The Importance of Vishnupancaka

1. O Suta, O sage, kindly tell me the importance of the remaining five days of Kartika, which destroys sins. Silt a said:

2-16. O Shaunaka, listen. I shall narrate (to you) the importance, which destroys sins, of the remaining five days of Kartika. O best sage, of the five vows Vishnupancaka (i.e. the vow observed for the remaining five days of Kartika), is the best. He who, during that (period) worships Shri Hari (i.e. Krishna) with Radha, by means of sandal, flowers, incense, clothes and various kinds of fruits, goes, freed from all sins, to Vishnu's abode. Without doing the vow of Vishnupancaka, a religious student, (or) a householder, (or) an anchorite, (or) an ascetic does not obtain the highest position. Vishnupancaka removes all sins, is meritorious and well-known. He who would bathe during that (period), would obtain the fruit of (having bathed at) all holy places. He who, to propitiate Vishnu, devoutly offers a lamp full of ghee in front of (the image of) Vishnu, or near Tulasi, in water, goes to Vishnu's abode. A sinner goes to Vishnu's abode. I have told the truth. A man should bathe with devotion (the image of) Vishnu with honey, milk, ghee etc. What would Vishnu being pleased not give to that good man? He should present excellent cooked food to the god of gods. (Even Brahma) having four faces is not able to measure his religious merit. Being pure, he worships Vishnu on Ekadas'i day. Having secured cowdung he duly waits upon (the god) with the sacred hymns. He who observes the vow, should similarly again diink cow urine (reciting) the sacred hymns on the twelfth day. Similarly he should drink milk on the fourteenth day. Having got (these) for the purification of his sins, and having passed the four days, he should, on the fifth day, having bathed and duly worshipped Vishnu, devoutly feed brahmanas and should give them presents. Then at night he should eat the mixture of the five products of a cow, which is well consecrated with sacred hymns. He who is unable to do this, should eat fruits, roots and food; O brahmana, he should offer an oblation according to the rite that is laid down. Lord Vishnu who is fit to be known, would himself honour him who would observe (the vow of) Pancaka with Tulasi-leaves.

17-20. In olden days, in the Tretayuga, there lived a shudra, intent on leading the life of a villain, named Dandakara, who always censured religious practices, who told lies, who hurt his friends, who had an ardent longing for anormous gestures of prostitutes, who snatched the wealth of brahmanas, who was cruel, who was interested in another's wife, who killed those who sought his refuge, who kept the company of heretics, who ate cow's flesh, who drank liquor, who always defamed others, who was a traitor, who deprived his kinsmen of their means of livelihood, O brahmana. Observing him — the cruel one, intent on (committing) sins like that — the kinsmen, being angry, came to his house, O brahmana. The kinsmen said:

21-26. O fool, O you of wicked conduct, you are destroying the glory in (i.e. of) our pure family, which was earned by (our) ancestors.

1634 Padma Purmm O brahmana, they who were thus angry, abandoned, out of respect for their family and through fear of bad name, that greatest (i.e the worst) among sinners. Then, with all his glory lost, he went to a great forest. He would continuously practise the deeds of the villains along with them. O brahmana, when they were going along the path, they did not get anything to eat through fear. Being oppressed with hunger, they went to another place. Having entered (i.e. gone to) that place, seeing many excellent and meritorious brahmanas who were seated at the root of a Dhatri (tree) and who were the devotees of Vishnu, all the dasyus went (near him). That, Dandakara also went near them, and saluted them. Dandakara said:

27. O best brahmanas, I am oppressed with hunger. Surely my life will depart (now). Give me something to eat. I have sought your shelter.

28-33. Having heard his words, those (brahmanas), who had a high regard for religious practices said: "How do you have a desire to eat (food) on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Vishnu, during the Vishnupancaka, weli-known as the remover of sins? Tell (us) your particulars. (Tell Us) now what your name is." He joyfully said: "O brahmanas, I am (a sOdra) by name Dandakara. I am full of all sins. How can I be emancipated?" They said (to him): "Observe the best vow (called) Vishnupancaka." O brahmana, by the order of the brahmanas he observed the (vow of) Vishnupancaka. After death, he got into an excellent chariot, and having reached Vishnu's place and hi s form, he remained (there) free from birth. The sin earned during a crore of existences of him who would devoutly listen to this account destroying sins, perishes at that moment (only).

