The Vow of Rohini-Chandra-Shayana

Verse 1 (padma.1.26.1)

भीष्म उवाच। दीर्घायुरारोग्यकुलातिवृद्धिभिर्युक्तः पुमान्रूपकुलान्वितः स्यात्। मुहुर्मुहुर्जन्मनि येन सम्यक्व्रतं समाचक्ष्व च शीतरश्मेः॥

bhīṣma uvāca dīrghāyurārogyakulātivṛddhibhiryuktaḥ pumānrūpakulānvitaḥ syāt muhurmuhurjanmani yena samyakvrataṁ samācakṣva ca śītaraśmeḥ

Bhishma said: Tell me rightly of that vow of the Cool-rayed one (the Moon), by which a man, endowed with long life, health, and the great increase of his family, becomes possessed of beauty and noble lineage life after life.

Verse 2 (padma.1.26.2)

पुलस्त्य उवाच। त्वया पृष्टमिदं सम्यगक्षयस्वर्गकारकम्। रहस्यं तु प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्पुराणविदो विदुः॥

pulastya uvāca tvayā pṛṣṭamidaṁ samyagakṣayasvargakārakam rahasyaṁ tu pravakṣyāmi yatpurāṇavido viduḥ

Pulastya said: You have rightly asked of this, which brings about imperishable heaven. I shall now declare the secret vow which the knowers of the Puranas know.

Verse 3 (padma.1.26.3)

रोहिणीचंद्रशयनं नामव्रतमिहोच्यते। तस्मिन्नारायणस्यार्चामर्चयेदिंदुनामभिः॥

rohiṇīcaṁdraśayanaṁ nāmavratamihocyate tasminnārāyaṇasyārcāmarcayediṁdunāmabhiḥ

This vow is here called Rohini-Chandra-Shayana. In it, one should worship the image of Narayana with the names of the Moon.

Verse 4 (padma.1.26.4)

यदा सोमदिने शुक्ला भवेत्पंचदशी क्वचित्। अथवा ब्रह्मनक्षत्रं पौर्णमास्यां प्रजायते॥

yadā somadine śuklā bhavetpaṁcadaśī kvacit athavā brahmanakṣatraṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ prajāyate

When, on some occasion, the bright fifteenth (the full-moon tithi) falls on Monday, or when the nakshatra of Brahma (Rohini) occurs on the full-moon day —

Verse 5 (padma.1.26.5)

तदा स्नानं नरः कुर्यात्पंचगव्येन सर्षपैः। आप्यायस्वेति च जपेद्विद्वानष्टशतं पुनः॥

tadā snānaṁ naraḥ kuryātpaṁcagavyena sarṣapaiḥ āpyāyasveti ca japedvidvānaṣṭaśataṁ punaḥ

then a man should bathe with the five products of the cow together with mustard seeds, and the wise one should recite the mantra 'apyayasva' (increase!) one hundred and eight times.

Verse 6 (padma.1.26.6)

शूद्रोपि परया भक्त्या पाषंडालापवर्जितः॥

śūdropi parayā bhaktyā pāṣaṁḍālāpavarjitaḥ

Even a shudra, with supreme devotion and free from heretical talk, may perform this vow.

Verse 7 (padma.1.26.7)

सोमाय शांताय नमोस्तु पादावनंतधाम्नेति च जानुजंघे। ऊरुद्वयं चापि जलोदराय संपूजयेन्मेढ्रमनंगधाम्ने॥

somāya śāṁtāya namostu pādāvanaṁtadhāmneti ca jānujaṁghe ūrudvayaṁ cāpi jalodarāya saṁpūjayenmeḍhramanaṁgadhāmne

Salutation to the peaceful Soma at the feet; with 'to the one of endless splendor' at the knees and shanks; the two thighs likewise to Jalodara; and the generative organ is to be worshipped to the abode of Ananga.

