Vishnu's Worship with Lotuses: The Story of Praja

1-4. O best brahmana, in the month of Jyestha (a man) should devoutly worship lord Vishriu after having bathed him (i.e. his image) with cold water. Everyday in summer unguents, fragrant amalaka, fragrant oil should be offered to Vishnu. In a pavilion (having free access) to people he should everyday install (the image of) the lord of Lakshmi in a temple which is made very fragrant, which is cool and very charming. One should not install (the image of) the lord of Lakshmi in a hot place, in a place full of smoke or fuel, or in a lying-in chamber.

5-11. O best brahmana, what does the lord of Kamala, very much pleased when fanned with very long, white chowries in Jyestha, not give? Obest one, Vishnu fanned with fans made of the feathers of peacocks in the summer soon gives everything that is desired. All those who fan Vishnu with breezes from a fan or from a pure (piece of) cloth, go to heaven. O best brahmana, one who in summer, when it arrives, smears the body of Madhava with fragrant pastes or with sandal, enters his body. There is no doubt that he is liberated. One should install (the image of) Vishriu in a garden with blossoming flowers, so also in a tulasi-grove, having gentle breezes at twilight. He who has adorned Vishnu with patala flowers in Jyestha, should be known to be the performer of a thousand horse-sacrifices.

12-16. Vishnu would give that man the position of a king in every birth, who would give a necklace of pearls to him in summer. O brahmana, listen to the fruit of the religious merit of him who decorates Shri Krishna with jewelled necklace, from me who am telling it. He, decorated with a jewelled necklace, would live in Vishnu's city till Brahma creates the entire world, O Jaimini. He also, who decorates Krishna with golden or silver ornaments in summer, would get the (same) fruit. He who gives god Vishnu a beautiful bed with a pillow, is never unhappy. In summer heavy garments should not be given (to Vishnu).

17-21. O best brahmana, light, pure silken garment should be given to Vishnu (in summer). He who would worship Vishnu with divine, fragrant fruits of acyuta (Morinda Tinctoria), would in the end go to Indra's city, and would gladly drink nectar (there). He too, who would worship Lakshmi's lord with the divine fruits of priyala (Buchanania Latifolia), would get the (same) fruit. What is the use of speaking so many words? That devotee of Vishnu, who devoutly offers in summer very cold ricegruel with sauce (does not again drink the milk from a mother's breasts, i.e. is not reborn). O best brahmana, that wise man also, who, in the month of Asadha, would devoutly worship Vishnu, after bathing him (i.e. his image) with curd, does not again drink the milk from a mother's breasts (i.e. is not reborn).

22-23. O brahmana sage, he who at the advent of rainy season worships (Vishnu) dark like a cloud with kadamba flowers, would obtain the highest position. That brahmana whose pavilion looks like fire with garlands of kadamba flowers, would have the fruit of a horse sacrifice, O greatest brahmana.

24-25. O best brahmana, the lord of Lakshmi worshipped with fragrant ketaki flowers does remove all miseries of human beings. Lord Vishnu worshipped with divine, very ripe breadfruits mixed with ghee, would give excellent affluence.

26-33. O best brahmana, a devotee of Vishnu, desiring liberation, should devoutly offer boiled rice mixed with curd to Vishnu everyday in the month of Asadha. That devotee of Vishnu who offers butter to Krishna, is purified from all sins, and goes to Brahma's world. He who would worship the highest soul with the flower of sephalika (Vitex Negundo) and jasmine flowers, would go to the highest position. He who would worship Vishnu with full-blown fragrant, jasmine flowers, would not be (born) due to the religious merit on account of that, O brahmana. The man, worshipping Vishnu, the friend of the world, with kanda (Amorphophallus Campanulatus) flowers, obtains all his desired objects. Vishnu is always pleased with him who would worship Vishnu with large flowers and full-blown Barleria flowers. He who worships Vishnu with sairiyaka (Barleria Cristata) flowers, herbflowers, and karavira (Terminalia Arjuna) flowers, goes near Vishnu. O brahmana, all-round prosperity exists in the house of him who would offer parched grain with ghee to Vishnu in l^ravana.

