Narration of the Vowed Observance of Dvadashi Day

1. Well done О Siita, О highly blessed one, the excellent greatness of the Ganga that destroys all sins, has been related by you who have great mercy in your heart.

2. О Siita, what did Narada of the divine vision ask Sanaka, the excellent sage, after hearing the greatness of the Ganga.

3. Listen, ye all sages. 1 shall tell you what has been asked again by Narada, the celestial sage, and what he (Sanaka) narrated.

4. After hearing the excellent greatness of the Ganga that consisted of many narratives and mythological anecdotes, the son of Brahma asked thus with great respect.

5. О sage, the meritorious greatness of the Ganga has been heard by me from you, the merciful. It is greatly blessed and all the topics therein have been unravelled. It is the essence of good deeds alone. It destroys sins and bestows the desired objects.

6. Those who are saintly, worship Vishnu well. They strive for themselves as well as for others. With different kinds of advices, they exceedingly enlighten the man of immature mind and make him delighted.

7. Therefore, narrate (in detail) the holy observances2 of Hari which, when performed, make Vishnu delighted. The merciful Lord grants devotion to those who worship him. It is known that salvation is the female slave unto it (devotion).

8. Mukunda grants salvation to those who worship and who are devoted to holy vows (pertaining to him), worship and meditation. Pondering over the great difficulty in serving the devotees, he does not grant the path of devotion to anyone.

9. О excellent sage, recount to me the holy rite that makes Hari satisfied whether it be active participation in worldly affairs or an act of renunciation. О bestower of honour, you are a devotee of Vishnu.”

10. “Well done, О excellent sage, well done. You are really a devotee of Purusottama in view of the fact that you enquire about the observances or deeds of the wielder of the Sarnga bow (Vishnu) again and again.

11. I shall expound unto you the holy observances of vows that render service to the worlds and through which Hari being propitiated, grants fearlessness (i.e. Liberation from rebirth).

12. If Lord Janardana, whose symbol is sacrifice, is pleased with anyone, he becomes happy here and hereafter and his penance flourishes.

13. Great sages say that those who are devoted to the worship of Hari, by whatever means that may be, go to the greatest abode (Vaikunfha).

14. A man endowed with faith, should observe fast on the Dvadafi (Twelfth) day in the bright half of the Margasirsa3 month and worship JalaSayin (Lord Vishnu who lies in the Milk ocean) devoutly.

15-16. After duly washing the teeth, one should take one’s bath and wear clean white cloths. О excellent sage, he should be restrained in speech. With the feeling of devotion, he should worship Hari with sweet fragrant sandal paste, smelling flowers, rice grains, incense, lamps and food offerings. He should adore Vishnu by saying, “Obeisance to you, О Keshava.”

17. He should offer oblations of ghee and sesamum seeds into the fire one hundred and eight times. At night, he should keep awake in the vicinity of the Salagrama stone.

18-2la. He should perform ablution of Narayana free from ailments, with a Prastha measure of milk. He should worship devoutly, Keshava accompanied by Mahalaksm! three times (that day) in accompaniment of sages, musical instruments and by food offerings of various edibles and foodstuffs.

Again after getting up early in the morning and completing the accustomed daily routine, he should worship the Lord, as before controlling the sense organs and restraining the speech. He should be pure (in word and deed). Repeating the following Mantra, he should offer milk pudding mixed with ghee and accompanied by a coconut fruit to a Brahmana. He should offer the monetary gifts with devotion.

21b-24a. “May Lord Kelava, the slayer of KeSin, the bestower of all kinds of riches and prosperity, grant me what is desired, in view of this gift of excellent dish (the most exquisite cooked rice, i.e. milk pudding).” Afterwards he should feed the Brahmanas according to his capacity. Absorbed in (the devotion of) Narayana, he should also take food along with his kinsmen but with restraint in speech (i.e. in silence). He who performs the excellent worship of Keshava thus, with devotion, shall attain eight times the benefit of Pun<jlanka sacrifice.

