The Vow of Rishi Panchami

Verse 1 (padma.6.77.1)

महादेव उवाच । पप्रच्छाहं जगन्नाथं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । पुत्रपौत्रविवृद्ध्यर्थं सुखसौभाग्यदायकम्

mahādeva uvāca papracchāhaṁ jagannāthaṁ vratānāmuttamaṁ vratam putrapautravivṛddhyarthaṁ sukhasaubhāgyadāyakam

Mahadeva said: I asked the Lord of the universe about the foremost of all vows — the one that brings increase of sons and grandsons and grants happiness and good fortune.

Verse 2 (padma.6.77.2)

तवाग्रे संप्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु सुंदरि सांप्रतम् । इदं कथानकं दिव्यमृषीणां व्रतमुत्तमम्

tavāgre saṁpravakṣyāmi śṛṇu suṁdari sāṁpratam idaṁ kathānakaṁ divyamṛṣīṇāṁ vratamuttamam

I shall now tell it before you — listen, O beautiful one — this divine tale and the excellent vow of the sages.

Verse 3 (padma.6.77.3)

रजस्वला तु या नारी सहसा पापरूपिणी । कृतेन च व्रतेनैव महापापैः प्रमुच्यते । पितॄणामक्षयं देयं धर्मकामार्थसाधनम्

rajasvalā tu yā nārī sahasā pāparūpiṇī kṛtena ca vratenaiva mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate pitṝṇāmakṣayaṁ deyaṁ dharmakāmārthasādhanam

A woman who, in her season of impurity, unknowingly becomes an embodiment of sin is freed from great sins by the performance of this very vow; it grants imperishable offerings to the ancestors and is the means of accomplishing dharma, artha, and kama.

Verse 4 (padma.6.77.4)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । पूर्वमासीन्महाबाहुर्ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । सदाध्ययनशीलस्तु देवशर्मा इति द्विजः

śrīviṣṇuruvāca pūrvamāsīnmahābāhurbrāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ sadādhyayanaśīlastu devaśarmā iti dvijaḥ

Shri Vishnu said: Long ago there lived a mighty-armed brahmin, learned in the Vedas and ever devoted to their study, a twice-born named Devasharma.

Verse 5 (padma.6.77.5)

अग्निहोत्रक्रियायुक्तः षट्कर्मनिरतः सदा । सर्ववर्णेषु संपूज्यः सपुत्रपशुबांधवः

agnihotrakriyāyuktaḥ ṣaṭkarmanirataḥ sadā sarvavarṇeṣu saṁpūjyaḥ saputrapaśubāṁdhavaḥ

He was devoted to the fire-sacrifice, ever engaged in the six brahminical duties, honored by people of all classes, and blessed with sons, cattle, and kinsmen.

Verse 6 (padma.6.77.6)

तस्य ब्राह्मणमुख्यस्य भग्ना च गृहवाहिनी । प्राप्ते भाद्रपदे मासे शुक्लपक्षे तु पंचमी

tasya brāhmaṇamukhyasya bhagnā ca gṛhavāhinī prāpte bhādrapade māse śuklapakṣe tu paṁcamī

That foremost of brahmins had a wife who managed his household. When the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada arrived —

Verse 7 (padma.6.77.7)

पितुःक्षयाहं कुरुते यतात्मा च जितेंद्रियः । रात्रौ निमंत्रयेद्विप्रान्सुखसौभाग्यदायकान्

pituḥkṣayāhaṁ kurute yatātmā ca jiteṁdriyaḥ rātrau nimaṁtrayedviprānsukhasaubhāgyadāyakān

— the self-controlled, sense-conquering brahmin would perform the death-anniversary rite for his father, and on that night invite brahmins who bring happiness and good fortune.

