The Vow of Aditya-Shayana

Verse 1 (padma.1.25.1)

भीष्म उवाच। उपवासेष्वशक्तस्य तदेव फलमिच्छतः। अनभ्यासेन रोगाद्वा किमिष्टं व्रतमुच्यताम्॥

bhīṣma uvāca upavāseṣvaśaktasya tadeva phalamicchataḥ anabhyāsena rogādvā kimiṣṭaṁ vratamucyatām

Bhishma said: For one unable to fast — whether from lack of practice or from illness — yet desiring that same result, what excellent vow should be prescribed for him?

Verse 2 (padma.1.25.2)

पुलस्त्य उवाच। उपवासेष्वशक्तानां नक्तं भोजनमिष्यते। यस्मिन्व्रते तदप्यत्र श्रूयतां वै व्रतं महत्॥

pulastya uvāca upavāseṣvaśaktānāṁ naktaṁ bhojanamiṣyate yasminvrate tadapyatra śrūyatāṁ vai vrataṁ mahat

Pulastya said: For those unable to fast, a single night-meal is prescribed. Now hear of that great vow in which even this applies.

Verse 3 (padma.1.25.3)

आदित्यशयनं नाम यथावच्छंकरार्चनम्। येषु नक्षत्रयोगेषु पुराणज्ञाः प्रचक्षते॥

ādityaśayanaṁ nāma yathāvacchaṁkarārcanam yeṣu nakṣatrayogeṣu purāṇajñāḥ pracakṣate

It is called Aditya-shayana — the due worship of Shankara, performed on those nakshatra-conjunctions which the knowers of the Puranas declare.

Verse 4 (padma.1.25.4)

यदा हस्तेन सप्तम्यामादित्यस्य दिनं भवेत्। सूर्यस्य चापि संक्रांतिस्तिथिस्सा सार्वकामिकी॥

yadā hastena saptamyāmādityasya dinaṁ bhavet sūryasya cāpi saṁkrāntistithissā sārvakāmikī

When the seventh tithi falls with the Hasta nakshatra on Aditya's day (Sunday), together with a solar transit, that tithi grants all desires.

Verse 5 (padma.1.25.5)

उमामहेश्वरस्यार्चामर्चयेत्सूर्यनामभिः। सूर्यार्चां शिवलिगं च उभयं पूजयेद्यतः॥

umāmaheśvarasyārcāmarcayetsūryanāmabhiḥ sūryārcāṁ śivaligaṁ ca ubhayaṁ pūjayedyataḥ

On that day one should worship the image of Uma-Maheshvara with the names of Surya, for one should worship together both the emblem of Surya and the Shiva-linga.

Verse 6 (padma.1.25.6)

उमापते रवेश्चापि न भेदः क्वचिदिष्यते। यस्मात्तस्मान्नृपश्रेष्ठ गृहे भानुं समर्चयेत्॥

umāpate raveścāpi na bhedaḥ kvacidiṣyate yasmāttasmānnṛpaśreṣṭha gṛhe bhānuṁ samarcayet

Between Uma's Lord and the Sun no difference at all is held to exist; therefore, O best of kings, one should duly worship the Sun in one's own house.

Verse 7 (padma.1.25.7)

हस्तेन सूर्याय नमोस्तुपादावर्काय चित्रासु च गुल्फदेशं। स्वातीषु जंघे पुरुषोत्तमाय धात्रे विशाखासु च जानुदेशम्॥

hastena sūryāya namostupādāvarkāya citrāsu ca gulphadeśaṁ svātīṣu jaṁghe puruṣottamāya dhātre viśākhāsu ca jānudeśam

Under Hasta, salutation to Surya at the feet; under Chitra, to Arka at the ankles; under Svati, to Purushottama at the calves; under Vishakha, to Dhatri at the knees.

Verse 8 (padma.1.25.8)

तथानुराधासु नमोभि पूज्यमुरुद्द्वयं चैव सहस्रभानोः। ज्येष्ठास्वनंगाय नमोस्तु गुह्यमिन्द्रा यभीमाय कटिं च मूले॥

tathānurādhāsu namobhi pūjyamurudvayaṁ caiva sahasrabhānoḥ jyeṣṭhāsvanaṁgāya namostu guhyamindrāyabhīmāya kaṭiṁ ca mūle

Likewise under Anuradha, the two thighs of the Thousand-rayed one are to be worshipped with salutation; under Jyeshtha, salutation to Ananga at the secret organ; under Mula, worship to Indrabhima at the base of the hips.

