Vāsudeva-māhātmya · Chapter 22
Source।। श्रीनारायण उवाच ।। गृही बुभूषुर्गुरवे दक्षिणां स्वस्य शक्तितः ।। दत्त्वा तदाज्ञयैवाऽसौ समावर्त्तनमाचरेत् ।। १ ।। ततः कुलोचितां योषां वयसोनामरोगिणीम् ।। पुँल्लक्षणेन रहितामपापां विधिनोद्वहेत् ।। २ ।। स्वाधिकारानुसारेण कृष्णसंप्रीतयेऽन्वहम् ।। देवर्षिपितृभूतानि यजेत विधिना ततः।। ।। ३ ।। स्नानं संध्यां जपं होमं स्वाध्यायं विष्णुपूजनम् ।। तर्पणं वैश्वदेवं च कुर्याच्चातिथ्यमन्वहम् ।। ४ ।। कुर्यात्पुण्यं यथाशक्ति न्यायार्जितधनेन च ।। अनासक्तः पोष्यवर्गं पुष्णीयान्न तु पीडयेत् ।। ५ ।। देहं च दैहिकान्वासावुद्दिश्य पशुवत्परैः ।। वैरं न कुर्याद्देहादावहन्तां ममतां त्यजेत् ।।६।। कुर्याद्भागवतानां च सतां संगमतन्द्रितः ।। न स्त्रैणानां व्यसनिनां संगं कुर्यान्न लोभिनाम् ।।७।। कामभावेन नेक्षेत परयोषां तु कर्हिचित् ।। श्राद्धपर्वव्रताहादौ नोपेयाच्च स्वयोषितम् ।। ८ ।। प्राप्तोपि पुरुषः सांख्ये योगे च परिपक्वताम्।। पुत्र्या अपि प्रसंगेन रहःस्थाने तु मुह्यति ।। ९ ।। अतो मात्रा भगिन्या वा दुहित्रापि रहःस्थले ।। सह नासीत मतिमान्युवत्या किमुताऽन्यया ।। 2.9.22.१० ।। अमङ्गलानां सर्वेषां विधवा ह्यत्यमंगलम् ।। तद्दर्शनं च तत्स्पर्शो नॄणां सुकृतहृत्ततः ।।११।। प्रयाणकाले विधवादर्शनं सन्मुखे यदि ।। स्यात्तदा नैव गन्तव्यमन्यथा मरणं धुवम् ।। १२ ।। आशिषो विधवास्त्रीणां समाः कालाहिफूत्कृतैः ।। ततश्च बिभियात्ताभ्यो राक्षसीभ्यो यथा गृही ।। १३ ।। मद्यं मांसं मादकं च द्यूतादीन्दूरतस्त्यजेत् ।। न द्रोहं प्राणिमात्रस्य कुर्याद्वाचापि कर्हिचित् ।। १४ ।। अवतारचरित्राणि शृणुयादन्वहं हरेः ।। सर्वा अपि क्रियाः कुर्याद्वासुदेवार्थमास्तिकः ।। १५ ।। ऊर्जे माघे च वैशाखे चातुर्मास्ये मलिम्लुचे ।। अन्येषु पुण्यकालेषु विशेषनियमांश्चरेत् ।। १६ ।। पुण्यदेशे पुण्यकाले सत्पात्रे विधिना गृही।। दद्याद्दानं यथाशक्ति दयां कुर्वीत जन्तुषु ।। १७ ।। पुण्यान्देशान्पुण्यकालान्पुण्यपात्राणि चानघ ।। कथयामि विशेषेण धर्मवृद्धिकराणि ते ।। १८ ।। देशः सर्वोत्तमस्त्वेष भुवि यो मदधिष्ठितः ।। महामुनिगणा यत्र तपस्यन्ति महाव्रताः।। ।। १९ ।। हरितद्भक्तमाहात्म्याद्देशानामस्ति पुण्यता ।। गंगाद्वारं मधुपुरी नैमिषारण्यमेव च ।। 2.9.22.२० ।। कुरुक्षेत्रमयोध्या च प्रयागश्च गयाशिरः ।। पुरी वाराणसी चैव पुण्यश्च पुलहाश्रमः ।।२१ ।। कपिलाश्रमः श्रीरंगः प्रभासश्च कुशस्थली ।। क्षेत्रं सिद्धपदाख्यं च पौष्करं च महत्सरः ।। २२ ।। क्रीडास्थानं भगवतः सश्रियो रैवताचलः ।। तथा गोवर्द्धनगिरिः पुण्यं वृन्दावनं वनम् ।। २३ ।। महेन्द्रमलयाद्याश्च सप्तापि कुलपर्वताः ।। भागीरथी महापुण्या यमुना च सरस्वती ।। २४ ।। गोदावरी च सरयूः कावेरी गोमतीमुखाः ।। पुराणप्रथिताः पुण्या महानद्यो नदास्तथा ।। २५ ।। महोत्सवैर्भवेद्यत्र भगवत्प्रतिमार्चनम् ।। प्रभोरनन्यभक्ताश्च भवेयुर्यत्रयत्र च ।। २६ ।। अहिंस्राश्च स्वधर्मस्था यत्र स्युर्ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः ।। मृगाद्याः पशवो यत्र विचरेयुश्च निर्भयाः ।। २७ ।। यत्रयत्रावताराश्च हरेर्वासश्च यत्र वा ।। एते पुण्यतमा देशा भुवि सन्ति विशेषतः ।। २८ ।। अल्पोप्येषु कृतो धर्मः स्यात्सहस्रगुणो नृणाम् ।। पुण्यवृद्धिकरान्कालाञ्छृण्वथो वच्मि नारद ।। २९ ।। अयने द्वे च विषुवं ग्रहणं सूर्यसोमयोः ।। दिनक्षयो व्यतीपातः श्रवणर्क्षाणि सर्वशः ।। 2.9.22.