The Janmashtami Vow

Verse 1 (padma.6.31.1)

नारद उवाच ।देवदेव जगन्नाथ भक्तानामभयप्रद । व्रतं ब्रूहि महादेव कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि

nārada uvāca devadeva jagannātha bhaktānāmabhayaprada vrataṁ brūhi mahādeva kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mamopari

Narada said: O God of gods, Lord of the world, giver of freedom from fear to your devotees, showing your grace to me, tell me that vow, O Mahadeva.

Verse 2 (padma.6.31.2)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच ।सार्वभौमः पुरा ह्यासीद्धरिश्चंद्रो महीपतिः । तस्यतुष्टोऽददद्ब्रह्मा पुरीं कामदुघां शुभाम्

śrīmahādeva uvāca sārvabhaumaḥ purā hyāsīddhariścaṁdro mahīpatiḥ tasyatuṣṭo'dadadbrahmā purīṁ kāmadughāṁ śubhām

Sri Mahadeva said: Long ago there was a universal sovereign, King Harishchandra; pleased with him, Brahma gave him an auspicious, wish-fulfilling city.

Verse 3 (padma.6.31.3)

सर्वरत्नमयीं दिव्यां बालार्कसदृशप्रभाम् । तत्र स्थितो महीपालो सप्तद्वीपां वसुंधराम्

sarvaratnamayīṁ divyāṁ bālārkasadṛśaprabhām tatra sthito mahīpālo saptadvīpāṁ vasuṁdharām

Made entirely of gems, divine, radiant as the rising sun; established there, that king,

Verse 4 (padma.6.31.4)

पालयामास धर्मेण पिता पुत्रमिवौरसम् । प्रभूतधनधान्यस्तु पुत्रदौहित्रवान्नृपः

pālayāmāsa dharmeṇa pitā putramivaurasam prabhūtadhanadhānyastu putradauhitravānnṛpaḥ

protected the earth with its seven continents through righteousness, as a father protects his own son. That king, possessing abundant wealth and grain, and sons and grandsons,

Verse 5 (padma.6.31.5)

स पालयन्शुभं राज्यं परं विस्मयमागतः । न तादृशमभूत्पूर्वं राज्यं कस्य हि कर्हिचित्

sa pālayanśubhaṁ rājyaṁ paraṁ vismayamāgataḥ na tādṛśamabhūtpūrvaṁ rājyaṁ kasya hi karhicit

protecting his own auspicious kingdom, came to great wonder — 'Never before has any king had such a kingdom,

Verse 6 (padma.6.31.6)

न चेदृशं नरैरन्यैर्विमानमधिरोहितम् । कस्येह कर्मणो व्यष्टिर्येनाहं सुरराडिव

na cedṛśaṁ narairanyairvimānamadhirohitam kasyeha karmaṇo vyaṣṭiryenāhaṁ surarāḍiva

'nor has any other man ever mounted such an aerial car. What portion of what deed is this, by which I am as if the very king of gods?'

Verse 7 (padma.6.31.7)

इति चिंतापरो भूत्वा विमानवरमास्थितः । ददर्श पार्थिववरो मेरुं शिखरिणां वरम्

iti ciṁtāparo bhūtvā vimānavaramāsthitaḥ dadarśa pārthivavaro meruṁ śikhariṇāṁ varam

Thus absorbed in thought, seated upon his excellent celestial car, that finest of kings beheld Mount Meru, best of peaks.

Verse 8 (padma.6.31.8)

तत्रास्ते च महात्मासौ द्वितीय इव भास्करः । आसीनं पर्वतवरे शैलपट्टे हिरण्मये

tatrāste ca mahātmāsau dvitīya iva bhāskaraḥ āsīnaṁ parvatavare śailapaṭṭe hiraṇmaye

There, upon a golden slab, seated on Meru, finest of mountains, that great soul sat, like a second sun —

Verse 9 (padma.6.31.9)

सनत्कुमारं ब्रह्मर्षिं ज्ञानयोगपरायणम् । दृष्ट्वा ह्यवातरद्राजा प्रष्टुकामोऽथ विस्मयम्

sanatkumāraṁ brahmarṣiṁ jñānayogaparāyaṇam dṛṣṭvā hyavātaradrājā praṣṭukāmo'tha vismayam

Sanatkumara, the brahmin-sage, devoted to the yoga of knowledge. Seeing him, wishing to ask about his own wonder, the king descended at once.

