The Rule of the Vaishakha Vow

Verse 1 (padma.5.86.1)

सूत उवाच- इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नारदस्य महात्मनः । अंबरीषश्च राजर्षिर्विस्मितो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

sūta uvāca- iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā nāradasya mahātmanaḥ aṁbarīṣaśca rājarṣirvismito vākyamabravīt

Suta said: "Hearing these words of the great-souled Narada, the royal sage Ambarisha, astonished, spoke these words."

Verse 2 (padma.5.86.2)

अंबरीष उवाच- मार्गशीर्षादिकान्मासान्हित्वा पुण्यान्महामुने । सर्वमासाधिकं मासं वैशाखं किं प्रशंससि

aṁbarīṣa uvāca- mārgaśīrṣādikānmāsānhitvā puṇyānmahāmune sarvamāsādhikaṁ māsaṁ vaiśākhaṁ kiṁ praśaṁsasi

Ambarisha said: "Setting aside the sacred months beginning with Margashirsha, O great sage, why do you praise the month of Vaishakha above all months?"

Verse 3 (padma.5.86.3)

सर्वेभ्योऽप्यधिकः कस्मान्माधवो माधवप्रियः । को विधिस्तत्र किं दानं किं तपः का च देवता

sarvebhyo'pyadhikaḥ kasmānmādhavo mādhavapriyaḥ ko vidhistatra kiṁ dānaṁ kiṁ tapaḥ kā ca devatā

"Why is Madhava, beloved of Madhava, superior to all others? What is the rule there, what the gift, what the austerity, and who the presiding deity?"

Verse 4 (padma.5.86.4)

त्वत्पादांभोजरजसा पावितस्य च मे मुने । उपदेशप्रसादेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि

tvatpādāṁbhojarajasā pāvitasya ca me mune upadeśaprasādena prasādaṁ kartumarhasi

"Purified as I am by the dust of your lotus feet, O sage, you should show me favor through the grace of your teaching."

Verse 5 (padma.5.86.5)

धर्मज्ञो धर्ममार्गाणामुद्धर्तासि महामुने । त्वमेकोऽखिलतत्त्वार्थवेत्ता धर्मोपदेशकः

dharmajño dharmamārgāṇāmuddhartāsi mahāmune tvameko'khilatattvārthavettā dharmopadeśakaḥ

"You are the knower of dharma, the deliverer of the paths of dharma, O great sage; you alone are the knower of the truth of all principles, the teacher of dharma —"

Verse 6 (padma.5.86.6)

कर्तोपदेष्टा मंता वानुमंतापि प्रयोजकः । शास्त्रविद्भिर्मुनिवर स्मर्यंते समभागिनः

kartopadeṣṭā maṁtā vānumaṁtāpi prayojakaḥ śāstravidbhirmunivara smaryaṁte samabhāginaḥ

"the doer, the instructor, the thinker, and even the approver and the impeller — all these, O foremost sage, are remembered by knowers of scripture as sharing equally in the merit."

Verse 7 (padma.5.86.7)

व्रतसत्रतपोदानैर्यत्फलं समवाप्यते । धर्मोपदेशनेनैव तत्सर्वमुपलभ्यते

vratasatratapodānairyatphalaṁ samavāpyate dharmopadeśanenaiva tatsarvamupalabhyate

"Whatever fruit is obtained through vows, sacrificial sessions, austerity, and gifts — all of that is obtained through the mere teaching of dharma."

Verse 8 (padma.5.86.8)

तीर्थस्नानं तपोयज्ञकर्म यत्कुरुते मुने । अपि तत्फलभागीस्याद्यः प्रवर्तयिता भवेत्

tīrthasnānaṁ tapoyajñakarma yatkurute mune api tatphalabhāgīsyādyaḥ pravartayitā bhavet

"Whatever pilgrimage-bathing, austerity, sacrifice, and rite a person performs, O sage — he who is the one who set it in motion also shares in that very fruit."

Verse 9 (padma.5.86.9)

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः । स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते

yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ sa yatpramāṇaṁ kurute lokastadanuvartate

"Whatever the best of men practices, that very thing other people follow; whatever standard he sets, the world follows accordingly."

