samyaksamāptasya yathoktaṃ phalamāpnuyāt 65| madyapo yatpibenmadyaṃ janmano maraṇāṃtikam | etadbhīṣmavrataṃ kṛtvā prāpnoti paramaṃ padam 66| strībhirbrāhmaṇavākyena kartavyaṃ dharmavarddhanam | vidhavābhiśca kartavyaṃ mokṣasaukhyābhivṛddhaye 67| sarvakāmasamṛddhyarthaṃ puṇyārthamapi pāvake | nityasnāne tathā dāne ye kārtikamupāsate 68| vaiśvadevaśca kartavyo viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇaiḥ | ārogya putrado vatsa mahāpātakanāśanaḥ 69| tīrtheṣu kārtikaṃ kuryātsarvayatnena ṣaṇmukha | saṃvatsaravratānāṃ tu samāptiḥ kārtike matā 70| pāpasya pratimā kāryā raudravastrāti bhīṣaṇā | khaḍgahastā viniṣkrāṃtā lohadaṃṣṭrākarālinī 71| tilaprasthopari sthāpyā kṛṣṇavastrābhiveṣṭitā | raktapuṣpakṛtāpīḍā jvalatkāṃcanakuṃḍalā 72| saṃpūjya parayā bhaktyā dharmarājasya nāmabhiḥ | imamuccārayenmaṃtraṃ gṛhītakusumāṃjaliḥ 73| yadanyajanmani kṛtamiha janmani vā punaḥ | pāpaṃ praśamamāyātu tava pādaprasādataḥ 74| evaṃ saṃpūjya vidhivatpratimāṃ tāṃ ca kāṃcanīm | kṛtvā pūjāṃ yathāśaktyā viprāṇāṃ vedavādinām 75| prītaye devadevasya kṛṣṇasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ | brāhmaṇāya pradātavyaṃ dharmo me prīyatāmiti 76| vācakāya pradātavyā yathāśaktyā ca dakṣiṇā | dadyāddhiraṇyaṃ gāścaiva kṛṣṇo me prīyatāmiti 77| kṛtakṛtya sthito bhūtvā viraktaḥ saṃyato bhavet | anyeṣāmapi dātavyaṃ svaśaktyā dānamuttamam 78| śāṃtacitto niraparādhaḥ paraṃ padamavāpnuyāt | nīlotpaladalaśyāmaścaturdaṃṣṭraścaturbhujaḥ 79| aṣṭapādaikanayanaḥ śaṃkukarṇaḥ kharasvanaḥ | jaḍī dvijihvastāmrākṣo mṛgarājatanucchadaḥ 80| ciṃtanīyo mahādevo yasya rūpaṃ na vidyate | idaṃ bhīṣmeṇa kathitaṃ śaratalpagatena me 81| tadetatte mayākhyātaṃ duṣkaraṃ bhīṣmapaṃcakaṃ | dhanyaṃ puṇyaṃ pāpaharaṃ yudhiṣṭhira mahāvratam | yatkṛtvā brahmahā goghnaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 82| yadbhīṣmapaṃcakamiti prathitaṃ pṛthivyāmekādaśīprabhṛtipaṃcadaśī niruddham | uktaṃ na bhojanaparasya tadā niṣedhastasminvrate śubhaphalaṃ pradadāti viṣṇuḥ 83| sūta uvāca| etatsarvādhikaṃ puṇyaṃ durlabhaṃ bhuvane kṛtam | idaṃ guhyaṃ mayākhyātaṃ śāstrasārasamuccayam 84| surāṇāṃ gopitaṃ sarvamatiguhyaṃ ca mokṣadam | śrutvā caikapade devi agamyāgamane ratāḥ 85| kanyāvikrī svasāvikrī hyubhayaṃ tu vimocayet | mokṣadaṃ ca idaṃ śāstraṃ prakāśaṃ netare jane 86| śrutvā caikapade yastu mokṣaṃ gacchati mānavaḥ | gopanīyaṃ prayatnena ye cāpi tyāgino narāḥ 87| na teṣāṃ kathyate puṇyaṃ satyaṃ satyaṃ ca ṣaṇmukha | ityetatsarvamākhyātaṃ kārtikasya tu yatphalam 88| śrīviṣṇuruvāca| kathitaṃ devadevena putrāya hitakāmyayā | pitustadvākyamākarṇya ṣaṇmukho harṣanirbharaḥ 89| ūcuḥ prāṃjalayaḥ sarve taṃ devaṃ jagadāyuṣam | kṛtakṛtyā vayaṃ jātāḥ śrutvā kārtikajaṃ phalam 90| aparaṃ nāsti śrotavyaṃ prāptaṃ me janmanaḥ phalam | māhātmyametadākarṇya pūjayedyastu pāṭhakam 91| gobhūhiraṇyavastraiśca viṣṇutulyo yato hi saḥ | vācake pūjite yasmādviṣṇurbhavati pūjitaḥ 92| tathā taṃ pūjayennityaṃ yadīcchetsaphalaṃ śubham | dharmaśāstraṃ purāṇaṃ ca vedavidyādikaṃ ca yat 93| pustakaṃ vācakāyaiva dātavyaṃ dharmamicchatā | purāṇavidyā dātāro hyanaṃtaphalabhojinaḥ 94| yaḥ paṭheta idaṃ bhaktyā śrutvā caivāvadhārayet | mucyate sarvapāpebhyo viṣṇulokaṃ sa gacchati 95| dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ yaśaḥ putrānāyurārogyameva ca | māhātmyaśravaṇādeva labhyate ca na saṃśayaḥ 96| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsahastrasaṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe kārtikamāhātmye śrīkṛṣṇasatyabhāmāsaṃvāde caturviṃśatyadhikaśatatamodhyāyaḥ 124|
English translation
