The Dashtoddhara-Panchami Vow: Deliverance from Snakebite

Verse 1 (garuda.1.129.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । वक्ष्ये प्रतिपदादीनि व्रतानि व्यास शृण्वथ । वैश्वानरपदं याति शिखिव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्

brahmovāca vakṣye pratipadādīni vratāni vyāsa śṛṇvatha vaiśvānarapadaṁ yāti śikhivratamidaṁ smṛtam

Brahma said: I shall declare the vows beginning from the Pratipada tithi, O Vyasa, listen. This is remembered as the Shikhi-vrata, by which one attains the state of Vaishvanara, the fire-god.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.129.2)

प्रतिपद्येकभक्ताशी समाप्ते कपिलाप्रदः । चैत्रादौ कारयेच्चैव ब्रह्मपूजां यथाविधि । गन्धपुष्पार्चनैर्दानैर्माल्याद्यैश्च मनोरमैः

pratipadyekabhaktāśī samāpte kapilāpradaḥ caitrādau kārayeccaiva brahmapūjāṁ yathāvidhi gandhapuṣpārcanairdānairmālyādyaiśca manoramaiḥ

Eating but once on the Pratipada, and at its completion giving a tawny cow, one should, at the start of Chaitra, duly worship Brahma with offerings of sandal-paste and flowers, with gifts, and with charming garlands and the like.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.129.3)

सहोमैः पूजयेद्देवं सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । कार्तिके त सितेऽष्टम्यां पुष्पहारी च वत्सरम्

sahomaiḥ pūjayeddevaṁ sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt kārtike ta site'ṣṭamyāṁ puṣpahārī ca vatsaram

Worshipping the god together with fire-offerings, one obtains all desires. Whoever offers a flower-garland for a full year, beginning on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Kartika —

Verse 4 (garuda.1.129.4)

पुष्पादिदाता रूपेण रूपभागी भवेन्नरः । कृष्णपक्षे तृतीयायां श्रावणे श्रीधरं श्रिया

puṣpādidātā rūpeṇa rūpabhāgī bhavennaraḥ kṛṣṇapakṣe tṛtīyāyāṁ śrāvaṇe śrīdharaṁ śriyā

such a giver of flowers becomes, through their beauty, a sharer in beauty. On the third day of the dark fortnight of Shravana, one should worship Shridhara together with Shri.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.129.5)

यजेदशून्यशय्यायां फलं दद्याद्द्विजातये । शय्यां दत्त्वा प्रार्थयेच्च श्रीधराय नमः श्रियै

yajedaśūnyaśayyāyāṁ phalaṁ dadyāddvijātaye śayyāṁ dattvā prārthayecca śrīdharāya namaḥ śriyai

In the Ashunya-shayya rite one should worship and give fruit to a Brahmin; having given a bed, one should pray, Salutation to Shridhara, salutation to Shri.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.129.6)

उमांशिवं हुताशं च तृतीयायां च पूजयेत् । हविष्यमन्न नैवेद्य देय दमनकं तथा

umāṁśivaṁ hutāśaṁ ca tṛtīyāyāṁ ca pūjayet haviṣyamanna naivedya deya damanakaṁ tathā

On the third day one should also worship Uma, Shiva, and the sacred fire; sanctified food should be offered as naivedya, together with damanaka, a fragrant herb.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.129.7)

चैत्रादौ फलमाप्नोति उमया मे प्रभाषितम् । फाल्गुनादितृतीयायां लवणं यस्तु वर्जयेत्

caitrādau phalamāpnoti umayā me prabhāṣitam phālgunāditṛtīyāyāṁ lavaṇaṁ yastu varjayet

The fruit of this is obtained at the start of Chaitra — so Uma herself told me. Whoever forsakes salt from the third day of Phalguna —

Verse 8 (garuda.1.129.8)

समाप्ते शयनं दद्याद्गृहं चोपस्करान्वितम् । संपूज्य विप्रमिथनं भवानी प्रीयतामिति

samāpte śayanaṁ dadyādgṛhaṁ copaskarānvitam saṁpūjya vipramithanaṁ bhavānī prīyatāmiti

and at its completion gives a bed and a house furnished with household goods, having worshipped a married Brahmin couple, saying May Bhavani be pleased —

