Adhyaya 49: The Padmanābha Dvādaśī Observance, with the Eulogy of Lamp-Offering Merit

Verse 1

दुर्वासा उवाच । तद्वदाश्वयुजे मासि द्वादशीं शुक्लपक्षतः । संकल्प्याभ्यर्चयेद् देवं पद्मनाभं सनातनम् ॥ ४९.१ ॥

Durvāsā said: “Likewise, in the month of Āśvayuja, on the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight, having formed a solemn intention (saṅkalpa), one should worship the eternal deity Padmanābha.”

Verse 2

पद्मनाभाय पादौ तु कटिं वै पद्मयोनये । उदरं सर्वदेवाय पुष्कराक्षाय वै उरः । अव्ययाय तथा पाणिं प्राग्वदस्त्राणि पूजयेत् ॥ ४९.२ ॥

One should perform nyāsa (ritual assignment of the limbs): the feet to Padmanābha, the waist to Padmayoni, the abdomen to Sarvadeva, and the chest to Puṣkarākṣa; likewise the hand(s) to Avyaya. As stated earlier, one should also worship the associated astras (ritual weapon-mantras).

Verse 3

प्रभवाय शिरः पूज्य प्राग्वदग्रे घटं न्यसेत् । तस्मिन् सौवर्णकं देवं पद्मनाभं तु विन्यसेत् ॥ ४९.३ ॥

Having honored the head as previously prescribed, one should place a kalaśa (ritual water-pot) in front; within it one should then install the golden deity Padmanābha.

Verse 4

तमेव देवं सम्पूज्य गन्धपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात् । प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् । एवं कॄते तु यत् पुण्यं तन्निबोध महामुने ॥ ४९.४ ॥

Having duly worshipped that very deity, in proper order, with fragrances, flowers, and the like, at dawn—after the night has passed—one should present the offering to a brāhmaṇa. And the merit that arises when this is done—hear it, O great sage.

Verse 5

आसीत्कृतयुगे राजा भद्राश्वो नाम वीर्यवान् । यस्य नाम्नाऽभवद्वर्षं भद्राश्वं नाम नामतः ॥ ४९.५ ॥

In the Kṛta Yuga there was a powerful king named Bhadrāśva; by his name a region (varṣa) also came to be known, called Bhadrāśva.

Verse 6

तस्यागस्त्यः कदाचित् तु गृहमागत्य सत्तम । उवाच सप्तारात्रं तु वसामि भवतो गृहे ॥ ४९.६ ॥

Then, on one occasion, Agastya came to his house and said, “O best among the good, I shall stay in your home for seven nights.”

Verse 7

तं राजा शिरसा भूत्वा स्थीयतामित्यभाषत । तस्य कान्तिमती नाम भार्या परमशोभना ॥ ४९.७ ॥

The king, bowing his head in reverent assent, said, “So be it; remain (here).” He had a wife named Kāntimatī, exceedingly splendid in appearance.

Verse 8

तस्यास्तेजः समभवद् द्वादशादित्यसंनिभम् । शतानि पञ्च तस्यासन् सपत्नीनां यतव्रत ॥ ४९.८ ॥

Her radiance then arose, comparable to that of the twelve Ādityas. Five hundred co-wives of his—steadfast in their vows—were present.

Verse 9

ताः दास्य इव कर्माणि कुर्वन्त्यहरहः शुभाः । कान्तिमत्या महाभाग भयात् त्रस्ताः विचेतसः ॥ ४९.९ ॥

Those women, O fortunate one, perform auspicious tasks day after day as though in servitude—mentally unsettled and frightened out of fear of Kāntimatī.

Verse 10

तामगस्त्यस्तथा दृष्ट्वा रूपतेजोऽन्वितां शुभाम् । सपत्न्यश्च भयात्तस्याः कुर्वन्त्यः कर्म शोभनम् । राजा तु तस्या मुदितं मुखमेवावलोकयन् ॥ ४९.१० ॥

Thus, when Agastya saw her—auspicious, endowed with beauty and radiance—her co-wives, out of fear of her, began performing their duties in a proper and decorous manner; and the king, for his part, kept looking only at her delighted face.

Verse 11

एवंभूतामथो दृष्ट्वा राज्ञीं परमशोभनाम् । साधु साधु जगन्नाथेत्यगस्त्यः प्राह हर्षितः ॥ ४९.११ ॥

Having thus seen the queen—exceedingly splendid—Agastya, delighted, said: “Well done, well done, O Jagannātha!”

