Performing the Pumsavana Vrata

Verse 1 (bhagavata.6.19.1)

श्रीराजोवाच व्रतं पुंसवनं ब्रह्मन् भवता यदुदीरितम् । तस्य वेदितुमिच्छामि येन विष्णुः प्रसीदति ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca vrataṁ puṁsavanaṁ brahman bhavatā yad udīritam tasya veditum icchāmi yena viṣṇuḥ prasīdati

The king said: O brahmana, that pumsavana vow which you have mentioned, by which Bhagavan Vishnu becomes pleased — I wish to learn of it in full.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.6.19.2)

श्रीशुक उवाच शुक्ले मार्गशिरे पक्षे योषिद्भर्तुरनुज्ञया । आरभेत व्रतमिदं सार्वकामिकमादितः ॥ २ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca śukle mārgaśire pakṣe yoṣid bhartur anujñayā ārabheta vratam idaṁ sārva-kāmikam āditaḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: In the bright fortnight of the month of Margashirsha, with her husband's leave, a woman should begin this vow — a vow able to fulfill every desire — right at its proper starting point.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.6.19.3)

निशम्य मरुतां जन्म ब्राह्मणाननुमन्त्र्य च । स्नात्वा शुक्लदती शुक्ले वसीतालङ्कृताम्बरे । पूजयेत्प्रातराशात्प्राग्भगवन्तं श्रिया सह ॥ ३ ॥

niśamya marutāṁ janma brāhmaṇān anumantrya ca snātvā śukla-datī śukle vasītālaṅkṛtāmbare pūjayet prātarāśāt prāg bhagavantaṁ śriyā saha

Having heard the story of the Maruts' birth and received the sanction of brahmanas, the woman, her teeth cleaned white, should bathe and dress in white, adorned garments, and worship the Lord together with Lakshmi before taking her morning meal.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.6.19.4)

अलं ते निरपेक्षाय पूर्णकाम नमोऽस्तु ते । महाविभूतिपतये नमः सकलसिद्धये ॥ ४ ॥

alaṁ te nirapekṣāya pūrṇa-kāma namo ’stu te mahāvibhūti-pataye namaḥ sakala-siddhaye

O ever-complete one, you stand in need of nothing, and yet homage to you; homage, O lord of great glory; homage to you, O master of every perfection.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.6.19.5)

यथा त्वं कृपया भूत्या तेजसा महिमौजसा । जुष्ट ईश गुणैः सर्वैस्ततोऽसि भगवान् प्रभुः ॥ ५ ॥

yathā tvaṁ kṛpayā bhūtyā tejasā mahimaujasā juṣṭa īśa guṇaiḥ sarvais tato ’si bhagavān prabhuḥ

O Lord, precisely because you are endowed with grace, opulence, splendor, greatness, strength, and every good quality, you alone are Bhagavan, the master of all.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.6.19.6)

विष्णुपत्नि महामाये महापुरुषलक्षणे । प्रीयेथा मे महाभागे लोकमातर्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ६ ॥

viṣṇu-patni mahā-māye mahāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇe prīyethā me mahā-bhāge loka-mātar namo ’stu te

O wife of Vishnu, O great illusive power, O goddess who bears the very marks of the Supreme Person, O most blessed one, be pleased with me; O mother of all the worlds, homage to you.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.6.19.7)

ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महानुभावाय महाविभूतिपतये सह महाविभूतिभिर्बलिमुपहरामीति । अनेनाहरहर्मन्त्रेण विष्णोरावाहनार्घ्यपाद्योपस्पर्शनस्नानवासउपवीतविभूषणगन्धपुष्पधूप दीपोपहाराद्युपचारान् सुसमाहितोपाहरेत् ॥ ७ ॥

oṁ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāya mahānubhāvāya mahāvibhūti-pataye saha mahā-vibhūtibhir balim upaharāmīti; anenāhar-ahar mantreṇa viṣṇor āvāhanārghya-pādyopasparśana-snāna-vāsa-upavīta-vibhūṣaṇa-gandha-puṣpa-dhūpa-dīpopahārādy-upacārān susamā-hitopāharet.