34-35. O greatest brahmana, a wise man should devoutly worship Narayana, Anamaya, giving the four goals in human life, in the month of Bhadrapada. He should install (the image of) lord Vishnu having lotus-like eyes in a house newly constructed and free from every obstacle.

36-37. A man should not install (the image of) Vishnu in an old house crowded with gad-flies, mosquitoes and flies etc. A wise man should not install (the image of) the highest lord Vishnu in a house with mud, with its doors and walls falling down.

38-39. O best brahmana, a man who fashions a beautiful candratapa (a hall with a roof only) in Vishnu's temple, goes to the world of the Moon. At night at the time of worship he should drive away, with many kinds of incense in the lord's temple, gad-flies and mosquitoes.

40. In rainy season he should install (the image of) Vishnu lying on a bed in a divine temple at night after covering him with emeralds.

41-42. He who desires liberation, should, everyday in the month of Bhadrapada worship the lord of gods with fresh, fragrant lotuses. He should not worship Vishnu with ketaki flowers in Bhadrapada, since in the month of Bhadrapada ketaki is like liquor.

43-45. He who worships Yadunandana (i.e. Krishna) with ripe, divine palmyra fruits, does not again have the great trouble of remaining in the womb (i.e. being born). That man who devoutly would offer a ripe palmyra fruit mixed with ghee and milk to Vishnu would go to Vishnu's abode. O best brahmana, a devotee of Vishnu should offer, in the month of Bhadrapada, palmyra powder along with ghee to Vishnu in order to obtain the Absolute.

46. O brahmana, Vishnu's devotee, desiring liberation, should not eat any vegetable in the month of Bhadrapada. He should not eat at night.

47-49a. O best brahmana, Lakshmi'slord accepts that water as nectar which people offer to him, O brahmana, and which removes distress, in the forenoon (ofaday)in the month of Asvina.

49b-50. O best brahmana, that water which is offered at midday to Vishnu, should be known as water, and he accepts it (as water). That water which is offered to Govinda in the afternoon, would be like blood. Vishnu does not accept it. Therefore, O best brahmana, one should worship Vishnu in the forenoon.

51-54a. Due to Vishnu's compassion one gets all desired objects. O best brahmana, one should not worship Vishnu while having (just) one garment on one's body. If one performs (Vishnu's) worship like that, Vishnu does not accept it. That worship of Vishnu which one performs, with the garment on one's body not washed, is fruitless; and Vishnu is not pleased. Those who, without tying the tuft of hair on the crowns of their heads, perform the worship of the Disc-holder (i.e. Vishnu), do not obtain the fruit of the worship. It would be accepted by hogs.

54b-56a. O best brahmana, that worship of Vishnu which is performed in a house that is not purified, would indeed be accepted by hogs. O brahmana, a wise man does not bathe, worship deities, give gifts or honour his manes without having (sectarian) marks (on his body).

56b-57a. That entire holy act which is done without having sectarian marks on his body by a devotee, is reduced to ash. And the doer would be a resident of hell.

57b-60. O best brahmana, he whose body is marked with (the marks of) a conch, a disc, a mace, a lotus, should be known to be Vishnu himself. There is no doubt that he who would draw (the marks) of a conch and a lotus on his right hand, and (the marks of) a disc and a mace on his left hand is Vishnu (himself). All sin of him who would draw (the mark) of a lotus upon (the mark of) the conch perishes in a moment.

61. Even gods like Indra salute him who would draw (the mark of) a mace upon (that of) the disc, O brahmana. A wise man should also draw (the marks of) the couple of the feet of Vishnu on his forehead.

62-67. Seeing him, even a sinner becomes free from his sin(s). That best devotee of Vishnu who would draw on his chest the eight-syllabled great formula, (the marks of) a fish and a tortoise purifies the three worlds. Krishna, the lord of the world, gives him whose body is everyday marked with drawings of Krishna's weapons, the highest position. All that act, auspicious or inauspicious, that a man whose body is marked with (the drawings of) the weapons of Krishna, would be inexhaustible. Seeing him having marks of the weapons of Krishna on his body, all demons and fiends, so also spirits and vampires, goblins, serpents, yaksas, vidyadharas, kinnaras, guhyakas, evil demons, young evil demons seizing upon children, so also (goblins called) kusmandas, female goblins, so also others that bring about obstacles, run (away) through fear.