Verse 8 (padma.1.26.8)

नमोनमः कामसुखप्रदाय कटिः शशांकस्य सदार्चनीयः। तथोदरं चाप्यमृतोदराय नाभिः शशांकाय नमोभिपूज्या॥

namonamaḥ kāmasukhapradāya kaṭiḥ śaśāṁkasya sadārcanīyaḥ tathodaraṁ cāpyamṛtodarāya nābhiḥ śaśāṁkāya namobhipūjyā

Salutation again and again to the Bestower of the joy of desire — the hip of Shashanka is ever to be worshipped; likewise the belly to the one of nectar-belly, and the navel is worshipped with salutation to Shashanka.

Verse 9 (padma.1.26.9)

नमोस्तु चंद्राय मुखं च नित्यं दंता द्विजानामधिपाय पूज्याः। हास्यं नमश्चंद्रमसेऽभिपूज्यमोष्ठौ तु कौमोदवनप्रियाय॥

namostu caṁdrāya mukhaṁ ca nityaṁ daṁtā dvijānāmadhipāya pūjyāḥ hāsyaṁ namaścaṁdramase'bhipūjyamoṣṭhau tu kaumodavanapriyāya

Salutation to Chandra — the mouth is worshipped always; the teeth are worshipped to the Lord of the twice-born; the smile is worshipped with salutation to Chandramas; and the two lips to the one who loves the Kaumoda grove.

Verse 10 (padma.1.26.10)

नासा च नाथाय वरौषधीनामानंदबीजाय पुनर्भ्रुवौ च। नेत्रद्वयं पद्मनिभं तथेंदोरिंदीवरव्यासकराय शौरेः॥

nāsā ca nāthāya varauṣadhīnāmānaṁdabījāya punarbhruvau ca netradvayaṁ padmanibhaṁ tatheṁdoriṁdīvaravyāsakarāya śaureḥ

The nose to the Lord of the excellent herbs, and again the eyebrows to the Seed of Bliss; and the Moon's two lotus-like eyes to Shauri, the spreader of blue-lotus rays.

Verse 11 (padma.1.26.11)

नमः समस्ताध्वरपूजिताय कर्णद्वयं दैत्यनिषूदनाय। ललाटमिंदोरुदधिप्रियाय केशाः सुषुम्नाधिपतेः प्रपूज्याः॥

namaḥ samastādhvarapūjitāya karṇadvayaṁ daityaniṣūdanāya lalāṭamiṁdorudadhipriyāya keśāḥ suṣumnādhipateḥ prapūjyāḥ

Salutation to the one worshipped in all sacrifices — the two ears are worshipped to the Destroyer of daityas; the Moon's forehead to the one dear to the ocean, and the hair is worshipped to the Lord of Sushumna, the lunar ray.

Verse 12 (padma.1.26.12)

शिरः शशांकाय नमो मुरारेर्विश्वेश्वरायाथ नमः किरीटं। पद्मप्रिये रोहिणीनाम लक्ष्मि सौभाग्यसौख्यामृतसागराय॥

śiraḥ śaśāṁkāya namo murārervviśveśvarāyātha namaḥ kirīṭaṁ padmapriye rohiṇīnāma lakṣmi saubhāgyasaukhyāmṛtasāgarāya

The head to Shashanka, salutation to Murari; then salutation to Vishveshvara at the crown; O lotus-loving Rohini, named Lakshmi, salutation to the ocean of nectar of good fortune and happiness.

Verse 13 (padma.1.26.13)

दैवीं च संपूज्य सुगंधिपुष्पैर्नैवेद्यधूपादिभिरिंदुपत्नीम्। सुप्त्वा तु भूमौ पुनरुत्थितो यः स्नात्वा च विप्राय हविष्यभुक्तः॥

daivīṁ ca saṁpūjya sugaṁdhipuṣpairnaivedyadhūpādibhiriṁdupatnīm suptvā tu bhūmau punarutthito yaḥ snātvā ca viprāya haviṣyabhuktaḥ

And having worshipped the divine Rohini, the Moon's consort, with fragrant flowers, food-offerings, incense and the rest — one who, having slept upon the ground and risen again, bathes and partakes of the sacred oblation-food, giving to a brahmin —

Verse 14 (padma.1.26.14)