३० ।। द्वादश्य एकादश्यश्च मन्वाद्याश्च युगादयः ।। पुण्याः स्युस्तिथयः सर्वा अमावास्या च वैधृतिः ।। ३१ ।। मासर्क्षयुक्पौर्णमास्यश्चतस्रोप्यष्टकास्तथा ।। स्वजन्मर्क्षाणि च हरेर्जन्मोत्सवदिनानि च ।। ३२ ।। स्वस्य स्त्रियाश्चार्भकाणां संस्कारोभ्युदयस्तथा ।। सत्पात्रलब्धिश्च यदा कालाः पुण्यतमा इमे ।। ३३ ।। देवपितृद्विजसतामेषां शक्त्या समर्चनम् ।। स्नानदानजपादीनि स्युरनन्तफलानि हि ।। ३४ ।। सत्पात्रं तु स्वयं साक्षाद्भगवानेव नारद ।। शाखानामिव मूलाम्बु यद्दत्तं सर्वतुष्टिकृत् ।।३५।। अहिंसा वेदविद्याभिस्तुष्टिः सद्धर्मभक्तिभिः ।। हृदि विष्णुं दधीरन्ये ते सत्पात्राणि वै द्विजाः ।। ३६ ।। एकान्तिकाश्च भगवद्भक्ता बद्धविमोचकाः ।। सत्पात्राणीति जानीहि येष्वास्ते भगवान्स्वयम् ।। ३७ ।। आढ्यस्तु कारयेद्विष्णोर्मन्दिराणि दृढानि च ।। पूजाप्रवाहसिद्ध्यर्थं तद्वृत्तीश्चापि कारयेत् ।। ३८ ।। जलाशयान्वाटिकाश्च विष्ण्वर्थमुपकल्पयेत् ।। सदन्नैः सुरसैः साधून्ब्राह्मणांश्चैव तर्पयेत् ।। ३९ ।। अहिंसान्वैष्णवान्यज्ञान्कुर्याच्छक्त्या यथाविधि ।। व्रतजन्मोत्सवान्विष्णोः संभारेण च भूयसा ।। 2.9.22.४० ।। प्रौष्ठपदासितेपक्षे क्षयाहे तीर्थपर्वसु ।। पित्रोः श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत तद्बन्धूनां च शक्तितः ।। ४१ ।। दैवे कर्मणि पित्र्ये च भक्तान्भगवतो द्विजान् ।। पूजयेत स्वधर्मस्थान्भोजयेद्भगवद्धिया ।। ४२ ।। दैवे द्वौ भोजयेद्विप्रौ त्रींश्च पित्र्ये यथाविधि ।। एकैकं वोभयत्रापि नैव श्राद्धे तु विस्तरेत् ।। ४३ ।। देशकालद्रव्यपात्रपूजोपकरणानि च ।। विस्तरेण यथाशास्त्रं न स्यादेवेति निश्चितम् ।। ४४ ।। न श्राद्धे क्वापि मांसं तु दद्यान्नाऽद्याच्च मानवः ।। मुन्यन्नैः क्षीरसर्पिर्भ्यां तृप्यन्ति पितरो भृशम् ।। ४५ ।। अहिंसा प्राणिमात्रस्य मनोवाक्तनुभिस्तु या ।। तयैव पितरः सर्वे तृप्यन्त्यतिदयालवः ।। ४६ ।। तस्मात्कुसङ्गतः क्वापि शास्त्रहार्दमबुध्य च ।। श्राद्धे मांसं नैव दद्याद्वासुदेवपरः पुमान् ।। ४७ ।। व्रतानि कुर्याद्विष्णोश्च ब्रह्मचर्यादिभिर्यमैः ।। सहैव तत्परो नान्यत्कार्यं कुयाच्च तद्दिने ।। ४८ ।। स्वसंबन्धिजनानां चाप्याशौचं जनिनाशयोः ।। यथाशास्त्रं पालयेत ग्रहणे चार्कचन्द्रयोः ।। ४९ ।। व्यावहारिककार्याणां विवादे निर्णयेपि च ।। गृहीतरास्त्यागिनो ये ते न कार्या न चाधवाः ।। 2.9.22.५० ।। यत्रैते स्युर्न्न तत्कार्यं सिध्येत्क्वापि द्विजोत्तम ।। सर्वस्वनाशस्तत्र स्यादित्येवं त्वस्ति निर्णयः ।। ५१ ।। धर्मा एते गृहस्थानां मया संक्षेपतोदिताः ।। यदनुष्ठानतो नॄणां स्यात्स्वेष्टसुखमक्षयम् ।। ५२ ।। शिलादिजीविकावृत्तिभेदेन गृहिणो द्विजाः ।। चतुर्विधाः प्रकीर्त्यन्ते तत्तन्नाम्ना च नारद ।। ५३ ।। स्त्रीणामथ प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मान्र्धर्मवतां वर ।। येषु स्थिताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः प्राप्नुवन्तीप्सितं सुखम् ।। ५४ ।। सुवासिनीभिर्न्नारीभिः स्वपतिर्देववत्सदा ।। सेवनीयोऽनुवर्त्त्यश्च जरन्रुग्णोऽधनोपि वा ।। ५५ ।। तद्बन्धवश्चानुवर्त्याः सेवनेन यथोचितम् ।। उज्ज्वलानि विधेयानि गृहोपकरणानि च ।। ५६ ।। गृहं मार्जनसेकाद्यैः स्वच्छं कार्यं दिनेदिने ।। प्रियं सत्यं च वक्तव्यं स्थेयं शुचितया सदा ।। ५७ ।। चाञ्चल्यमतिलोभश्च क्रोधः स्तेयं च हिंसनम् ।। अधार्मिकाणां सङ्गश्च वर्ज्यः स्त्रीणां तथा नृणाम् ।। ५८ ।। भवितव्यं तत्पराभिर्द्धर्मकार्येषु सर्वदा ।। त्यक्त्वौद्धत्यं विनीताभिः स्थेयं जित्वेन्द्रियाणि च ।। ५९ ।। पातिव्रत्ये स्थिताभिश्च धर्मे ताभी रमापतेः ।। भक्तिः कार्या स्वतन्त्राभिर्भवितव्यं न कुत्रचित् ।। 