The Shivaratri Vow

Verse 1 (garuda.1.124.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । शिवरात्रिव्रतं वक्ष्ये कथां वै सर्वकामदाम् । यथा च गौरी भूतेशं पृच्छति स्म परं व्रतम्

brahmovāca śivarātrivrataṁ vakṣye kathāṁ vai sarvakāmadām yathā ca gaurī bhūteśaṁ pṛcchati sma paraṁ vratam

Brahma said: I shall relate the vow of Shivaratri, a tale that grants all desires — how Gauri once asked the Lord of Beings about this supreme vow.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.124.2)

ईश्वरौवाच । माघफाल्गुनयोर्मध्ये कृष्णा या तु चतुर्दशी । तस्यां जागरणाद्रुद्रः पूजितो भुक्तिमुक्तिदः

īśvarauvāca māghaphālgunayormadhye kṛṣṇā yā tu caturdaśī tasyāṁ jāgaraṇādrudraḥ pūjito bhuktimuktidaḥ

Ishvara said: On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight falling between Magha and Phalguna, keeping vigil through that night causes Rudra, once worshipped, to bestow both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.124.3)

कामयुक्तो हरः पूज्यो द्वादश्यामि केशवः । उपोषितैः पूजितः सन्नरकात्तरयत्तथा

kāmayukto haraḥ pūjyo dvādaśyāmi keśavaḥ upoṣitaiḥ pūjitaḥ sannarakāttarayattathā

Hara should be worshipped with devotion, and Keshava on the Dvadashi; worshipped by those who fast, each delivers them from hell.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.124.4)

निषादश्चर्बुदे राजा पापी सुन्दरसेनकः । स कुक्रुरैः समायुक्तो मृगान्हन्तुं वनं गतः

niṣādaścarbude rājā pāpī sundarasenakaḥ sa kukruraiḥ samāyukto mṛgānhantuṁ vanaṁ gataḥ

There was a sinful hunter-king in Arbuda named Sundarasenaka; accompanied by fierce dogs, he went into the forest to kill deer.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.124.5)

मृगादि कमसंप्राप्य क्षुत्पिपासार्दितो गिरौ । रात्रौ तडागतीरेषु निकुञ्जे जाग्रदास्थितः

mṛgādi kamasaṁprāpya kṣutpipāsārdito girau rātrau taḍāgatīreṣu nikuñje jāgradāsthitaḥ

He found no deer or other game, and, tormented by hunger and thirst, he remained awake through the night on a mountain, in a thicket by the shore of a pool.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.124.6)

तत्रास्ति लिङ्गं स्वं रक्षञ्छरीरं चाक्षिपत्ततः । पर्णानि चापतन्मूर्ध्नि लिङ्गस्यैव न जानतः

tatrāsti liṅgaṁ svaṁ rakṣañcharīraṁ cākṣipattataḥ parṇāni cāpatanmūrdhni liṅgasyaiva na jānataḥ

A linga stood there; while shaking a tree to guard his body from the cold, he caused leaves to fall upon the linga's crown, though he did not even know it was there.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.124.7)

तेन धूलिनिरोधाय क्षिप्तं नीरं च लिङ्गके । शरः प्रमादेनैकस्तु प्रच्युतः करपल्लवात्

tena dhūlinirodhāya kṣiptaṁ nīraṁ ca liṅgake śaraḥ pramādenaikastu pracyutaḥ karapallavāt

To clear away the dust he sprinkled water, which fell upon the linga; and by chance a single arrow slipped from his hand.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.124.8)

जानुभ्यामवनीं गत्वा लिङ्गं स्प्टष्ट्वा गृहीतवान् । एवं स्नानं स्पर्शनं च पूजनं जागरोऽभवत्

jānubhyāmavanīṁ gatvā liṅgaṁ spṭaṣṭvā gṛhītavān evaṁ snānaṁ sparśanaṁ ca pūjanaṁ jāgaro'bhavat

Bending to the ground upon his knees, he touched the linga as he picked up the arrow. Thus, unknowingly, bathing, touching, worship, and the night's vigil all took place.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.124.9)

प्रातर्गृहागतो भार्यादत्तान्नं भुक्तवान्स च । काले मृतो यमभटैः पाशैर्बद्ध्वा तु नीयते

prātargṛhāgato bhāryādattānnaṁ bhuktavānsa ca kāle mṛto yamabhaṭaiḥ pāśairbaddhvā tu nīyate

In the morning he returned home and ate the food his wife gave him. In time he died, and Yama's messengers, binding him with nooses, began to lead him away.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.124.10)

तदा मम गणैर्युद्धे जित्वा मुक्तीकृतः स च । कुक्कुरेण सहैवाभूद्गणो मत्पार्श्वगोऽमलः

tadā mama gaṇairyuddhe jitvā muktīkṛtaḥ sa ca kukkureṇa sahaivābhūdgaṇo matpārśvago'malaḥ

Then my attendants overcame Yama's messengers in battle and set him free; and, together with his dog, he became a spotless attendant abiding at my side.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.124.11)

एवमज्ञानतः पुण्यञ्ज्ञानात्पुण्यमथाक्षयम् । त्रयोदश्यां शिवं पूज्य कुर्यात्त नियमं व्रती

evamajñānataḥ puṇyañjñānātpuṇyamathākṣayam trayodaśyāṁ śivaṁ pūjya kuryātta niyamaṁ vratī

Thus even an act done unknowingly became merit — how much more, then, does merit done knowingly become imperishable! On the Trayodashi, having worshipped Shiva, the votary should observe this rule.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.124.12)

प्रातर्देव ! चतुर्दश्यां जागरिष्याम्यहं निशि । पूजां दानं तपो होमं करिष्याम्यात्मशक्तितः

prātardeva ! caturdaśyāṁ jāgariṣyāmyahaṁ niśi pūjāṁ dānaṁ tapo homaṁ kariṣyāmyātmaśaktitaḥ

The vow-formula: 'O Lord, on the morning of the Chaturdashi I shall keep vigil through the night; I shall perform worship, giving, austerity, and fire-offering according to my ability.'