Verse 10 (padma.5.86.10)

तदर्हति भवान्धर्ममुपदेष्टुं तदद्भुतम् । दुर्ल्लभो गुरुसंबोधो देशकालोपपत्तयः

tadarhati bhavāndharmamupadeṣṭuṁ tadadbhutam durllabho gurusaṁbodho deśakālopapattayaḥ

"Therefore you are worthy to teach that dharma, that wondrous rule. Rare indeed is instruction from a guru, and the coming together of place and time;"

Verse 11 (padma.5.86.11)

न केचन तथा भावाश्चेतः शीतलयंतिनः । राज्यलाभादयोऽप्येते यथा तव समागमः

na kecana tathā bhāvāścetaḥ śītalayaṁtinaḥ rājyalābhādayo'pyete yathā tava samāgamaḥ

"no other circumstances cool the heart so — not even the attainment of a kingdom — as does this meeting with you."

Verse 12 (padma.5.86.12)

सूत उवाच-। अथ मंदमृदुस्मेरस्फुरद्दंतप्रभानुगः । अंबरीषं प्रत्युवाच नारदो मुनिसत्तमः

sūta uvāca- atha maṁdamṛdusmerasphuraddaṁtaprabhānugaḥ aṁbarīṣaṁ pratyuvāca nārado munisattamaḥ

Suta said: "Then, with a gentle, soft smile revealing the gleam of his teeth, Narada, foremost of sages, replied to Ambarisha."

Verse 13 (padma.5.86.13)

नारद उवाच-। शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि हिताय जगतस्तव । विधिर्माधवमासस्य यच्छ्रुतो ब्रह्मणः पुरा

nārada uvāca- śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi hitāya jagatastava vidhirmādhavamāsasya yacchruto brahmaṇaḥ purā

Narada said: "Listen, O king, I shall tell, for the benefit of the world and for you, the rule of the month of Madhava, as it was heard formerly from Brahma."

Verse 14 (padma.5.86.14)

दुर्ल्लभं भारते वर्षे जन्म तस्मान्मनुष्यता । मानुष्ये दुर्ल्लभे लोके स्वस्वधर्मप्रवर्त्तनम्

durllabhaṁ bhārate varṣe janma tasmānmanuṣyatā mānuṣye durllabhe loke svasvadharmapravarttanam

"Rare is birth in Bharata-varsha; rarer still, humanity itself; and in this world where humanity is rare, the practice of one's own proper dharma,"

Verse 15 (padma.5.86.15)

ततोऽपि भक्तिर्भूपाल वासुदेवेऽतिदुर्ल्लभा । तत्रापि दुर्ल्लभो मासो माधवो माधवप्रियः

tato'pi bhaktirbhūpāla vāsudeve'tidurllabhā tatrāpi durllabho māso mādhavo mādhavapriyaḥ

"O king, is rarer still than that; and rarer than devotion to Vasudeva is that month of Madhava, beloved of Madhava."

Verse 16 (padma.5.86.16)

तमवाप्य ततो मासं स्नानदानजपादिकम् । कुर्वंति विधिना ये तु धन्यास्ते कृतिनो नराः

tamavāpya tato māsaṁ snānadānajapādikam kurvaṁti vidhinā ye tu dhanyāste kṛtino narāḥ

"Having obtained that month, those who perform bathing, giving, recitation and the like according to rule are blessed, virtuous men."

Verse 17 (padma.5.86.17)

तेषां दर्शनमात्रेण पापिनोऽपि विकिल्बिषाः । भवंति भगवद्भावभाविता धर्मकांक्षिणः

teṣāṁ darśanamātreṇa pāpino'pi vikilbiṣāḥ bhavaṁti bhagavadbhāvabhāvitā dharmakāṁkṣiṇaḥ

"By the mere sight of them, even sinners, laden with wrongdoing, become imbued with devotion to the Lord, longing for dharma."

Verse 18 (padma.5.86.18)

माधवे मासि यैः स्नातं प्रातर्नियमसंयुतैः । ते कोटिवर्षपर्यंतं क्रीडंते नंदने वने

mādhave māsi yaiḥ snātaṁ prātarniyamasaṁyutaiḥ te koṭivarṣaparyaṁtaṁ krīḍaṁte naṁdane vane

"Those who, in the month of Madhava, bathe at dawn, observing their vows, sport for a myriad years in the Nandana garden."

Verse 19 (padma.5.86.19)

यथा न वारिधिसमो लोके कोऽपि जलाशयः । तथा मासो न वैशाखसदृशो माधवप्रियः

yathā na vāridhisamo loke ko'pi jalāśayaḥ tathā māso na vaiśākhasadṛśo mādhavapriyaḥ

"Just as there is no reservoir of water in the world equal to the ocean, so too there is no month equal to Vaishakha, beloved of Madhava."