2.9.22.६० ।। विधवा तु सदा विष्णुं सेवेत पतिभावतः ।। कामसंबन्धिनीर्वार्त्ता न शृण्वीत न कीर्तयेत्।। ६१ ।। आसन्नसंबन्धवतो विनान्यान्पुरुषान्क्वचित् ।। अनापदि स्पृशेन्नैव पश्येन्नैव च कामतः ।। ६२ ।। स्तनपस्य तु नुः स्पर्शाद्वृद्धस्य च न दुष्यति ।। कार्य आवश्यके ताभ्यां भाषणे च विभर्तृका ।। ६३ ।। व्यावहारिककार्ये च विवादमधिकं नरैः ।। न कुर्वीतावश्यकार्ये तैर्भाषेत विना रहः ।। ६४ ।। नेक्षेत मिधुनीभूतं बुद्या पश्वाद्यपि क्वचित् ।। त्यजेच्च सकलान्भोगान्स्यात्सकृन्मितभुक्तथा ।। ६५ ।। सधातुसूक्ष्मवासांसि नालंकारांश्च धारयेत् ।। न दिवा शयनं कुर्यान्न खट्वायामनापदि ।। ६६ ।। ताम्बूलभक्षणं नैव कुर्यान्नाभ्यङ्गमञ्जनम् ।। पुम्प्रसंगाच्च बिभियात्कृष्णाहेरिव नित्यदा ।। ६७ ।। समीक्ष्य पुरुषं नारी या न मोहमुपाव्रजेत् ।। तादृशी तु विना लक्ष्मीमेकां नान्यास्ति कुत्रचित् ।। ६८ ।। धर्मनिष्ठा ततो नारी स्वनिःश्रेयसमिच्छती ।। नेक्षेत पुरुषाकारं बुद्धिपूर्वं च न स्पृशेत् ।। ६९ ।। कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणादीनि नैरन्तर्येण भक्तितः ।। व्रतानि कुर्याच्च सदा भवेन्नियमतत्परा ।। 2.9.22.७० ।। पित्रा पुत्रादिना वापि तरुणी तरुणेन च ।। सह तिष्ठेन्न रहसि कुसङ्गं सर्वथा त्यजेत् ।। ७१ ।। सधवा विधवा वा स्त्री स्वरजोदर्शनं क्वचित् ।। न गोपयेत्त्रिरात्रं तु मनुष्यादींश्च न स्पृशेत् ।। ७२ ।। प्रथमेऽहनि चण्डाली द्वितीये ब्रह्मघातिनी ।। तृतीये रजकी प्रोक्ता सा चतुर्थेऽह्नि शुद्ध्यति ।। ७३ ।। इति स्त्रीणां मया धर्माः संक्षेपात्कथितास्तव ।। युक्ता यैर्योषितो यायुरिहामुत्र महत्सुखम् ।। ७४ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवासुदेवमाहात्म्ये गृहस्थधर्मनिरूपणं नाम द्वाविंशोध्यायः।।२२।।
|| śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca || gṛhī bubhūṣurgurave dakṣiṇāṃ svasya śaktitaḥ || dattvā tadājñayaivā'sau samāvarttanamācaret || 1 || tataḥ kulocitāṃ yoṣāṃ vayasonāmarogiṇīm || pu~llakṣaṇena rahitāmapāpāṃ vidhinodvahet || 2 || svādhikārānusāreṇa kṛṣṇasaṃprītaye'nvaham || devarṣipitṛbhūtāni yajeta vidhinā tataḥ|| || 3 || snānaṃ saṃdhyāṃ japaṃ homaṃ svādhyāyaṃ viṣṇupūjanam || tarpaṇaṃ vaiśvadevaṃ ca kuryāccātithyamanvaham || 4 || kuryātpuṇyaṃ yathāśakti nyāyārjitadhanena ca || anāsaktaḥ poṣyavargaṃ puṣṇīyānna tu pīḍayet || 5 || dehaṃ ca daihikānvāsāvuddiśya paśuvatparaiḥ || vairaṃ na kuryāddehādāvahantāṃ mamatāṃ tyajet ||6|| kuryādbhāgavatānāṃ ca satāṃ saṃgamatandritaḥ || na straiṇānāṃ vyasanināṃ saṃgaṃ kuryānna lobhinām ||7|| kāmabhāvena nekṣeta parayoṣāṃ tu karhicit || śrāddhaparvavratāhādau nopeyācca svayoṣitam || 8 || prāptopi puruṣaḥ sāṃkhye yoge ca paripakvatām|| putryā api prasaṃgena rahaḥsthāne tu muhyati || 9 || ato mātrā bhaginyā vā duhitrāpi rahaḥsthale || saha nāsīta matimānyuvatyā kimutā'nyayā || 2.9.22.10 || amaṅgalānāṃ sarveṣāṃ vidhavā hyatyamaṃgalam || taddarśanaṃ ca tatsparśo nṝṇāṃ sukṛtahṛttataḥ ||11|| prayāṇakāle vidhavādarśanaṃ sanmukhe yadi || syāttadā naiva gantavyamanyathā maraṇaṃ dhuvam || 12 || āśiṣo vidhavāstrīṇāṃ samāḥ kālāhiphūtkṛtaiḥ || tataśca bibhiyāttābhyo rākṣasībhyo yathā gṛhī || 13 || madyaṃ māṃsaṃ mādakaṃ ca dyūtādīndūratastyajet || na drohaṃ prāṇimātrasya