Verse 13 (garuda.1.124.13)

चतुर्दश्यां निराहारो भूत्वा शम्भो परेऽहनि । भोक्ष्येऽहं भुक्तिमुक्त्यर्थं शरणं मे भवेश्वर

caturdaśyāṁ nirāhāro bhūtvā śambho pare'hani bhokṣye'haṁ bhuktimuktyarthaṁ śaraṇaṁ me bhaveśvara

'Remaining without food on the Chaturdashi, O Shambhu, I shall eat on the following day, for the sake of enjoyment and liberation; O Lord of existence, be my refuge.'

Verse 14 (garuda.1.124.14)

पञ्चगव्यामृतैः स्नाप्य तत्काले गुरुं श्रितः । ओं नमो नमः शिवाय गन्धाद्यः पूजयेद्धरम्

pañcagavyāmṛtaiḥ snāpya tatkāle guruṁ śritaḥ oṁ namo namaḥ śivāya gandhādyaḥ pūjayeddharam

Having bathed the linga with the five nectars of the cow, and at that time taken refuge in one's guru, one should worship Hara with sandal-paste and other offerings, reciting 'Om, salutation, salutation to Shiva.'

Verse 15 (garuda.1.124.15)

तिलतण्डुलव्रीहींश्च जुहुयात्सघृतं चरुम् । हुत्वा पूर्णाहुतिं दत्त्वा शृणुयाद्गीतसत्कथाम्

tilataṇḍulavrīhīṁśca juhuyātsaghṛtaṁ carum hutvā pūrṇāhutiṁ dattvā śṛṇuyādgītasatkathām

One should offer sesame, husked and unhusked rice with ghee into the fire; having made the oblations and given the final full offering, one should listen to sacred tales that are sung.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.124.16)

अर्धरात्रे त्रियामे च चतुर्थे च पुनयर्जत् । मूलमन्त्रं तथा जप्त्वा प्रभाते तु क्षमापयेत्

ardharātre triyāme ca caturthe ca punayarjat mūlamantraṁ tathā japtvā prabhāte tu kṣamāpayet

At midnight, in the third watch, and again in the fourth, one should worship once more, reciting the root mantra; and at dawn, one should ask forgiveness.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.124.17)

अविघ्नेन व्रतं देव ! त्वत्प्रसदान्मयार्चितम् । क्षमस्व जगतां नाथ ! त्रैलोक्याधिपते हर !

avighnena vrataṁ deva ! tvatprasadānmayārcitam kṣamasva jagatāṁ nātha ! trailokyādhipate hara !

'O Lord, through your grace this vow has been performed by me without obstacle. Forgive me, O Lord of the worlds, O Hara, Master of the three worlds!'

Verse 18 (garuda.1.124.18)

यन्मयाद्य कृतं पुण्यं यद्रुद्रस्य निवेदितम् । त्वत्प्रसादान्मया देव ! व्रतमद्य समापितम्

yanmayādya kṛtaṁ puṇyaṁ yadrudrasya niveditam tvatprasādānmayā deva ! vratamadya samāpitam

'Whatever merit I have earned today, whatever has been offered to Rudra — through your grace, O Lord, this vow has today been completed by me.'

Verse 19 (garuda.1.124.19)

प्रसन्नो भव मे श्रीमन् गृहं प्रति च गम्यताम् । त्वदालोकनमात्रेण पवित्रोऽस्मि न संशयः

prasanno bhava me śrīman gṛhaṁ prati ca gamyatām tvadālokanamātreṇa pavitro'smi na saṁśayaḥ

'Be pleased with me, O glorious one, and grant me leave to return home; by the mere sight of you I am purified, without doubt.'

Verse 20 (garuda.1.124.20)

भोजयेद्ध्याननिष्ठांश्च वस्त्रच्छत्रादिकं ददेत् । देवादिदेव भूतेश लोकानुग्रहकारक

bhojayeddhyānaniṣṭhāṁśca vastracchatrādikaṁ dadet devādideva bhūteśa lokānugrahakāraka

One should feed those devoted to meditation and give them clothes, umbrellas, and the like — 'O God of gods, Lord of Beings, bestower of grace upon the worlds.'

Verse 21 (garuda.1.124.21)

यन्मया श्रद्धया दत्तं प्रीयतां तेन मे प्रभुः । इति क्षमाप्य च व्रती कुर्याद्वादशवार्षिकम्

yanmayā śraddhayā dattaṁ prīyatāṁ tena me prabhuḥ iti kṣamāpya ca vratī kuryādvādaśavārṣikam

'Whatever I have offered with faith, may my Lord be pleased by it' — having thus asked forgiveness, the votary should perform this vow for twelve years.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.124.22)

कीर्तिश्रीपुत्रराज्यादि प्राप्य शैवं पुरं व्रजेत् । द्वादशेष्वपि मासेषु प्रकुर्यादिह जागरम्

kīrtiśrīputrarājyādi prāpya śaivaṁ puraṁ vrajet dvādaśeṣvapi māseṣu prakuryādiha jāgaram

Having obtained fame, prosperity, sons, kingdom and the like, he goes to the city of Shiva; one should keep this vigil in every one of the twelve months as well.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.124.23)

व्रती द्वादश संभोज्य दीपदः स्वर्गमाप्नुयात्

vratī dvādaśa saṁbhojya dīpadaḥ svargamāpnuyāt

The votary who feeds twelve Brahmins and offers lamps attains heaven.