1. O sage, O best among the learned, O you who know the essential nature (of things)', tell me in order the importance of vowv Suta said:

2-6. O best sage, giving (a piece of) land is regarded as the best gift. He who made that gift (has given) a gift having the fruit of all gifts. O best brahmana, he who would give a gift of land with a crop (growing in it) to a brahmana, enjoys happiness in Vishnu's heaven as long as (the regimes of) fourteen Indras (last). Then, O king, he, having obtained a birth on the earth, (becomes) a sovereign emperor. Having enjoyed the earth for a long time, he would go to the abode of Vishnu. He who gives land of the measure of a cow's hide to a brahmana, is freed from all sins and goes to Vishnu's abode. The sages described that land to be of the measure of a cow's hide (gocarmamatm) where a hundred cows and a bull remain uncontrolled.

7-10. He who receives the land and he who gives it, both go to heaven. Wise brahmanas should abandon (i.e. refuse) hundreds of other gifts and accept (the present of) land. That ignorant brahmana who, being deluded, rejects (the gift) of land, becomes extremely miserable in every existence. To him who, having secured land from some other source, would give it to a brahmana, the lord of the world gives the highest position. He who destroys the land given to himself or to someone else, goes, along with a crore members of his family to a very fearful hell, O brahmana.

11-12. O brahmana, for him who would snatch the land of a deity or a brahmana, an expiation is not seen for hundreds of crores of kalpas. The religious merit of that king who'protects the land given (by him) to someone else would be a crore times greater than that of people.

13-17. A man giving a cow would obtain that merit which is obtained by giving the earth consisting of seven islands, O brahmana. He, who gives a bull to a member of a poor family, is freed from all sins, and goes to diva's world. He who gives gold of the measure of a Sheshamum to a brahmana, goes, along with a crore members of his family, to the abode of Vishnu. O brahmana, he who would give silver to a good brahmana, obtains (i.e. goes to) the world of the Moon and he would always drink nectar there. O best brahmana, he who gives a coral, a pearl, a diamond or a gem (to a brahmana) goes to heaven.

18-25. A man would get a crore times more religious merit by giving a salagrama stone, than what he obtains by the gift of gold, jewels, or other valuable things equal to his own weight. The giver of a salagrama stone gets that religious merit which a man would get by giving the earth consisting of seven islands along with mountains, groves and forests. O brahmana, he who would give a salagrama stone to a brahmana, has given the fourteen worlds (to a brahmana). O best brahmana, he who makes a gift of gold, jewels or other valuable things equal to his own weight (to a brahmana), is not again born in (i.e. from) the womb of a mother. O best brahmana, he who gives (in marriage) his daughter that is adorned (with ornaments to a brahmana), would go to Brahma's abode. He is not reborn. For a man who sells his daughter, there is no escape from hell; and for one who gives his daughter (in marriage according to the proper rites) there is no coming (back to earth) from heaven. He, who gives sandals or an umbrella to a brahmana, goes to Indra's city after death, and would live (there) for four kalpas. O best brahmana, he who gives a divine garment to a good brahmana, puts on a divine garment and would live in heaven for a long time.

26-21. O brahmana, he who would give an old cow or an old garment or a young girl in her menses, would go to hell. O brahmana, a man should not see the face of him who sells his daughter. Having seen (i.e. if he sees) it unknowingly, he should look at the sun.

