Adhyaya 44: The Vaiśākha Bright-Twelfth Observance: Worship of Hari as Jāmadagnya and Its Fruits

Verse 1

दुर्वासा उवाच । वैशाखेऽप्येवमेवं तु संकल्प्य विधिना नरः । तद्वत् स्नानादिकं कृत्वा ततो देवालयं व्रजेत् ॥ ४४.१ ॥

Durvāsā said: “In the month of Vaiśākha as well, having thus made the formal resolve (saṅkalpa) in accordance with the prescribed procedure, a man should perform bathing and the related observances in the same manner; thereafter he should proceed to a temple.”

Verse 2

तत्राराध्य हरिं भक्त्या एभिर्मन्त्रैर्विचक्षणः । जामदग्न्याय पादौ तु उदरं सर्वधारिणे । मधुसूदनायेति कटिमुरः श्रीवत्सधारिणे ॥ ४४.२ ॥

There, the discerning practitioner should worship Hari with devotion by these mantras: for the feet, recite “to Jāmadagnya”; for the belly, “to the All-Supporting One”; and for the waist and chest, “to Madhusūdana”—to Him who bears the mark of Śrīvatsa.

Verse 3

क्षत्रान्तकाय च भुजौ मणिकण्ठाय कण्ठकम् । स्वनाम्ना शङ्खचक्रौ तु शिरो ब्रह्माण्डधारिणे ॥ ४४.३ ॥

And (he should assign) the arms to Kṣatrāntaka, the neck-ornament to Maṇikaṇṭha; the conch and the discus are to be invoked by their own names; and the head to the Bearer of the cosmic egg (brahmāṇḍa).

Verse 4

एवमभ्यर्च्य मेधावी प्राग्वत् तस्याग्रतो घटम् । विन्यस्य स्थगितं तद्वद् वस्त्रयुग्मेन वेष्टितम् ॥ ४४.४ ॥

Having thus performed the worship, the wise person should, as before, place a water-pot in front; it too should be covered and wrapped with a pair of cloths.

Verse 5

वैणवेन तु पात्रेण तस्मिन् संस्थापयेद्धरिम् । जामदग्न्येति विख्यातं नाम्ना क्लेशविनाशनम् ॥ ४४.५ ॥

Then, using a Vaiṣṇava vessel, one should install Hari therein—Hari renowned by the name “Jāmadagnya,” a name said to destroy the kleśas, the afflictions.

Verse 6

दक्षिणे परशुं हस्ते तस्य देवस्य कारयेत् । सर्वगन्धैश्च सम्पूज्य पुष्पैर्नानाविधैः शुभैः ॥ ४४.६ ॥

In the right hand of that deity, one should have an axe (paraśu) fashioned; and, having duly worshipped with all kinds of fragrances, one should also worship with many varieties of auspicious flowers.

Verse 7

ततस्तस्याग्रतः कुर्याज्जागरं भक्तिमान्नरः । प्रभाते विमले सूर्ये ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् । एवं नियमयुक्तस्य यत्फलं तन्निबोध मे ॥ ४४.७ ॥

Then a devoted person should keep vigil in its presence. At dawn, when the sun is clear and pure, one should present (the offering) to a brāhmaṇa. Now learn from me what fruit accrues to one who is disciplined by such observances.

Verse 8

आसीद् राजा महाभागो वीरसेनो महाबलः । अपुत्रः स पुरा तीव्रं तपस्तेपे महौजसा ॥ ४४.८ ॥

There once was a king, most fortunate and greatly powerful, named Vīrasena. Formerly childless, he performed intense austerity with great spiritual vigor.

Verse 9

चरस्तत्तपो घोरं याज्ञवल्क्यो महामुनिः । आजगाम महायोगी तं दृष्ट्वा नातिदूरतः ॥ ४४.९ ॥

While Yājñavalkya, the great sage, was engaged in that fierce austerity, a great yogin approached; seeing him from not too far away, he came near.