Verse 8 (padma.6.77.8)

प्रभाते विमले प्राप्ते भांडान्यन्यानि कारयेत् । पाकं सर्वेषु पात्रेषु स कारयति जायया

prabhāte vimale prāpte bhāṁḍānyanyāni kārayet pākaṁ sarveṣu pātreṣu sa kārayati jāyayā

When the clear dawn came, he would have fresh vessels prepared, and through his wife have food cooked in all the vessels.

Verse 9 (padma.6.77.9)

अष्टादशरसोपेतं पितॄणां प्रीतिदायकम् । आकारणं ततो दत्त्वा विप्राणां च पृथक्पृथक्

aṣṭādaśarasopetaṁ pitṝṇāṁ prītidāyakam ākāraṇaṁ tato dattvā viprāṇāṁ ca pṛthakpṛthak

The meal, rich with eighteen flavors and pleasing to the ancestors, was thus prepared, and invitations were sent separately to each brahmin.

Verse 10 (padma.6.77.10)

सर्वे विप्रास्तु संप्राप्ता मध्याह्ने वेदपाठकाः । अर्घपाद्यादि विधिवत्कृतवान्द्विजसत्तमः

sarve viprāstu saṁprāptā madhyāhne vedapāṭhakāḥ arghapādyādi vidhivatkṛtavāndvijasattamaḥ

At midday all the brahmins, reciters of the Veda, arrived; that best of twice-born ones duly honored them with arghya, padya, and the other rites of welcome.

Verse 11 (padma.6.77.11)

रजसा दूषितः श्राद्धे प्रक्षाल्य विधिवत्तदा । गृहमध्ये गताः सर्वे आसने ते निरूपिताः

rajasā dūṣitaḥ śrāddhe prakṣālya vidhivattadā gṛhamadhye gatāḥ sarve āsane te nirūpitāḥ

Their feet, soiled with dust from the road, were then duly washed, and all the brahmins were led into the house and seated upon their seats.

Verse 12 (padma.6.77.12)

प्रदत्तं भोजनं तेन मिष्टान्नेन विशेषतः । विधिना च कृतं श्राद्धं पिंडदानप्रपूर्वकम्

pradattaṁ bhojanaṁ tena miṣṭānnena viśeṣataḥ vidhinā ca kṛtaṁ śrāddhaṁ piṁḍadānaprapūrvakam

He served them a meal rich in sweet delicacies, and duly performed the shraddha rite, beginning with the offering of the pinda.

Verse 13 (padma.6.77.13)

तांबूलं दक्षिणां चैव वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । सर्वं ददौ द्विजेभ्यो वै पितृध्यानपरायणः

tāṁbūlaṁ dakṣiṇāṁ caiva vastrāṇi vividhāni ca sarvaṁ dadau dvijebhyo vai pitṛdhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

He, absorbed in meditation on his ancestors, gave the brahmins betel leaf, sacrificial fees, and various garments — everything.

Verse 14 (padma.6.77.14)

विप्रा विसर्जिताः सर्वे आशीर्वादपरायणाः । गोत्रिणां बांधवानां च अन्येषां च बुभुक्षताम्

viprā visarjitāḥ sarve āśīrvādaparāyaṇāḥ gotriṇāṁ bāṁdhavānāṁ ca anyeṣāṁ ca bubhukṣatām

All the brahmins, offering their blessings, were then bid farewell; afterward, kinsmen of the same lineage, relatives, and other hungry people were also fed.

Verse 15 (padma.6.77.15)

दत्तमन्नं तदा तेन भोजने विधिपूर्वकम् । निशायां तु कुटीद्वारे उपविष्टो यदा तदा

dattamannaṁ tadā tena bhojane vidhipūrvakam niśāyāṁ tu kuṭīdvāre upaviṣṭo yadā tadā

Food was thus duly given to all in the meal. Then, at night, when he sat at the door of his hut —

Verse 16 (padma.6.77.16)

ब्राह्मण्या वारि संगृह्य पादप्रक्षालनं कृतम् । तदा शुनी बलीवर्दौ परस्परमभाषताम्

brāhmaṇyā vāri saṁgṛhya pādaprakṣālanaṁ kṛtam tadā śunī balīvardau parasparamabhāṣatām

— his brahmin wife brought water and washed his feet. At that moment, a female dog and a bull began speaking to each other.

