Asvattha and Vata Praised as Gods in Disguise

1-4. Speaking like this to Satyabhama, very dear to him, Vasudeva went to his mother's house to offer evening prayer, etc. This Kartika is said to be powerful like this, destroying sins, always making one dear to Vishnu and always giving pleasures and salvation. Keeping awake (in honour) of Vishnu, bathing in the morning, using TulasI (leaves etc.), concluding the vow, and offering light — these are the vows (to be observed) in Kartika. The Kartika-vow is complete with these five vows. The fruit that one gets is said to be pleasures and salvation. The sages said:

1. Mahapapa — a great, or heinous sin. Murder of a brahmana, drinking liquor, stealing, violating the preceptor's bed (i.e. his wife), and company of those who commit these sins are great sins.

5-7. O Raumaharsana, this religious act of Kartika is said to be dear to Vishnu, giving great fruit, properly purifying and destroying sins. When it comes, it should be necessarily observed duly by men desiring salvation, or desiring enjoyments. If this is so, how should a man observing a vow, who is in a difficulty, who is in an impervious forest, or is suffering from diseases, observe the auspicious Kartika vow? Suta said:

8-20. O best sages, listen. I shall tell all about it as to how it should be observed, since it is extremely fruitful. In a temple of Vishnu or Shiva, or in any other temple in the absence of a temple of Vishnu or Shiva, a man should keep awake (in honour) of Vishnu. If a man is in an impervious forest to which he might have gone by day, he should observe it under the root of an Asvattha tree or even in Tulasi-groves. A man, by singing (songs) mainly containing Vishnu's names, near Vishnu, obtains the fruit of presenting a thousand cows. A man playing upon a musical instrument will obtain the fruit of a Vajapeya (sacrifice), and a dancer that of bathing at all holy places. A man who gives wealth will obtain all this religious merit of them. He would get one-sixth portion by praising and seeing (the deity). O (sages), if one who is in a calamity, does not get a watery (place) for bathing, or one is diseased, he should purify himself with (the recital of) the names of Vishnu. He who after observing the vow is unable to conclude it (duly), should, according to his capacity, feed brahmanas for the (proper) completion of the vow. Since it gives great fruit, it should never be abandoned by men. Brahmanas are the form of Vishnu whose form is not manifest on the earth. By their being pleased he is well pleased on the earth. If he is not able to present a lamp, he should light others' lamps. Or he should carefully protect them from wind etc. In the absence of Tulasi he should worship a brahmana, Vishnu's devotee, since Vishnu is always present in his devotees. In the absence of all (this) the observer of the vow should serve brahmanas, cows and worship Asvattha and Vata trees for the completion of the vow. The sages said:

21. How do you equate Asvattha and Vata trees with a cow and a brahmana? How do you take them to be more venerable than all (other) trees? Suta said:

22-23. There is no doubt that lord Vishnu is of the form of Asvattha, Vata is Rudra's form, and Palasa has taken up Brahma's form. Seeing, worshipping and serving them is said to remove sins. These certainly destroy grief, diseases and the wicked. The sages said:

24. O you omniscient one, tell (us) how Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva became trees. We have a great doubt about it. Suta said:

25-26. Formerly, it is said, gods sent Agni in a brahmana's form to create an obstacle when Shiva and Parvati were cohabiting. Then that Parvati, trembling and angry due to being deprived of the sexual pleasure, angrily cursed the gods. Parvati said:

27-29. Even these worms and insects know the sexual pleasure. O gods, you will obtain the condition of plants due to having obstructed it. Thus that Parvati of an angry mind, cursed the gods. Therefore, all hosts of gods have become trees. Therefore, O chief sages, both these Vishnu and Shiva have become Asvattha and Vata (trees). Asvattha has become fit to be touched on a Saturday and not fit to be touched (on other days) due to contact of Sani with Vishnu.

1. O Suta, how has this As'vattha tree become untouchable, and similarly how has it become fit to be touched on a Saturday? Please tell us all this in detail. Suta said:

2-3. Out of the gems that the lordly gods obtained after churning the ocean, the gods gave Lakshmi and Kaustubha to Vishnu. When he accepted Lakshmi as his wife, she respectfully said to him having the disc in his hand. Lakshmi said:

4-5. How will you marry me, the younger one, without getting this elder one married? Therefore, O Vishnu, having first married this ALakshmi, my elder sister, take me. This is an old practice. Suta said:

6-10a. Hearing these words of her, Vishnu, the creator of the world, gave according to his own words, to sage Uddalaka who had practised penance for a very long time, that ALakshmi, of a big face, white teeth, having a bright body, tall, having red eyes, and having rough and tawny hair. That sage, in accordance with Vishnu's words, accepted her and he, knowing Dharma, brought her to his hermitage full of sounds of (the recital of) the Vedas, rich with the fragrance of sacrificial fire, and resounding "with the sounds of (the" recitals of) lores. Seeing that hermitage, she who was afflicted, said these words: Jyesthd said:

10b. This abode full of Vedic sounds is not proper for me. O brahmana, I shall not come here. Take me somewhere else. Do not delay. Uddalaka said: II. Why do you not come? What is here that you don't like? Tell me at which place an abode proper for you would be (found). Jyesthd said:

12-15. I shall not stay there where the sound of (the recital of) the Vedas is heard, guests are honoured, and sacrifices etc. are (performed). So also I shall not stay there where a pair of lovers live, and where the dead ancestors are honoured. I love a place where there are men engaged in gambling and taking away others' wealth, and where there live adulterers. I am interested in that place where cow slaughter takes place, drinking is indulged in, so also where sins like the killing of a brahmana take place. Suta said:

16-17. Hearing these words of her, sage Uddalaka's face was dejected; and recollecting Vishnu's words, he did not say (anything). He went here and there. Seeing his worship she said, "I will not come". Then through confusion, he too became very much afflicted. Then Uddalaka spoke these words to that ALakshmi: Uddalaka said:

18. O ALakshmi, stay "for a moment at the root of this Asvattha tree till I return after finding a place for (our) stay. Suta said:

19-21. Thus keeping her there, Uddalaka went (away). When she who was waiting for him for a long time did not see him, she, afflicted due to being forsaken by her husband, wept piteously. Lakshmi, in her abode in Vaikuntha heard her weeping there. Then with her mind dejected, she respectfully said to Vishnu: Lakshmi said:

22. O lord, O kind one, my elder sister is afflicted due to being forsaken by her husband. If I am dear to you, then go to console her.

23. Then Vishnu, full of compassion, came there with Lakshmi, consoled that ALakshmi, and said these words to her: Shri Vishnu said:

24-25. O ALakshmi, being in possession of this Asvattha tree, be stable. I have made from my portion this abode for you. May this younger sister of you be stable with those householders who everyday worship you, the elder one. Suta said:

26-28. Those who listen to and recite this (account of) the greatness of Kartika, would live in Vishnu's city till the final deluge. There is on the earth no other (vow) than that of Kartika, dear to Vishnu, which removes diseases, which destroys sins, which is a great giver of intelligence, which is a means of getting sons, wealth etc., which is the cause of salvation. What is the use (the need) for going to and resorting to holy places for the man who, with restraints, observes the Kartika vow which is dear to Vishnu, which destroys all sins, which brings about prosperity in the form of good sons and grandsons, wealth and grains?

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