Verse 9 (padma.1.25.9)

पूर्वोत्तराषाढयुगे च नाभिं त्वष्ट्रे नमः सप्ततुरंगमाय। तीक्ष्णांशवे श्रवणे चाथ कुक्षिं पृष्ठं धनिष्ठासु विकर्तनाय॥

pūrvottarāṣāḍhayuge ca nābhiṁ tvaṣṭre namaḥ saptaturaṁgamāya tīkṣṇāṁśave śravaṇe cātha kukṣiṁ pṛṣṭhaṁ dhaniṣṭhāsu vikartanāya

Under the twin Ashadhas, at the navel, salutation to Tvashtri, the seven-horsed one; under Shravana, at the flanks, to Tikshnamshu, the sharp-rayed one; under Dhanishtha, at the back, to Vikartana.

Verse 10 (padma.1.25.10)

वक्षस्थलं ध्वांतविनाशनाय जलाधिपर्क्षे प्रतिपूजनीयम्। पूर्वोत्तरा भाद्रपदद्वये च बाहूत्तमश्चंडकराय पूज्यौ॥

vakṣasthalaṁ dhvāṁtavināśanāya jalādhiparkṣe pratipūjanīyam pūrvottarā bhādrapadadvaye ca bāhūttamaścaṁḍakarāya pūjyau

Under Shatabhisha, the Lord-of-Waters' nakshatra, the chest is worshipped to the Destroyer of Darkness; under the twin Bhadrapadas, the two excellent arms are worshipped to Chandakara, the fierce-rayed one.

Verse 11 (padma.1.25.11)

साम्नामधीशाय करद्वयं च संपूजनीयं नृप रेवतीषु। नखानि पूज्यानि तथाश्विनीषु नमोस्तु सप्ताश्वधुरंधराय॥

sāmnāmadhīśāya karadvayaṁ ca saṁpūjanīyaṁ nṛpa revatīṣu nakhāni pūjyāni tathāśvinīṣu namostu saptāśvadhuraṁdharāya

O king, under Revati, both hands are worshipped to the Lord of the Sama hymns; likewise under Ashvini, the nails are worshipped, with salutation to the bearer of the seven-horse yoke.

Verse 12 (padma.1.25.12)

कठोरधाम्ने भरणीषु कंठं दिवाकरायेत्यभिपूजनीयम्। ग्रीवाग्निपर्क्षे धरसंपुटे तु संपूजयेद्भारत रोहिणीषु॥

kaṭhoradhāmne bharaṇīṣu kaṁṭhaṁ divākarāyetyabhipūjanīyam grīvāgniparkṣe dharasaṁpuṭe tu saṁpūjayedbhārata rohiṇīṣu

Under Bharani, at the throat, worship the one of unyielding splendor under the name Divakara; under the fire-nakshatra (Krittika), at the juncture of the neck, and, O descendant of Bharata, under Rohini likewise.

Verse 13 (padma.1.25.13)

मृगेर्चनीया रसना पुरारे रौद्रे तु दंता हरये नमस्ते। नमः सवित्रे इति शंकरस्य नासाभि पूज्या च पुनर्वसौ च॥

mṛgercanīyā rasanā purāre raudre tu daṁtā haraye namaste namaḥ savitre iti śaṁkarasya nāsābhi pūjyā ca punarvasau ca

Under Mrigashira, the tongue is worshipped to the Enemy of Pura; under Ardra, the teeth, with the salutation 'homage to Hari'; under Punarvasu, Shankara's nose is worshipped with the salutation 'homage to Savitri.'

Verse 14 (padma.1.25.14)

ललाटमंभोरुहवल्लभाय पुष्येलकान्वेदशरीरधारिणे। सार्पे च मौलिविबुधप्रियाय मघासु कर्णाविति पूजनीयौ॥

lalāṭamaṁbhoruhavallabhāya puṣyelakānvedaśarīradhāriṇe sārpe ca maulivibudhapriyāya maghāsu karṇāviti pūjanīyau

Under Pushya, the forehead is worshipped to the Lover of the Lotus, who bears the form of the Vedas; under Ashlesha, the crown of the head to the one beloved of the wise; under Magha, the two ears are worshipped likewise.