Verse 17 (padma.6.77.17)

शृणु कांत वचो मह्यं यादृक्कृतवती वधूः । तादृशं संप्रवक्ष्यामि नान्यथा प्रब्रवीम्यहम्

śṛṇu kāṁta vaco mahyaṁ yādṛkkṛtavatī vadhūḥ tādṛśaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi nānyathā prabravīmyaham

(The female dog said:) Listen to my words, O beloved — I shall tell you exactly what the daughter-in-law did, and say nothing other than the truth.

Verse 18 (padma.6.77.18)

कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन गताहं पुत्रसद्मनि । तत्रस्थितं पयः पातुं वध्वा दृष्टं न तत्पुनः

kadāciddaivayogena gatāhaṁ putrasadmani tatrasthitaṁ payaḥ pātuṁ vadhvā dṛṣṭaṁ na tatpunaḥ

Once, by chance, I went into my son's house. I drank the milk kept there, but the daughter-in-law did not see this happen.

Verse 19 (padma.6.77.19)

पीतं पयस्तु सर्पेण तद्दृष्टं तु मया पुनः । पश्चात्पीतं मया सम्यक्दृष्टं वध्वा तदा पुनः

pītaṁ payastu sarpeṇa taddṛṣṭaṁ tu mayā punaḥ paścātpītaṁ mayā samyakdṛṣṭaṁ vadhvā tadā punaḥ

Before that, the milk had also been drunk by a snake — that I had seen; but afterward, when I drank it, the daughter-in-law saw me clearly.

Verse 20 (padma.6.77.20)

तेन संपर्कदोषेणकटिर्भग्ना च मे सदा । तेन दुःखेन भो स्वामिन्जाताहं दुःखभागिनी । भग्ना कटिश्च संजाता ह्याहारो नैव रोचते

tena saṁparkadoṣeṇakaṭirbhagnā ca me sadā tena duḥkhena bho svāminjātāhaṁ duḥkhabhāginī bhagnā kaṭiśca saṁjātā hyāhāro naiva rocate

Because of the supposed contamination from the snake's touch, she broke my hip forever. Because of that suffering, O lord, I have become full of sorrow; my hip is broken, and I no longer relish food.

Verse 21 (padma.6.77.21)

बलीवर्द्द उवाच । शृणु त्वं शुनि वक्ष्यामि मम दुःखस्य कारणम् । अस्मिन्वै दिवसे प्राप्ते ब्राह्मणानां तु भोजनम्

balīvardda uvāca śṛṇu tvaṁ śuni vakṣyāmi mama duḥkhasya kāraṇam asminvai divase prāpte brāhmaṇānāṁ tu bhojanam

The bull said: Listen, O dog, I shall tell you the cause of my sorrow. On this very day, when the feast for the brahmins was being held —

Verse 22 (padma.6.77.22)

कारितं मम पुत्रेण मम चिंता तु नो कृता । नोदकं न तृणं चैव न दत्तं केनचित्क्वचित्

kāritaṁ mama putreṇa mama ciṁtā tu no kṛtā nodakaṁ na tṛṇaṁ caiva na dattaṁ kenacitkvacit

— my son arranged that feast, but gave no thought to me; no one gave me water or fodder anywhere.

Verse 23 (padma.6.77.23)

अनाहारोह्यहं पापी बद्धोऽस्मिन्पापभावितः । पूर्वपापविशेषेण जातं शुनि न संशयः

anāhārohyahaṁ pāpī baddho'sminpāpabhāvitaḥ pūrvapāpaviśeṣeṇa jātaṁ śuni na saṁśayaḥ

Sinful as I am, I remained tied here without food. O dog, this has undoubtedly happened because of some particular sin of my past life.

