Adhyaya 58: The Procedure for the Saubhāgyakaraṇa Vow (Rite for Auspicious Fortune)

Verse 1

अगस्त्य उवाच । अतः परं महाराज सौभाग्यकरणं व्रतम् । शृणु येनाशु सौभाग्यं स्त्रीपुंसामुपजायते ॥ ५८.१ ॥

Agastya said: “Thereafter, O great king, listen to the vow (vrata) that brings good fortune—by which prosperity and auspicious well-being quickly arise for women and men.”

Verse 2

फाल्गुनस्य तु मासस्य तृतीया शुक्लपक्षतः । उपासितव्या नक्तेन शुचिना सत्यवादिना ॥ ५८.२ ॥

In the month of Phālguna, the third lunar day of the bright fortnight should be observed with a night-time fast by one who is pure and who speaks truth.

Verse 3

सश्रीकं च हरिं पूज्य रुद्रं वा चोमया सह । या श्रीः सा गिरिजा प्रोक्ता यो हरिः स त्रिलोचनः ॥ ५८.३ ॥

Having worshipped Hari together with Śrī, or else Rudra together with Umā, one should understand: the Śrī spoken of is Girijā (Pārvatī), and the Hari spoken of is Trilocana (Śiva).

Verse 4

एवं सर्वेषु शास्त्रेषु पुराणेषु च पठ्यते । एतस्मादन्यथा यस्तु ब्रूते शास्त्रं पृथक्तया ॥ ५८.४ ॥

Thus it is taught in all śāstras and also in the Purāṇas. But whoever, departing from this, expounds the śāstra in a divergent manner, as though separated into conflicting parts—

Verse 5

रुद्रो जनानां मर्त्यानां काव्यं शास्त्रं न तद्भवेत् । विष्णुं रुद्रकृतं ब्रूयात् श्रीर्गौरी न तु पार्थिव । तन्नास्तिकानां मर्त्यानां काव्यं ज्ञेयं विचक्षणैः ॥ ५८.५ ॥

For mortal people, a composition attributed to Rudra should not be regarded as authoritative śāstra. If someone were to claim that Viṣṇu was created by Rudra, or that Śrī is in fact Gaurī and not Pārvatī, O Pārthivī, then discerning persons should recognize such a work as the poetry of unbelieving mortals, not as śāstra.

Verse 6

एवं ज्ञात्वा सलक्ष्मीकं हरिं सम्पूज्य भक्तितः । मन्त्रेणानेन राजेन्द्र ततस्तं परमेश्वरम् ॥ ५८.६ ॥

Having understood thus, and having devoutly worshipped Hari together with Lakṣmī, O best of kings, then one should worship that Supreme Lord with this mantra.

Verse 7

गम्भीरायेति पादौ तु सुभगायेति वै कटिम् । उदरं देवदेवेति त्रिनेत्रायेति वै मुखम् । वाचस्पतये च शिरो रुद्रायेति च सर्वतः ॥ ५८.७ ॥

One should designate the feet with the formula “to Gambhīrā”; the waist with “to Subhagā”; the belly with “to Devadeva”; the face with “to Trinetra”; the head to Vācaspati; and, in every respect all around, to Rudra.

Verse 8

एवमभ्यर्च्य मेधावी विष्णुं लक्ष्म्या समन्वितम् । हरं वा गौरीसंयुक्तं गन्धपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात् ॥ ५८.८ ॥

Thus, the discerning one, having duly worshipped, should venerate Viṣṇu accompanied by Lakṣmī—or else Hara (Śiva) accompanied by Gaurī—with fragrances, flowers, and the like, in proper sequence.

Verse 9

ततस्तस्याग्रतो होमं कारयेन्मधुसर्पिषा । तिलैः सह महाराज सौभाग्यपतयेति च ॥ ५८.९ ॥

Then, in front of Him, O great king, one should have a homa performed with honey and ghee, together with sesame seeds, and also with the formula “for the Lord of good fortune.”

Verse 10

ततस्त्वक्षारविरसं निस्नेहं धरणीतले । गोधूमान्नं तु भुञ्जीत कृष्णेप्येवं विधिः स्मृतः ॥ आषाढादिद्वितीयां तु पारणं तत्र भोजनम् ॥ ५८.१० ॥

Then, on the ground, one should eat wheat-food that is free from alkaline salt, devoid of strong relish, and without oil or ghee; this same rule is also stated for the dark fortnight (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa). On the second lunar day (tithi) beginning with Āṣāḍha, the observance is concluded (pāraṇa) with that meal.

Verse 11

यवअन्नं तु ततः पश्चात् कार्त्तिकादिषु पार्थिव । श्यामाकं तत्र भुञ्जीत त्रीन् मासान् नियतः शुचिः ॥ ५८.११ ॥

Then thereafter, O king, beginning with the month of Kārttika and the months that follow, one should partake of śyāmāka grain, remaining disciplined and pure for three months.

Verse 12

ततो माघसिते पक्षे तृतीयायां नराधिप । सौवर्णां कारयेद् गौरीं रुद्रं चैक्त्र बुद्धिमान् ॥ ५८.१२ ॥

Then, O king, on the third lunar day (tṛtīyā) of the bright fortnight of Māgha, a wise person should have a golden image of Gaurī made, and also one of Rudra, and place them together in one spot.

Verse 13

सलक्ष्मीकं हरिं चापि यथाशक्त्या प्रसन्नधीः । ततस्तं ब्राह्मणे दद्यात पात्रभूते विचक्षणे ॥ ५८.१३ ॥

With a serene and gracious mind, and according to one’s means, one should also offer Hari together with Lakṣmī; thereafter, one should give that to a discerning brāhmaṇa who is a worthy recipient.

Verse 14

अन्नेन हीने वेदानां पारगे साधुवर्तिनि । सदाचार इति वा दद्यादल्पवित्ते विशेषतः ॥ ५८.१४ ॥

Even when food is lacking, though one be learned in the Vedas and established in virtuous conduct, one should still give—especially when one’s wealth is small—making the gift in the name of “sadācāra” (good conduct).

Verse 15

षड्भिः पात्रैरुपेतं तु ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् । एकं मधुमयं पात्रं द्वितीयं घृतपूरितम् ॥ ५८.१५ ॥

One should present the offering, furnished with six vessels, to a brāhmaṇa: one vessel filled with honey, and the second filled with clarified butter (ghṛta, ghee).

Verse 16

तृतीयं तिलतैलस्य चतुर्थं गुडसंयुतम् । पञ्चमं लवणैः पूर्णं षष्ठं गोक्षीरसंयुतम् ॥ ५८.१६ ॥

The third vessel is to contain sesame oil; the fourth is to be combined with jaggery (guda); the fifth is to be filled with salts; the sixth is to be combined with cow’s milk.

Verse 17

एतानि दत्त्वा पात्राणि सप्तजन्मान्तरं भवेत् । सुभगो दर्शनीयश्च नारी वा पुरुषोऽपि वा ॥ ५८.१७ ॥

Having given these vessels, for seven successive births one becomes fortunate and pleasing in appearance—whether a woman or a man.