Verse 15 (padma.1.25.15)

पूर्वासु गोब्राह्मणनंदनाय नेत्राणि संपूज्यतमानि शंभोः। अथोत्तराफाल्गुनि भे भ्रुवौ च विश्वेश्वरायेति च पूजनीये॥

pūrvāsu gobrāhmaṇanaṁdanāya netrāṇi saṁpūjyatamāni śaṁbhoḥ athottarāphālguni bhe bhruvau ca viśveśvarāyeti ca pūjanīye

Under Purvaphalguni, Shambhu's eyes are worshipped with special reverence to the Delighter of cows and brahmins; then under Uttaraphalguni, the two eyebrows are worshipped to Vishveshvara.

Verse 16 (padma.1.25.16)

नमोस्तु पाशांकुशपद्मशूल कपालसर्पेन्दुधनुर्धराय। गयासुरानङ्गपुरांधकादि विनाशमूलाय नमः शिवाय॥

namostu pāśāṁkuśapadmaśūla kapālasarpendudhanurdharāya gayāsurānaṁgapurāṁdhakādi vināśamūlāya namaḥ śivāya

Salutation to the bearer of noose, goad, lotus, trident, skull, serpent, moon, and bow; salutation to Shiva, the root cause of the destruction of Gayasura, Ananga, the demon of Tripura, Andhaka, and others.

Verse 17 (padma.1.25.17)

इत्यादिकांगानि च पूजयित्वा विश्वेश्वरायेति शिरोभिपूज्यम्। अत्रापि भोक्तव्यमतैलमन्नममांसमक्षारमभुक्तशेषम्॥

ityādikāṁgāni ca pūjayitvā viśveśvarāyeti śirobhipūjyam atrāpi bhoktavyamatailamannamamāṁsamakṣāramabhuktaśeṣam

Having thus worshipped these and the other limbs, the head is worshipped with the name Vishveshvara. In this vow too, one should eat food that is without oil, without meat, without alkali, and not left over from another's meal.

Verse 18 (padma.1.25.18)

इत्येवं नृप नक्तानि कृत्वा दद्यात्पुनर्वसौ। शालेयतंडुलप्रस्थमौदुंबरमथो घृतम्॥

ityevaṁ nṛpa naktāni kṛtvā dadyātpunarvasau śāleyataṁḍulaprasthamaudumbaramatho ghṛtam

O king, having thus performed the night-fasts, one should give, on Punarvasu, a prastha-measure of shali rice and ghee held in a vessel of udumbara wood.

Verse 19 (padma.1.25.19)

संस्थाप्य पात्रे विप्राय सहिरण्यं निवेदयेत्। सप्तमे वस्त्रयुग्मं तु पारणे त्वधिकं भवेत्॥

saṁsthāpya pātre viprāya sahiraṇyaṁ nivedayet saptame vastrayugmaṁ tu pāraṇe tvadhikaṁ bhavet

Having placed it in a vessel, one should offer it to a brahmin together with gold. On the seventh occasion a pair of garments is given, and at the breaking of the fast, even more.

Verse 20 (padma.1.25.20)

चतुर्दशे तु संप्राप्ते पारणे भारतादिके । ब्राह्मणं भोजयेद्भक्त्या गुडक्षीरघृतादिभिः॥

caturdaśe tu saṁprāpte pāraṇe bhāratādike brāhmaṇaṁ bhojayedbhaktyā guḍakṣīraghṛtādibhiḥ

But when the fourteenth occasion arrives, at the breaking of the fast, O descendant of Bharata, one should feed a brahmin with devotion, using jaggery, milk, ghee, and the like.

Verse 21 (padma.1.25.21)

कृत्वा च कांचनं पद्ममष्टपत्रं सकर्णिकम्। शुद्धमष्टांगुलं तच्च पद्मरागदलान्वितम्॥

kṛtvā ca kāṁcanaṁ padmamaṣṭapatraṁ sakarṇikam śuddhamaṣṭāṁgulaṁ tacca padmarāgadalānvitam

And one should fashion a golden lotus of eight petals with a pericarp, pure, eight fingers in size, its petals set with ruby.

