Adhyaya 42: Ritual Procedure for the Phālguna Bright-Fortnight Dvādaśī Narasiṃha Worship, with the Narrative of King Vatsa

Verse 1

दुर्वासा उवाच । तद्वत् फाल्गुनमासे तु शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वादशीम् । उपोष्य प्रोक्तविधिना हरिमाराधयेत् सुधीः ॥ ४२.१ ॥

Durvāsā said: “Likewise, in the month of Phālguna, on the twelfth lunar day (Dvādaśī) in the bright fortnight, having observed a fast according to the stated procedure, the wise person should worship Hari.”

Verse 2

नरसिंहाय पादौ तु गोविन्दायेत्युरू तथा । कटिं विश्वभुजे पूज्य अनिरुद्धेत्युरस्तथा ॥ ४२.२ ॥

One should designate the feet to Narasiṁha; likewise the thighs with the formula “to Govinda.” The waist is to be revered as belonging to Viśvabhuja; and the chest likewise with the formula “to Aniruddha.”

Verse 3

कण्ठं तु शितिकण्ठाय पिङ्गकेशाय वै शिरः । असुरध्वंसनायेति चक्रं तोयात्मने तथा । शङ्खमित्येव सम्पूज्य गन्धपुष्पफलैस्तथा ॥ ४२.३ ॥

One should worship the throat-region for Śitikaṇṭha and the head for Piṅgakeśa; likewise, worship the discus (cakra) with the formula “for the destroyer of the asuras,” and the conch (śaṅkha) for Toyātman—duly honoring these with fragrances, flowers, and fruits.

Verse 4

तदग्रे घटमादाय सितवस्त्रयुगान्वितम् । तस्योपरि नृसिंहं तु सौवर्णं ताम्रभाजने । सौवर्णशक्तितः कृत्वा दारुवंशमयेऽपि वा ॥ ४२.४ ॥

Then, in front, taking a water-pot (ghaṭa) furnished with a pair of white cloths, one should place above it a golden image of Nṛsiṃha in a copper vessel; if one has the means, it should be made of gold, or else it may be made of wood or bamboo.

Verse 5

रत्नगर्भघटे स्थाप्य तं संपूज्य च मानवः । द्वादश्यां वेदविदुषे ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् ॥ ४२.५ ॥

Having placed it in a pot containing jewels (ratna-garbha ghaṭa) and having duly honored it, a person should, on the twelfth lunar day (Dvādaśī), present it to a learned Brāhmaṇa who is versed in the Vedas.

Verse 6

एवं कृते फलं प्राप्तं यत् पुरा पार्थिवेन तु । तस्याहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि वत्सनाम्ना महामुने ॥ ४२.६ ॥

When it is done in this manner, one attains the fruit that a king obtained in former times; of that fruit I shall now give a full account, O great sage, under the name “Vatsa”.

Verse 7

आसीत् किम्पुरुषे वर्षे राजा परमधार्मिकः । भारत इति च विख्यातस्तस्य वत्सः सुतोऽभवत् ॥ ४२.७ ॥

In the region called Kiṃpuruṣa-varṣa there was a king of exemplary dharmic conduct, renowned by the name Bhārata; and he had a son named Vatsa.

Verse 8

स शत्रुभिर्जितः सङ्ख्ये हृतकोशो द्विपादवान् । वनं प्रायात् सपत्नीको वसिष्ठस्याश्रमेऽवसत् ॥ ४२.८ ॥

Defeated by enemies in battle, his treasury seized though his elephants remained, he went to the forest with his wife and dwelt in the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha.

Verse 9

कालेन गच्छता सोऽथ वसिष्ठेन महर्षिणा । किं कार्यमिति स प्रोक्तो वसस्यास्मिन् महाश्रमे ॥ ४२.९ ॥

As time passed, the great seer Vasiṣṭha addressed him in this great hermitage of Vasu, asking: “What is to be done—what is your purpose here?”

Verse 10

राजोवाच । भगवन् हृतकोशोऽहं हृतराज्यो विशेषतः । शत्रुभिर्हतसंकल्पो भवन्तं शरणं गतः । उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ ४२.१० ॥

The king said: “O Blessed One, my treasury has been taken, and above all my kingdom has been taken. My resolve has been shattered by enemies; I have come to you for refuge. By granting instruction, be pleased to show me favor.”

Verse 11

एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठस्तु तस्येमां द्वादशीं मुने । विधिना प्रत्युवाचाथ सोऽपि सर्वं तथा अकरोत् ॥ ४२.११ ॥

Thus addressed, Vasiṣṭha replied to him, O sage, concerning this Dvādaśī observance according to proper procedure; and he too carried out everything in that very manner.

Verse 12

तस्य व्रतान्ते भगवान्नारसिंहस्तुतोष ह । चक्रं प्रादाच्च शत्रूणां विध्वंसनकरं परम् ॥ ४२.१२ ॥

At the conclusion of his vow, the Blessed Lord Narasiṁha was satisfied and granted a discus (cakra) supremely capable of destroying enemies.

Verse 13

तेनास्त्रेण स्वकं राज्यं जितवान् स नृपोत्तमः । राज्ये स्थित्वाऽश्वमेधानां सहस्रमकरोद्विभुः । अन्ते च विष्णुलोकाख्यं पदमाप च सत्तम ॥ ४२.१३ ॥

By that weapon, the excellent king conquered and secured his own kingdom. Established in his reign, the mighty one performed a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices; and in the end, the best of men attained the state known as Viṣṇu’s world.

Verse 14

एषा धन्या पापहरा द्वादशी भवतो मुने । कथिता या प्रयत्नेन श्रुत्वा कुरु यथेप्सितम् ॥ ४२.१४ ॥

O sage, this is the auspicious Dvādaśī that removes sin; I have explained it to you with due effort. Having heard it, act as you wish.