Verse 10 (padma.6.31.10)

ववंदे चरणौ हृष्टस्तेनापि स च नंदितः । सुखोपविष्टस्तु नृपः पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवम्

vavaṁde caraṇau hṛṣṭastenāpi sa ca naṁditaḥ sukhopaviṣṭastu nṛpaḥ papraccha munipuṁgavam

Delighted, he bowed at his feet, and he too was pleased by this; seated comfortably, the king asked that foremost of sages —

Verse 11 (padma.6.31.11)

भगवन्दुर्ल्लभा लोके संपच्चेयं यथा मम । कर्मणा केन लभ्येत कश्चाहं पूर्वजन्मनि

bhagavandurllabhā loke saṁpacceyaṁ yathā mama karmaṇā kena labhyeta kaścāhaṁ pūrvajanmani

'O Lord, this prosperity of mine, rare in the world, by what deed was it obtained, and who was I in my former birth?

Verse 12 (padma.6.31.12)

तत्त्वं कथय मे सर्वमनुग्राह्योऽस्मि ते यदि । सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि पूर्ववृत्तस्य कारणम्

tattvaṁ kathaya me sarvamanugrāhyo'smi te yadi sanatkumāra uvāca śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi pūrvavṛttasya kāraṇam

'Tell me all this truly, if I am worthy of your grace.' Sanatkumara said: 'Listen, O king, I shall tell you the cause of your past story,

Verse 13 (padma.6.31.13)

येन कृत्वा विशेषेण तव चानुग्रहोऽभवत् । त्वमासीः पूर्वजनुषि सुवैश्यः सत्यवाक्शुचिः

yena kṛtvā viśeṣeṇa tava cānugraho'bhavat tvamāsīḥ pūrvajanuṣi suvaiśyaḥ satyavākśuciḥ

'by which, specifically, this grace came upon you. In your former birth you were a good vaishya, truthful of speech, and pure.

Verse 14 (padma.6.31.14)

स्वं कर्म ते परित्यक्तं ततस्त्यक्तस्तु बांधवैः । सत्वं वृत्तिपरिक्षीणो भार्ययानुगतस्तथा

svaṁ karma te parityaktaṁ tatastyaktastu bāṁdhavaiḥ satvaṁ vṛttiparikṣīṇo bhāryayānugatastathā

'You had abandoned your own trade, and then were abandoned by your kinsmen too; your livelihood exhausted, together with your wife,

Verse 15 (padma.6.31.15)

निर्गतः स्वजनांस्त्यक्त्वा परप्रेषणलिप्सया । न च प्रेषणदो ह्यासीत्काले दुर्भिक्षपीडितः

nirgataḥ svajanāṁstyaktvā parapreṣaṇalipsayā na ca preṣaṇado hyāsītkāle durbhikṣapīḍitaḥ

'you left your own people, setting out seeking service under another; but in that time afflicted by famine, none would give you employment.

Verse 16 (padma.6.31.16)

ततः कदाचिद्गहने सरश्चोत्फुल्लपंकजम् । दृष्ट्वा तत्र कृतो भावो गृह्णीवः पंकजानि वै

tataḥ kadācidgahane saraścotphullapaṁkajam dṛṣṭvā tatra kṛto bhāvo gṛhṇīvaḥ paṁkajāni vai

'Then, once, in a dense place, seeing a lake with lotuses in bloom, this thought arose in your mind — 'Let us gather these lotuses.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.31.17)

एतावदुक्त्वा पुष्पाणि तान्यादाय पदे पदे । आस्थितौ नगरीं पुण्यां नाम्ना वाराणसीं शुभाम्

etāvaduktvā puṣpāṇi tānyādāya pade pade āsthitau nagarīṁ puṇyāṁ nāmnā vārāṇasīṁ śubhām

'Having said just this, gathering those flowers, walking step by step, the two of you arrived at that meritorious, auspicious city of Varanasi.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.31.18)

ततो विक्रयतः कश्चिनैव गृह्णाति पंकजम् । तन्मठान्निर्गतः कश्चित्तत्रैव प्रांगणे स्थितः

tato vikrayataḥ kaścinaiva gṛhṇāti paṁkajam tanmaṭhānnirgataḥ kaścittatraiva prāṁgaṇe sthitaḥ

'Then, though you tried to sell them, no one would take your lotuses; leaving that place, you stood in some courtyard.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.31.19)

तत्र स्थाने प्रविशता श्रुतो वादित्रनिस्वनः । कस्मिंश्च श्रूयते ह्येष वादित्रस्य च निस्वनः

tatra sthāne praviśatā śruto vāditranisvanaḥ kasmiṁśca śrūyate hyeṣa vāditrasya ca nisvanaḥ

'Entering that place, you heard the sound of instruments; you asked, 'Where is this sound of instruments being heard from?''