The lord said :
1-15. O best god, also listen to the greatness of Prabodhinī which destroys sins, enhances merit, and gives salvation to those who comprehend the truth. O Kārtikeya , Gaṅgā Bhāgīrathī roars on the earth till the time the Haribodhinī ( Ekādaśī ) in Kārtika has not come. The holy places and the lakes up to the ocean roar till the time the Prabodhinī (Ekādaśī) in Kārtika has not arrived. Thousands of horse sacrifices and hundreds of Rājasūya sacrifices are equal to one fast on the Prabodhinī (Ekādaśī). O brāhmaṇa , Prabodhinī gives even that which is desired but which is difficult to be got or reached in the three worlds with the mobile and the immobile. O brāhmaṇa, Haribodhinī when fasted on, easily gives affluence, union, knowledge, kingdom, happiness and wealth. Just by means of one fast Haribodhinī burns the sins resembling Meru and Mandara committed (by a man). O best among men, he who naturally observes a fast on the Prabodhinī (day), according to the rule, gets the fruit as is told (in the sacred texts). The sin committed during thousands of former existences is burnt like a heap of cotton by keeping awake on the Prabodhinī (day). O Kārtikeya, listen; I shall tell you the characteristic(s) of the vigil, by merely knowing which Viṣṇu is not difficult to be secured. O noble one, a man should sing, play upon musical instruments, recite the Purāṇas , offer incense, light, eatables, flowers, besmear (the image) with sandal, offer fruits, respectful offerings, have faith, give gifts, control his senses, be truthful, without sleep, full of joy and (religious) acts, (offer worship) with energy and without laziness etc. by going round (the image), and preceded by obeisance, so also accompanied by waving of lights. With a mind free from dejection he should wave lights before Viṣṇu in every watch. He who, with a concentrated mind, keeps vigil accompanied with these characteristics, and without dishonesty regarding money, for the lord, is not reborn on the earth.
16-26. He who thus devoutly and without deceitfulness keeps awake on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu, is taken to the highest position. He who, everyday in Kārtika, worships Viṣṇu with the recital of the Puruṣa-sūkta (hymn) has worshipped Viṣṇu for thousands of crores of years. The man who would everyday worship Viṣṇu in Kārtika according to the prescribed manner for five days, would enjoy salvation. He who would worship Viṣṇu (saying) ‘Salutation to Nārāyaṇa ’, is free from torments in hell and goes to an auspicious position. He who recites in Kārtika (the hymn containing) the thousand names of Viṣṇu, and (the account of) the release of the lord of elephants, does not have rebirth. He who keeps awake on the Dvādaśī in the month of Kārtika lives in heaven for thousands of crores of yugas and hundreds of Manu ’s periods. And hundreds and thousands (persons) born in his family obtain Viṣṇu’s position. Therefore, one should keep awake. O beautiful lady, he who eulogises and sings (songs about Viṣṇu) in the last watch (of a day) in Kārtika, lives in Śvetadvīpa with his dead ancestors. He who offers eatables to Viṣṇu at the end of a day in Kārtika lives for so many yugas in heaven, O best sages. O best sage, he who would continuously worship the lord of gods with jasmine flowers and lotus, goes to the highest position. A man who observes (fast on) the Ekādaśī of the bright half of Kārtika, and gives auspicious pitchers (to brāhmaṇas ) in the morning, goes to my abode.