kuryādvācāpi karhicit || 14 || avatāracaritrāṇi śṛṇuyādanvahaṃ hareḥ || sarvā api kriyāḥ kuryādvāsudevārthamāstikaḥ || 15 || ūrje māghe ca vaiśākhe cāturmāsye malimluce || anyeṣu puṇyakāleṣu viśeṣaniyamāṃścaret || 16 || puṇyadeśe puṇyakāle satpātre vidhinā gṛhī|| dadyāddānaṃ yathāśakti dayāṃ kurvīta jantuṣu || 17 || puṇyāndeśānpuṇyakālānpuṇyapātrāṇi cānagha || kathayāmi viśeṣeṇa dharmavṛddhikarāṇi te || 18 || deśaḥ sarvottamastveṣa bhuvi yo madadhiṣṭhitaḥ || mahāmunigaṇā yatra tapasyanti mahāvratāḥ|| || 19 || haritadbhaktamāhātmyāddeśānāmasti puṇyatā || gaṃgādvāraṃ madhupurī naimiṣāraṇyameva ca || 2.9.22.20 || kurukṣetramayodhyā ca prayāgaśca gayāśiraḥ || purī vārāṇasī caiva puṇyaśca pulahāśramaḥ ||21 || kapilāśramaḥ śrīraṃgaḥ prabhāsaśca kuśasthalī || kṣetraṃ siddhapadākhyaṃ ca pauṣkaraṃ ca mahatsaraḥ || 22 || krīḍāsthānaṃ bhagavataḥ saśriyo raivatācalaḥ || tathā govarddhanagiriḥ puṇyaṃ vṛndāvanaṃ vanam || 23 || mahendramalayādyāśca saptāpi kulaparvatāḥ || bhāgīrathī mahāpuṇyā yamunā ca sarasvatī || 24 || godāvarī ca sarayūḥ kāverī gomatīmukhāḥ || purāṇaprathitāḥ puṇyā mahānadyo nadāstathā || 25 || mahotsavairbhavedyatra bhagavatpratimārcanam || prabhorananyabhaktāśca bhaveyuryatrayatra ca || 26 || ahiṃsrāśca svadharmasthā yatra syurbrāhmaṇottamāḥ || mṛgādyāḥ paśavo yatra vicareyuśca nirbhayāḥ || 27 || yatrayatrāvatārāśca harervāsaśca yatra vā || ete puṇyatamā deśā bhuvi santi viśeṣataḥ || 28 || alpopyeṣu kṛto dharmaḥ syātsahasraguṇo nṛṇām || puṇyavṛddhikarānkālāñchṛṇvatho vacmi nārada || 29 || ayane dve ca viṣuvaṃ grahaṇaṃ sūryasomayoḥ || dinakṣayo vyatīpātaḥ śravaṇarkṣāṇi sarvaśaḥ || 2.9.22.30 || dvādaśya ekādaśyaśca manvādyāśca yugādayaḥ || puṇyāḥ syustithayaḥ sarvā amāvāsyā ca vaidhṛtiḥ || 31 || māsarkṣayukpaurṇamāsyaścatasropyaṣṭakāstathā || svajanmarkṣāṇi ca harerjanmotsavadināni ca || 32 || svasya striyāścārbhakāṇāṃ saṃskārobhyudayastathā || satpātralabdhiśca yadā kālāḥ puṇyatamā ime || 33 || devapitṛdvijasatāmeṣāṃ śaktyā samarcanam || snānadānajapādīni syuranantaphalāni hi || 34 || satpātraṃ tu svayaṃ sākṣādbhagavāneva nārada || śākhānāmiva mūlāmbu yaddattaṃ sarvatuṣṭikṛt ||35|| ahiṃsā vedavidyābhistuṣṭiḥ saddharmabhaktibhiḥ || hṛdi viṣṇuṃ dadhīranye te satpātrāṇi vai dvijāḥ || 36 || ekāntikāśca bhagavadbhaktā baddhavimocakāḥ || satpātrāṇīti jānīhi yeṣvāste bhagavānsvayam || 37 || āḍhyastu kārayedviṣṇormandirāṇi dṛḍhāni ca || pūjāpravāhasiddhyarthaṃ tadvṛttīścāpi kārayet || 38 || jalāśayānvāṭikāśca viṣṇvarthamupakalpayet || sadannaiḥ surasaiḥ sādhūnbrāhmaṇāṃścaiva tarpayet || 39 || ahiṃsānvaiṣṇavānyajñānkuryācchaktyā yathāvidhi || vratajanmotsavānviṣṇoḥ saṃbhāreṇa ca bhūyasā || 2.9.22.40 || prauṣṭhapadāsitepakṣe kṣayāhe tīrthaparvasu || pitroḥ śrāddhaṃ prakurvīta tadbandhūnāṃ ca śaktitaḥ || 41 || daive karmaṇi pitrye ca bhaktānbhagavato dvijān || pūjayeta svadharmasthānbhojayedbhagavaddhiyā || 42 || daive dvau bhojayedviprau trīṃśca pitrye yathāvidhi || ekaikaṃ vobhayatrāpi naiva śrāddhe tu vistaret || 43 || deśakāladravyapātrapūjopakaraṇāni ca || vistareṇa yathāśāstraṃ na syādeveti niścitam || 44 || na śrāddhe kvāpi māṃsaṃ tu dadyānnā'dyācca mānavaḥ || munyannaiḥ kṣīrasarpirbhyāṃ tṛpyanti pitaro bhṛśam || 45 || ahiṃsā prāṇimātrasya manovāktanubhistu yā || tayaiva pitaraḥ sarve tṛpyantyatidayālavaḥ || 46 || tasmātkusaṅgataḥ kvāpi śāstrahārdamabudhya ca || śrāddhe māṃsaṃ naiva dadyādvāsudevaparaḥ pumān || 47 || vratāni kuryādviṣṇośca brahmacaryādibhiryamaiḥ || sahaiva tatparo nānyatkāryaṃ kuyācca taddine || 48 || svasaṃbandhijanānāṃ cāpyāśaucaṃ janināśayoḥ || yathāśāstraṃ pālayeta grahaṇe cārkacandrayoḥ || 49 || vyāvahārikakāryāṇāṃ vivāde nirṇayepi ca || gṛhītarāstyāgino ye te na kāryā na cādhavāḥ || 2.9.22.50 || yatraite syurnna tatkāryaṃ sidhyetkvāpi dvijottama || sarvasvanāśastatra syādityevaṃ tvasti nirṇayaḥ || 51 || dharmā ete gṛhasthānāṃ mayā saṃkṣepatoditāḥ || yadanuṣṭhānato nṝṇāṃ syātsveṣṭasukhamakṣayam || 52 || śilādijīvikāvṛttibhedena gṛhiṇo dvijāḥ || caturvidhāḥ prakīrtyante tattannāmnā ca nārada || 53 || strīṇāmatha pravakṣyāmi dharmānrdharmavatāṃ vara || yeṣu sthitāḥ striyaḥ sarvāḥ prāpnuvantīpsitaṃ sukham || 54 || suvāsinībhirnnārībhiḥ svapatirdevavatsadā || sevanīyo'nuvarttyaśca jaranrugṇo'dhanopi vā || 55 || tadbandhavaścānuvartyāḥ sevanena yathocitam || ujjvalāni vidheyāni gṛhopakaraṇāni ca || 56 || gṛhaṃ mārjanasekādyaiḥ svacchaṃ kāryaṃ dinedine || priyaṃ satyaṃ ca vaktavyaṃ stheyaṃ śucitayā sadā || 57 || cāñcalyamatilobhaśca krodhaḥ steyaṃ ca hiṃsanam || adhārmikāṇāṃ saṅgaśca varjyaḥ strīṇāṃ tathā nṛṇām || 58 || bhavitavyaṃ tatparābhirddharmakāryeṣu sarvadā || tyaktvauddhatyaṃ vinītābhiḥ stheyaṃ jitvendriyāṇi ca || 59 || pātivratye sthitābhiśca dharme tābhī ramāpateḥ || bhaktiḥ kāryā svatantrābhirbhavitavyaṃ na kutracit || 2.9.22.60 || vidhavā tu sadā viṣṇuṃ seveta patibhāvataḥ || kāmasaṃbandhinīrvārttā na śṛṇvīta na kīrtayet|| 61 || āsannasaṃbandhavato vinānyānpuruṣānkvacit || anāpadi spṛśennaiva paśyennaiva ca kāmataḥ || 62 || stanapasya tu nuḥ sparśādvṛddhasya ca na duṣyati || kārya āvaśyake tābhyāṃ bhāṣaṇe ca vibhartṛkā || 63 || vyāvahārikakārye ca vivādamadhikaṃ naraiḥ || na kurvītāvaśyakārye tairbhāṣeta vinā rahaḥ || 64 || nekṣeta midhunībhūtaṃ budyā paśvādyapi kvacit || tyajecca sakalānbhogānsyātsakṛnmitabhuktathā || 65 || sadhātusūkṣmavāsāṃsi nālaṃkārāṃśca dhārayet || na divā śayanaṃ kuryānna khaṭvāyāmanāpadi || 66 || tāmbūlabhakṣaṇaṃ naiva kuryānnābhyaṅgamañjanam || pumprasaṃgācca bibhiyātkṛṣṇāheriva nityadā || 67 || samīkṣya puruṣaṃ nārī yā na mohamupāvrajet || tādṛśī tu vinā lakṣmīmekāṃ nānyāsti kutracit || 68 || dharmaniṣṭhā tato nārī svaniḥśreyasamicchatī || nekṣeta puruṣākāraṃ buddhipūrvaṃ ca na spṛśet || 69 || kṛcchracāndrāyaṇādīni nairantaryeṇa bhaktitaḥ || vratāni kuryācca sadā bhavenniyamatatparā || 2.9.22.70 || pitrā putrādinā vāpi taruṇī taruṇena ca || saha tiṣṭhenna rahasi kusaṅgaṃ sarvathā tyajet || 71 || sadhavā vidhavā vā strī svarajodarśanaṃ kvacit || na gopayettrirātraṃ tu manuṣyādīṃśca na spṛśet || 72 || prathame'hani caṇḍālī dvitīye brahmaghātinī || tṛtīye rajakī proktā sā caturthe'hni śuddhyati || 73 || iti strīṇāṃ mayā dharmāḥ saṃkṣepātkathitāstava || yuktā yairyoṣito yāyurihāmutra mahatsukham || 74 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīvāsudevamāhātmye gṛhasthadharmanirūpaṇaṃ nāma dvāviṃśodhyāyaḥ||22||