Verse 20 (padma.6.31.20)

इति पृष्टे तदा तूर्ये तेनोक्ते प्रस्थितोंतरम् । काशिराजस्तु विख्यात इंद्रद्युम्नस्तु पार्थिवः

iti pṛṣṭe tadā tūrye tenokte prasthitoṁtaram kāśirājastu vikhyāta iṁdradyumnastu pārthivaḥ

'Thus asked, when he told you, you set off further. There was a king of Kashi, renowned by the name Indradyumna.'

Verse 21 (padma.6.31.21)

तस्यास्ति दुहिता ख्याता नाम्ना चंद्रावती सती । उपोषिता महाभागा जयंतीमष्टमीं शुभाम्

tasyāsti duhitā khyātā nāmnā caṁdrāvatī satī upoṣitā mahābhāgā jayaṁtīmaṣṭamīṁ śubhām

'He had a daughter renowned by the name Chandravati, chaste and of great fortune, who was observing a fast on the auspicious Jayanti Ashtami.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.31.22)

तत्रागतोऽसौ वैश्यस्तु यत्र तिष्ठति सा शुभा । संतुष्टचित्तः स तदा हर्षस्तत्रागतो महान्

tatrāgato'sau vaiśyastu yatra tiṣṭhati sā śubhā saṁtuṣṭacittaḥ sa tadā harṣastatrāgato mahān

'There that vaishya, you, came, to where that auspicious lady was; with a contented heart, great joy arose there.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.31.23)

तत्र स्थाने त्वया दृष्टो देव वैतानिको विधिः । आदित्यसहितो यत्र पूज्यते भगवान्हरिः

tatra sthāne tvayā dṛṣṭo deva vaitāniko vidhiḥ ādityasahito yatra pūjyate bhagavānhariḥ

'In that place you saw, O God, that rite of fire-offering, where the Lord Hari, together with Aditya, was being worshipped.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.31.24)

तद्भक्त्या च त्वया पत्न्या सह पुष्पार्चनं कृतम् । शेषैस्तु प्रकरस्तत्र कृतः पुष्पमयस्तथा

tadbhaktyā ca tvayā patnyā saha puṣpārcanaṁ kṛtam śeṣaistu prakarastatra kṛtaḥ puṣpamayastathā

'With devotion to that, you, together with your wife, performed worship with flowers; with the remaining flowers a flower-arrangement was made there too.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.31.25)

तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मिता साह केनेहाभ्यर्चनं कृतम् । ज्ञात्वा तत्कर्मतत्सर्वं कृतं संरक्षणं तथा

taṁ dṛṣṭvā vismitā sāha kenehābhyarcanaṁ kṛtam jñātvā tatkarmatatsarvaṁ kṛtaṁ saṁrakṣaṇaṁ tathā

'Seeing it, she was astonished — 'Who has performed this worship here?' Learning of your whole deed, and how it had been protected,'

Verse 26 (padma.6.31.26)

ततस्तुष्टा तु सा तुभ्यं ददौ वित्तं बहुस्वयम् । त्वया वित्तं नो गृहीतं भोजनायानुमंत्रितः

tatastuṣṭā tu sā tubhyaṁ dadau vittaṁ bahusvayam tvayā vittaṁ no gṛhītaṁ bhojanāyānumaṁtritaḥ

'pleased, she began to offer you much wealth herself. Even when invited to eat, you did not accept that wealth.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.31.27)

न गृहीतं भोजनं च न च वित्तं त्वया तदा । आदित्यो विष्णुसंयुक्तः पूजितोऽसौ यथाविधि

na gṛhītaṁ bhojanaṁ ca na ca vittaṁ tvayā tadā ādityo viṣṇusaṁyuktaḥ pūjito'sau yathāvidhi

'Neither food, nor wealth at that time did you accept; you worshipped the Sun, together with Vishnu, according to due rite.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.31.28)