68-70a. Elephants, tigers, so also other inhabitants of the forest, run away through fear on seeing him who is marked with (the drawings of) the weapons of Krishna. Severe diseases like jaundice causing the fall of the body (also go away). That man, who devoutly sees the body (of a man) marked with (the drawings of) the weapons of Krishna, gets the fruit equivalent to that of seeing Krishna.

70b-72a. The progeny of him who would worship Vishnu in Asvina with three-bladed durva grass, proceeds without any interruption. O brahmana, in the heart of him who would offer a karkati (Cucumis Utilissimus) fruit to Vishnu in the month of Asvina, unhappiness is never produced.

72b-73a. A wise man should devoutly worship Damodara, god of gods, when the auspicious, the best of all months, viz. Kartika has arrived.

73b-75a. O best brahmana, a wise man should bathe in the morning in the proper manner to please Vishnu in the month of Kartika. He who would give up (eating) flesh, copulation in the month of Kartika, goes to the highest position after being freed from sins committed during existence after existence.

75b-77a. O best brahmaria, when the Sun enters the Libra sign of the Zodiac, a bath in the morning, offering of clarified butter and celibacy destroy great sins. O best brahmana, he who enjoys flesh, copulation in the month of Kartika would become a village hog in existence after existence.

77b-79a. When the month of Kartika has arrived, a devotee of Vishnu should, even with effort, avoid eating twice (a day), food of others and oil. O brahmana, I shall tell (you) in brief the fruit of (i.e. obtained by) him who offers a lamp to Vishnu in Sravana. (Please) listen.

79b-80a. Being freed from agonising sins like those of the murder of a brahmaria, he goes to the city of Damodara and would stay (there) for a period of a crore of yugas.

80b-81a. Seeing a lamp burning (before Vishnu's image) in Sravana, all gods likelndra, being delighted, say to one another:

81b-82. "This one highly devoted to worshipping Vishnu is the best among the righteous souls, since he offers a lamp to the Disc-holder (Vishnu) in the month of Kartika. O best brahmana, Vishnu is always pleased with him in the month of Kartika.

83. That man who would continuously offer a lamp in Vishnu's temple in Kartika, obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice everyday.

84. That man who would worship Vishnu with lakhs of tulasi leaves in Kartika, obtains the fruit of a lakh of horsesacrifices.

85. He who would worship the immutable Vishnu with a lakh of bilva-flowers, obtains liberation due to the favour of the lord of the world.

86. Whatever is given after dedicating it to Vishnu in Kartika, all that would be inexhaustible. This is the truth told by me.

87. O brahmana, he who would offer the sura leaf smeared with ghee everyday in the month of Kartika, remains in front of Vishnu, O brahmana.

88-90. What is difficult on the earth for the best brahmana who would worship Laksml's lord with a white or black lotus that is full-blown? What has he who has offered a lotus to Vishnu in the month of Kartika, not given to Vishnu, the conqueror of the demons? What does the revered lord of Lakshmi not give to him who just takes a lotus and offers it to the enemy of Kaitabha?

91. Lakshmi (i.e. Prosperity) does not stay during existence after existence in the house of him who has not worshipped Vishnu with lotuses in the month of Kartika.

92-93. He who would offer lotus-seeds to the magnanimous Vishnu, is born in a brahmana family in every existence. He, born in a brahmana family, would be the friend of the four Vedas, be wealthy, have many sons and maintain the members of his family.

94-95. O Jaimini, I tell you the truth: There is no (other) flower like a lotus with which even a sinner having worshipped Vishnu enjoys liberation. O best brahmana, I shall especially tell the greatness of lotus, along with its history. Listen to it attentively.

96-100. There was a brahmana named Praja, who knew all branches of holy literature, and the bee of whose mind always remained in the lotus of Vishnu's feet. (Abandoning) hundreds of acts fit and unfit to be done, he always worshipped deities, brahmanas and preceptors (or elderly persons). To him the wealth of others was like poison. Wives of others were to him like his own mother. He did to his enemy what he did to his friend. That brahmana, knowing the sublime truth, did not have much regard on seeing a best brahmana as a guest or a suppliant. Desiring to cross the fearful, boundless ocean of the mundane existence, he performed all (kinds of) sacrifices and observed all vows.