Om — offering homage to the illustrious great Person, of great majesty, lord of great glory, together with all his glories, I present this offering. With this very mantra, day after day, one should present to Bhagavan Vishnu, with utmost attentiveness, the rites of invocation, arghya, water for the feet, sipped water, bathing, garments, the sacred thread, ornaments, fragrance, flowers, incense, and lamps.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.6.19.8)

हविःशेषं च जुहुयादनले द्वादशाहुतीः । ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महाविभूतिपतये स्वाहेति ॥ ८ ॥

haviḥ-śeṣaṁ ca juhuyād anale dvādaśāhutīḥ oṁ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāya mahāvibhūti-pataye svāheti

Thereafter, with the remainder of the offered food, one should offer twelve oblations into the fire, saying: Om — homage to Bhagavan, the great Person, lord of great glory, svaha.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.6.19.9)

श्रियं विष्णुं च वरदावाशिषां प्रभवावुभौ । भक्त्या सम्पूजयेन्नित्यं यदीच्छेत्सर्वसम्पदः ॥ ९ ॥

śriyaṁ viṣṇuṁ ca varadāv āśiṣāṁ prabhavāv ubhau bhaktyā sampūjayen nityaṁ yadīcchet sarva-sampadaḥ

One who desires every kind of prosperity should worship, daily and with devotion, both Shri and Vishnu together, for the two of them together are the source of every boon and every fulfilled desire.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.6.19.10)

प्रणमेद्दण्डवद्भूमौ भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा । दशवारं जपेन्मन्त्रं ततः स्तोत्रमुदीरयेत् ॥ १० ॥

praṇamed daṇḍavad bhūmau bhakti-prahveṇa cetasā daśa-vāraṁ japen mantraṁ tataḥ stotram udīrayet

Prostrating oneself flat upon the ground like a fallen staff, with a mind humbled by devotion, one should recite the mantra ten times, and then utter the following hymn of praise.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.6.19.11)

युवां तु विश्वस्य विभू जगतः कारणं परम् । इयं हि प्रकृतिः सूक्ष्मा मायाशक्तिर्दुरत्यया ॥ ११ ॥

yuvāṁ tu viśvasya vibhū jagataḥ kāraṇaṁ param iyaṁ hi prakṛtiḥ sūkṣmā māyā-śaktir duratyayā

You two are the all-pervading cause of this entire universe, the supreme source of this world; this subtle, well-nigh insurmountable power of maya is itself none other than that same nature.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.6.19.12)

तस्या अधीश्वरः साक्षात्त्वमेव पुरुषः परः । त्वं सर्वयज्ञ इज्येयं क्रियेयं फलभुग्भवान् ॥ १२ ॥

tasyā adhīśvaraḥ sākṣāt tvam eva puruṣaḥ paraḥ tvaṁ sarva-yajña ijyeyaṁ kriyeyaṁ phala-bhug bhavān

You yourself are her direct lord, the supreme Person; you are every sacrifice, this goddess is that sacrifice's own act of worship, and you are the enjoyer of its fruit.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.6.19.13)

गुणव्यक्तिरियं देवी व्यञ्जको गुणभुग्भवान् । त्वं हि सर्वशरीर्यात्मा श्रीः शरीरेन्द्रियाशयाः । नामरूपे भगवती प्रत्ययस्त्वमपाश्रयः ॥ १३ ॥

guṇa-vyaktir iyaṁ devī vyañjako guṇa-bhug bhavān tvaṁ hi sarva-śarīry ātmā śrīḥ śarīrendriyāśayāḥ nāma-rūpe bhagavatī pratyayas tvam apāśrayaḥ

This goddess is the very manifestation of the material qualities, while you are their revealer and their enjoyer. You are the self of every embodied being, and Shri is the very form of body, senses, and mind. Both of you together are the divine ground, the very ground of recognition, of every name and form, and the shelter in which they rest.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.6.19.14)

यथा युवां त्रिलोकस्य वरदौ परमेष्ठिनौ । तथा म उत्तमश्लोक सन्तु सत्या महाशिषः ॥ १४ ॥

yathā yuvāṁ tri-lokasya varadau parameṣṭhinau tathā ma uttamaśloka santu satyā mahāśiṣaḥ

Just as you two are the supreme benefactors and the highest lords of the three worlds, so too, O Uttamashloka, may all my great desires be fulfilled and prove true.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.6.19.15)