Verse 24 (padma.6.77.24)

तद्वाक्यं तु तदा देवि श्रुतं पुत्रेण धीमता । ममायं तु पिता साक्षाज्जातो मम गृहे पशुः

tadvākyaṁ tu tadā devi śrutaṁ putreṇa dhīmatā mamāyaṁ tu pitā sākṣājjāto mama gṛhe paśuḥ

O goddess, that conversation was overheard by his wise son — [who thought:] 'This is verily my own father, born as an animal in my house!'

Verse 25 (padma.6.77.25)

इयं तु जननी साक्षान्मम चैव न संशयः । दैवयोगाच्छुनी जाता किं करोमि सुनिश्चयम्

iyaṁ tu jananī sākṣānmama caiva na saṁśayaḥ daivayogācchunī jātā kiṁ karomi suniścayam

'And this is surely my own mother, without doubt; by fate she has been born as a dog — what indeed should I now do?'

Verse 26 (padma.6.77.26)

एवं विचार्यासौ विप्रो नैव निद्रामवाप सः । रात्रौ चिंतापरो भूत्वा स्मरन्विश्वेश्वरं परम्

evaṁ vicāryāsau vipro naiva nidrāmavāpa saḥ rātrau ciṁtāparo bhūtvā smaranviśveśvaraṁ param

Thinking thus, that brahmin could not sleep at all; troubled all night, he kept remembering the supreme Lord of the universe.

Verse 27 (padma.6.77.27)

नानाधर्मपरोऽहं च ममैवं च कथं शुभम् । विचारयित्वा च ततो रात्रौ सुप्तस्तदा पुनः

nānādharmaparo'haṁ ca mamaivaṁ ca kathaṁ śubham vicārayitvā ca tato rātrau suptastadā punaḥ

'I am devoted to many virtuous observances — how then could this happen in my case?' Having pondered thus, he then finally fell asleep that night.

Verse 28 (padma.6.77.28)

प्रभाते विमले प्राप्ते ऋषीणां पुरतो गतः । तेषां मध्ये वसिष्ठेन तस्य सुस्वागतं कृतम्

prabhāte vimale prāpte ṛṣīṇāṁ purato gataḥ teṣāṁ madhye vasiṣṭhena tasya susvāgataṁ kṛtam

When the clear dawn came, he went before the sages; among them, Vasishtha welcomed him warmly.

Verse 29 (padma.6.77.29)

ब्रूहि त्वं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तवागमनकारणम् । इति पृष्टस्तदा विप्रः प्रणाममकरोत्तदा

brūhi tvaṁ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha tavāgamanakāraṇam iti pṛṣṭastadā vipraḥ praṇāmamakarottadā

'Tell us, O best of brahmins, the reason for your coming,' he asked. Thus questioned, the brahmin offered his salutations.

Verse 30 (padma.6.77.30)

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफला क्रिया । अद्य मे पितरस्तृप्ता दुर्लभात्तव दर्शनात्

adya me saphalaṁ janma adya me saphalā kriyā adya me pitarastṛptā durlabhāttava darśanāt

'Today my birth is fulfilled, today my deeds bear fruit, today my ancestors are satisfied, through this rare sight of you.'

Verse 31 (padma.6.77.31)

यथोक्तं च कृतं श्राद्धं द्विजाश्चैव सुभोजिताः । कुटुंबिनां तु सर्वेषां भोजनं कारितं तथा

yathoktaṁ ca kṛtaṁ śrāddhaṁ dvijāścaiva subhojitāḥ kuṭuṁbināṁ tu sarveṣāṁ bhojanaṁ kāritaṁ tathā

'I performed the shraddha as prescribed and fed the brahmins well; likewise, I had all the members of the household fed too.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.77.32)

भोजनानंतरं प्राप्ता शुनी तत्र उवाच ह । अस्माकं तु गृहे ह्येको बलीवर्दस्तु वर्त्तते

bhojanānaṁtaraṁ prāptā śunī tatra uvāca ha asmākaṁ tu gṛhe hyeko balīvardastu varttate