Verse 12

द्वितीये दिवसेऽप्येवं राज्ञीं दृष्ट्वा महाप्रभाम् । अहो मुष्टमहो मुष्टं जगदेतच्चराचरम् । इत्यगस्त्यो द्वितीयेऽह्नि राज्ञीं दृष्ट्वाऽभ्युवाच ह ॥ ४९.१२ ॥

On the second day as well, seeing the queen radiant with great splendor, Agastya exclaimed: “Ah, what a marvel! what a marvel—this entire world of moving and unmoving beings!” Thus, on the second day, having seen the queen, he addressed her.

Verse 13

तृतीयेऽहनि तां दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवमुवाच ह । अहो मूढा न जानन्ति गोविन्दं परमेश्वरम् । य एकेऽह्नि फलं चै तद् राज्ञे तुष्टः प्रदत्तवान् ॥ ४९.१३ ॥

On the third day, having seen her, he spoke again: “Alas, the deluded do not recognize Govinda, the Supreme Lord. This very fruit that is gained in a single day—being pleased—He granted to the king.”

Verse 14

चतुर्थे दिवसे हस्तावुत्क्षिप्य पुनरब्रवीत् । साधु साधु जगन्नाथ स्त्री शूद्राः साधु साध्विति । द्विजाः साधु नृपाः साधु वैश्याः साधु पुनः पुनः ॥ ४९.१४ ॥

On the fourth day, raising his hands, he spoke again: “Excellent, excellent, O Jagannātha, Lord of the world! ‘Excellent!’—so cry women and Śūdras; ‘excellent!’—so cry the twice-born; ‘excellent!’—so cry kings; ‘excellent!’—so cry Vaiśyas, again and again.”

Verse 15

साधु भद्राश्व साधु त्वं भोऽगस्त्य साधु साधु ते । साधु प्रह्लाद ते साधु ध्रुव साधो महाव्रत । एवमुक्त्वा ननर्तोच्चैरगस्त्यो राजसन्निधौ ॥ ४९.१५ ॥

Having spoken thus—“Excellent, Bhadrāśva; excellent are you. O Agastya, excellent—excellent indeed to you. Excellent, Prahlāda; excellent to you. Dhruva, excellent—O great observer of vows (mahā-vrata)”—Agastya then danced aloud in the presence of the king.

Verse 16

एवम्भूतं च तं दृष्ट्वा सपत्निको नृपोत्तमः । किं हर्षकारणं ब्रह्मन् येनेत्थं नृत्यते भवान् ॥ ४९.१६ ॥

Seeing him in such a state, the excellent king—together with his queen—asked: “O Brāhman, what is the cause of your joy, by which you are dancing in this manner?”

Verse 17

अगस्त्य उवाच । अहो मूर्खः कुराज त्वमहो मूर्खानुगास्त्वमी । अहो पुरोहिता मूर्खा ये न जानन्ति मे मतम् ॥ ४९.१७ ॥

Agastya said: “Alas—O wicked king, you are foolish, and your followers too are foolish. Alas, those priests are foolish as well, for they do not understand my counsel.”

Verse 18

एवमुक्ते ततो राजा कृताञ्जलिरभाषत । न जानीमो वयं ब्रह्मन् प्रश्नमेतत् त्वयेरितम् । कथयस्व महाभाग यद्यनुग्रहकृद् भवान् ॥ ४९.१८ ॥

When this was said, the king, joining his palms, replied: “O Brahman, we do not understand this question you have posed. Explain it, O great and fortunate one, if you are inclined to show favor.”

Verse 19

अगस्त्य उवाच । इयं राज्ञी त्वया याऽभूद् दासी वैश्यस्य वैदिशे । नगरे हरिदत्तस्य त्वमस्याः पतिरेव च । तस्यैव कर्मकारोऽभूच्छूद्रः सेवनतत्परः ॥ ४९.१९ ॥

Agastya said: “This queen, because of you, became a servant-girl in the city of Vidiśā, belonging to the vaiśya Haridatta; and you yourself became her husband. A śūdra, devoted to service, became his laborer.”

