Adhyaya 60: The Rite of the Śāntivrata: A Yearlong Observance with Viṣṇu-on-Śeṣa and Nāga-Anganyāsa Worship

Verse 1

अगस्त्य उवाच । शान्तिव्रतं प्रवक्ष्यामि तव राजन् शृणुष्व तत् । येन चीर्णेन शान्तिः स्यात् सर्वदा गृहमेधिनाम् ॥ ६०.१ ॥

Agastya said: “O king, listen. I shall expound the Śānti-vrata, the vow of peace; by observing it, peace arises always for householders.”

Verse 2

पञ्चम्यां शुक्लपक्षस्य कार्त्तिके मासि सुव्रत । अरभेद् वर्षमेकं तु भुञ्जीयादम्लवर्जितम् ॥ ६०.२ ॥

On the fifth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kārttika, O you of good vows, one should begin and, for a full year, subsist on food that excludes sour items.

Verse 3

नक्तं देवं तु सम्पूज्य हरिं शेषोपरि स्थितम् । अनन्तायेति पादौ तु वासुकायेति वै कटिम् ॥ ६०.३ ॥

At night, having duly worshipped Hari, the divine one stationed upon Śeṣa, one should address the feet as “Ananta” and indeed the waist as “Vāsuka.”

Verse 4

तक्षकाश्येति जठरमुरः कर्कोटकाय च । पद्माय कण्ठं सम्पूज्य महापद्माय दोर्युगम् ॥ ६०.४ ॥

Uttering “(obeisance) to Takṣaka,” one should venerate the belly; and “to Karkoṭaka,” the chest. Having worshipped the throat with “to Padma,” one should venerate the pair of arms with “to Mahāpadma.”

Verse 5

शङ्खपालाय वक्त्रं तु कुटिलायेति वै शिरः । एवं विष्णुगतं पूज्य पृथक्त्वेन च पूजयेत् ॥ ६०.५ ॥

One should assign the face (vaktra) to Śaṅkhapāla, and indeed the head (śiras) to Kuṭila. Thus, having worshipped what is apportioned to Viṣṇu, one should also worship each separately, as distinct aspects.

Verse 6

क्षीरेण स्नपनं कुर्यात् तानुद्दिश्य हरेः पुनः । तदग्रे होमयेत् क्षीरं तिलैः सह विचक्षणः ॥ ६०.६ ॥

One should perform a milk-ablution, again dedicating it to those intended recipients in relation to Hari. Then, before that rite or altar, the discerning person should offer milk into the fire together with sesame seeds.

Verse 7

एवं संवत्सरस्यान्ते कुर्याद् ब्राह्मणभोजनम् । नागं तु काञ्चनं कुर्याद् ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् ॥ ६०.७ ॥

Thus, at the end of the year, one should arrange a meal for brāhmaṇas; and one should have a golden serpent made and present it to a brāhmaṇa.

Verse 8

एवं यः कुरुते भक्त्या व्रतमेतन्नराधिपः । तस्य शान्तिर्भवेन्नित्यं नागानां न भयṃ तथा ॥ ६०.८ ॥

Thus, O ruler of men, whoever performs this vow with devotion attains constant peace; and likewise, there is no fear from the nāgas, the serpent-beings.