देयः प्रभाते सहिरण्य वारिकुंभो नमः पापविनाशनाय। संप्राश्य गोमूत्रममांसमन्नमक्षारमष्टावथ विंशतिं च॥

deyaḥ prabhāte sahiraṇya vārikuṁbho namaḥ pāpavināśanāya saṁprāśya gomūtramamāṁsamannamakṣāramaṣṭāvatha viṁśatiṁ ca

a water-jar together with gold is to be given at dawn, with the salutation 'to the Destroyer of sin'; having partaken of cow's urine, eating food without meat and without alkali for eight days, and then for twenty —

Verse 15 (padma.1.26.15)

ग्रासांश्च त्रीन्सर्पियुतानुपोष्य भुक्त्वेतिहासं शृणुयान्मुहूर्तं । कदंबनीलोत्पलकेतकानि जातिःसरोजं शतपत्रिका च॥

grāsāṁśca trīnsarpiyutānupoṣya bhuktvetihāsaṁ śṛṇuyānmuhūrtaṁ kadaṁbanīlotpalaketakāni jātiḥsarojaṁ śatapatrikā ca

and, having fasted, eat three morsels mixed with ghee, and for a while listen to itihasa; kadamba, blue lotus, ketaki, jati, lotus, and shatapatrika —

Verse 16 (padma.1.26.16)

अम्लानपुष्पाण्यथ सिंदुवारं पुष्पं पुनर्भारतमल्लिकायाः। शुक्लं च पुष्पं करवीरपुष्पं श्रीचंपकं चंद्रमसे प्रदेयम्॥

amlānapuṣpāṇyatha siṁduvāraṁ puṣpaṁ punarbhāratamallikāyāḥ śuklaṁ ca puṣpaṁ karavīrapuṣpaṁ śrīcaṁpakaṁ caṁdramase pradeyam

unwithered flowers, then the sinduvara flower, and again the jasmine flower, the white flower, the karavira flower, and the shri-champaka — these are to be offered to the Moon.

Verse 17 (padma.1.26.17)

श्रावणादिषु मासेषु क्रमादेतानि सर्वदा। यस्मिन्मासे व्रतादिः स्यात्तत्पुष्पैरर्चयेद्धरिम्॥

śrāvaṇādiṣu māseṣu kramādetāni sarvadā yasminmāse vratādiḥ syāttatpuṣpairarcayeddharim

In the months beginning with Shravana, use these flowers always in order; in whichever month the vow begins, with that month's flower one should worship Hari.

Verse 18 (padma.1.26.18)

एवं संवत्सरं यावदुपोष्य विधिवन्नरः। व्रतांते शयनं दद्याच्छयनोपस्करान्वितम्॥

evaṁ saṁvatsaraṁ yāvadupoṣya vidhivannaraḥ vratāṁte śayanaṁ dadyācchayanopaskarānvitam

Thus, having duly fasted for a full year, at the end of the vow a man should give a bed together with its bedroom furnishings.

Verse 19 (padma.1.26.19)

रोहिणीचंद्रमिथुनं कारयित्वा तु कांचनम्। चंद्रः षडंगुलः कार्यो रोहिणी चतुरंगुला॥

rohiṇīcaṁdramithunaṁ kārayitvā tu kāṁcanam caṁdraḥ ṣaḍaṁgulaḥ kāryo rohiṇī caturaṁgulā

Having had a golden pair of Rohini and Chandra made — the Moon should be made six fingers in size, Rohini four fingers.

Verse 20 (padma.1.26.20)

मुक्ताफलाष्टकयुतां सितनेत्रसमन्विताम्। क्षीरकुंभोपरि पुनः कांस्यपात्राक्षतान्विताम्॥

muktāphalāṣṭakayutāṁ sitanetrasamanvitām kṣīrakuṁbhopari punaḥ kāṁsyapātrākṣatānvitām

joined with eight pearls, furnished with white eyes; and again, upon a jar of milk, with a bronze vessel filled with unbroken rice —

Verse 21 (padma.1.26.21)

दद्यान्मंत्रेण पूर्वाह्णे शालीक्षुफलसंयुताम्। श्वेतामथ सुवर्णास्यां रौप्यखुरसमन्विताम्॥

dadyānmaṁtreṇa pūrvāhṇe śālīkṣuphalasaṁyutām śvetāmatha suvarṇāsyāṁ raupyakhurasamanvitām

one should give it with mantra in the forenoon, together with shali rice, sugarcane, and fruit; and also give a white cow with a golden face and joined with silver hooves.