ततः प्रभातसमये रक्षमाणस्तया सदा । विश्रंभयित्वा तान्सर्वान्निर्गतोऽसि यथेच्छया

tataḥ prabhātasamaye rakṣamāṇastayā sadā viśraṁbhayitvā tānsarvānnirgato'si yathecchayā

'Then, up until the time of dawn, ever guarding it together with her, having reassured them all, you departed as you wished.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.31.29)

तदेतदन्यजनुषि सुकृतं चार्जितं त्वया । पंचत्वं च त्वया प्राप्तं स्वीयकर्मानुयोगतः

tadetadanyajanuṣi sukṛtaṁ cārjitaṁ tvayā paṁcatvaṁ ca tvayā prāptaṁ svīyakarmānuyogataḥ

'This is the very good deed you earned in that other birth, and, following your own deed, you attained death.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.31.30)

तेन पुण्येन महता विमानमागमत्तदा । तत्फलं भुज्यते भूप पूर्वजन्मकृतं च यत्

tena puṇyena mahatā vimānamāgamattadā tatphalaṁ bhujyate bhūpa pūrvajanmakṛtaṁ ca yat

'By that great merit, a celestial car then came; O king, that fruit is being enjoyed, along with whatever was done in your former birth.''

Verse 31 (padma.6.31.31)

हरिश्चंद्र उवाच ।केनैव च विधानेन कस्मिन्मासे च सा तिथिः । कर्त्तव्या तन्ममाचक्ष्व अनुग्राह्योऽस्मि ते यदि

hariścaṁdra uvāca kenaiva ca vidhānena kasminmāse ca sā tithiḥ karttavyā tanmamācakṣva anugrāhyo'smi te yadi

Harishchandra said: 'By what procedure, and in which month, should that tithi be observed — tell me that, if I am worthy of your grace.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.31.32)

सनत्कुमार उवाच ।शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्कथ्यमानं मया तव । श्रावणस्य तु मासस्य कृष्णाष्टम्यां नराधिप

sanatkumāra uvāca śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājankathyamānaṁ mayā tava śrāvaṇasya tu māsasya kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ narādhipa

Sanatkumara said: 'Listen attentively, O king, I shall tell you. On the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Shravana, O lord of men,

Verse 33 (padma.6.31.33)

रोहिणी यदि लभ्येत जयंती नाम सा तिथिः । भूयोभूयो महाराज भवेज्जन्मनि कारणम्

rohiṇī yadi labhyeta jayaṁtī nāma sā tithiḥ bhūyobhūyo mahārāja bhavejjanmani kāraṇam

'if the Rohini nakshatra is obtained, that tithi is called 'Jayanti'; O great king, again and again this becomes the cause of good rebirth.'

Verse 34 (padma.6.31.34)

विधानमस्या वक्ष्यामि यथोक्तं ब्रह्मणा मम । यत्कृत्वा मुक्तपापस्तु विष्णुलोकं प्रगच्छति

vidhānamasyā vakṣyāmi yathoktaṁ brahmaṇā mama yatkṛtvā muktapāpastu viṣṇulokaṁ pragacchati

'I shall tell the procedure for it, as declared to me by Brahma, by performing which one, freed from sin, goes to the world of Vishnu.'

Verse 35 (padma.6.31.35)

उपोषितस्ततः कृत्वा स्नानं कृष्णतिलैः सह । स्थापयेदव्रणं कुंभं पंचरत्नसमन्वितम्

upoṣitastataḥ kṛtvā snānaṁ kṛṣṇatilaiḥ saha sthāpayedavraṇaṁ kuṁbhaṁ paṁcaratnasamanvitam

'Having fasted, and then bathed together with black sesame, one should set up an unblemished pot, endowed with the five gems —

Verse 36 (padma.6.31.36)

वज्रमौक्तिकवैडूर्य पुष्परागेंद्रनीलकम् । पंचरत्नं प्रशस्तं तु इति कात्यायनोऽब्रवीत्

vajramauktikavaiḍūrya puṣparāgeṁdranīlakam paṁcaratnaṁ praśastaṁ tu iti kātyāyano'bravīt

'diamond, pearl, cat's-eye, topaz, and sapphire — these are the excellent five gems, as Katyayana declared.'