24b-27. On the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Pausa,4 the devotee shall observe fast. With the purity of body and mind and keeping his sense-organs in restraint, he should worship Hari saying “Obeisance to Narayana”. He should bathe the Lord in milk and offer milk-pudding as Naivedya (offering). He should worship thrice (on that day) and keep awake during the night. He should duly adore Hari by means of incense, lamps, Naivedya (offer of high dishes), scents, fragrant and charming flowers, grasses6 dances, songs and musical instruments as well as hymns. He should offer Krtora (a sesamum preparation) and cooked rice to a Brahmana along with ghee and monetary gifts.

28. “In view of the gift of Krsara and the cooked rice may Narayana be pleased — Narayana who is the Atman of every one, and the Lord of all worlds, who is eternal and all- pervasive.”

29. With the above Mantra he should offer the excellent gift to a Brahmana. Thereafter, he should take food himself along with his kinsirten.

Trjia is probably a; misprint for tiirya — a musical instrument. But the corresponding line in the Bfhan Ndradiya (Upa-Purana) xvi. 16 is Nftyair gitaih pravddyais ca stolrais capi yajed Harim shows that the original word is- “nrtyaib.”

30. If a devotee worships Lord Naraya^a with devotion as per above-mentioned procedure, he shall attain the benefit of eight Agniffoma7 sacrifices in full.

31-32. On the DvcidaU day in the bright half of the month of Magha, he should observe fast as before, saying “Obeisance to you, Madhava.” He should ofFer eight oblations with ghee. With the same measure of milk as before, he should bathe Madhava. With an attentive mind, he should worship with flowers, raw rice, grains and scents.

33. As before, endowed with great devotion, he should keep awake during the night. After finishing the morning duties, he should worship Madhava again.

34. For the purpose of liberation from all sins, he should offer a Prastha measure of sesamum seeds to a Brahmana with due recital of the following Mantra and offer a cloth and the monetary gifts as well.

35. “May Madhava, the Atman of all living beings, the bestower of the benefits of all holy rites, grant all desires, in view of this great gift of sesamum seeds”.

36. Repeating this Mantra he should offer it to a Brahmana. Endowed with devotion and piety, he should feed Brahmanas according to his capacity, remembering Lord Madhava.

37. О sage, he who performs the holy observance thus and offers the gift of sesamum seeds, shall attain full benefit of a hundred Vajapeya6 sacrifices.

38. On the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Phalguna, the devotee should observe fast. The observer of this holy vow should say, “Obeisance to you, О Govinda.”

39. After offering to fire one hundred and eight oblations of sesamum seeds mixed with ghee, he should bathe Govinda with the aforesaid quantity of milk. He should be pure in body and in mind.

40. He should keep awake during the night and perform worship thrice on that day. After concluding the morning routine, he should worship Govinda again.

41-43a. He should offer an Adhaka measure of cereals to a Brahmana along with a cloth and the usual Dakshina with (the mantra) “Obeisance, О Govinda, О Lord of all, О lover of cowherdeas folk, О preceptor of the universe, be delighted with this gift of grains.” After observing thus the holy vow, he shall be absolved of all sins. The man shall attain the full merit of Gomedhamakha (cow sacrifice).

43b-46. On the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Chaitra, the devotee should observe fast and worship as before, saying, “Obeisance to You, О Vishnu.” He should bathe Vishnu in milk of the same quantity as before, in accordance with his ability. О Brahmana, similarly, he should bathe the Lord in a Prastha of ghee with due respect. As before, the observer of the vow should keep awake during the night and perform worship. Then he should get up early in the morning and finish the daily morning duties. He should offer one hundred and eight oblations of a mixture of honey, ghee and sesamum seeds.

47-49a. Thereafter, he should offer an Adhaka measure of rice mixed with honey, ghee and sesamum seeds to a Brahmana, accompanied by the usual religious fee, uttering the Mantra — “May Janardana be pleased with this gift of an Adhaka of rice grains, — Janardana who is Mahavishnu in the form of Prana (vital breath), who is the bestower of Prdna and is the lover of everyone.” By doing thus with devotion, the man shall be freed from all sins. He shall acquire the benefit of the sacrifice Atyagnishtomd9 increased eightfold.

