The Shravana-Dvadashi Vow

Verse 1 (garuda.1.136.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रवणद्वादशों वक्ष्ये भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनीम् । एकादशी द्वादशी च श्रवणेन च संयुता

brahmovāca śravaṇadvādaśoṁ vakṣye bhuktimuktipradāyinīm ekādaśī dvādaśī ca śravaṇena ca saṁyutā

Brahma said: I shall declare the Shravana-Dvadashi, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation — the Ekadashi and Dvadashi joined with the Shravana asterism.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.136.2)

विजया सा तिथिः प्रोक्ता हरिपूजादि चाक्षयम् । एक भक्तेन नक्तेन तथैवायाचितेन च

vijayā sā tithiḥ proktā haripūjādi cākṣayam eka bhaktena naktena tathaivāyācitena ca

That tithi is called Vijaya, the victorious; worship of Hari and the like performed then bears imperishable fruit — whether by eating once, by night-eating, or by unsolicited food.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.136.3)

उपवासेन भैक्ष्येण नैवाद्बादशिको भवेत् । कास्यं मांसं तथा क्षौद्रं लोभं वितथभाषणम्

upavāsena bhaikṣyeṇa naivādbādaśiko bhavet kāsyaṁ māṁsaṁ tathā kṣaudraṁ lobhaṁ vitathabhāṣaṇam

or by fasting, or by begged food — thus a man becomes fit to be called a keeper of the Dvadashi. He should forsake bell-metal vessels, meat, honey, greed, and false speech —

Verse 4 (garuda.1.136.4)

व्यायामं च व्यवायं च दिवास्वप्नमथाञ्जनम् । शिलाषिष्टं मसूरं च द्वादश्यां वर्जयेन्नरः

vyāyāmaṁ ca vyavāyaṁ ca divāsvapnamathāñjanam śilāṣiṣṭaṁ masūraṁ ca dvādaśyāṁ varjayennaraḥ

and forsake exercise, sexual union, sleeping by day, and the use of collyrium; on the Dvadashi a man should also avoid a certain grain and lentils.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.136.5)

मासी भाद्रपदे शुक्ला द्वादशी श्रवणान्विता । महती द्वादशी ज्ञेया उपवासे महाफला

māsī bhādrapade śuklā dvādaśī śravaṇānvitā mahatī dvādaśī jñeyā upavāse mahāphalā

The Dvadashi of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, joined with Shravana, is to be known as the Great Dvadashi; fasting on it bears great fruit.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.136.6)

संगम सरितां स्नानं बुधयुक्ता महाफला । कुंभे सरत्ने सजले यजेत्स्वर्णं तु वामनम्

saṁgama saritāṁ snānaṁ budhayuktā mahāphalā kuṁbhe saratne sajale yajetsvarṇaṁ tu vāmanam

Bathing at the confluence of rivers, especially when it falls on a Wednesday, bears great fruit. In a jewel-adorned jar filled with water, one should worship a golden image of Vamana —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.136.7)

सितवस्त्रयुगच्छन्नं छत्रोपानद्युगान्वितम् । ओं नमो वासुदेवाय शिरः संपूजयेत्ततः

sitavastrayugacchannaṁ chatropānadyugānvitam oṁ namo vāsudevāya śiraḥ saṁpūjayettataḥ

covered with a pair of white cloths, accompanied by an umbrella and a pair of sandals. With Om, salutation to Vasudeva one should then worship the head —

Verse 8 (garuda.1.136.8)

श्रीधराय मुखं तद्वत्कण्ठं कृष्णाय वै नमः । नमः श्रीपतये वक्षो भुजौ सर्वास्त्रधारिणे

śrīdharāya mukhaṁ tadvatkaṇṭhaṁ kṛṣṇāya vai namaḥ namaḥ śrīpataye vakṣo bhujau sarvāstradhāriṇe

the face under the name of Shridhara, likewise salutation to Krishna for the throat, salutation to the Lord of Shri for the chest, and the arms as belonging to the bearer of all weapons —

Verse 9 (garuda.1.136.9)

व्यापकाय नमः कुक्षौ केशवायोदरं बुधः । त्रैलोक्यपतये मेढ्रं जङ्घे सर्वभृते नमः

vyāpakāya namaḥ kukṣau keśavāyodaraṁ budhaḥ trailokyapataye meḍhraṁ jaṅghe sarvabhṛte namaḥ

salutation to the all-pervading one for the belly, the abdomen under the name of Keshava, the loins under the name of the Lord of the three worlds, and salutation to the sustainer of all for the shanks —

Verse 10 (garuda.1.136.10)

सर्वात्मने नमः पादौ नैवेद्यं घृतपायसम् । कुम्भांश्च मोदकान्दद्याज्जागरं कारयेन्निशि

sarvātmane namaḥ pādau naivedyaṁ ghṛtapāyasam kumbhāṁśca modakāndadyājjāgaraṁ kārayenniśi

and salutation to the Self of all for the feet. The food-offering should be rice-pudding with ghee; one should give jars and modakas as gifts, and keep vigil through the night.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.136.11)

स्नात्वाचान्तोर्ऽचयित्वा तु कृतपुष्पाञ्जलिर्वदेत् । नमोनमस्ते गोविन्द बुध श्रवणसंज्ञक !

snātvācāntor'cayitvā tu kṛtapuṣpāñjalirvadet namonamaste govinda budha śravaṇasaṁjñaka !

Having bathed, rinsed the mouth, and worshipped, joining the hands with flowers, one should say: Salutation, salutation to you, O Govinda, known through wisdom and this hearing of your glory!

Verse 12 (garuda.1.136.12)

अघौघसंक्षयं कृत्वा सर्वसौख्यप्रदो भव । प्रीयतां देवदेवेशो विप्रेभ्यः कलशान्ददेत् । नद्यस्तीरेऽयः वा कुर्यात्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

aghaughasaṁkṣayaṁ kṛtvā sarvasaukhyaprado bhava prīyatāṁ devadeveśo viprebhyaḥ kalaśāndadet nadyastīre'yaḥ vā kuryātsarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

Having destroyed the mass of my sins, be the bestower of all happiness; may the Lord of the Gods of gods be pleased. One should give water-jars to Brahmins, whether on a riverbank or elsewhere, and thus obtain all desires.