Verse 10

तमायान्तमथो दृष्ट्वा ऋषिं परमवर्चसम् । कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा राजाभ्युत्थानमाकरॊत् ॥ ४४.१० ॥

Then, seeing the sage approaching—one of exceptional radiance—the king, joining his hands in reverence, rose in respectful reception.

Verse 11

स पूजितो मुनिः प्राह किमर्थं तप्यते तपः । राजन् कथय धर्मज्ञ किं ते कार्यं विवक्षितम् ॥ ४४.११ ॥

Having been duly honored, the sage said: “For what purpose is this austerity being undertaken? O king, knower of dharma, speak—what is the matter you wish to declare?”

Verse 12

राजोवाच । अपुत्रोऽहं महाभाग नास्ति मे पुत्रसन्ततिः । तेन मे तप आस्थाय क्रिष्यते स्वतनुर्द्विज ॥ ४४.१२ ॥

The king said: “O fortunate one, I am without a son; there is no line of sons for me. Therefore, having undertaken austerity, my own body, O twice-born, is becoming emaciated.”

Verse 13

याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच । अलं ते तपसाऽनेन महाक्लेशेन पार्थिव । अल्पायासेन ते पुत्रो भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ ४४.१३ ॥

Yājñavalkya said: “Enough of this austerity for you, O king, with such great hardship. With only slight effort, a son will be born to you—there is no doubt.”

Verse 14

राजोवाच । कथं मे भविता पुत्रोऽल्पायासेन वै द्विज । एतन्मे कथय प्रीतो भगवन् प्रणतस्य ह ॥ ४४.१४ ॥

The king said: “O twice-born one, how will a son be born to me with little effort? Tell me this, O venerable sir, being pleased—(tell it) to me who has bowed down in submission.”

Verse 15

दुर्वासा उवाच । एवमुक्तो मुनिस्तेन पार्थिवेन यशस्विना । आचख्यौ द्वादशीं चेमां वैशाखे सितपक्षजाम् ॥ ४४.१५ ॥

Durvāsā said: Thus addressed by that illustrious king, the sage then explained this Dvādaśī observance—arising in the bright fortnight of the month of Vaiśākha.

Verse 16

स हि राजा विधानॆन पुत्रकामो विशेषतः । उपोष्य लब्धवान् पुत्रं नलं परमधार्मिकम् । योऽद्यापि कीर्त्यते लोके पुण्यश्लोको नरोत्तमः ॥ ४४.१६ ॥

For that king—especially desiring a son—observed the prescribed rite and, having fasted, obtained a son, Nala, supremely righteous; even today he is celebrated in the world as a man of noble excellence, renowned through meritorious fame.

Verse 17

प्रासङ्गिकं फलं ह्येतद्गतस्यास्य महामुने । सुपुत्रो जायते वित्तविद्यावान्कान्तिरुत्तमा ॥ ४४.१७ ॥

O great sage, this indeed is an incidental fruit for one who has gone there (or has undertaken this practice): a good son is born; one becomes endowed with wealth and learning; and excellent radiance (or beauty) arises.

Verse 18

इह जन्मनि किं चित्रं परलोके शृणुष्व मे । कल्पमेकं ब्रह्मलोके वसित्वाऽप्सरसां गणैः ॥ ४४.१८ ॥

What is remarkable about this life? Hear from me about the other world: having dwelt for a single kalpa in Brahmaloka, one lives among the companies of apsarases.

Verse 19

क्रीडत्यन्ते पुनः सृष्टौ चक्रवर्ती भवेद् ध्रुवम् । त्रिंशत्यब्दसहस्राणि जीवते नात्र संशयः ॥ ४४.१९ ॥

At the end (of an age), when creation arises again, he will certainly become a cakravartin (universal sovereign). He lives for thirty thousand years—of this there is no doubt.