Verse 22 (padma.1.25.22)

शय्यां सुलक्षणां कृत्वा विरुद्धग्रंथिवर्जिताम्। सोपधानवितानां च स्वास्तरावरणाश्रयाम्॥

śayyāṁ sulakṣaṇāṁ kṛtvā viruddhagraṁthivarjitām sopadhānavitānāṁ ca svāstarāvaraṇāśrayām

One should prepare a well-formed bed, free of improper knots, furnished with a pillow and canopy, and provided with a fine mattress and coverlet.

Verse 23 (padma.1.25.23)

पादुकोपानहच्छत्र चामरासनदर्पणैः। भूपणैरपिसंयुक्तां फलवस्त्रानुलेपनैः॥

pādukopānahacchatra cāmarāsanadarpaṇaiḥ bhūpaṇairapisaṁyuktāṁ phalavastrānulepanaiḥ

It is to be furnished with sandals, shoes, an umbrella, a chowrie-fan, a seat, and a mirror, and joined also with ornaments, fruit, garments, and fragrant unguents.

Verse 24 (padma.1.25.24)

तस्यां विधाय तत्पद्ममलंकृत्य गुणान्विताम्। कपिलां वस्त्रसंयुक्तामतिशीलां पयस्विनीम्॥

tasyāṁ vidhāya tatpadmamalaṁkṛtya guṇānvitām kapilāṁ vastrasaṁyuktāmatiśīlāṁ payasvinīm

Having placed that lotus upon it and adorned it, one should give, together with it, a virtuous tawny cow, draped in cloth, of excellent temperament, and abundant in milk.

Verse 25 (padma.1.25.25)

रौप्यखुरां हेमशृंगीं सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। दद्यान्मंत्रेण तां धेनुं पूर्वाह्णं नातिलंघयेत्॥

raupyakhurāṁ hemaśṛṁgīṁ savatsāṁ kāṁsyadohanām dadyānmaṁtreṇa tāṁ dhenuṁ pūrvāhṇaṁ nātilaṁghayet

A cow with silver-plated hooves and golden-tipped horns, together with her calf, milked into a bronze vessel — this cow should be given with the proper mantra, and the forenoon should not be allowed to pass before doing so.

Verse 26 (padma.1.25.26)

यथैवादित्य शयनमशून्यं तव सर्वदा। कांत्या धृत्या श्रिया पुष्ट्या तथा मे संतु वृद्धयः॥

yathaivāditya śayanamaśūnyaṁ tava sarvadā kāṁtyā dhṛtyā śriyā puṣṭyā tathā me saṁtu vṛddhayaḥ

O Aditya, just as your couch is never empty, so may my increase be — in radiance, steadfastness, prosperity, and strength.

Verse 27 (padma.1.25.27)

यथा न देवाः श्रेयांसं त्वदन्यमनघं विदुः। तथा मामुद्धराशेष दुःखसंसारसागरात्॥

yathā na devāḥ śreyāṁsaṁ tvadanyamanaghaṁ viduḥ tathā māmuddharāśeṣa duḥkhasaṁsārasāgarāt

Just as the gods know none more blessed and sinless than you, so may you deliver me from this entire ocean of worldly sorrow.

Verse 28 (padma.1.25.28)

ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य प्रणम्य च विसर्जयेत्। शय्यां गवादि तत्सर्वं द्विजस्य भवनं नयेत्॥

tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya praṇamya ca visarjayet śayyāṁ gavādi tatsarvaṁ dvijasya bhavanaṁ nayet

Then, having circumambulated and bowed, one should take leave; the bed, the cow, and all the rest should be carried to the brahmin's house.

Verse 29 (padma.1.25.29)

नैतद्विशीलाय न दांभिकाय प्रकाशनीयं व्रतमिंदुमौलेः। गोविप्रदेवर्षिविकर्मयोगिनां यश्चापि निंदामधिकां विधत्ते॥

naitadviśīlāya na dāṁbhikāya prakāśanīyaṁ vratamiṁdumauleḥ govipradevarṣivikarmayogināṁ yaścāpi niṁdāmadhikāṁ vidhatte

This vow of the Moon-crested Lord should not be revealed to one of bad character, nor to a hypocrite, nor to anyone who holds excessive contempt for cows, brahmins, gods, sages, and those devoted to righteous rites.