Verse 20 (padma.5.86.20)

तावत्पापानि तिष्ठंति मनुष्याणां कलेवरे । यावत्किलमलध्वंसी मासो नायाति माधवः

tāvatpāpāni tiṣṭhaṁti manuṣyāṇāṁ kalevare yāvatkilamaladhvaṁsī māso nāyāti mādhavaḥ

"So long does the sin remain in men's bodies, until the month of Madhava, the destroyer of impurity, arrives."

Verse 21 (padma.5.86.21)

अवशिष्टदिनान्येव पंचमासस्य तस्य वै । एकादशीं समारभ्य सर्वमाससमानि वै

avaśiṣṭadinānyeva paṁcamāsasya tasya vai ekādaśīṁ samārabhya sarvamāsasamāni vai

"The remaining days of that month are equal in merit to a whole five months; beginning from the eleventh, each day is equal to a whole month."

Verse 22 (padma.5.86.22)

वैशाखे पूजितो देवो माधवो मधुहा तु यैः । नानोपचारै राजेंद्र तैः प्राप्तं जन्मनः फलम्

vaiśākhe pūjito devo mādhavo madhuhā tu yaiḥ nānopacārai rājeṁdra taiḥ prāptaṁ janmanaḥ phalam

"O king of kings, by those who worship the god Madhava, slayer of Madhu, in Vaishakha, with manifold offerings, the fruit of their birth is obtained."

Verse 23 (padma.5.86.23)

किं किं न दुर्ल्लभतरं प्राप्यते मासि माधवे । स्नानेन परमेशस्य पूजनेन यथाविधि

kiṁ kiṁ na durllabhataraṁ prāpyate māsi mādhave snānena parameśasya pūjanena yathāvidhi

"What indeed is not obtained, however hard to attain, in the month of Madhava — by bathing, by worshipping the supreme Lord according to rule?"

Verse 24 (padma.5.86.24)

न दत्तं न हुतं जप्तं न तीर्थे मरणं कृतम् । यैर्हि नारायणो नैव ध्यातो निखिलपापहा

na dattaṁ na hutaṁ japtaṁ na tīrthe maraṇaṁ kṛtam yairhi nārāyaṇo naiva dhyāto nikhilapāpahā

"By whom nothing has been given, offered, or recited, nor death undergone at a holy place, and by whom Narayana, the destroyer of all sin, has not even been meditated upon —"

Verse 25 (padma.5.86.25)

तेषां जन्म नृणां लोके ज्ञातव्यं निष्फलं नृप । द्रव्येषु विद्यमानेषु कृपणो यो भवेन्नरः

teṣāṁ janma nṛṇāṁ loke jñātavyaṁ niṣphalaṁ nṛpa dravyeṣu vidyamāneṣu kṛpaṇo yo bhavennaraḥ

"the birth of such men in this world, O king, should be known as fruitless. Just as a man who, though possessed of wealth, becomes miserly,"

Verse 26 (padma.5.86.26)

अदत्वा म्रियते यो हि तस्य द्रव्यं निरर्थकम् । तीर्थस्नानादि तपसा सत्कुले जन्म लभ्यते

adatvā mriyate yo hi tasya dravyaṁ nirarthakam tīrthasnānādi tapasā satkule janma labhyate

"who dies without giving, his wealth is meaningless for him; birth in a good family is obtained through pilgrimage-bathing and austerity."

Verse 27 (padma.5.86.27)

न दानेन विना भूप किंचिदप्युपतिष्ठति । वैशाखस्नानमाहात्म्यादपि पंचदिनात्मकात्

na dānena vinā bhūpa kiṁcidapyupatiṣṭhati vaiśākhasnānamāhātmyādapi paṁcadinātmakāt

"Without giving, O king, nothing at all is achieved. By the very greatness of the Vaishakha bath, consisting of these five days,"

Verse 28 (padma.5.86.28)

सत्कुले प्राप्यते जन्म वैभवं विविधं तथा । सुपुत्रः सुकुलं भूप धनधान्यं वरस्त्रियः

satkule prāpyate janma vaibhavaṁ vividhaṁ tathā suputraḥ sukulaṁ bhūpa dhanadhānyaṁ varastriyaḥ

"birth in a good family is obtained, and manifold prosperity too, O king: a good son, a good family, wealth and grain, an excellent wife,"

Verse 29 (padma.5.86.29)

सुजन्ममरणं चापि सुभोगाः सुखमेव च । सदा दानेऽधिका प्रीतिरौदार्यं धैर्यमुत्तमम्

sujanmamaraṇaṁ cāpi subhogāḥ sukhameva ca sadā dāne'dhikā prītiraudāryaṁ dhairyamuttamam

"a good birth and a good death, good enjoyments and happiness itself; ever the greatest love in giving, generosity, and supreme steadfastness —"

Verse 30 (padma.5.86.30)

प्रसादात्तस्य देवस्य विष्णोश्चैव महात्मनः । नारायणस्य जायंते सिद्धयो भूप वांच्छिताः

prasādāttasya devasya viṣṇoścaiva mahātmanaḥ nārāyaṇasya jāyaṁte siddhayo bhūpa vāṁcchitāḥ

"by the grace of that god, of Vishnu, the great-souled Narayana, all desired accomplishments arise, O king."