49b-52a. One should observe fast on the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Vaigakhaand with great devotion bathe Madhusudana the Lord of Devas with milk measuring a Drona. Keeping awake during the night is obligatory, along with the worship for three times on that day. With the repetition of the mantra “Obeisance to you the slayer of Madhu”, he should perform Нота with ghee according to his capacity. After duly worshipping Madhusudana with oblations for one hundred and eight times, he shall be freed from sins. He shall attain the benefit of eight horse-sacrifices.

52b-57. The devotee should observe fast on the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Jyesfha and bathe Trivi- krama in an Adhaka measure of milk. Endowed with devotion he should worship, saying, “Obeisance to Trivikrama”. He should offer one hundred and eight oblations with the milk pudding itself. After keeping awake during the night, he should again perform worship. Along with the usual Dakfind, he should offer twenty sweet fried cakes to Brahmanas with the mantra, “O Lord of the Universe, О Lord of Devas, О Supreme Lord, be pleased. Accepting this present, be the bestower of what is desired by me.” In accordance with his capacity, he should feed the Brahmanas. He should himself take food observing restraint in speech. He who thus performs the great holy observance pertaining to Trivikrama, shall be devoid of sins and shall attain the benefit of eight Naramedhas10 (human sacrifices).

58. On the Dvadafi day in the bright half of the month of Asadha, one should observe fast and keep all sense organs under control. The observer of the holy vow should bathe Vamana in milk, of the same quantity as mentioned before.

59. He should worship by saying, “Obeisance to you, to Vamana”. After offering hundred and eight oblations with ghee and the Durva grass, he should keep awake during the night. He should worship Vamana again.

60. With great piety, he should offer cooked rice with curds, to a Brahmana regularly worshipping Vamana, along with the usual Dakfinas and a coconut fruit.

61. “Vamana is the bestower of intellect. He is the sacrificial priest. Vamana is always present in the materials (of worship). Vamana is the redeemer from this (worldly existence). Obeisance, obeisance, to Vamana.”

62. With this Mantra, he should offer the cooked rice with curds. In accordance with his capacity, he should feed the Brahmanas. By doing thus, the devotee shall attain the benefit of a hundred Agniffomas.

63. On the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Sravana, the observer of the holy vow should observe fast and bathe god Shridhara in milk mixed with honey.

64. He should worship him saying, “Obeisance be to Srldhara”, and offering scents, etc. in due order. О sage, he should offer one hundred and eight oblations of Prshadajya (ghee mixed with coagulated milk).

65-67. After keeping awake at night, he should perform the worship again. Excellent milk measuring an Adhoka must be given to a Brahmana along with a cloth and the usual religious fee, together with two golden earrings: О leading Brahmana, in order to realize all the cherished desires, he should repeat the following Mantra: “O Lord Rama, О Lord of Devas, reposing in the milk ocean, О Lord of the Universe, be delighted with this gift of milk. Be the bestower of all happiness.”

68. In view of its being pleasure-bestowing, the performer of the holy rite should feed the Brahmanas in accordance with his capacity. By performing thus, the devotee attains the benefit of. a thousand horse sacrifices.

69. On the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada, the devotee should observe fast, duly bathe Hrsikesha, the preceptor of the universe, in milk measuring a drona.

70. The man should worship saying, “O HrsikeSa, obeisance to you.” He should perform the Нота11 with Caru (a preparation of boiled rice, barley and pulse) mixed with honey offering oblations one hundred and eight times.

71. After completing the rites of keeping awake, etc., he should give to a knower of the Atman one and a half Adhakas of wheat with Dakfind and gold according to one’s capacity.

72. With the Mantra, “O Hrslkesa, obeisance to you, the sole cause of all worlds. Grant all happiness unto me, in view of this gift of wheat.”

73. According to his capacity he should feed the Brahmanas, and should himself take food with restrained speech. He shall be absolved of all sins and shall attain the benefit of Brahma- medha.la

74. On the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Asvina, the devotee should observe fast. With great devotion and purity, he should bathe Padmanabha with milk.

75. He should perform Нота in accordance with his capacity saying, “Obeisance to you, to Padmanabha., In accordance with the injunctions, he should perform worship with sesamum seeds, cereals, barley and ghee.