Verse 22 (padma.1.26.22)

सवस्त्रभाजनां धेनुं तथा शंखं च भाजनम्। भूषणैर्द्विजदाम्पत्यमलंकृत्य गुणान्वितं॥

savastrabhājanāṁ dhenuṁ tathā śaṁkhaṁ ca bhājanam bhūṣaṇairdvijadāmpatyamalaṁkṛtya guṇānvitaṁ

a cow together with cloth and a vessel, and likewise a conch-shell vessel; and having adorned a virtuous brahmin couple with ornaments —

Verse 23 (padma.1.26.23)

चंद्रोयं विप्ररूपेण सभार्य इति कल्पयेत्। यथा ते रोहिणी कृष्ण शयनं न त्यजेदपि॥

caṁdroyaṁ viprarūpeṇa sabhārya iti kalpayet yathā te rohiṇī kṛṣṇa śayanaṁ na tyajedapi

one should conceive of them thus: 'This is the Moon himself, together with his wife, in the form of a brahmin couple.' 'O dark Krishna-hued Moon, just as your Rohini never forsakes your couch —'

Verse 24 (padma.1.26.24)

सोमरूपस्य वैतद्वन्न मे भेदो विभूतिभिः। यथा त्वमेव सर्वेषां परमानंदमुक्तिदः॥

somarūpasya vaitadvanna me bhedo vibhūtibhiḥ yathā tvameva sarveṣāṁ paramānaṁdamuktidaḥ

— so, of your Soma-form, may there be no difference from mine through your glories; as you alone are the giver of supreme bliss and liberation to all —

Verse 25 (padma.1.26.25)

भुक्तिर्मुक्तिस्तथा भक्तिस्त्वयि चंद्र दृढास्तु मे। इति संसारभीतस्य मुक्तिकामस्य चानघ॥

bhuktirmuktistathā bhaktistvayi caṁdra dṛḍhāstu me iti saṁsārabhītasya muktikāmasya cānagha

'May enjoyment, liberation, and devotion to you, O Moon, be firm in me.' Thus, O sinless one, is the prayer of one who fears worldly existence and desires liberation.

Verse 26 (padma.1.26.26)

रूपारोग्यायुषामेतद्विधायकमनुत्तमम्। इदमेव पितॄणां च सर्वदा वल्लभं नृप॥

rūpārogyāyuṣāmetadvidhāyakamanuttamam idameva pitṝṇāṁ ca sarvadā vallabhaṁ nṛpa

This vow is the unsurpassed bestower of beauty, health, and long life; and this alone, O king, is ever dear to the ancestors as well.

Verse 27 (padma.1.26.27)

त्रैलोक्याधिपतिर्भूत्वा सप्तकल्पशतत्रयम्। चंद्रलोकमवाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्॥

trailokyādhipatirbhūtvā saptakalpaśatatrayam caṁdralokamavāpnoti punarāvṛttidurlabham

Having become lord of the three worlds for three hundred and seven kalpas, one attains the world of the Moon, from which return is difficult.

Verse 28 (padma.1.26.28)

नारी वा रोहिणीचंद्रशयनं या समाचरेत्। सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्॥

nārī vā rohiṇīcaṁdraśayanaṁ yā samācaret sāpi tatphalamāpnoti punarāvṛttidurlabham

Or a woman who performs the Rohini-Chandra-Shayana vow — she too obtains that same result, from which return is difficult.

Verse 29 (padma.1.26.29)

इति पठति शृणोति वा य इत्थं मधुमथनार्चनमिंदुकीर्तनेन। मतिमपि च ददाति सोपि शौरेर्भवनगतः परिपूज्यतेमरौघैः॥

iti paṭhati śṛṇoti vā ya itthaṁ madhumathanārcanamiṁdukīrtanena matimapi ca dadāti sopi śaurerbhavanagataḥ paripūjyatemaraughaiḥ

Whoever thus reads or hears of this worship of the Slayer of Madhu through the glorification of the Moon — even one who merely imparts its understanding — goes to Shauri's abode and is honored there by the hosts of the immortals.