Verse 31 (padma.5.86.31)

ऊर्जे मासि तपो मासि माधवे माधवप्रिये । स्नात्वा दामोदरं भक्त्या माधवं मधुसूदनम्

ūrje māsi tapo māsi mādhave mādhavapriye snātvā dāmodaraṁ bhaktyā mādhavaṁ madhusūdanam

"In the month of Urja, in the month of austerity, and in Madhava, beloved of Madhava, having bathed, worshipping with devotion Damodara, Madhava, Madhusudana,"

Verse 32 (padma.5.86.32)

विशेषेण समभ्यर्च्य दत्वा दानानि शक्तितः । एहिकं सुखमासाद्य नरो हरिपदं व्रजेत्

viśeṣeṇa samabhyarcya datvā dānāni śaktitaḥ ehikaṁ sukhamāsādya naro haripadaṁ vrajet

"having especially honored him, having given gifts according to one's means, a man, having attained happiness here on earth, goes to Hari's own abode."

Verse 33 (padma.5.86.33)

अनेकजन्मार्जितपातकावली विलीयते माधवमज्जनेन । सूर्योदये भूप यथा तमिस्रं वचः स्वयंभूरिदमादिशन्मे

anekajanmārjitapātakāvalī vilīyate mādhavamajjanena sūryodaye bhūpa yathā tamisraṁ vacaḥ svayaṁbhūridamādiśanme

"The chain of sins accumulated over many births dissolves through immersion in Madhava, just as darkness dissolves at sunrise, O king — thus the Self-born himself declared this word to me."

Verse 34 (padma.5.86.34)

चकार विष्णुर्विपुलप्रचारं मासस्य वै माधवसंज्ञकस्य । यमस्य गुप्तं वचसा विचिंत्य मनुष्यलोकं गमितं चकार

cakāra viṣṇurvipulapracāraṁ māsasya vai mādhavasaṁjñakasya yamasya guptaṁ vacasā viciṁtya manuṣyalokaṁ gamitaṁ cakāra

"Vishnu brought about the extensive spread of the observance of this month called Madhava; having reflected upon Yama's word, kept secret, he made it known to the world of men."

Verse 35 (padma.5.86.35)

तस्मादस्मिन्समायाते माधवे मासि वैष्णवैः । स्नात्वा पुण्यजले तीर्थे गंगायाः पावने नृणाम्

tasmādasminsamāyāte mādhave māsi vaiṣṇavaiḥ snātvā puṇyajale tīrthe gaṁgāyāḥ pāvane nṛṇām

"Therefore, when this month of Madhava has arrived, Vaishnavas, having bathed in the sacred, purifying water of a holy place, of the Ganga, of men,"

Verse 36 (padma.5.86.36)

रेवाया वा महाराज यामुने शारदेऽथवा । प्रातस्त्वनुदिते भानौ विधानेन नृपोत्तम

revāyā vā mahārāja yāmune śārade'thavā prātastvanudite bhānau vidhānena nṛpottama

"or of the Reva, O great king, or of the Yamuna, or of the Sharada — in the morning, before sunrise, according to rule, O best of kings,"

Verse 37 (padma.5.86.37)

पूजयित्वा च देवेशं मुकुंदं मधुसूदनम् । पुत्रपौत्रधनैः श्रेयो वांच्छितानि सुखानि च

pūjayitvā ca deveśaṁ mukuṁdaṁ madhusūdanam putrapautradhanaiḥ śreyo vāṁcchitāni sukhāni ca

"having worshipped the lord of gods, Mukunda, Madhusudana, obtaining welfare, sons and grandsons and wealth, and the desired pleasures."

Verse 38 (padma.5.86.38)

अनुभूय तपस्त्वंते स्वर्गमक्षयमाप्नुयात् । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभाग मधुसूदनमर्चय

anubhūya tapastvaṁte svargamakṣayamāpnuyāt evaṁ jñātvā mahābhāga madhusūdanamarcaya

"Having enjoyed these, at the end, through austerity, he obtains imperishable heaven. Knowing this, O greatly blessed one, worship Madhusudana."