Verse 9 (garuda.1.129.9)

गौरीलोके वसेन्नित्यं सौभाग्यकरमुत्तमम् । गौरी काली उमा भद्रा दुर्गा कान्तिः सरस्वती

gaurīloke vasennityaṁ saubhāgyakaramuttamam gaurī kālī umā bhadrā durgā kāntiḥ sarasvatī

such a one dwells forever in the world of Gauri, the supreme bestower of good fortune. Gauri, Kali, Uma, Bhadra, Durga, Kanti, Sarasvati —

Verse 10 (garuda.1.129.10)

मङ्गला वैष्णवी लक्ष्मीः शिवा नारायणी क्रमात् । मार्गेतृतीयामारभ्य अवियोगादिमाप्नुयात्

maṅgalā vaiṣṇavī lakṣmīḥ śivā nārāyaṇī kramāt mārgetṛtīyāmārabhya aviyogādimāpnuyāt

Mangala, Vaishnavi, Lakshmi, Shiva, Narayani — worshipped in this order, beginning the third-day rite in Margashirsha, one obtains freedom from separation and the like.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.129.11)

चतुर्थ्यां सितमाघादौ निराहारो व्रतान्वितः । दत्त्वा तिलांस्तु विप्राय स्वयं भुङ्क्ते तिलोदकम्

caturthyāṁ sitamāghādau nirāhāro vratānvitaḥ dattvā tilāṁstu viprāya svayaṁ bhuṅkte tilodakam

On the fourth day of the bright fortnight at the start of Magha, one should keep the vow without food; having given sesame to a Brahmin, one takes only sesame-water oneself.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.129.12)

वर्षद्वये समाप्तिश्च निर्विघ्नादिं समाप्नुयात् । गः स्वाहा मूलमन्त्रोऽयं प्रणवेन समन्वितः

varṣadvaye samāptiśca nirvighnādiṁ samāpnuyāt gaḥ svāhā mūlamantro'yaṁ praṇavena samanvitaḥ

At the completion of two years, freedom from obstacles and the like is obtained. Gam svaha is the root mantra, joined with the syllable Om.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.129.13)

ग्लैं ग्लांहृदये गां गीं हूं ह्रीं ह्रीं शिरः शिखा । गूं वर्म गों च गैं नेत्रं गों च आवाहनादिषु

glaiṁ glāṁhṛdaye gāṁ gīṁ hūṁ hrīṁ hrīṁ śiraḥ śikhā gūṁ varma goṁ ca gaiṁ netraṁ goṁ ca āvāhanādiṣu

Glaim, glam are for the heart; gam, gim, hum, hrim, hrih for the head and top-knot; gum for the armor; gom and gaim for the eyes; and gom for invocation and the rest of the rite.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.129.14)

आगच्छोल्काय गनन्धोल्कः पुष्पोल्को धूपकोल्ककः । दीपोल्काय महोल्काय बलिश्चाथ विस (मार्) जनम्

āgaccholkāya ganandholkaḥ puṣpolko dhūpakolkakaḥ dīpolkāya maholkāya baliścātha visa (mār) janam

Come, O torch-bearer — with the torch of joy, the flower-torch, the incense-torch, the lamp-torch, and the great torch one invokes the deity; then follow the offering and the dismissal.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.129.15)

सिदेधोल्काय च गायत्त्री (त्र) न्यासोंगुष्ठादिरीरितः । ओं महाकर्णाय विद्महेवक्रतुण्डाय धीमहितन्नो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात्

sidedholkāya ca gāyattrī (tra) nyāsoṁguṣṭhādirīritaḥ oṁ mahākarṇāya vidmahevakratuṇḍāya dhīmahitanno dantiḥ pracodayāt

and with the torch of accomplishment. The Gayatri-placement is performed beginning with the thumb: Om, we know the great-eared one, we meditate on the curved-trunked one; may the tusked one impel us.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.129.16)

पूजयोत्तिलहोमैश्च एते पूज्या गणास्तथा । गणाय गणपतये स्वाहा कूष्माण्डकाय च

pūjayottilahomaiśca ete pūjyā gaṇāstathā gaṇāya gaṇapataye svāhā kūṣmāṇḍakāya ca

One should worship with offerings of sesame into the fire; these attendant deities too are to be worshipped: To Gana, to Ganapati, svaha, to Kushmandaka —