76. After keeping awake during the night, he should perform worship again. He should give a Kudava (measure) of honey along with the usual Dakfind to a Brahmana.

77. (The mantra shall be) — “O Padmanabha, obeisance to you, О grandfather of all worlds, be delighted with the gift of honey. Be the bestower of all happiness.”

78. He who intelligently and devoutly performs the holy vow pertaining to Padmanabha certainly attains the benefit of a thousand Brakmamedkas.

79-82a. On the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Kirttika, the devotee should observe fast. He should control all his sense-organs. Saying ‘‘Obeisance to Damodara” with devotional feelings, he should bathe Damodara with milk, curds or ghee measuring an A<thaka. He should perform a hundred and eight Ahutis with sesamum seeds soaked in honey and ghee. He should invariably observe the vow of keeping awake (during the night), and should be devoted to the performance of worship thrice a day. In the morning he should worship the Lord with charming lotus flowers. Again, he should perform Uorruu with one hundred and eight oblations of sesamum seeds and ghe.

82b-85. With great devotion he should give to a Brahmana, cooked rice along with five Bhakshyas (side dishes of edible things). (The mantra) “O Damodara, О Lord of the universe, О cause of all causes, save- me compassionately. О Lord, О protector of those who seek refuge.” With this Mantra he should give the charitable gift to a Brahmana, well-versed in the Vedas but burdened with a large family. In accordance with his capacity, he must give Dakshina and feed the Brahmanas. After performing the holy rites duly, the devotee should take food along with his kinsmen. He attains twice the benefit of a thousand horse-sacrifices.

86. О excellent sage, he who performs these excellent Dvadashi vratas for a year, attains the highest region.

87. He who devotedly performs these rites for one or two months, attains their respective benefits as well as Hari’s region.

88-90. After performing the observance of the vow for one full year, the devotee should perform the Udyapana rite (formally concluding it), О leading sage, on the Dvadashi day in the dark half of Margaslrsa. He should take his bath early in the morning in accordance with his prescribed course of duties, after duly cleaning the teeth. He should wear white garments and garlands with white unguents and scents. He should erect an exquisite panda 1, splendid in form and square in shape. It should be fitted with bells, chowries, etc. and embellished with tinkling bells.

91-92. It must be bedecked in flowers and garlands. Canopy and banners shall add to its splendour. It should be screened with a white cloth. Rows of lamps would beautify it. In its middle a Sarvatobhadra13 (an auspicious design or ‘Mandala in five colours) should be made. It should be duly beautified. The devotee should place twelve jars filled with water on that platform.

93. Five kinds of precious stones14 must be put inside the jars and all of the jars with five kinds of precious stones deposited in them, should be covered with a well-washed white cloth.

94. О Brahmana, the performer of the holy rites should devoutly make the image of Iakshminarayana in gold, silver or copper.

95. The devotee with good control over his sense-organs, should place the image on the jars. Or its price or gold according to his capacity may be placed (on the jars), О excellent Brahmana.

96. In all holy rites the sensible devotee should avoid dishonesty or perfidy in money. If he commits it, his span of life, wealth and riches will dwindle down.

97. At the outset, the devotee endowed with piety should bathe Lord Narayana who, free from all ailments, is lying on (the serpent) Ananta, with Pancamrta (the mixture of five sweet things, viz. milk, curds, ghee, honey and sugar).

98. The services rendered (prostration, etc.) should be based on Keshava and other names (of Vishnu). He should keep awake during the night, by listening to Puranas, etc.

99. He should bring under control slumber. Observing fasts, he should subdue his sense organs. In accordance with his capacity and wealth, he should worship the Lord, thrice in a day.

routine duties of the morning, he should, through Brahmanae, get offered a thousand oblations of sesamum seed while repeating the Vyahrti mantras.

101. Thereafter, he should worship the Lord with scents, flowers, etc. in the prescribed order. In front of the Lords he should listen to the Puranas.

102. He should give cooked rice mixed with curds, milk pudding, ten Apupas (sweet pies or sweet round cakes) with ghee, to twelve Brahmanas along with the usual dakfind.