Verse 20

स वैश्योऽश्वयुजे मासि द्वादश्यां नियतः स्थितः । स्वयं विष्ण्वालयं गत्वा पुष्पधूपादिभिर्हरिम् ॥ ४९.२० ॥

That vaiśya, observing discipline on the twelfth lunar day (Dvādaśī) in the month of Āśvayuja, goes in person to a temple of Viṣṇu and honors Hari with offerings such as flowers and incense.

Verse 21

अभ्यर्च्य स्वगृहं प्रायाद् भवन्तौ रक्षपालकौ । स्थाप्य द्वावपि दीपानां ज्वलनार्थं महामते ॥ ४९.२१ ॥

“Having duly worshiped, one should return to one’s own house, saying: ‘You two are the guardians and protectors.’ And, O great-minded one, one should also set up two lamps, so that they may be kept burning.”

Verse 22

गते वैश्ये भवन्तौथ दीपान् प्रज्वाल्य संस्थितौ । यावत् प्रभाता रजनी निशामेकां नरोत्तम ॥ ४९.२२ ॥

When the Vaiśya had departed, the two of them lit lamps and remained there, O best of men, keeping vigil for a single night until the night reached dawn.

Verse 23

ततः काले मृतौ तौ तु उभौ द्वावपि दम्पती । तेन पुण्येन ते जन्म प्रियव्रतगृहेऽभवत् ॥ ४९.२३ ॥

Then, in due course of time, the two of them—both spouses—died; and by virtue of that merit, their next birth occurred in the household of Priyavrata.

Verse 24

इयं तु पत्नी ते जाता पुरा वैश्यस्य दासिका । पारक्यस्यापि दीपस्य ज्वालितस्य हरेर्गृहे ॥ ४९.२४ ॥

But this woman who has become your wife was formerly a servant-girl in the house of a Vaiśya; she even kindled another’s lamp in the household of Hari.

Verse 25

यः पुनः स्वेन वित्तेन विष्णोरग्रे प्रदीपकम् । ज्वालयेत् तस्य यत् पुण्यं तत् सङ्ख्यातुं न शक्यते । तेन साधो हरे साधु इत्युक्तं वचनं मया ॥ ४९.२५ ॥

Moreover, whoever, with his own resources, lights a lamp in the presence of Viṣṇu—the merit that accrues to him cannot be enumerated. Therefore, O good one, “Excellent, O Hari, excellent!”—such words have been spoken by me.

Verse 26

कृते संवत्सरे भक्तिं हरेः कृत्वा विचक्षणः । संवत्सरार्धं त्रेतायां सममेतन्न संशयः ॥ ४९.२६ ॥

A discerning person, having practiced devotion to Hari for one year in the Kṛta age, attains a result equivalent—without doubt—to practicing for half a year in the Tretā age.

Verse 27

त्रिमासे द्वापरे भक्त्या पूजयँल्लभते फलम् । नमो नारायणायेति उक्त्वा कलौ तु लभते फलम् । तेन मुष्टं जगद्विष्णोर्भक्तिमात्रं मयेरितम् ॥ ४९.२७ ॥

In the Dvāpara age, one who worships with devotion for three months attains the fruit. But in the Kali age, merely uttering “namo nārāyaṇāya” attains the fruit. Therefore I have succinctly declared for the world that devotion to Viṣṇu alone is the essence.

Verse 28

पारक्यदीपस्योत्कर्षाद् वै देवाग्रे फलमीदृशम् । प्राप्तं फलं त्वया राजन् फलमेतन् मयेरितम् । अहो मूढा न जानन्ति हरेर्दीपक्रियाफलम् ॥ ४९.२८ ॥

Indeed, by the exceptional efficacy of a lamp offered in another’s name, such a fruit is obtained before the deity. O king, you have attained that fruit; this is the result as declared by me. Alas, the deluded do not understand the fruit of performing the lamp-offering to Hari.

Verse 29

एवं विधं द्विजा ये च राजानो ये च भक्तितः । यजन्ते विविधैर्यज्ञैस्तेन ते साधवः स्मृताः ॥ ४९.२९ ॥

Thus, O twice-born ones, those persons—and kings as well—who, with devotion, perform sacrifices of various kinds: by that very conduct they are regarded as sādhus, the virtuous.