101-102. Once that best brahmana, highly given to devotion for Vishnu, thought in his mind about his death and birth: 'Who was I formerly? Whatacthave I done formerly? How have I got this (birth)? Where shall I go again?'

103. Thinking like this and sighing repeatedly, that brahmana went to a place sacred to Shiva to know his former account.

104. There, the brahmana with the palms of his hands joined, praised god S"iva with great devotion and with sweet words. The brahmana said:

105-115. O great god, salutation to you. O highest god, salutation to you. O Sarikara, O Isana, O you giver of boons, O you lord, salutation to you. Salutation to you, of the form of knowledge; salutation to you the giver of knowledge. Salutation to you living in the lotuses of the hearts of all beings. Salutation to you, the creator of the world. Repeated salutations to you, the father of the world. Salutation to you, the destroyer (of the world). Salutation to you, the lord of beings. Salutation to you, Vahninetra (having fire-like eyes). Salutation to you Vahnicaksus (having fire in your eye). Salutation to you, having the moon and the sun as your eyes. Salutation to you, decorated with ash; salutation to you, wearing a hide; salutation to you, having a string of bones; salutation to you, Nilakantha. Salutation to you, Pancavaktra (having five faces); salutation to you having the trident in your hand; to you who destroyed the pride of Cupid; and to you of a fierce form. Salutation to you, god of gods; salutation to you, Tripura's enemy. Salutation to you, the lord of Parvati; salutation to you, of a fierce form. Salutation to you whose mind was very much pleased with Bana's devotion. Salutation to you of many forms and of a universal form. Salutation to you, Gangadhara (who sustains Ganga on his head); to you, the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice. Salutation to you, the lord of the evil spirits; to the holder of (the bow) Pinaka. Salutation to you, Isana; salutation to you, Manisa. Salutation to you, the visible and the invisible one. Salutation to you who can and cannot be discovered. You alone are Brahma; you alone are the lord of gods, Vishnu; you alone are the Sun. You alone are the Moon, removing all afflictions. Repeated salutations to you, the highest god.

116-118. Having heard his eulogy, S"ankara, the highest lord, who brings about the welfare of the world, was pleased, and suddenly manifested himself (before him). The very devout brahmana, seeing him, saluted by all gods to have manifested himself, saluted his feet. The best brahmana, with his mind full of joy and with the palms of his hands folded, also again praised Mahadeva, the lord, who grants boons.

119-122. "I actually see him, the lord of gods, whom even gods including Indra do not (i.e. are unable to) see. This is my great fortune. I actually see that highest god who cannot be seen with the mind set upon meditation. What else have I to accomplish? I see that lord by merely remembering whose name even great sinners go to the highest position. I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed, and I am fortunate. O highest god, repeated salutations to you. Be pleased." Mahadeva said:

123. O best brahmana, with these words of you lam pleased. O glorious one, ask for a boon. I indeed desire to grant a boon. The brdhmaria said:

124-127. O lord, I am actually seeing you, the highest soul, who cannot be seen even by deities. What is the use of other boons? Yet, O great god, you, full of pity, desire to grant a boon. O highest lord, I ask you something. Tell (i.e. answer) it. O god, who was I formerly? What acts did I do formerly? O lord, how have I fallen into this ocean of worldly existence? A body is obtained through acts. A man is smeared with sin. Again as a result of the sin miserable position is had.

128-130. Due to which acts have I obtained this existence full of many miseries? O^ankara, be pleased, and tell it. This existence is the root of sins. Existence is the cause of misery. Therefore, I desire to know my former account. Due to the maturity of my acts, I, tormented by the digestive fire of the stomach, remained in my mother's womb mixed with urine and feces.

131-134. In the worldly existence no other affliction is said to be equal to that due to remaining in the womb. O lord, O you who remove the misery of your devotees, how did I experience it? O Shiva, O lord of the worlds, how have I fallen into this very fierce, worthless, limitless mundane existence which is full of various miseries, which is deluded by Vishnu's Maya, which has supported sins, which is difficult to cross, which is without kinsmen, which is full of desire for sexual union and anger, which gives affliction and attachment, which also gives birth and death? O lord, if you favour, then tell (i.e. explain) all this to me. Mahddeva said:

135-136. O best brahmana, even though this is a great secret among secrets (i.e. the greatest secret), and (therefore) is not to be divulged, yet I shall tell it to you (my) devotee. O best brahmana, formerly you were born in the family of mountaineers. You were known as Dandapani, and you lived by giving trouble to good people.

