Adhyaya 75: The Viśokā-Saptamī Vow (Saptamī Observance for Freedom from Grief)

Verse 1

*ईश्वर उवाच विशोकसप्तमीं तद्वद् वक्ष्यामि मुनिपुंगव यामुपोष्य नरः शोकं न कदाचिदिहाश्नुते //

The Lord said: “O best of sages, I shall likewise describe the Viśoka-Saptamī. By fasting (upavāsa) on that sacred seventh lunar day, a person never experiences grief in this world.”

Verse 2

माघे कृष्णतिलैः स्नात्वा षष्ठ्यां वै शुक्लपक्षतः कृताहारः कृसरया दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् उपवासव्रतं कृत्वा ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्निशि //

In the month of Māgha, having bathed with water mixed with black sesame (kṛṣṇa-tila), on the sixth lunar day of the bright fortnight one should first cleanse the teeth and then eat only kṛsarā (a simple rice-and-pulse dish). Thereafter, having undertaken the vow of fasting (upavāsa-vrata), one should observe brahmacarya (celibate restraint) at night.

Verse 3

ततः प्रभात उत्थाय कृतस्नानजपः शुचिः कृत्वा तु काञ्चनं पद्मम् अर्कायेति च पूजयेत् करवीरेण रक्तेन रक्तवस्त्रयुगेन च //

Then, rising at dawn—having bathed, completed japa, and become purified—one should prepare a golden lotus and worship (the deity) with the invocation “for Arka,” offering red karavīra (oleander) flowers and a pair of red garments.

Verse 4

यथा विशोकं भुवनं त्वयैवादित्य सर्वदा तथा विशोकता मे ऽस्तु त्वद्भक्तिः प्रतिजन्म च //

O Āditya, just as this world is ever free from sorrow through you alone, so may I too be free from sorrow; and may devotion (bhakti) to you be mine in every birth.

Verse 5

एवं सम्पूज्य षष्ठ्यां तु भक्त्या सम्पूजयेद्द्विजान् सुप्त्वा संप्राश्य गोमूत्रम् उत्थाय कृतनैत्यकः //

Thus, having duly completed the worship, on the sixth day he should, with devotion, honor and worship the dvija, the twice-born (Brāhmaṇas). Having slept, he should sip (saṃprāśya) cow’s urine; then, rising, he should perform the daily obligatory rites (nitya-karman).

Verse 6

सम्पूज्य विप्रानन्नेन गुडपात्रसमन्वितम् तद्वस्त्रयुग्मं पद्मं च ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् //

After duly honoring the Brahmins with food, and together with a vessel of jaggery, one should present to a Brahmin a pair of garments and a lotus as well.

Verse 7

अतैललवणं भुक्त्वा सप्तम्यां मौनसंयुतः ततः पुराणश्रवणं कर्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता //

On Saptamī, having eaten food prepared without oil and salt, and observing silence, one who desires prosperity should then undertake the listening of the Purāṇa.

Verse 8

अनेन विधिना सर्वम् उभयोरपि पक्षयोः कृत्वा यावत्पुनर्माघशुक्लपक्षस्य सप्तमी //

Having performed everything in this manner in both fortnights—the dark and the bright halves—one should continue again until the Saptamī of the bright fortnight of Māgha.

Verse 9

व्रतान्ते कलशं दद्यात् सुवर्णकमलान्वितम् शय्यां सोपस्करां दद्यात् कपिलां च पयस्विनीम् //

At the completion of the vow, one should gift a ritual water-pot (kalaśa) adorned with a golden lotus. One should also donate a bed complete with its furnishings, and a tawny milch-cow (kapilā) rich in milk.

Verse 10

अनेन विधिना यस्तु वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः विशोकसप्तमीं कुर्यात् स याति परमां गतिम् //

Whoever performs the Viśokā-Saptamī observance in this prescribed manner—free from deceit regarding wealth—attains the supreme destination.

Verse 11

यावज्जन्मसहस्राणां साग्रं कोटिशतं भवेत् तावन्न शोकमभ्येति रोगदौर्गत्यवर्जितः //

For as long as a hundred koṭis and more of thousands of births, one does not fall into sorrow, remaining free from disease and misfortune.

Verse 12

यं यं प्रार्थयते कामं तं तमाप्नोति पुष्कलम् निष्कामः कुरुते यस्तु स परं ब्रह्म गच्छति //

Whatever desire a person prays for, that very desire he attains in abundance; but the one who acts without desire attains the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 13

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि विशोकाख्यां च सप्तमीम् सो ऽपीन्द्रलोकमाप्नोति न दुःखी जायते क्वचित् //

Whoever recites or even listens to the account of the seventh lunar day called Viśokā attains Indra’s world; and he is never born anywhere as one afflicted by sorrow.