'After the meal, a female dog came there and said: In our house there is a bull —'

Verse 33 (padma.6.77.33)

तं पतिं प्रतिवाक्यं यद्दिवज मत्तः शृणुष्व तत् । गृहेस्थितं दुग्धभांडमहिना दूषितं मया

taṁ patiṁ prativākyaṁ yaddivaja mattaḥ śṛṇuṣva tat gṛhesthitaṁ dugdhabhāṁḍamahinā dūṣitaṁ mayā

'O brahmin, hear from me the reply she gave to her husband: The vessel of milk kept in the house had been contaminated by a snake — this I saw.'

Verse 34 (padma.6.77.34)

दृष्टं मे महती चिंता तदा जाता न संशयः । अनेन पयसा चैव पक्वमन्नं यदा भवेत्

dṛṣṭaṁ me mahatī ciṁtā tadā jātā na saṁśayaḥ anena payasā caiva pakvamannaṁ yadā bhavet

'Seeing this, I became greatly worried, without doubt — for when the food would be cooked with this very milk —'

Verse 35 (padma.6.77.35)

तदात्र सर्वे विप्राश्च म्रियंते भोजनात्ततः । एवं विचार्य तत्स्वामिन्दुग्धं पीतं तदा मया

tadātra sarve viprāśca mriyaṁte bhojanāttataḥ evaṁ vicārya tatsvāmindugdhaṁ pītaṁ tadā mayā

'— then all the brahmins would die from eating it. Thinking this, O lord, I myself then drank that milk.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.77.36)

तदा दृष्टं तु वध्वा वै तया मे ताडनं कृतम् । चरामि तेन संभग्ना किं करोमि सुदुःखिता

tadā dṛṣṭaṁ tu vadhvā vai tayā me tāḍanaṁ kṛtam carāmi tena saṁbhagnā kiṁ karomi suduḥkhitā

'Then the daughter-in-law saw me and beat me. Broken because of that, I now wander about — greatly sorrowful, what should I do?'

Verse 37 (padma.6.77.37)

तस्या दुःखं तु संस्मृत्य वृषः प्राह शुनीं प्रति । शृणु शुनि प्रवक्ष्यामि मम दुःखस्य कारणम्

tasyā duḥkhaṁ tu saṁsmṛtya vṛṣaḥ prāha śunīṁ prati śṛṇu śuni pravakṣyāmi mama duḥkhasya kāraṇam

Recalling her sorrow, the bull said to the dog: 'Listen, O dog, I shall tell you the cause of my own sorrow.'

Verse 38 (padma.6.77.38)

अस्याहं तु पिता साक्षात्पूर्वजन्मनि वै शुनि । अद्य वै भोजिता विप्रा दत्तमन्नं तु भूरिशः

asyāhaṁ tu pitā sākṣātpūrvajanmani vai śuni adya vai bhojitā viprā dattamannaṁ tu bhūriśaḥ

'O dog, in a former birth I was verily the father of this householder. Today the brahmins were fed and abundant food was given —'

Verse 39 (padma.6.77.39)

न तृणं नोदकं चैव ममाग्रे संनिवेदितम् । तेन दुःखेन मे दुःखं जातं बहुतरं तदा

na tṛṇaṁ nodakaṁ caiva mamāgre saṁniveditam tena duḥkhena me duḥkhaṁ jātaṁ bahutaraṁ tadā

'— but before me neither fodder nor water was set out. Because of that neglect, I have suffered greatly.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.77.40)

एतत्कथानकं श्रुत्वा रात्रौ निद्रामवाप न । मम चिंता तु तत्रैव जाता वै ऋषिसत्तम

etatkathānakaṁ śrutvā rātrau nidrāmavāpa na mama ciṁtā tu tatraiva jātā vai ṛṣisattama