103. “O Lord of gods, О Lord of the universe, О lord whose person is for the purpose of blessing the devotees, О Krishna, accept the present. Be the bestower of all desired objects/’

104. With this Mantra, he should offer gifts. With palms joined in reverence, he should pray. The performer of the Vrata should kneel on the ground humbly.

105. (Prayer) — “Obeisance, obeisance to you, О king of the kings of Devas. Obeisance be to you, О Lord, О receptacle of the worlds, render the fruit of my vow complete today. Obeisance be to you, О Supreme Person.

106. Thus, he should pray to the Brahmanas and to Lord Purusottama. He should offer Arghya to the Lord accompanied by Mahalakshmi.

107. “O Lord of Lakshmi, obeisance to you, to the resident of the milk ocean. О Lord of Devas, accompanied by Lakshmi, accept the Arghya.

108. I salute Acyuta whose remembrance and the utterance of whose name makes whatever is deficient in penance, performance of sacrifice and other rites compensated immediately and made perfect and complete.”

109. After having prayed thus to the Lord of Devas, the devotee should offer the image to the preceptor along with Dakshina.

110. Thereafter, he should feed the Brahmanas according to his capacity. He should give them Dakshinas also. Afterwards, restrained in speech, he should himself take food surrounded by his kinsmen.

111-113. In the company of learned men, he should listen to the story of Vishnu till evening. The man who thus observes the Dvadashi vow, О Narada, attains all desires both here and hereafter. Absolved of all sins, accompanied by twenty- one generations of his family, he goes to Vishnus abode after reaching which none feels grieved.

О Brahmana, the man who listens to this excellent Dvadashi Vrata, or reads it, attains the benefit of Vajapeya sacrifice.

1. Although the colophon states Mdrga-shirfa-shukla-Dvddaf[-Vrata-fCathana as the heading of the chapter, here what is known as Dvadashi Vrata is described. The Vrata is to start on the 12th day of the bright half of Marga- shir?a and god Vishnu in the form of Kelava, is to be adored. The following is the list of the forms of Vishnuto be worshipped on the particular Dvadatl.

Dvadashi (Twelfth) day in the bright half of Special Form of Vifttu to be the month of: worshipped.

All these forms are according to the serial order of the twenty four names of Vishnu in the Sandhyd (twilight) prayer.

Observance of fast — wearing white garments after bath — worship of Vishnu in Keshava form with the usual materials and offerings — observance of silence during worship — offering of one hundred and eight oblations in fire — observance of vigil at night near the Sfllagrama stone — The next day, the deity to be bathed in milk (or a milkproduct) — worship three times a day along with Lak?mi — Final Naxoedya-of Piyasa (Rice-pudding) with a cocoa- nut and Dakfudt to be offered to a Brahman a — Feeding of Brahmanas — Breaking of fast along with one's kinsmen but with control over speech.

There are minor variations with each Dvadashi but the outline is the same. After observing this Vrata for full one year, there is its Udydpana (concluding rite).

It is found that this Vrata is the same as given in Mbh. Anufdsana Ch. 109 and is called there Victor dvddaiakam or twelve days dedicated to god Vishnu. AP. Ch. 188 gives a number of Dvadashi Vratas different from that in the NP. Out of fifty such Vratas, Кфа Kalpataru (Vrata kdpfa) describes 26 Vratas, Hemcdri in CC (Vratakhantfa I, pp. 1162 — 1222) describes these various

Vratas. This has been a very popular Vrata as it is described in various Dharma Sdstra digests.

2. Vratdni — The Purdpic concept of Vrata implies “any undertaking, religious or ascetic performance or observance, vow or religious duty and thus seems to be an amalgam of fto, dharman and Vrata concepts of the Vedic period. Later on, Vrata became Vrata-dharma and had a strong hold on the public.

3. These verses describe how to observe the Dvddatf.-Vrata (from the month of and) for the month of Margaarsha. As is wellknown, Lord Krftia declares himself to be Magaarsa among the months of the year (mdsdndm Mdrgaiirfo- ham) in BG. X. 35. Hence, the propriety of beginning this Vitfuu-Vrata from Margafirsa.