Verse 30

अहं तमेव मुक्त्वा अन्यं न पश्यामि महीतले । तेन साधोऽगस्त्येति मया चात्मा प्रशंसितः । हर्षेण महता राजन् व्याक्षिप्तेन मयेरितम् ॥ ४९.३० ॥

“Apart from him, I see no other like him upon the earth. Therefore, O good one, I praised him as ‘Agastya’, and in that utterance I also praised myself. O king, I spoke this in great delight, carried away by emotion.”

Verse 31

सा स्त्री धन्या स शूद्रस्तु तथा धन्यतरो मतः । भर्तुः सुश्रूषणं कृत्वा तत्परोक्षे हरेरिति ॥ ४९.३१ ॥

That woman is deemed blessed; and that Śūdra too is deemed blessed—indeed, even more blessed—because, having rendered attentive service to the husband, in his absence one invokes Hari.

Verse 32

सा स्त्री धन्या तथा शूद्रो द्विजसुश्रूषणे रतः । तदनुज्ञया हरेर्भक्तिः स्त्री शूद्रो तेन साध्विति ॥ ४९.३२ ॥

That woman is deemed blessed, and likewise the Śūdra who delights in serving the twice-born (dvija). With their permission, devotion (bhakti) to Hari is praised; by that, the woman and the Śūdra are thus called sādhu, the virtuous.

Verse 33

असुरं भावमास्थाय प्रह्लादः पुरुषोत्तमम् । मुक्त्वा चान्यं न जानाति तेनासौ साधुरुच्यते ॥ ४९.३३ ॥

Even while abiding in an asuric disposition, Prahlāda recognizes Puruṣottama alone. Having renounced all else, he knows no other; therefore he is called sādhu, a virtuous one.

Verse 34

प्रजापतिकुले भूत्वा बाल एव वनं गतः । आराध्य विष्णुं प्राप्तं तत् स्थानं परमशोभनम् । तेन साधो ध्रुवेत्येवं मयोक्तं राजसत्तम ॥ ४९.३४ ॥

Born in the lineage of Prajāpati, he went to the forest while still a child. Having worshipped Viṣṇu, he attained that supremely splendid abode. Therefore, O noble one—thus have I spoken of Dhruva, O best of kings.

Verse 35

इति राजा वचः श्रुत्वा अगस्त्यस्य महात्मनः । अल्पोपदेशराजासौ पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥ ४९.३५ ॥

Thus the king, having heard the words of the great-souled Agastya, and having received only a brief instruction, questioned the munipuṅgava, the foremost of sages.

Verse 36

अगस्त्यश्च महाभागः कार्तिक्यां पुष्करं व्रजन् । गतेऽगस्त्ये प्रगच्छन् वै भद्राश्वस्य निवेशनम् ॥ ४९.३६ ॥

And the fortunate Agastya, setting out in the month of Kārttika for Puṣkara—when Agastya had departed—indeed proceeded to the dwelling of Bhadrāśva.

Verse 37

पृष्टश्च राज्ञा तामेव द्वादशीं मुनिसत्तमः । दुर्वासा उवाच । इदमेव मया तुभ्यं कथितं ते तपोधन ॥ ४९.३७ ॥

Questioned by the king about that very Dvādaśī observance, the foremost of sages, Durvāsā, said: “This indeed is what I have related to you, O you whose wealth is austerity.”

Verse 38

कथयित्वा पुनर्वाक्यमगस्त्यो नृपसत्तमम् । उवाच पुष्करं यामि पुनरेष्यामि ते गृहम् । एवमुक्त्वा जगामाशु सद्योऽदर्शनतां मुनिः ॥ ४९.३८ ॥

After speaking further, Agastya addressed the best of kings: “I am going to Puṣkara; I shall return again to your house.” Having said this, the sage quickly departed and at once passed out of sight.

Verse 39

राजाऽपि तेन विधिना पद्मनाभस्य द्वादशीम् । उपोष्य परमं काममिह जन्मनि चाप्तवान् ॥ ४९.३९ ॥

The king too, having observed Padmanābha’s Dvādaśī fast according to the prescribed procedure, attained the highest desired aim in this very life.

Verse 40

सपत्नीको नृपवरॊ द्वादशीं समुपोष्य च । इह जन्मनि राजा ऽसौ पुत्रपौत्रांस्तथा ऽऽप्तवान् ॥ ४९.४० ॥

That excellent king, together with his wife, having duly observed the fast on the Dvādaśī day, obtained in this very life sons and grandsons as well.