Verse 39 (padma.5.86.39)

स्नात्वा सम्यग्विधानेन वैशाखे तु विशेषतः । देवमाराध्य गोविन्दं नारायणमनामयम्

snātvā samyagvidhānena vaiśākhe tu viśeṣataḥ devamārādhya govindaṁ nārāyaṇamanāmayam

"Having duly bathed according to rule, especially in Vaishakha, having worshipped the god Govinda, the unafflicted Narayana,"

Verse 40 (padma.5.86.40)

प्राप्स्यसि त्वं सुखं पुत्रं धनानि च हरेः पदम् । देवदेवं नमस्कृत्य माधवं पापनाशनम्

prāpsyasi tvaṁ sukhaṁ putraṁ dhanāni ca hareḥ padam devadevaṁ namaskṛtya mādhavaṁ pāpanāśanam

"you shall obtain happiness, a son, riches, and the very abode of Hari. Having bowed to the god of gods, Madhava, the destroyer of sin,"

Verse 41 (padma.5.86.41)

प्रारभेत व्रतमिदं पौर्णमास्यां मधोर्नृप । यमैश्च नियमैर्युक्तः शक्त्या किंचित्प्रदाय च

prārabheta vratamidaṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ madhornṛpa yamaiśca niyamairyuktaḥ śaktyā kiṁcitpradāya ca

"one should undertake this vow, O king, on the full-moon day of the month before Madhu, observing the restraints and disciplines, and, according to one's ability, giving something in charity;"

Verse 42 (padma.5.86.42)

हविष्यभुग्भूमिशायी ब्रह्मचर्यव्रते स्थितः । कृच्छ्रादितपसा क्षामो ध्यायन्नारायणं हृदि

haviṣyabhugbhūmiśāyī brahmacaryavrate sthitaḥ kṛcchrāditapasā kṣāmo dhyāyannārāyaṇaṁ hṛdi

"eating sanctified food, sleeping on the ground, established in the vow of celibacy, emaciated through austerity difficult to bear, meditating upon Narayana in the heart —"

Verse 43 (padma.5.86.43)

एवं प्राप्य च वैशाखीं दद्यान्मधुतिलादिकम् । भोजनं द्विजमुख्येभ्यो भक्त्या धेनुं सदक्षिणाम्

evaṁ prāpya ca vaiśākhīṁ dadyānmadhutilādikam bhojanaṁ dvijamukhyebhyo bhaktyā dhenuṁ sadakṣiṇām

"having thus reached Vaishakha, one should give honey, sesame and the like, food to the foremost brahmins with devotion, and a cow together with a sacrificial fee."

Verse 44 (padma.5.86.44)

अच्छिद्रं प्रार्थयेच्चापि तस्य स्नानस्य भूसुरान् । यथा लक्ष्मीः प्रिया भूप माधवस्य जगत्पतेः

acchidraṁ prārthayeccāpi tasya snānasya bhūsurān yathā lakṣmīḥ priyā bhūpa mādhavasya jagatpateḥ

"One should also request the earth-gods for the completeness, without any flaw, of that bathing-observance. Just as Lakshmi is dear, O king, to Madhava, the Lord of the universe,"

Verse 45 (padma.5.86.45)

तथैव माधवो मासो मधुसूदनवल्लभः । एवं विधियुतो मर्त्यः स्नात्वा द्वादशवत्सरम्

tathaiva mādhavo māso madhusūdanavallabhaḥ evaṁ vidhiyuto martyaḥ snātvā dvādaśavatsaram

"so too is the month of Madhava dear to Madhusudana. A mortal thus observing the rule, having bathed for twelve years,"

Verse 46 (padma.5.86.46)

उद्यापनं चरेच्छक्त्या मधुसूदनतुष्टये । इदं माधवमासस्य माहात्म्यं कथितं तव

udyāpanaṁ carecchaktyā madhusūdanatuṣṭaye idaṁ mādhavamāsasya māhātmyaṁ kathitaṁ tava

"should perform the concluding rite according to his means, for the satisfaction of Madhusudana. This is the glory of the month of Madhava that has been told to you,"

Verse 47 (padma.5.86.47)

यत्पुरा ब्रह्मणो वक्त्राच्छ्रुतमासीन्मया नृप

yatpurā brahmaṇo vaktrācchrutamāsīnmayā nṛpa

"which I formerly heard, O king, from the very mouth of Brahma."