Verse 30 (padma.1.25.30)

भक्ताय दांताय च गुह्यमेतदाख्येयमानंदकरं शिवञ्च। इदं महापातकिनां नराणां अघक्षयं वेदविदो वदंति॥

bhaktāya dāṁtāya ca guhyametadākhyeyamānaṁdakaraṁ śivañca idaṁ mahāpātakināṁ narāṇāṁ aghakṣayaṁ vedavido vadaṁti

This secret teaching, which brings joy and auspiciousness, should be told only to the devoted and the self-controlled. The knowers of the Veda declare that it destroys sin even for men guilty of the gravest transgressions.

Verse 31 (padma.1.25.31)

न बंधुपुत्रैर्न धनैर्वियुक्तः पत्नीभिरानंदकरः सुराणां। नाभ्येति रोगं न च दुःखमोहं या चापि नारी कुरुतेथ भक्त्या॥

na baṁdhuputrairna dhanairviyuktaḥ patnībhirānaṁdakaraḥ surāṇāṁ nābhyeti rogaṁ na ca duḥkhamohaṁ yā cāpi nārī kurutetha bhaktyā

One who performs this is never parted from kinsmen, sons, wealth, or wife — it delights even the gods; he meets neither disease nor the delusion of sorrow, and any woman too who performs it with devotion attains the same.

Verse 32 (padma.1.25.32)

इदं वसिष्ठेन पुरार्जुनेन कृतं कुबेरेण पुरंदरेण। यत्कीर्तनादप्यखिलानि नाशमायांति पापानि न संशयोत्र॥

idaṁ vasiṣṭhena purārjunena kṛtaṁ kuberena puraṁdareṇa yatkīrtanādapyakhilāni nāśamāyāṁti pāpāni na saṁśayotra

This vow was performed of old by Vasishtha, by Arjuna, by Kubera, and by Purandara — by merely proclaiming it, all sins are destroyed; there is no doubt of this.

Verse 33 (padma.1.25.33)

इति पठति शृणोति वा य इत्थं रविशयनं पुरुहूतवल्लभः स्यात्। अपि नरकगतान्पितॄनशेषानपि दिवमानयतीह यः करोति॥

iti paṭhati śṛṇoti vā ya itthaṁ raviśayanaṁ puruhūtavallabhaḥ syāt api narakagatānpitṝnaśeṣānapi divamānayatīha yaḥ karoti

Whoever thus reads or hears of this Ravi-shayana vow becomes dear to Purandara; and whoever performs it here carries even all his ancestors fallen into hell up to heaven.

Verse 34 (padma.1.25.34)

अश्वत्थं च वटं चैवोदुंबरं वृक्षमेव च। नंदीशं जंबुवृक्षं च बिल्वं प्राहुर्महर्षयः॥

aśvatthaṁ ca vaṭaṁ caivoduṁbaraṁ vṛkṣameva ca naṁdīśaṁ jaṁbuvṛkṣaṁ ca bilvaṁ prāhurmaharṣayaḥ

The ashvattha (peepal), the vata (banyan), the udumbara tree, the nandi tree, the jambu tree, and the bilva — these the great sages have named.

Verse 35 (padma.1.25.35)

मार्गशीर्षादिमासाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यामथ क्रमात्। एकैकं दंतधवनं वृक्षेष्वेतेषु कारयेत्॥

mārgaśīrṣādimāsābhyāṁ dvābhyāṁ dvābhyāmatha kramāt ekaikaṁ daṁtadhavanaṁ vṛkṣeṣveteṣu kārayet

Beginning with the month of Margashirsha, for each successive pair of months, one should use, in turn, the twig of one of these trees for cleaning the teeth.

Verse 36 (padma.1.25.36)

दद्यात्समाप्ते दध्यन्नं वितानध्वजचामरम्। द्विजानामुदकुंभांश्च पंचरत्नसमन्वितान्॥

dadyātsamāpte dadhyannaṁ vitānadhvajacāmaram dvijānāmudakuṁbhāṁśca paṁcaratnasamanvitān

When the vow is completed, one should give curd-rice, a canopy, a banner, and a chowrie, and to brahmins, water-jars furnished with the five gems.

Verse 37 (padma.1.25.37)

न वित्तशाठ्यं कुर्वीत कुर्वन्दोषानवाप्नुयात्॥

na vittaśāṭhyaṁ kurvīta kurvandoṣānavāpnuyāt

One should not be miserly or deceitful about wealth in this; doing so, one incurs fault.