Adhyaya 54: Prahlada’s Pilgrimage and the Origin of the Sudarshana–Trishula Exchange (Jalodbhava Episode)

Verse 5

प्रौष्ठपद्याद्वयं पार्श्वे कुक्षिभ्यां रेवती स्थिता उरःसंस्था त्वनुराधा श्रविष्ठा पृष्ठसंस्थिता

The pair of Proṣṭhapadās is located on His two sides (flanks); Revatī is situated at His abdomen. Anurādhā is established in His chest, while Śraviṣṭhā is located on His back.

Verse 7

ग्रीवास्थैता तथा ज्येष्ठा श्रवणं कर्णयोः स्थितम् मुखसंस्थस्तथा पुष्यः स्वातिर्दन्ताः प्रकीर्तिताः

‘Jyeṣṭhā’ is likewise said to abide in the neck. ‘Śravaṇa’ is situated in the ears. ‘Puṣya’ is placed in the mouth, and ‘Svāti’ is proclaimed to be the teeth.

Verse 8

हनू द्वे वारुणश्चोक्तो नासा पैत्र उदाहृतः मृगशीर्षं नयनयो रूपधारिणि तिष्ठति

The two jaws are said to be ‘Vāruṇa’; the nose is declared to be ‘Paitra’. ‘Mṛgaśīrṣa’ abides in the eyes of the form-bearing one.

Verse 9

चित्रा चैव ललाटे तु भरणी तु तथा शिरः शिरोरुहस्था चैवार्द्रा नक्षत्राङ्गमिदं हरेः

Citrā is indeed (situated) on the forehead; Bharaṇī likewise on the head; and Ārdrā, abiding in the hair (of the head). Thus is this portion of Hari’s body constituted by the nakṣatras.

Verse 10

विधानं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यथायोगेन नारद संपूजितो हरिः कामान् विदधाति यथेप्सितान्

I shall now declare the procedure, in due and proper order, O Nārada. When Hari is duly worshipped, he bestows desires exactly as wished.

Verse 12

जानुनी चाश्विनीयोगे पूजयेदथ भक्तितः दोहदे च हविष्यान्नं पूर्ववद् द्विजभोजनम्

When the (lunar) conjunction is with Aśvinī, one should worship the two knees with devotion. At the time of the dohada (the prescribed seasonal/ritual offering), one should offer haviṣyānna (a simple oblation-food), and, as before, feed the twice-born (brāhmaṇas).

Verse 13

आषाढाभ्यां तथा द्वाभ्यां द्वावूरू पूजयेद् बुधः सलिलं शिशिरं तत्र दोहदे च प्रकीर्तितम्

Likewise, under the two Āṣāḍhā (nakṣatras), the wise person should worship the two thighs. There, at the dohada, cool water is prescribed (as the offering).

Verse 14

फाल्गुनीद्वितये गुह्यं पूजनीयं विचक्षणैः दोदहे च पयो गव्यं देयं च द्विजभोजनम्

Under the pair of Phālgunī (nakṣatras), the discerning should worship the guhya (the genital/secret region). At the dohada, cow’s milk should be given, and brāhmaṇas should also be fed.

Verse 16

पार्श्वे भाद्रपदायुग्मे पूजयित्वा विधानतः गुडं सलेहकं दद्याद् दोहदे देवकीर्तितम्

At the ‘pārśva’ (side/flank), when the pair of Bhādrapadā (nakṣatras) is in effect, having worshipped according to rule, one should give jaggery together with a ‘leha’ (lickable sweet); this is declared as the dohada prescribed by the deity.

Verse 25

चित्रायोगे ललाटं च दोहदे चारुभोजनम् भरणीषु शिरः पूज्यं चारु भक्तं च दोहदे

When the Citrā-yoga prevails, the forehead should be worshipped, and fine food should be given as the doḥada-offering. In the Bharaṇī (nakṣatra), the head should be worshipped, and excellent cooked food should be given as the doḥada-offering.

Verse Tirtha Mahima / Vrata and self-restraint

नक्षेत्रयोगेष्वेतेषु सम्पूज्य जगतः पतिम् पारिते दक्षिणान्दद्यात् स्त्रीपुंसोश्चारुवाससी

“On these (auspicious) conjunctions of lunar mansions (nakṣatra-yogas), having duly worshipped the Lord of the universe, when the rite is completed one should give the priestly fee (dakṣiṇā): fine garments for both a woman and a man.”

Verse 31

अङ्गोपाङ्गानि देवर्षे पूजयित्वा जगद्गुरोः सुरूपाम्यभिजायन्ते प्रत्यङ्गङ्गानि चैव हि

O Devarṣi, having worshipped the limbs and subsidiary limbs of the Guru of the world, one’s own limbs and sub-limbs indeed become well-formed and excellent in appearance.

Verse 32

सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं कुलसंगागतं च यत् पितृमातृसमुत्थं च तत्सर्वं हन्ति केशवः

Keśava destroys all of that: sin committed across seven births, sin that has come through one’s lineage, and sin arising from one’s father and mother.

Verse 33

सर्वाणि भद्राण्याप्नोति शरीरारोग्यमुत्तमम् अनन्तां मनसः प्रीतिं रूपं चातीव शोभनम्

He attains every auspicious good: the highest bodily health, unending gladness of mind, and a form (appearance) exceedingly beautiful.

Verse 34

वाङ्माधुर्यं तथा कान्ति यच्चान्यदभिवाञ्छितम् ददाति नक्षत्रपुमान् पूजितस्तु जनार्दनः

Sweetness of speech, and radiance, and whatever else is desired—Janārdana, when worshipped as the Nakṣatrapuruṣa, grants these.

Verse 38

एवं विधानतो ब्रह्मन्नक्षत्राङ्गो जनार्दनः पूजितो रूपधारी यैस्तैः प्राप्ता तु सुकामिता

Thus, O Brāhmaṇa, when Janārdana—‘Nakṣatrāṅga’—is worshipped according to the prescribed procedure, those worshippers who assume (or seek) a desired form attain their well-desired aims.

Verse 39

एतत् तवोक्तं परमं पवित्रं धन्यं यशस्यं शुभरूपदायि नक्षत्रपुंसः परमं विधानं शृणुष्व पुण्यामिह तीर्थयात्राम

“This supreme teaching you have spoken is most purifying—auspicious, fortune-bringing, fame-bestowing, and a giver of auspicious form. Now hear the highest ordinance concerning the Nakṣatra-Puruṣa, and (hear also) here the meritorious pilgrimage to the tīrthas.”