Adhyaya 66: The Sarasvata Vrata: Vow for Sweet Speech, Learning, Social Favor, and Harmony

Verse 1

*मनुरुवाच मधुरा भारती केन व्रतेन मधुसूदन तथैव जनसौभाग्यम् अतिविद्यासु कौशलम् //

Manu said: “O Madhusūdana, by what vow (vrata) does one attain sweet and pleasing speech? And likewise, how does one gain the favor of people and exceptional skill in many branches of learning?”

Verse 2

अभेदश्चापि दम्पत्योस् तथा बन्धुजनेन च आयुश्च विपुलं पुंसां तन्मे कथय माधव //

Tell me, O Mādhava, how unbroken harmony may abide between husband and wife, and likewise with one’s kinsfolk—and how men may attain abundant longevity.

Verse 3

*मत्स्य उवाच सम्यक्पृष्टं त्वया राजञ् छृणु सारस्वतं व्रतम् यस्य संकीर्तनादेव तुष्यतीह सरस्वती //

Matsya said: “O King, you have asked rightly. Hear the Sārasvata vrata (the sacred observance dedicated to Sarasvatī); by the very devout recitation and proclamation of it, Sarasvatī is pleased here, in this world.”

Verse 4

यो यद्भक्तः पुमान्कुर्याद् एतद्व्रतमनुत्तमम् तद्वासरादौ सम्पूज्य विप्रानेतान्समाचरेत् //

Whatever deity a man is devoted to, he should undertake this unsurpassed vow; and at the beginning of its appointed day, having duly worshipped these Brahmanas, he should carry out the observance accordingly.

Verse 5

अथवादित्यवारेण ग्रहताराबलेन च पायसं भोजयेद्विप्रान् कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम् //

Or else, on a Sunday—taking into account the strength of the planets and stars—one should feed the Brahmins with sweet milk-rice (pāyasa), after arranging the recitation of Brahminical sacred texts.

Verse 6

शुक्लवस्त्राणि दत्त्वा च सहिरण्यानि शक्तितः गायत्रीं पूजयेद्भक्त्या शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनैः //

Having offered white garments, and also gold according to one’s ability, one should worship Gāyatrī with devotion, using white garlands and white unguents for anointing.

Verse 7

यथा न देवि भगवान् ब्रह्मलोके पितामहः त्वां परित्यज्य संतिष्ठेत् तथा भव वरप्रदा //

O Goddess, just as the venerable Grandfather Brahmā in Brahmaloka does not remain after forsaking you, so too be firmly present here, O bestower of boons.

Verse 8

वेदाः शास्त्राणि सर्वाणि गीतनृत्यादिकं च यत् न विहीनं त्वया देवि तथा मे सन्तु सिद्धयः //

May all the Vedas and every śāstra, and whatever pertains to song, dance, and the like—O Goddess—be granted to me through your grace without deficiency; and may my attainments (siddhi) be fulfilled accordingly.

Verse 9

लक्ष्मीर्मेधा धरा पुष्टिर् गौरी तुष्टिः प्रभा मतिः एताभिः पाहि चाष्टाभिस् तनुभिर्मां सरस्वति //

O Sarasvatī, protect me with these eight embodied forms: Lakṣmī (prosperity), Medhā (intelligence), Dharā (supporting power/earth), Puṣṭi (nourishment), Gaurī (radiant auspiciousness), Tuṣṭi (contentment), Prabhā (splendour), and Mati (right understanding).

Verse 10

एवं सम्पूज्य गायत्रीं वीणाक्षमणिधारिणीम् शुक्लपुष्पाक्षतैर् भक्त्या सकमण्डलुपुस्तकाम् मौनव्रतेन भुञ्जीत सायं प्रातस्तु धर्मवित् //

Having thus duly worshipped Goddess Gāyatrī—who bears the vīṇā, the rosary, and the jewel—adorning her with white flowers and unbroken rice-grains in devotion, and contemplating her as holding the water-pot (kamaṇḍalu) and the sacred book, the knower of dharma should take his meal in silence (mauna-vrata), both in the evening and in the morning.

Verse 11

पञ्चम्यां प्रतिपक्षं च पूजयेद्ब्रह्मवासिनीम् तथैव तण्डुलप्रस्थं घृतपात्रेण संयुतम् क्षीरं दद्याद्धिरण्यं च गायत्री प्रीयतामिति //

On the fifth lunar day (pañcamī), and also on its fortnightly counterpart (pratipakṣa), one should worship the goddess who abides in Brahman (Brahmavāsinī). Likewise, one should give a prastha-measure of rice together with a vessel of ghee, and also offer milk and gold, praying, “May Gāyatrī be pleased.”

Verse 12

संध्यायां च तथा मौनम् एतत्कुर्वन्समाचरेत् नान्तरा भोजनं कुर्याद् यावन्मासास्त्रयोदश //

At the times of sandhyā—the daily twilight worship—he should also observe silence; practicing these disciplines, he should live accordingly. He should not eat between meals for as long as thirteen months.

Verse 13

समाप्ते तु व्रते कुर्याद् भोजनं शुक्लतण्डुलैः पूर्वं सवस्त्रयुग्मं च दद्याद्विप्राय भोजनम् //

When the vow is completed, one should prepare a meal with white rice; and first, together with a pair of garments, one should offer a Brahmin a meal.

Verse 14

देव्या वितानं घण्टां च सितनेत्रे पयस्विनीम् चन्दनं वस्त्रयुग्मं च दद्याच्च शिखरं पुनः //

To the Goddess one should offer a ceremonial canopy and a bell; (offer) a white-eyed, milk-yielding cow; and also sandalwood and a pair of garments—then again, one should present a śikhara, a temple-spire or top-ornament, as well.

Verse 15

तथोपदेष्टारमपि भक्त्या सम्पूजयेद्गुरुम् वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो वस्त्रमाल्यानुलेपनैः //

Likewise, one should devoutly honour and worship the guru—one’s instructor as well—free from deceit regarding wealth, offering garments, garlands, and unguents.

Verse 16

अनेन विधिना यस्तु कुर्यात्सारस्वतं व्रतम् विद्यावानर्थसंयुक्तो रक्तकण्ठश्च जायते //

Whoever performs the Sarasvata vow according to this prescribed method becomes learned, endowed with prosperity, and is born with a bright, ruddy throat—i.e., with a strong, auspicious voice.

Verse 17

सरस्वत्याः प्रसादेन ब्रह्मलोके महीयते नारी वा कुरुते या तु सापि तत्फलगामिनी //

By the grace of Sarasvatī, one is honored in Brahmā’s world (Brahmaloka). Even a woman who performs this observance attains that very same fruit.

Verse 18

ब्रह्मलोके वसेद् राजन् यावत् कल्पायुतत्रयम् //

O King, he dwells in Brahmā’s world (Brahmaloka) for as long as three ayutas of kalpas.

Verse 19

सारस्वतं व्रतं यस्तु शृणुयादपि यः पठेत् विद्याधरपुरे सो ऽपि वसेत्कल्पायुतत्रयम् //

Whoever listens to, or even recites, the Sarasvata vow (Sārasvata-vrata), that person too dwells in the city of the Vidyādharas for three ayutas of kalpas.