English translation
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said :
1. One who desires to become a householder ( gṛhin ) should (first) pay his tuition-fees according to his capacity. After paying the fees, and with his (preceptor’s) permission, he should perform the Samāvartana ceremony (for pupil’s homecoming after finishing the course of holy study).
2. He should then marry with due formalities, a girl suitable to his family, junior to him in age, healthy, devoid of masculine characteristics (e.g. hair on the upper lip) and sinless. [1]
3. Then for the favour and delight of Lord Kṛṣṇa , he should, according to his eligibility and authority, perform daily worship (by performing the Tarpaṇa of Devas , Sages, Manes and living beings) as per injunctions.
4. Everyday he should perform (holy) baṃ, twilight prayers, muttering of Mantras , Fire-worship ( Homa ), recitation of Vedas , worship of Viṣṇu , Tarpaṇa (offering of libations of water to deceased parents etc.), Vaiśvadeva (offering to all deities by offering oblations to fire before meals), reception of guests.
5. With wealth earned by righteous means one should perform meritorious acts, according to one’s capacity. He should be unattached. He should feed his dependents, and should not harass them.
6. With reference to a body or bodily limbs, one should not entertain enmity like a brute against others (i.e. one should not inflict injury on the body or limbs of others). One should give up the sense of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ with reference to one’s body etc.
7. He should carefully form association with devotees of the Lord and saintly persons. He should not keep company of lewd, vicious people and greedy persons.
8. He should never look at the wives of others with sexual desire. He should not approach his wife (carnally) during Śrāddha , Parvan days and observance of religious vows.
9. Even though a man has attained maturity in Sāṅkhya (philosophy) and Yogic (practice), he gets infatuated even with his daughter in a lonely place.
10. Hence an intelligent person should not sit with his mother, sister or daughter in privacy. No need to say about sitting in such places with other young women (unrelated to him).
11. Of all inauspicious things, a widow is the most inauspicious one. Her sight or touch destroys the merits of men.
12. If at the time of starting on a journey one sees a widow in front, one should not go at that time. Otherwise death is certain.
13. The blessings of widowed women are similar to the hissing of black serpents. A householder should be afraid of them as of ogresses.