इत्यभिष्टूय वरदं श्रीनिवासं श्रिया सह । तन्निःसार्योपहरणं दत्त्वाचमनमर्चयेत् ॥ १५ ॥

ity abhiṣṭūya varadaṁ śrīnivāsaṁ śriyā saha tan niḥsāryopaharaṇaṁ dattvācamanam arcayet

Having thus praised the boon-granting Shrinivasa together with Shri, one should remove the offered articles, present water for sipping, and worship them once more.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.6.19.16)

ततः स्तुवीत स्तोत्रेण भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा । यज्ञोच्छिष्टमवघ्राय पुनरभ्यर्चयेद्धरिम् ॥ १६ ॥

tataḥ stuvīta stotreṇa bhakti-prahveṇa cetasā yajñocchiṣṭam avaghrāya punar abhyarcayed dharim

Then, praising them once more with the hymn and a mind bowed low in devotion, one should smell the remnant of the sacrificial offering and worship Bhagavan Hari yet again.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.6.19.17)

पतिं च परया भक्त्या महापुरुषचेतसा । प्रियैस्तैस्तैरुपनमेत् प्रेमशीलः स्वयं पतिः । बिभृयात् सर्वकर्माणि पत्न्या उच्चावचानि च ॥ १७ ॥

patiṁ ca parayā bhaktyā mahāpuruṣa-cetasā priyais tais tair upanamet prema-śīlaḥ svayaṁ patiḥ bibhṛyāt sarva-karmāṇi patnyā uccāvacāni ca

With her mind fixed on the Supreme Person, she should likewise honor her own husband with the deepest devotion, welcoming him with tender words; and the husband, loving in turn, should himself shoulder every task, great and small, that belongs to his wife.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.6.19.18)

कृतमेकतरेणापि दम्पत्योरुभयोरपि । पत्न्यां कुर्यादनर्हायां पतिरेतत् समाहितः ॥ १८ ॥

kṛtam ekatareṇāpi dam-patyor ubhayor api patnyāṁ kuryād anarhāyāṁ patir etat samāhitaḥ

This vow, performed by either one of the husband and wife, is deemed done by both together; and if the wife is unable to perform it, the attentive husband himself should carry it out on her behalf.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.6.19.19)

विष्णोर्व्रतमिदं बिभ्रन्न विहन्यात्कथञ्चन । विप्रान् स्त्रियो वीरवतीः स्रग्गन्धबलिमण्डनैः । अर्चेदहरहर्भक्त्या देवं नियममास्थिता ॥ १९ ॥

viṣṇor vratam idaṁ bibhran na vihanyāt kathañcana viprān striyo vīravatīḥ srag-gandha-bali-maṇḍanaiḥ arced ahar-ahar bhaktyā devaṁ niyamam āsthitā

Holding fast to this vow dedicated to Vishnu, one should never allow it to be broken by any means; one should honor women whose husbands are living with garlands, fragrance, offerings, and ornaments, and honor brahmanas as well, and, steadfast in observance, worship the Lord daily with devotion.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.6.19.20)

उद्वास्य देवं स्वे धाम्नि तन्निवेदितमग्रतः । अद्यादात्मविशुद्ध्यर्थं सर्वकामसमृद्धये ॥ २० ॥

udvāsya devaṁ sve dhāmni tan-niveditam agrataḥ adyād ātma-viśuddhy-arthaṁ sarva-kāma-samṛddhaye

Having taken leave of the Deity to his own resting place, one should then partake first of that offered prasada, for the purification of one's own self and for the fulfillment of every desire.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.6.19.21)

एतेन पूजाविधिना मासान् द्वादश हायनम् । नीत्वाथोपरमेत्साध्वी कार्तिके चरमेऽहनि ॥ २१ ॥

etena pūjā-vidhinā māsān dvādaśa hāyanam nītvāthoparamet sādhvī kārtike carame ’hani

Having carried this rite of worship through twelve full months, the devoted wife should bring the vow to its close on the final day of the month of Kartika.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.6.19.22)

श्वोभूतेऽप उपस्पृश्य कृष्णमभ्यर्च्य पूर्ववत् । पयःशृतेन जुहुयाच्चरुणा सह सर्पिषा । पाकयज्ञविधानेन द्वादशैवाहुतीः पतिः ॥ २२ ॥