'Hearing this account, I could not sleep that night. O best of sages, this very worry arose in me —'

Verse 41 (padma.6.77.41)

वेदाध्ययनशीलोऽहं कुशलो वेदकर्मणि । अनयोश्च महद्दुःखं किं करोमीति चिंतयन् । आगतस्त्वत्समीपे तु ममकष्टं निवारय

vedādhyayanaśīlo'haṁ kuśalo vedakarmaṇi anayośca mahadduḥkhaṁ kiṁ karomīti ciṁtayan āgatastvatsamīpe tu mamakaṣṭaṁ nivāraya

'I am devoted to Vedic study and skilled in Vedic rites, yet why do these two suffer such great sorrow? Wondering what I should do, I have come to you; please remove this affliction of mine.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.77.42)

ऋषिरुवाच । उग्रजन्मन्शृणुष्व त्वं पूर्वजन्मनि यत्कृतम् । अयं वै तु द्विजश्रेष्ठो कुंडने नगरे शुभे

ṛṣiruvāca ugrajanmanśṛṇuṣva tvaṁ pūrvajanmani yatkṛtam ayaṁ vai tu dvijaśreṣṭho kuṁḍane nagare śubhe

The sage said: 'Listen, O Ugrajanma, to what was done in a former birth. This excellent brahmin lived in the auspicious city of Kundina —'

Verse 43 (padma.6.77.43)

मासे भाद्रपदे चैव पंचमी या समागता । तद्व्रतं तेन नाज्ञातं पितुः श्राद्धादिकारणात्

māse bhādrapade caiva paṁcamī yā samāgatā tadvrataṁ tena nājñātaṁ pituḥ śrāddhādikāraṇāt

'— when the fifth day of Bhadrapada arrived, that vow was unknown to him, being occupied as he was with his father's shraddha and other rites.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.77.44)

स्त्रीधर्मेण तु संप्राप्ता क्षयहेतु तदानघ । तया चैव कृतं सर्वं ब्राह्मणानां च भोजनम्

strīdharmeṇa tu saṁprāptā kṣayahetu tadānagha tayā caiva kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ ca bhojanam

'O sinless one, his wife at that time had come into her monthly courses, yet even so she prepared the entire feast for the brahmins for the death-rite.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.77.45)

न ज्ञातं च कृतं तेन पापिष्ठेन दुरात्मना । प्रथमेऽहनि चांडाली द्वितीये ब्रह्मघातिनी

na jñātaṁ ca kṛtaṁ tena pāpiṣṭhena durātmanā prathame'hani cāṁḍālī dvitīye brahmaghātinī

'Unknowingly, in that state of impurity, she did this. By the scriptures, a woman in her courses is, on the first day, equal to an outcaste woman, and on the second day, equal to one guilty of the killing of a brahmin.'

Verse 46 (padma.6.77.46)

तृतीये रजकी प्रोक्ता चतुर्थेऽहनि शुध्यति । तेन पापेन सा जाता शुनी स्वगृहचारिणी । बलीवर्दस्त्वयं जातः कर्मणानेन सुव्रत

tṛtīye rajakī proktā caturthe'hani śudhyati tena pāpena sā jātā śunī svagṛhacāriṇī balīvardastvayaṁ jātaḥ karmaṇānena suvrata

'On the third day she is said to be equal to a washerwoman, and on the fourth day she becomes pure. Because of that sin she was born as a dog roaming her own household, and O virtuous one, by that same act her husband was born as this bull.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.77.47)

उग्रजन्मोवाच । व्रतं दानं तथा यज्ञं तीर्थं वाममसुव्रत । ब्रूहि येन विशेषेण मुक्तिः पित्रोर्भवेन्मम

ugrajanmovāca vrataṁ dānaṁ tathā yajñaṁ tīrthaṁ vāmamasuvrata brūhi yena viśeṣeṇa muktiḥ pitrorbhavenmama

Ugrajanma said: 'O one of excellent vows, tell me which vow, gift, sacrifice, or pilgrimage will bring about the particular liberation of my parents.'