14. One should avoid from a distance liquor, meat, intoxicants (narcotics), gambling etc. One should not entertain malice against living beings, even by speech anywhere.
15. Everyday one should listen to the stories and exploits of the incarnations of Hari . A believer should perform all acts for the sake of Vāsudeva .
16. One should undertake some self-imposed religious observances in the month of Kārttika , Māgha , Vaiśākha , the period of four months from Āṣāḍha to Kārttika and intercalated thirteenth month (called ‘ adhika ’, extra, additional month).
17. A householder should make religious gifts according to his capacity, to a virtuous recipient in a sacred place, at an auspicious time, as per injunctions. He should be merciful to all beings.
18. O sinless one, I shall now mention to you sacred lands and places, auspicious times, meritorious worthy recipients which specially enhance the merit (of the act).
19. On this earth that land which is presided over by me is the best of all—ṃe land where multitudes of great sages, great observers of religious vows, perform penance.
20-25. The sanctity of places is due to the greatness of Lord Hari and his devotees. They are as follows: Gaṅgādvāra , Mathurā , Naimiṣāraṇya , Kurukṣetra , Ayodhyā , Prayāga , Gayāśiras , ( Jagannātha ) purī , Varāṇasī , the sacred hermitage of Pulaha ( Śālagrāma ), the hermitage of Kapila (Siddhapur in Gujarat), Śrīraṅga , Prabhāsa , Kuśasthalī ( Dvārakā ), the holy Siddhapada , and the great lake Puṣkara , the Raivata mountain (Mount Girnār), the place of sports of the Lord along with Śrī, so also the Govardhana mountain and the sacred forest Vṛndāvana , seven Kulaparvatas (principal mountain ranges) including Mahendra , Malaya and others, sacred great rivers famous in Purāṇas like Bhāgīrathī , highly holy river Yamunā and Sarasvatī , Godāvan, Sarayū , Kāverī , Gomatī and others and Nadas (great rivers like the Indus ).
26. Wherever the worship of the idol of the Lord is performed with great celebrations, and wherever devotees exclusively attached to the Lord live (that place is sacred).
27. Where excellent Brāhmaṇas commit no violence (in sacrifices and Śrāddha) and are established in their (routine of) duties, where animals including deer move about without any fear (they are the holy places).
28. Wherever incarnations and stay of Hari have taken place, they are specially the most sacred places on the earth.
29a. Even if an insignificant religious act is performed at these places, it gives a thousand times more merit.
29b-32. I shall now narrate to you the times which enhance the merit (of the act done), Listen to it, O Nārada :
Two Ayanas (the period of Sun’s transition from one solstice to another), Viṣuva (the first point of Aries or Libra into which the Sun enters at the vernal or autumnal equinox), the eclipse of the Sun and the Moon, the days without a tithi , Vyatīpāta and all constellations from Śravaṇa , all the twelfth and eleventh days ( Tithis ), the first days of Manvantaras and Yugas —All these are auspicious days. Also the new-moon day, Vaidhṛti , the full-moon days accompanied by the constellation of the month and four Aṣṭakā days, [2] the day with the constellation under which one is born and days of celebration of the birth of Hari (the eighth day in the dark half of Śrāvaṇa ).
33. Those times are auspicious when there take place the sacred ceremonies and consecration of wife and children or times of getting prosperity and of finding a person worthy of receiving gifts.
34. Worship of Devas, manes, Brāhmaṇas and saintly persons according to one’s capacity, sacred bath, religious gifts, muttering of Mantras, yield infinite fruits.
35. Just as water supplied to roots reaches all branches, so the Lord himself is the worthy recipient, giving satisfaction to all, O Nārada.
36. Those Brāhmaṇas are worthy of receiving (religious gifts) who are satisfied by non-violence and Vedic learning, who hold in their heart Viṣṇu with proper religious devotion.
37. Know that the devotees of the Lord who are exclusively attached to him and release those who are bound (in Saṃsāra ), are worthy recipients and the Lord himself abides in them.
38. A rich person should get constructed massive temples of Viṣṇu. He should also provide means of subsistence for the unbroken continuity of the worship (of God).
39. He should prepare reservoirs of water and gardens for the sake of Viṣṇu. He should satisfy saints and Brāhmaṇas with rich food of good flavour.
40. He should according to his capacity perform Vaiṣṇava type of sacrifices involving no violence as per injunctions. He should celebrate the birth-anniversary festivals of Viṣṇu with greatly affluent preparations.
41. In the dark half of Bhādrapada , on Kṣaya -days, in holy places and on the parvan days, one should perform the Śrāddha of one’s parents and of their relatives as per one’s capacity.
42. In ritualistic acts pertaining to Devas and to the manes, one should worship the devotees of the Lord and Brāhmaṇas who are well-established in their specific religious duties and should feed them as if one was feeding the Lord.
43. In rituals pertaining to Devas two Brāmaṇas and in ritualistic acts about Pitṛs (e.g. Śrāddha) three Brāhmaṇas should be fed as per prescribed procedure, or one should feed only one (per Daiva and Pitṛ rituals), but one should not enlarge (the number of Brāhmaṇas) during Śrāddha.