137-138. Abandoned by discrimination, and having abandoned the fear of the other world, you took to the livelihood of bandits, which caused great affliction and agony to those who were distressed. Seeing you, the extremely cruel one, to have taken to the livelihood of a robber your other brothers also became robbers.

139-143. O best brahmana, I (shall) tell you the names of your brothers with whom you formerly committed robbery: These six — Dandin, Dandayudha, and Dattavan, Dattabhti, Sudanda, Dandaketu — are said to be your brothers. Along with those very fierce and cruel brothers of yours, you always frightened all people with a club. O brahmana, due to greed for money, you, along with those wicked brothers of yours, killed hundreds of thousands (of people) in the forest on a desolate road. O brahmana, you, remaining in. the forest, and killing with sharp arrows (cows), always ate the raw flesh of cows along with liquor.

144-145. Then all traders gave up using vehicles. A great calamity always befell (travellers) in that forest. When you took to robbery, the wealth of a man did not remain his wealth, the house of a man did not remain his house, and the wife of a man did not remain his wife.

146. In this way in that very great forest, you, along with those brothers of yours (once) after being fatigued due to the journey went to a lake for bathing.

147-148. O best brahmana, having bathed there you along with your brothers, being hungry, ate lotus-stalks and (drank) water. O greatest brahmana, O best one, there you ate, through curiosity, many full-blown lotuses.

149-150. Just at that time, a brahmana, known as Sarvavedas, roaming in the forest, came there for bathing. The religious-minded one, having bathed there, and desiring to worship Vishnu, politely asked you for your lotus.

151-154. Then, O best brahmana, you gave him, with great devotion, a very clean lotus for the worship of the lord of Lakshmi. That best brahmana was pleased with the lotus given by you. And just there he worshipped Vishnu, bringing about everything. Seeing that brahmana absorbed in worshipping Vishnu, you too laughed and saluted Vishnu, the good giver of desired objects. That brahmana, having worshipped duly the highest soul, the giver of the fruit of the four goals of human life, went as he had come.

155-156. O best one, due to the present of the lotus and the salutation, and due to seeing Vishnu's worship, all your sin perished. O excellent brahmana, after a few days you, whose death was imminent, died in that great forest only.

157-159. The lord, the abode of compassion, pleased with just that act of yours gave you the highest place, very difficult to be obtained even by gods. Due to the favour of Laksml's lord you enjoyed various pleasures there for thousands and hundreds of Manu-periods. Then at the end of (i.e. after the fruit of your) acts (was enjoyed), you came to this land of religious rites and were born in a brahmana family due to the fruits of that religious merit.

160-162. O best one, having secured a birth in a pure brahmana family, you obtained steady devotion for Vishnu, which is the abode of all virtues. The lord, the great Vishnu propitiated by you with the yoga of (ritual) acts, will give you special knowledge. And you will be liberated by means of (that) knowledge. O brahmana, being very much pleased, go home. Well-being to you. You have obtained my sight. You are freed from the bond of the worldly existence. Vyasa said:

163-164. O brahmana, having spoken like that, the lord of the world vanished there only. That brahmana also, being satisfied, went home. To glorify the highest lord Vishnu he with effort worshipped him day and night with lovely lotuses.

165-169. Having worshipped Vishnu with lotuses, beautiful, good flowers, he slept for a long time. Having obtained knowledge, he attained liberation through the favour of the Garudabannered (god). If such is the fruit of (i.e. obtained by) him who offers a lotus to Vishnu even unintentionally, then what would be the fruit of (i.e. obtained by) him who offers it intentionally? I am telling the truth. I am again telling the truth (only). By worshipping Vishnu with lotuses one obtains the highest position. He who offers a lotus (even) once to Mura's enemy, is not reborn in this fearful worldly existence. Those full of major sins, even great sinners who worship Vishnu giving desired objects with fullblown lotuses even one day, go to (i.e. obtain) liberation.

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