Verse 17 (garuda.1.129.17)

अमोघोल्कायैकदन्ताय त्रिपुरान्तकरूपिणे । ओं श्याम (व) दन्तविकरालास्याहवेपाय वै नमः

amogholkāyaikadantāya tripurāntakarūpiṇe oṁ śyāma (va) dantavikarālāsyāhavepāya vai namaḥ

to the unerring-torched one, to the one-tusked one, to him who bears the form of the destroyer of Tripura — Om, salutation to the dark-faced one of terrible countenance, tremulous in battle.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.129.18)

पद्मदंष्टाय स्वाहान्ते मुद्रा वै नर्तनं गणे । हस्ततालश्च हसनं सौभाग्यादिफलं भवेत्

padmadaṁṣṭāya svāhānte mudrā vai nartanaṁ gaṇe hastatālaśca hasanaṁ saubhāgyādiphalaṁ bhavet

To the lotus-tusked one, ending with svaha; one should perform the ritual gesture and dance in honor of the Gana; from hand-clapping and laughter, good fortune and other fruits arise.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.129.19)

मार्गशीर्षे तथा शुक्लचतुर्थ्यां पूजयेद्गण । अब्दं प्राप्नोति विद्याश्रीकीर्त्यायुः पुत्रसन्ततिम्

mārgaśīrṣe tathā śuklacaturthyāṁ pūjayedgaṇa abdaṁ prāpnoti vidyāśrīkīrtyāyuḥ putrasantatim

Likewise, on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Margashirsha one should worship Gana; in a year, learning, prosperity, fame, long life, and progeny are obtained.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.129.20)

सोमवारे चतुर्थ्यां च समुपोष्यार्चयेद्गणम् । जपञ्जुह्वत्स्मरन्विद्या स्वर्गं निर्वाणतां व्रजेत्

somavāre caturthyāṁ ca samupoṣyārcayedgaṇam japañjuhvatsmaranvidyā svargaṁ nirvāṇatāṁ vrajet

Fasting on a fourth day that falls on a Monday and worshipping Gana while reciting, offering oblations, and remembering the mantra, one attains learning, heaven, and finally liberation.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.129.21)

यजेच्छुक्लचतुर्थ्यां यः खण्डलड्डुकमोद (मण्ड) कैः । विघ्नाचनेन सर्वान्स कामान्सौभाग्यमाप्नुयात्

yajecchuklacaturthyāṁ yaḥ khaṇḍalaḍḍukamoda (maṇḍa) kaiḥ vighnācanena sarvānsa kāmānsaubhāgyamāpnuyāt

Whoever worships on the bright fourth day with sugar-candy laddus and modakas obtains, through this worship of the Remover of Obstacles, all desires and good fortune.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.129.22)

पुत्रादिकं दमनकैर्दमनाख्या चतुर्थ्यपि । आं गणपतये नमः चतुर्थ्यन्तं यजेद्गणम्

putrādikaṁ damanakairdamanākhyā caturthyapi āṁ gaṇapataye namaḥ caturthyantaṁ yajedgaṇam

Sons and the like are obtained through offerings of damanaka on the fourth day called Damana as well; with the mantra Aim, salutation to Ganapati, one should worship Gana.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.129.23)

मासे तु यस्मिन्कस्मिंश्चिज्जुहुयाद्वा जपेत्स्मरेत् । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम्

māse tu yasminkasmiṁścijjuhuyādvā japetsmaret sarvānkāmānavāpnoti sarvavighnavināśanam

In whatever month one offers this oblation, recites, or remembers it, one obtains all desires; it is the destroyer of every obstacle.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.129.24)

विनायकं मूर्तिकाद्यं यजेदेभिश्च नामभिः । सोऽपि सद्गतिमाप्नोति स्वर्गमोक्षसुखानि च

vināyakaṁ mūrtikādyaṁ yajedebhiśca nāmabhiḥ so'pi sadgatimāpnoti svargamokṣasukhāni ca

One should worship the image of Vinayaka and the rest with these names; such a one too attains the good state, and the joys of heaven and liberation.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.129.25)