44. It is definite that Śāstric injunctions do not demand enlargement of place, time, provisions, worthy recipients, utensils of worship etc.
45. A man should never serve non-vegetarian diet anywhere in a Śrāddha nor he should eat it. [3] The ancestors are highly pleased (by partaking) food suitable to sages and with milk and ghee .
46. All the ancestors who are extremely merciful are satisfied by non-injury to all beings through thoughts, words and physical acts.
47. Therefore, a man who is devoted to Vāsudeva should not serve meat in Śrāddha anywhere, either out of evil company or out of ignorance of the meaning of the scripture.
48. He should observe vows and perform rites pertaining to Viṣṇu, along with restraints including celibacy. He should be devoted to him (Viṣṇu) and should do no other work on that day.
49. One should shun auspicious rites during the defilement caused by child-birth or death of one’s relatives as well as at the time of the solar and lunar eclipses, as prescribed in the scriptures.
50. In disputes and even in taking decision, in transaction of business, non-householders, including renouncers and widows are not to be employed.
51. Where such persons are present no work can be successful. It will lead to destruction. This is the decision, O excellent Brāhmaṇa .
52. These are the duties of householders narrated in brief by me. After performing these, people will enjoy imperishable happiness as desired by them.
53. Householders of twice-born castes are declared as fourfold according to the means of livelihood and known by those various names (of their ways of livelihood), such as maintaining themselves by picking up grains when corn is taken to the thrashing floor.
54. I shall now proclaim to you the duties of women abiding by which women will get their desired happiness, O excellent one among the virtuous ones.
55. By women whose husbands are alive, their own husband should always be served as a god, and is to be obeyed even if he be old, diseased or indigent.
56. His relatives also should be obeyed by serving them as is due to them. Utensils in the house should be kept clean and bright.
57. Everyday the house should be kept clean by sweeping, sprinkling of water etc. What is true yet agreeable, should be spoken and they should always remain in a pure state.
58. Fickleness, overgreediness, anger, stealing, violence and association with the irreligious—all these should be avoided boṃ by women as well as by men.
59. In religious rituals they should always be exclusively devoted to them. Giving up arrogance and subduing sense-organs, they should live with modesty.
60. Worship to the Lord of Ramā should be performed by those women who are established in the virtuous duty of exclusive devotion to the husband. They should never (try to) be independent and self-willed.
61. A widow should always serve Viṣṇu, regarding him to be her husband. She should never listen to, nor speak about, sexual matters. [4]
62. If there is no emergency, she should never touch a man unless he is a very close relative. She should never look at a man with carnal intention.
63. A widow does not get spoilt by the touch of her male child or of an old man, or by speaking with them in unavoidable situations.
64. She should not enter into inordinate controversy in matters pertaining to practical life, In essential matters she may speak with them (in open places).
65. She should never intently see the sexual union even of animals. She should give up all objects of pleasure and should be moderate in taking meal once a day.
66. She should not put on fine cloth woven with metal (threads like those of gold or silver) and should not wear ornaments. She should never sleep at day time or on bedsteads, except in emergency.
67. She should never eat betel-leaves, smear the body with oil or unguents and use collyrium. She should always be afraid of association with men like that with a black serpent.
68. With the exception of Goddess Lakṣmī only there is no woman who is not subject to infatuation after seeing a man.
69. Hence a woman, established in religious duties and desirous of one’s beatitude, should not look at a male form or touch him intently.
70. She should perform religious observance, like Kṛcchra , Cāndrāyaṇa and others regularly. She should be always engaged in observing restraints.
71. A young woman should not stay in a solitary place even with father, sons etc. or with a young man. She should absolutely dissociate herself from bad company.
72. A woman whether a widow or one with her husband alive, should never conceal her period of menstruation. For ṃree nights (during this period) she should not touch a human being and other (objects etc.).
73. On the first day of menstruation, she is called (i.e. is equated with) a Cāṇḍāla woman, on the second day, a Brāhmaṇa-killer, on the third day, a washer-women. On the fourth day, she becomes purified.
74. Thus the duties of women have been briefly narrated to you. Those women who abide by them will attain great happiness here and hereafter.
[1]: [1] : Cf Rules for selecting a bride summarised in HD II.i, pp 41-433.
[2]: [2] : The 8th day in the dark half of Mārgaśīrṣa (acc. to Āśvalāyana Gṛhya Sūtra II.4.1) or of three months, viz. Pauṣa, Māgha and Phālguna is known as Aṣṭakā.
[3]: [3] : Other old Purāṇas and Smṛtis prescribe the periods of time for which Pitṛs are gratified by flesh of certain animals (vide Yājñavalkya 1.258-261). For other references vide HD IV, p 423. SkP being a late Purāṇa strongly disapproves of non-vegetarian food in Śrāddha.
[4]: [4] : For duties of widows cf HD II.i, pp.583-87. The extracts from Smṛtis and other works show that the position of Hindu widows was unenviable till recent times.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23193, revision 71871 (2016-06-24T10:20:46Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371761.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.