Verse 48 (padma.6.77.48)

ऋषिरुवाच । मासे भाद्रपदे शुक्ले जायते ऋषिपंचमी । रजसा विकृतं पापं नश्यते करणाद्यतः

ṛṣiruvāca māse bhādrapade śukle jāyate ṛṣipaṁcamī rajasā vikṛtaṁ pāpaṁ naśyate karaṇādyataḥ

The sage said: 'In the bright half of Bhadrapada comes Rishi Panchami. By its observance, the sin arising from the impurity of menstruation is destroyed.'

Verse 49 (padma.6.77.49)

पुत्रपौत्रप्रदात्री च पितॄणां मुक्तिदायिनी । नद्या कूपे तडागे वा ब्राह्मणस्य गृहे तथा

putrapautrapradātrī ca pitṝṇāṁ muktidāyinī nadyā kūpe taḍāge vā brāhmaṇasya gṛhe tathā

'This vow bestows sons and grandsons and grants liberation to the ancestors. By a river, at a well, at a pond, or in a brahmin's house —'

Verse 50 (padma.6.77.50)

गोमयं मंडलं कुर्यात्कुंभं तत्रैव विन्यसेत् । तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रमृषिधान्येन पूरितम्

gomayaṁ maṁḍalaṁ kuryātkuṁbhaṁ tatraiva vinyaset tasyopari nyasetpātramṛṣidhānyena pūritam

'— one should make a circle of cowdung, place a water-pot upon it, and set on top of it a vessel filled with the grain proper to the sages.'

Verse 51 (padma.6.77.51)

यज्ञोपवीतसूत्रं च सहिरण्यं फलं तथा । स्थाप्याश्च ऋषयः सप्त सुखसौभाग्यदायकाः

yajñopavītasūtraṁ ca sahiraṇyaṁ phalaṁ tathā sthāpyāśca ṛṣayaḥ sapta sukhasaubhāgyadāyakāḥ

'The sacred thread, gold, and fruit should also be placed there, and the Seven Sages, who bestow happiness and good fortune, should be installed.'

Verse 52 (padma.6.77.52)

आवाहयित्वा ते सर्वे पूजनीया व्रतस्थितैः । नैवेद्यमृषिधान्यं च ऋषिधान्यं तु भोजनम्

āvāhayitvā te sarve pūjanīyā vratasthitaiḥ naivedyamṛṣidhānyaṁ ca ṛṣidhānyaṁ tu bhojanam

'All of them should be invoked and worshipped by those observing the vow; the food-offering should be of rishi-grain, and the meal eaten should likewise be of rishi-grain.'

Verse 53 (padma.6.77.53)

एकभक्तेन कर्तव्यमृषीणामर्चनं तदा । पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या मंत्रेण विधिपूर्वकम्

ekabhaktena kartavyamṛṣīṇāmarcanaṁ tadā pūjayetparayā bhaktyā maṁtreṇa vidhipūrvakam

'Taking only one meal that day, one should worship the sages, offering worship with supreme devotion and with mantras, in due form.'

Verse 54 (padma.6.77.54)

निर्वापं सघृतं देयं दक्षिणासंयुतं तदा । देयं विप्राय विधिवदृषीणां प्रीयतां प्रति

nirvāpaṁ saghṛtaṁ deyaṁ dakṣiṇāsaṁyutaṁ tadā deyaṁ viprāya vidhivadṛṣīṇāṁ prīyatāṁ prati

'An offering mixed with ghee should be given, together with a sacrificial fee, and gifts should duly be given to a brahmin for the pleasure of the sages.'

Verse 55 (padma.6.77.55)

कथां श्रुत्वा विधानेन कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणाम् । धूपं दीपं च नैवेद्यमर्घ्यं दद्यात्पृथक्पृथक्

kathāṁ śrutvā vidhānena kṛtvā caiva pradakṣiṇām dhūpaṁ dīpaṁ ca naivedyamarghyaṁ dadyātpṛthakpṛthak

'Having duly listened to the sacred tale and circumambulated, one should offer incense, a lamp, food, and arghya, each separately.'