Kārtikeya said :
27-28. O lord, tell me about the virtuous vow, best among the vows, viz. Bhīṣmapañcaka to be observed in the month of Kārtika. Through favour to me and the sages, tell me, O grand-sire, about the manner in which it is observed, and its fruit, O best god.
The lord said :
29-45. O you best among the believers in vows, I shall explain to you the very meritorious vow which lasts for five days. Since Bhīṣma got it from Viṣṇu, it is called Bhīṣmapañcaka. Who, except Viṣṇu, is able to tell the merits of this vow? Listen to the ancient practice. In the bright half of Kārtika it was observed by Vasiṣṭha , Bhṛgu , Garga etc. in the ages like Kṛta . In the yugas like Tretā it was observed by Ambarīṣa with (offerings of) food etc. and by brāhmaṇas observing celibacy, muttering hymns and performing rites like sacrifices. So also (it was observed) by kṣatriyas and vaiśyas highly devoted to truth and purity. It is difficult to be observed by those who are void of truth (i.e. are not truthful) and cannot be observed by those of foolish hearts. They say it is difficult to be observed, (that is, it is) ‘Bhīṣma’. It cannot be observed by ordinary men. O best brāhmaṇa, he who observes it, has (indeed) observed every (vow). This Bhīṣmapañcaka vow gives great merit, destroys great sins. Therefore, men should carefully observe it. Having properly and according to the precept bathed on the Ekādaśī in the bright half of Kārtika one should take up this vow lasting for five days. The observer of the vow should especially bathe in the morning and at mid-day in a river or a spring, and having obtained cowdung with rice and barley he should in due course gratify his dead ancestors. One of a strong vow, having bathed and observed silence, and having put on washed garments, should carefully offer water and make respectful offering to Bhīṣma. He should carefully worship Bhīṣma and give gifts. He should carefully and especially give five jewels to a brāhmaṇa. Lord Viṣṇu with Lakṣmī should also be always worshipped. By means of worshipping (Viṣṇu) during the group of five (days) Viṣṇu is pleased for crores of kalpas . Whatever (image etc.) is made, he should fashion it with five metals. By giving water and making a respectful offering, a man gets the entire fruit of vows (lasting) for a year. One who makes (the offering) with (the recital of) this hymn: ‘I am offering this water to Bhīṣma who has Vaiyā-ghrapāda gotra and Sāṃkṛta pravara ’ would enjoy salvation. ‘I make the respectful offering to Bhīṣma, the incarnation of the Vasus , the son of Śantanu , and a life-long celibate.’ This is the hymn of the respectful offering.
46-56. He, who, in this way, finishes the group of five (days), undoubtedly gets religious merit equal to that of a horse sacrifice. For five days he should carefully observe restraint. O son, the practice of a vow is not possible without restraint. Viṣṇu gave (the highest position) to Bhīṣma who departed in the Uttarāyaṇa ; he became [1] .... Then he should get Viṣṇu, the destroyer of all sins. Then he should devoutly bathe (the image) with water, honey, milk and ghee ; so also with the five products of a cow and water mixed with sandal. Then he should besmear (the image of) Viṣṇu, the Garuḍa -bannered (god) with fragrant sandal, with saffron, and with camphor mixed with uśīra (sandal). He should worship (the image) with charming flowers along with black aloewood and incense. He, with devotion, should burn guggulu (a fragrant gum resin) with ghee before (the image of) Kṛṣṇa . During the five days he should offer light day and night. He should offer excellent food as offering of eatables. Having thus worshipped, remembered and saluted the god, he should mutter one hundred and eight times the hymn Namo Vāsudevāya . He should make an offering with sesamum, rice and barley smeared with ghee, with the utterance of the hymn of six syllables, along with the utterance of the exclamation svāhā . The observer of the vow, having offered the evening sandhyā prayer, having saluted Viṣṇu, having muttered the hymn as before, should sleep on the (bare) ground.
