Adhyaya 46: The Rite of the Āṣāḍha Bright-Fortnight Dvādaśī Fast and the Installation (Nyāsa) of the Fourfold Manifestation

Verse 1

दुर्वासा उवाच । आषाढेऽप्येवमेवं तु संकल्प्य विधिना नरः । अर्चयेत् परमं देवं गन्धपुष्पैरनेकशः ॥ ४६.१ ॥

Durvāsā said: “In the month of Āṣāḍha as well, having thus formed the ritual intention in accordance with the prescribed procedure, a person should worship the supreme deity repeatedly with fragrances and flowers.”

Verse 2

वासुदेवाय पादौ तु कटिं संकर्षणाय च । प्रद्युम्नायेति जठरं अनिरुद्धाय वै उरः ॥ ४६.२ ॥

“(Assign/offer) the feet to Vāsudeva; and the waist to Saṃkarṣaṇa; the belly, saying ‘to Pradyumna’; and indeed the chest to Aniruddha.”

Verse 3

चक्रपाणयेति भुजौ कण्ठं भूपतये तथा । स्वनाम्ना शङ्खचक्रौ तु पुरुषायेति वै शिरः ॥ ४६.३ ॥

“(One should designate) the two arms as ‘to Cakrapāṇi’; likewise the throat as ‘to Bhūpati’. The conch and discus are to be named by their own names; and indeed the head as ‘to Puruṣa’.”}]}

Verse 4

एवमभ्यर्च्य मेधावी प्राग्वत्तस्याग्रतो घटम् । विन्यस्य वस्त्रसंयुक्तं तस्योपरि ततो न्यसेत् । काञ्चनं वासुदेवं तु चतुर्व्यूहं सनातनम् ॥ ४६.४ ॥

Thus, having performed the worship, the discerning practitioner should, as previously prescribed, place a water-pot in front; setting it there together with a cloth, he should then place upon it a golden Vāsudeva—the icon of the eternal fourfold manifestation (caturvyūha).

Verse 5

तमभ्यर्च्य विधानॆन गन्धपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात् । प्राग्वत् तं ब्राह्मणे दद्यात् वेदवादिनि सुव्रते । एवं नियमयुक्तस्य यत्पुण्यं तच्छृणुष्व मे ॥ ४६.५ ॥

Having worshipped him according to the prescribed procedure, in due sequence with fragrances, flowers, and the like, one should, as stated earlier, give that gift to a brāhmaṇa who recites the Veda and keeps good observances. Now hear from me the merit that accrues to one who is thus disciplined by vows and rules.

Verse 6

वसुदेवोऽभवद् राजा यदुवंशविवर्धनः । देवकी तस्य भार्या तु समानव्रतधारिणी ॥ ४६.६ ॥

Vasudeva became a king, one who increased the Yadu lineage. Devakī was his wife, a woman who maintained an equivalent, shared vow and discipline.

Verse 7

सा त्वपुत्राऽभवत् साध्वी पतिधर्मपरायणा । तस्य कालेन महता नारदोऽभ्यगमद् गृहम् ॥ ४६.७ ॥

She, however, remained without a son—virtuous and devoted to the dharma owed to her husband. After a long passage of time, Nārada came to their household.

Verse 8

वासुदेवेनासौ भक्त्या पूजितो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । वासुदेव शृणुष्व त्वं देवकार्यं ममानघ । श्रुत्वैतां च कथां शीघ्रमागतोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम् ॥ ४६.८ ॥

Worshipped with devotion by Vāsudeva, he spoke these words: “Vāsudeva, you who are without fault, listen to this divine task of mine. Having heard this account, I have come quickly into your presence.”

Verse 9

पृथिवी देवसमितौ मया दृष्टा यदूत्तम । गत्वा च जल्पती भारं न शक्ताऽऽहितुं सुराः ॥ ४६.९ ॥

O best of the Yadus, I saw the Earth in the assembly of the gods; having gone there, she spoke of her distress: the gods were not able to bear that burden.

Verse 10

सौभकंसजरासन्धाः पुनर्नरक एव च । कुरुपाञ्चालभोजाश्च बलिनो दानवाः सुराः । पीडयन्ति समेतां मां तान् हनध्वं सुरोत्तमाः ॥ ४६.१० ॥

Saubha, Kaṃsa, Jarāsandha—and Naraka as well—together with the Kurus, the Pāñcālas, and the Bhojas—powerful Dānavas and sura-like yet hostile beings—have assembled and are afflicting me. O best of the gods, slay them.

Verse 11

एवमुक्ताः पृथिव्या ते देवा नारायणं गताः । मनसा स च देवेशः प्रत्यक्षस्तत्क्षणात् बभौ ॥ ४६.११ ॥

Thus addressed by Pṛthivī, those gods approached Nārāyaṇa; and that Lord of the gods, invoked in the mind, became directly manifest at that very moment.

Verse 12

उवाच च सुरश्रेष्ठः स्वयं कार्यमिदं सुराः । साधयामि न सन्देहो मर्त्यं गत्वा मनुष्यवत् ॥ ४६.१२ ॥

And the foremost of the gods said: “O gods, I myself will accomplish this task. There is no doubt—I shall go to the mortal realm and act in the manner of a human.”

Verse 13

किंत्वाषाढे शुक्लपक्षे या नारी सह भर्तृणा । उपोष्यति मनुष्येषु तस्या गर्भे भवाम्यहम् ॥ ४६.१३ ॥

However, among human beings, whichever woman, together with her husband, undertakes a fast (upavāsa) in the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha—within her womb I become incarnate.

Verse 14

एवमुक्त्वा गतो देवः स्वयं चाहमिहागतः । उपदिष्टं तु भवतोऽपुत्रस्य विशेषतः । उपोष्य लभते पुत्रं सहभार्यो न संशयः ॥ ४६.१४ ॥

Having spoken thus, the deity departed; and I myself have come here. This instruction has been imparted especially for you who are without a son: by fasting, one obtains a son—together with one’s wife—there is no doubt.

Verse 15

एतां च द्वादशीं कृत्वा वासुदेवस्तथाप्तवान् । महतिं च श्रियं प्राप्तः पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः ॥ ४६.१५ ॥

And having observed this Dvādaśī rite, Vāsudeva likewise attained its fruit: he obtained great prosperity and was endowed with sons and grandsons.

Verse 16

भुक्त्वा राज्यश्रियं सोऽथ गतः परमिकां गतिम् । एष ते विधिरुद्दिष्ट आषाढे मासि वै मुने ॥ ४६.१६ ॥

Having enjoyed the splendor of royal fortune, he then attained the supreme state. This procedure has been set forth for you, O sage, for the month of Āṣāḍha.