Verse 56 (padma.6.77.56)

ऋषयः संतु मे नित्यं व्रतसंपूर्णकारिणः । पूजां गृह्णंतु मद्दत्तां ऋषिभ्योऽस्तु नमोनमः

ṛṣayaḥ saṁtu me nityaṁ vratasaṁpūrṇakāriṇaḥ pūjāṁ gṛhṇaṁtu maddattāṁ ṛṣibhyo'stu namonamaḥ

'May the sages ever grant the fulfilment of my vow. May they accept this worship offered by me — salutations again and again to the sages.'

Verse 57 (padma.6.77.57)

पुलस्त्यः पुलहश्चैव क्रतुः प्राचेतसस्तथा । वसिष्ठमरिचात्रेया अर्घं गृह्णंतु वो नमः

pulastyaḥ pulahaścaiva kratuḥ prācetasastathā vasiṣṭhamaricātreyā arghaṁ gṛhṇaṁtu vo namaḥ

'Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasishtha, Marichi, and Atri — may you all accept my offering of arghya; salutations to you.'

Verse 58 (padma.6.77.58)

एवं पूजा प्रकर्त्तव्या धूपैर्दीपैर्मनोरमैः । पितॄणां जायते मुक्तिः कृतस्यास्य प्रभावतः

evaṁ pūjā prakarttavyā dhūpairdīpairmanoramaiḥ pitṝṇāṁ jāyate muktiḥ kṛtasyāsya prabhāvataḥ

'In this way, worship should be performed with delightful incense and lamps. By the power of this observance, liberation comes to one's ancestors.'

Verse 59 (padma.6.77.59)

पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन रजसा दोषभावतः । कृतं ह्येवं तु भो वत्स मुक्तिस्तस्य न संशयः

pūrvakarmavipākena rajasā doṣabhāvataḥ kṛtaṁ hyevaṁ tu bho vatsa muktistasya na saṁśayaḥ

'Whatever has happened as the ripening of past deeds and through the fault of impurity, O child — by the performance of this vow, that person's liberation is beyond doubt.'

Verse 60 (padma.6.77.60)

तद्व्रतं च कृतं तेन मुक्त्यर्थं पितृहेतवे । ते गता मुक्तिमार्गेण आशीर्वादपरायणाः

tadvrataṁ ca kṛtaṁ tena muktyarthaṁ pitṛhetave te gatā muktimārgeṇa āśīrvādaparāyaṇāḥ

Then that vow was performed by him for the liberation of his parents, and they, bestowing their blessings, departed by the path of liberation.

Verse 61 (padma.6.77.61)

ऋषिपंचमीव्रतं पुण्यं विप्राय परिकीर्तितम् । ये कुर्वंति नरश्रेष्ठास्ते ज्ञेयाः पुण्यभागिनः

ṛṣipaṁcamīvrataṁ puṇyaṁ viprāya parikīrtitam ye kurvaṁti naraśreṣṭhāste jñeyāḥ puṇyabhāginaḥ

Thus has this meritorious Rishi Panchami vow been proclaimed for the brahmin. Those excellent men who perform it should be known as sharers of great merit.

Verse 62 (padma.6.77.62)

ये कुर्वंति नरश्रेष्ठ ऋषिव्रतमनुत्तमम् । भुक्त्वात्र भोगान्विपुलान्यांति विष्णोः पदं तु ते

ye kurvaṁti naraśreṣṭha ṛṣivratamanuttamam bhuktvātra bhogānvipulānyāṁti viṣṇoḥ padaṁ tu te

O best of men, those who observe this most excellent vow of the sages, having enjoyed abundant pleasures here, ultimately attain the supreme abode of Vishnu.