Verse 37 (padma.6.31.37)

तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रं सौवर्णं लक्षणान्वितम् । सौवर्णां विन्यसेत्तत्र यशोदां नंदगेहिनीम्

tasyopari nyasetpātraṁ sauvarṇaṁ lakṣaṇānvitam sauvarṇāṁ vinyasettatra yaśodāṁ naṁdagehinīm

'Upon it one should place a golden vessel, of proper form; there one should place golden Yashoda, Nanda's wife,'

Verse 38 (padma.6.31.38)

ददमानां तु पुत्रस्य स्तनं वै विस्मिताननाम् । पिबमानं स्तनं मातुरपरं पाणिना स्पृशत्

dadamānāṁ tu putrasya stanaṁ vai vismitānanām pibamānaṁ stanaṁ māturaparaṁ pāṇinā spṛśat

'giving her breast to her son, her face full of wonder, the child drinking his mother's breast while touching it with his other hand,'

Verse 39 (padma.6.31.39)

आलोक्य मातरं प्रेम्णा सुखयंतं मुहुर्मुहुः । सौवर्णं कारयेद्देवं यावच्छक्तिश्च विद्यते

ālokya mātaraṁ premṇā sukhayaṁtaṁ muhurmuhuḥ sauvarṇaṁ kārayeddevaṁ yāvacchaktiśca vidyate

'gazing at his mother with love, delighting her again and again — this god should be made in gold, as much as one's means allow.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.31.40)

द्वि निष्कमात्रं कर्तव्यं यदि शक्तिश्च विद्यते । त्रिलोहेनैव कर्तव्यं सौवर्णेनाथवा पुनः

dvi niṣkamātraṁ kartavyaṁ yadi śaktiśca vidyate trilohenaiva kartavyaṁ sauvarṇenāthavā punaḥ

'It should be made at least two nishkas in weight, if one has the means; it may be made of three metals as well, or again in gold alone.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.31.41)

तद्वच्च रोहिणीं कुर्यात्सौवर्णी राजतः शशी । अंगुष्ठमात्रस्तु शशी रोहिणी चतुरंगुला

tadvacca rohiṇīṁ kuryātsauvarṇī rājataḥ śaśī aṁguṣṭhamātrastu śaśī rohiṇī caturaṁgulā

'Likewise Rohini should be made of silver, and the moon of gold; the moon should be the size of a thumb, and Rohini four fingers wide.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.31.42)

कर्णयोः कुंडले दद्यात्कंठाभरणकं गले । एवं कृत्वा तु गोविंदं मात्रासार्द्धं जगत्पतिम्

karṇayoḥ kuṁḍale dadyātkaṁṭhābharaṇakaṁ gale evaṁ kṛtvā tu goviṁdaṁ mātrāsārddhaṁ jagatpatim

'One should give earrings for the ears, and a neck-ornament for the throat; having thus made Govinda, the Lord of the world, in due measure,'

Verse 43 (padma.6.31.43)

क्षीरादिस्नपनं कृत्वा चंदनेनानुलेपयेत् । श्वेतवस्त्रयुगच्छत्रं पुष्पमालोपशोभितम्

kṣīrādisnapanaṁ kṛtvā caṁdanenānulepayet śvetavastrayugacchatraṁ puṣpamālopaśobhitam

'one should bathe him with milk and the rest, and anoint him with sandalwood; adorn him with a pair of white garments, a parasol, and a garland of flowers,'

Verse 44 (padma.6.31.44)

नैवेद्यैर्विविधैर्भक्षैः फलैर्नानाविधैरपि । दीपं च कारयेत्तत्र पुष्पमंडपशोभितम्

naivedyairvividhairbhakṣaiḥ phalairnānāvidhairapi dīpaṁ ca kārayettatra puṣpamaṁḍapaśobhitam

'with various food-offerings, sweets, and many kinds of fruits; a lamp too, adorned with a flower-canopy, should be arranged there.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.31.45)

गीतं नृत्यं च वाद्यं च कारयेद्भक्तिमान्बुधैः । एवं कृत्वा विधानं तु यथाविभवसारतः । गुरुं संपूजयेत् पश्चात्पूजां तत्र समापयेत्

gītaṁ nṛtyaṁ ca vādyaṁ ca kārayedbhaktimānbudhaiḥ evaṁ kṛtvā vidhānaṁ tu yathāvibhavasārataḥ guruṁ saṁpūjayet paścātpūjāṁ tatra samāpayet

'Song, dance, and music should be arranged by devoted and wise ones. Having thus performed the rite according to one's own means and resources, one should then worship the guru, and complete the worship there.'