28-58. O best brahmana, a man who gives (the gift of) fruits would go to heaven. There he would enjoy for thousands of kalpas the fruit (of his gift) like nectar. O brahmana, the man who gives vegetables (to a brahmana) goes to Shiva's abode; and (there) enjoys, with gods, rice boiled in milk for a couple of kalpas. He who gives ghee, he who gives curd, he who gives milk, he who gives butter milk, goes to Vishnu's abode (and there) he drinks nectar. The man who gives sandal, who gives flowers goes to the abode of gods. Decorated with sandal and flowers, he would remain (there) for thousands of yugas. He who gives the gift of a bed — the best gift — to a brahmana, goes to Brahma's abode, and sleeps (there) on a bed for a long time. The giver of a seat or the giver of a lamp, being free from all sins, would remain, surrounded by a row of burning lamps, on a seat in heaven. A man who would give betel-leaf, happily enjoys the entire earth. He sleeps, being clasped to the bosom by a divine lady, and eats tambiila. The best man who makes the gift of knowledge — the best gift — would, after death, live near Vishnu for three hundred yugas. O best brahmana, having obtained there knowledge difficult to be obtained, he, O brahmana, obtains salvation through Vishnu's grace. That best brahmana who would teach a helpless, miserable brahmana, goes, free from rebirth, to Shri Vishnu's abode. One who would devoutly and with faith give (the gift of) a book would obtain, for every letter, the merit due to the gift of a crore of tawny cows. One who gives honey, who gives jaggery, goes to the Iksu-sagara. One who gives salt, goes to the world of Varuna. O best brahmana, of all the gifts, the gift of food or water is declared to be the best by all sages knowing the truth. O best brahmana, he who has given food or water on the earth, has given all (kinds of) gifts, 0 best among brahmanas. O brahmana. one who gives food is declared to be the giver (i.e. the saver) of life. Therefore, the giver of food gets the fruit of all (kinds of) gifts. As is food, so is water. The two are said to be equal. O best brahmana, food would not be prepared without water. O best brahmana, the two i.e. hunger and thirst are declared to be equal. Therefore, even the wise have declared food and water to be the best. O brahmana, those best men who make the gift of food on the earth, are freed from all sins, and go to Vishnu's abode. O brahmana ascetic, as many (sins of) brahmana murders, as the kinds of food a man gives on the earth, perish. O Shaunaka, the sins of those that give food abandon their bodies and go to the bodies of those that receive it. Therefore the wise do not accept the food of the most sinful one. The fools that accept it through delusion, become sinful. O best brahmana, one should make water remain on the ground (after it flows from the palm of the brahmana to whom a gift is given). He (who offers a gift) is freed from all sins, and would go to Vishnu's abode. O best brahmana, wealth should be accumulated with effort. A man should spend the accumulated wealth in giving gifts. Those who through miserliness tinkle (i.e. only preserve) their wealth, are extremely unhappy. O sage, in the end, leaving the wealth, they go (i.e. die) wealthless. Those men who by repeatedly giving (gifts) become poor, should not be regarded as poor. They are great lords in the human world. O best brahmana that which is given to a cruel, relative-less (brahmana) who does not have proper restraint, does not stand by (the giver) in the other world. One who, when he has wealth, does not (either) enjoy it or give it (to others) should be known as poor, and would leave a sigh (of grief) after death. Those who see the truth have declared that giving gifts is superior even to austerities. Therefore, O best brahmana, one should give gifts. That giver who gives gifts (to persons of other castes) excluding a brahmana, goes to a terrible hell, which is fearful to all beings. The giver who does not remember the gift and the recipient who does not ask for it, both remain in hell as long as the moon and the sun last. O best brahmana, those sins like a brahmana's murder perish due to giving gifts. Therefore, one should give gifts.

1-4a. That man who devoutly listens to the account of Vjsnu, which is the abode of glory, which removes all harms, which destroys all sins, which wards off all evil planets, which gives proximity with Vishnu, which gives the fruit of the four goals of human life, goes to Vishnu's abode in the end. The importance of the utterance of (Vishnu's) names is said to be very wonderful; merely by uttering it a man would go to the highest position Therefore, O Suta, now tell me the manner of the utterance of (Vishnu's) names. Suta said:

4b-6. O Shaunaka, listen, I shall tell you the dialogue (between Sanatkumara and Narada), which would accomplish salvation. T shall tell you what formerly Narada asked (Sanat)kumara. Having heard various kinds of prescribed courses of conduct and their (various) mixtures Narada, having joined the palms of his hands, once asked Sanatkumara, of a tranquil mind, who was seated on the bank of the Yamuna: Shri Narada said:

7. O you dear to the lord, tell me how there would be the destruction of the obstacles of dharma about which you had told (me) formerly. Shri Sanatkumara said:

8-13. Listen, O Narada, dear to Vishnu, and knowing the way to reach Govinda (i.e. Vishnu). (I shall tell you) that which you asked, viz. the cause of freedom from the world which is beyond the darkness (of ignorance). O brahmana, even all those mean men who are destitute of (i.e. who do notpractise)all (good) ways of behaviour, who are of a wicked mind, who are outcaste, who deceive the world, who are intent upon religious hypocrisy, pride, drinking liquor, and wickedness, who are sinful and cruel, who are interested in another man's wealth, wife or sons, become pure if they resort to the lotus-like feet of Vishnu. The name (of Vishnu), sure (to succeed) here, protects those sinful men who transgress even him who causes divinity, who, the kind one, the great one, gives salvation to the immobile and the mobile. A man who has done all sins, is freed if he resorts to Vishnu. If a contemptible, wicked biped would commit sin against Vishnu, and by chance resorts to his name, he is emancipated due to the name. A man falls down due to his sin against (Vishnu's) name which is the friend of all. Srf Narada said:

14. O best brahmana, which are those sins against the name of the lord, which, when done, impede men's acts and take them to a low status? Shri Sanatkumdra said

15-20. The censure of the good causes a great sin against the name (of Vishnu). How does (i.e. would) it tolerate the censure of those on account of whom it has become famous? He indeed does ill to the name of Vishnu, who, in this world, would regard all (things) about the auspicious Shri Vishnu, as different from his own mind. He who does not disrespect his preceptor, who does not censure sacred texts, who does not look upon Vishnu's name as (merely) glorificatory, who does not have a wicked idea about (i.e. to look upon) name (as) sinful, has purification by means of restraints. Indifference to religious vows, sacrifice (for others), offering oblations, all good actions is also a fault. Not having faith, turning away one's face, not listening to advice is also a sin against the auspicious name. He, the mean man, who, even after hearing the greatness of (Vishnu's) name, remains without love for it, and is only intent upon 'I', 'mine' etc. (i.e. is selfish), has committed sin against the name (of Vishnu). O Narada, Shiva, with grace, told the sages and me the great name of the lord, bringing happiness. It should always be carefully preserved. They who even knowing (the importance of name), do not suddenly avoid the ten sins against the name, are like children, who being angry, afflict their mother. Being free from sins, always mutter the name (of Vishnu). O divine sage, due to name only you will accomplish everything and not by any other means. Shri Narada said:

21. O Sanatkumara, how is it that those who like rash acts, who are bereft of discrimination and detachment, who are intent upon themselves as they love their own bodies, arise from (amongst) us? Shri Sanatkumdra said:

22-29. When somehow a sin or a blemish takes place against the name, the man should always recite the name and seek its refuge only. Names alone remove the sin of those having (i.e. who have committed) the sin against the names (of Vishnu), since they alone, employed (i.e. recited) without rest (i.e. continuously) bring wealth. It is the name (alone) which being the characteristic mark, when remembered or heard, either in a pure form or with incorrect syllables, would protect a man, when it is recited without interruption. This alone is the truth. If it is resorted to hypocritically or for greed born of love for body or wealth, it would not quickly produce the fruit here, O brahmana. O Narada, this great secret, which removes all inauspiciousness, and keeps off sins, was formerly heard (by me) from Shiva. O Narada, even those who are intent on committing sins, but who know the names of Vishnu, would be liberated merely by reciting them. The entire greatness of the name (of Vishnu) is sung (i.e. narrated) in the Puranas. Therefore, O you who respect (others), please listen to a Purana. O brother, Shiva, Vishnu himself with his followers would be pleased with him who has faith in listening to Puranas day after day. The fruit of him who listens with faith is double the fruit that accrues by bathing at the holy place Puskara or at Prayaga or at the confluence (of a holy river) with the ocean.

30-37. Those who attentively recite the Puranas or listen to them, obtain for every letter the fruit of giving a tawny cow. A man who is sonless obtains a son; he who desires wealth obtains it; he who longs for knowledge gets it; he who desires salvation secures it. Those who listen to the Puranas, having destroyed the mass of their sins earned during crores of existences, go to Vishnu's abode. O sage, a man should devoutly worship the brahmana who reads a Purana, with (the gift of) a cow, land, gold, garments, sandal, flowers etc. O ascetic, he should joyfully give (the brahmana) a pot made of bell-metal, a water-vessel, so also an ear-ring or a ring made of gold, so also a seat, flowers and garlands. He should not do (i.e. show) wickedness in (giving) wealth (to the brahmana), since, in that case the gift would be without its fruit. O brahmana, a man should read a Purana for the accomplishment of all objects. He who would devoutly givegold, silver, garments, flowers and garlands, sandal or a book, would go to Vishnu's abode. O brahmana, Chitragupta would respectfully write the names of those who would in this manner get the entire book (read).

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