śvo-bhūte ’pa upaspṛśya kṛṣṇam abhyarcya pūrvavat payaḥ-śṛtena juhuyāc caruṇā saha sarpiṣā pāka-yajña-vidhānena dvādaśaivāhutīḥ patiḥ

The next morning, having touched water in purification and worshiped Bhagavan Krishna as before, the husband should offer, according to the household sacrificial rite, twelve oblations into the fire of rice cooked in milk together with ghee.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.6.19.23)

आशिषः शिरसादाय द्विजैः प्रीतैः समीरिताः । प्रणम्य शिरसा भक्त्या भुञ्जीत तदनुज्ञया ॥ २३ ॥

āśiṣaḥ śirasādāya dvijaiḥ prītaiḥ samīritāḥ praṇamya śirasā bhaktyā bhuñjīta tad-anujñayā

Receiving the blessings pronounced by the well-pleased brahmanas with a bowed head, and offering devout prostration with the head, one should then take one's meal only with their leave.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.6.19.24)

आचार्यमग्रतः कृत्वा वाग्यतः सह बन्धुभिः । दद्यात्पत्न्यै चरोः शेषं सुप्रजास्त्वं सुसौभगम् ॥ २४ ॥

ācāryam agrataḥ kṛtvā vāg-yataḥ saha bandhubhiḥ dadyāt patnyai caroḥ śeṣaṁ suprajāstvaṁ susaubhagam

Having seated the acharya foremost among them, and keeping one's speech restrained together with one's kinsfolk, one should give the remnant of the offering to one's wife, that she may obtain fine children and lasting good fortune.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.6.19.25)

एतच्चरित्वा विधिवद्व्रतं विभो रभीप्सितार्थं लभते पुमानिह । स्त्री चैतदास्थाय लभेत सौभगं श्रियं प्रजां जीवपतिं यशो गृहम् ॥ २५ ॥

etac caritvā vidhivad vrataṁ vibhor abhīpsitārthaṁ labhate pumān iha strī caitad āsthāya labheta saubhagaṁ śriyaṁ prajāṁ jīva-patiṁ yaśo gṛham

O lord, a man who performs this vow according to proper rule attains, even in this very life, whatever object he desires; and a woman who takes up this vow obtains good fortune, wealth, offspring, a long-lived husband, renown, and a fine household.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.6.19.26)

कन्या च विन्देत समग्रलक्षणं पतिं त्ववीरा हतकिल्बिषां गतिम् । मृतप्रजा जीवसुता धनेश्वरी सुदुर्भगा सुभगा रूपमग्र्यम् ॥ २६ ॥

kanyā ca vindeta samagra-lakṣaṇaṁ patiṁ tv avīrā hata-kilbiṣāṁ gatim mṛta-prajā jīva-sutā dhaneśvarī sudurbhagā subhagā rūpam agryam

An unmarried girl thereby wins a husband endowed with every excellence; a woman without husband or son attains a path free of sin's taint; one whose children have died obtains a son who lives; a poor woman becomes mistress of wealth, and one unlucky in fortune, or plain of feature, obtains the finest fortune and the finest beauty.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.6.19.27)

विन्देद्विरूपा विरुजा विमुच्यते य आमयावीन्द्रियकल्यदेहम् । एतत्पठन्नभ्युदये च कर्म- ण्यनन्ततृप्तिः पितृदेवतानाम् ॥ २७ ॥

vinded virūpā virujā vimucyate ya āmayāvīndriya-kalya-deham etat paṭhann abhyudaye ca karmaṇy ananta-tṛptiḥ pitṛ-devatānām

The unlovely become lovely, and the sick are freed from their sickness, gaining release through the very health of body and senses restored; and one who recites this at the time of the shraddha and like observances brings the ancestors and gods a satisfaction without end.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.6.19.28)

तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति समस्तकामान् होमावसाने हुतभुक् श्रीहरिश्च । राजन् महन्मरुतां जन्म पुण्यं दितेर्व्रतं चाभिहितं महत्ते ॥ २८ ॥

tuṣṭāḥ prayacchanti samasta-kāmān homāvasāne huta-bhuk śrī-hariś ca rājan mahan marutāṁ janma puṇyaṁ diter vrataṁ cābhihitaṁ mahat te

At the close of the offering, the well-pleased fire-god and Shri Hari themselves grant every desire; O King, thus have I told you in full both this sacred birth of the Maruts and this great vow of Diti.