गणपूज्यो वक्रतुण्ड एकदंष्ट्री त्रियम्बकः । नीलग्रीवो लम्बोदरो विकटो विघ्नराजकः

gaṇapūjyo vakratuṇḍa ekadaṁṣṭrī triyambakaḥ nīlagrīvo lambodaro vikaṭo vighnarājakaḥ

The names worshipped by the ganas are: Vakratunda, Ekadamshtri, Tryambaka, Nilagriva, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja —

Verse 26 (garuda.1.129.26)

धूम्रवर्णो भालचन्द्रो दशमस्त विनायकः । गणपतिर्हस्तिमुखो द्वादशारे यजेद्गणम्

dhūmravarṇo bhālacandro daśamasta vināyakaḥ gaṇapatirhastimukho dvādaśāre yajedgaṇam

Dhumravarna, Bhalachandra — Vinayaka is the tenth; and Ganapati and Hastimukha complete twelve — one should worship Gana through this twelve-fold naming.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.129.27)

पृथक्समस्तं मेधावी सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । श्रावणे चाश्विने भाद्रे पञ्चम्यां कात्तिक शुभे

pṛthaksamastaṁ medhāvī sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt śrāvaṇe cāśvine bhādre pañcamyāṁ kāttika śubhe

The wise man obtains all desires by worshipping these names singly or all together. On the fifth day of Shravana, Ashvina, Bhadrapada, and auspicious Kartika —

Verse 28 (garuda.1.129.28)

वासुकिस्तक्षकश्चैव कालीयो मणिभद्रकः । ऐरावतो धृतराष्टः कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ

vāsukistakṣakaścaiva kālīyo maṇibhadrakaḥ airāvato dhṛtarāṣṭaḥ karkoṭakadhanañjayau

one should worship the serpents Vasuki, Takshaka, Kaliya, Manibhadraka, Airavata, Dhritarashtra, Karkotaka, and Dhananjaya.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.129.29)

घृताद्यैः स्नापिता ह्येते आयुरारोग्यसम्पदः । अनन्तं वासुकिं शङ्खं पद्मं कम्बलमेव च

ghṛtādyaiḥ snāpitā hyete āyurārogyasampadaḥ anantaṁ vāsukiṁ śaṅkhaṁ padmaṁ kambalameva ca

Bathing these with ghee and the like bestows long life, health, and prosperity. Ananta, Vasuki, Shankha, Padma, Kambala —

Verse 30 (garuda.1.129.30)

तथा कर्काटकं नागं धृतराष्ट्रं च शङ्खकम् । कालीयं तक्षकं चैव पिङ्गलं मासिमासि च

tathā karkāṭakaṁ nāgaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ ca śaṅkhakam kālīyaṁ takṣakaṁ caiva piṅgalaṁ māsimāsi ca

and likewise the serpents Karkataka, Dhritarashtra, Shankhaka, Kaliya, Takshaka, and Pingala — these should be worshipped every month,

Verse 31 (garuda.1.129.31)

यजेद्भाद्रसिते नागानष्टौ मुक्तिं दिवं व्रजेत् । द्वारस्योभयतो लेख्याः श्रावणे तु सिते यजेत्

yajedbhādrasite nāgānaṣṭau muktiṁ divaṁ vrajet dvārasyobhayato lekhyāḥ śrāvaṇe tu site yajet

and worshipping these eight serpents on the dark fifth of Bhadrapada bestows liberation and heaven. Their images should be drawn on both sides of the door; one should worship them on the bright fifth of Shravana too.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.129.32)

पञ्चम्यां पूजयेन्नागाननन्तान्द्यान्महोरगान् । क्षीरं सर्पिश्च नैवेद्यं देयं सर्वविषापहम् । नागा अभयहस्ताश्च दष्टोद्धारातु पञ्चमी

pañcamyāṁ pūjayennāgānanantāndyānmahoragān kṣīraṁ sarpiśca naivedyaṁ deyaṁ sarvaviṣāpaham nāgā abhayahastāśca daṣṭoddhārātu pañcamī

On the fifth day one should worship the great serpents beginning with Ananta; milk and ghee should be offered as naivedya, which removes all poison. The serpents, shown with hands raised in the gesture of fearlessness — this fifth day is the Dashtoddhara-Panchami, the day of deliverance from snakebite.