57-69. All this should be done for five days. Listen to the speciality of and that which is superior in this vow. On the first day the observer of the vow should worship Viṣṇu’s feet with lotuses. On the second (day) he should worship his knees with bilva -leaves. Then, with his mind directed to him, he should devoutly worship the head of the Disc-holder, the god of gods, with jasmine flowers on the full-moon day of Kārtika. Having succinctly worshipped Viṣṇu on the Ekādaśī, he, after having eaten cowdung, should duly observe fast on the Ekādaśī day. The observer of the vow should drink cow’s urine on the Dvādaśī, milk on the Trayodaśī and curd on the Caturdaśī with (the recital of) the hymn. Having eaten (and drunk these) for the purification of his body and having fasted for four days, he should, after bathing, worship Viṣṇu according to the sacred precept. Giving up sinful thoughts the intelligent one, observing celibacy, should devoutly feed brāhmaṇas, and give presents to them. The man, avoiding liquor and flesh, so also sinful coitus, subsisting on vegetables and sages’ foods, should be deeply engaged in worshipping Kṛṣṇā . Then having first (sipped) the five products of the cow, he should eat at night. He would obtain the fruit of the vow thus duly concluded. (Even) a drunkard who would drink liquor from birth to death obtains the highest position by observing this Bhīṣma-vow. By the words (i.e. order) of a brāhmaṇa, women should observe it, which enchances religious merit. Widows also should observe it for salvation, and an increase in their happiness. O Kārtikeya, men observe the Kārtika(vow) by bathing everyday and (giving) gifts for abundance of (the fulfilment of) all desires and for (obtaining) religious merit. O child, greatly engrossed in meditation upon Viṣṇu, they should also perform the Vaiśvadeva sacrifice (in honour of all deities), which gives health and sons and destroys great sins.
70-78. O Kārtikeya, with all efforts he should observe the Kārtika (vow) at holy places. The conclusion of all the vows (observed) during the year is observed in Kārtika. An image of Sin should be fashioned. It should have fearful clothes and should be very fierce. It should have a sword in its hand; it should have come out(i.e. should be prominent); it should have iron fangs and be dreadful. Covered with a black piece of cloth it should be put on a prastha (i.e. a particular measure) of sesamum seeds. Its wreath should be made ofred flowers; its golden earrings should be bright. Having, with great devotion, worshipped it with (the utterance of) the names of Dharmarāja , he taking a handful of flowers, should recite this hymn: ‘Due to the grace of your feet may the sin committed in another (i.e. previous) existence or in this, perish.’ Having duly worshipped that golden image, and having, according to his capacity honoured the brāhmaṇas, expounders of the Vedas , he should, to please Kṛṣṇa, god of gods, of unimpaired acts, give it to a brāhmaṇa (saying) ‘May Dharma be pleased with me.’ According to his capacity he should give presents to the reader (of the next). Saying, ‘May Kṛṣṇa be pleased with me’, he should give gold and cows also. Having done his deeds, and being detached, he should be controlled. According to his capacity he should give excellente gifts to others also.
79-83. (Such) a man, of a tranquil mind, and guiltless, would obtain the highest position. He should reflect upon Mahādeva who is dark green like the petal of a blue lotus, who has four fangs and four arms, who has eight feet, and one eye, who is spike-eared and has a rough voice, who is cold, who has two tongues, whose eyes are red, who has a lion-like thin cover. He has no form. Bhīṣma, being on the bed of arrows told this to me. This vow known as Bhīṣmapañcaka on the earth, is confined to five days beginning with Ekādaśī. There is no prohibition for him who is intent on taking food. Due to that vow Viṣṇu gives an auspicious fruit.
Sūta said :
84-88. This has more religious merit than all (other) vows. It is difficult to be done on the earth. This secret, the collection of the essences of the sacred texts, is told by me. It is a secret of the gods. It is a great secret. It at once gives salvation even to those who are engaged in illicit intercourse. It would free one from both the sins of selling one’s daughter or one’s sister. This sacred text leading to salvation should not be revealed to other people. A man hearing it at once goes to salvation. It should be carefully preserved. This auspicious (vow) is not to be told to them who give it up. This is the truth and the (only) truth, O Kārtikeya. Thus all the fruit that Kārtika has is told.
Śrī Viṣṇu said :
89-96. The god of gods told it to his son for his welfare. Hearing those words of his father, Kārtikeya was full of joy. All those, with the palms of their hands joined, said to the god, the life of the world: “We are blessed by hearing the fruit due to Kārtika. Nothing else is to be heard. I have obtained the fruit of my existence.” That man who, having heard (this description of) the greatness (of the vow), would honour the reader (of it) with (the grant of a piece of) land, gold, garments, is equal to Viṣṇu, since when the reader is honoured, Viṣṇu is worshipped. Like that he should always give to the reader if he desires the auspicious religious texts, Purāṇa , or Vedic texts, etc. to be fruitful. One who desires religious merit should give the book to the reader only. Those who give the Purāṇic texts, enjoy inexhaustible fruits. He who would devoutly read this, or would retain it after having heard it, is freed from all sins, and goes to Viṣṇu’s heaven. There is no doubt that merely by listening to the (account of this) importance, he gets wealth, grains, fame. sons, (long) life, and good health.
[1]: [1] : This part is unintelligible (Tr.)
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44689, revision 333883 (2022-03-19T00:47:11Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365703.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.