4. These verses describe the observance of Dvadashi-Vrata in the month of Pausa.

5. Trpaih is most probably a misprint for Twryaih ‘with trumpets.’ The Venkate^vara Press edition of this Purana has a number of such misprints. But as the corresponding verse in The Bxhan Naradiya XVI. 17 is nrtyaih and that suits better in this context, I have translated ‘dances.

6. Kxiara according to Skd. is as Tulya-tilannam, but Kxiard is what is known as Khicarl in Hindi and Marathi. If Kriardnnam is dissolved as Kriara+anna ‘the spicy preparation of rice and pulse (dal)' gives a better meaning.

7. Name of a Soma sacrifice. Sacrifices arc divided into if(i, pain and Soma. There are seven forms of the Soma sacrifices, viz. Agnish(oma, Atyagniffoma, Ukthya, Sodaiin, Vdjapeya, Atiratra and Aptorydma. The Agnis(oma is the model of all Soma sacrifices. The Agnistoma is of one day duration (ekaha) and is an integral part of Jyotiffoma and hence both are many times identified. (For details of this sacrifice vide HD. Vol.II. Ch. XXXIII pp. 1133-1203).

8. Vdjapeya — Though this is a form of Jyotiftoma and though it follows the procedure of the Soma sacrifice called SodaSin, it has many special features which may claim the class of an independent sacrifice. The characteristic feature is that the number seventeen has a special significance in this sacrifice. For example: there are 17 Stotras, 17 tiastras, 17 objects as sacrificial fee, etc. It gives sovereignty or post of Indra to the sacrificer (For details HD Il.ii. pp. 1206-1214).

9. Atyagnifiomor-a variety of Agniffoma (see note above). Here only the shodofi Stotra and Sodaiin cup are added (vide S.B.E. 41, p. XVII).

10. Nara-medha though literally translated as ‘human sacrifice’ in the bracket, actually involves no killing of human beings. This point is generally overlooked by its critics. It is only a symbolism.

11. Hunet is obviously an arsha form of Pot 3 P. sg. of у/hu-'tx> offer oblations, perform a sacrifice.’

12. Brahma-medhas is Brahma-yajfla or recitation of Vedas. Its earliest description is given in Salopaiha Br. XI.5.6.3-8. It defines Svddhyayo vai brakmayqjflab — ‘Recitation of Veda, etc. is Brahma-yajaa.

It is a daily duty, but now-a-days, it is formally recited in a nut-shell on the shravani day in the Deccan. The reference in the NP. shows the great importance given to the recitation of the Vedas in those days.

13. Sarvatobhadra literally means ‘auspicious on all sides?' It is a Masala (a geometrical design) common to all worships. As the Sdraddtilaka III. 131 states:

The same work instructs that the masala should be drawn with five colour ed powders, viz. yeUow with turmeric powder, white produced from husked grains of rice, red with Kusumbha powder, black with the fine powder of half- burnt inferior cereals, sprinkled with milk and greenish with powder of the leaves of bilva tree (ibid III 122-24). cf. AP. 3-19-20. There appear to be some differences about the figures to be drawn. For example the quotation of SKP in GG as quoted in the Praia raja p. 9 is different from that in the Jftandroava Tantra 26.15.16.

It is enough to note that it is a special design in five colours and was regarded auspicious in all worships.

14. There is a difference of opinion about the ‘five jewels' (pahea ratnas) to be deposited in the jars. According to Aditya Purapa quoted in CG Vrata Khavda 1.47, they are gold, silver, pearl, coral and rdjdvarta (Lapis Lazuli) but, according to Kdlikd Ригйщ quoted in GG on Kala p. 413 they are: gold, diamond, sapphire, ruby and pearl. Vrata raja p. 6 quotes these and adds one more from the Vifnudharmottara as follows:

muktaphalam hirartyam ca vaidmyam padmaragakam / рщра-rdgam ca gomedam nilam gdrutmakam tathd / pravdla-yuktanyuktani mahdratndni va nova //

They are pearls, gold, lapis lazuli, ruby, topaz, grneda (a gem found in the Himalayas. It is of four different colours, viz. white, pale, yellow, red and dark blue), a sapphire, an emerald and corals.

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