The Worship of Vishnu Resting in Water

Verse 1 (padma.6.85.1)

महादेव उवाच । वैशाख्यां पूर्णमास्यां वै जलस्थं जगदीश्वरम् । पूजयेद्वैष्णवो भक्त्या कृतोत्साहो मुदान्वितः

mahādeva uvāca vaiśākhyāṁ pūrṇamāsyāṁ vai jalasthaṁ jagadīśvaram pūjayedvaiṣṇavo bhaktyā kṛtotsāho mudānvitaḥ

Mahadeva said: On the full moon day of Vaishakha, the Lord of the universe, resting in water, should be worshipped with devotion by the Vaishnava, filled with enthusiasm and joy.

Verse 2 (padma.6.85.2)

गीतं वाद्यं तथा नृत्यं कृत्वा पुण्यं महोत्सवम् । एकादश्यां सुरश्रेष्ठं पश्येद्वाथ प्रहर्षितः

gītaṁ vādyaṁ tathā nṛtyaṁ kṛtvā puṇyaṁ mahotsavam ekādaśyāṁ suraśreṣṭhaṁ paśyedvātha praharṣitaḥ

With song, music, and dance, this meritorious great festival should be held. On the eleventh day, one should, filled with joy, behold that foremost of gods.

Verse 3 (padma.6.85.3)

गीतं गायन्हरेर्भक्त्या कर्त्तव्यः सोत्सवः शुभः । शयनं कुरु देवेश जलेऽस्मिन्वै सुरेश्वर

gītaṁ gāyanharerbhaktyā karttavyaḥ sotsavaḥ śubhaḥ śayanaṁ kuru deveśa jale'sminvai sureśvara

Singing songs of Hari with devotion, this auspicious festival should be held. 'O Lord of gods, O Master of the celestials, take your rest in this water.'

Verse 4 (padma.6.85.4)

त्वयि सुप्ते जगत्सुप्तं भवत्येव न संशयः । घनागमे प्रकुर्वंति जलस्थ वै जनार्दनम्

tvayi supte jagatsuptaṁ bhavatyeva na saṁśayaḥ ghanāgame prakurvaṁti jalastha vai janārdanam

'When you sleep, the world too surely sleeps, without doubt.' At the arrival of the rainy season, people install Janardana in water.

Verse 5 (padma.6.85.5)

ये नरास्तु सुरश्रेष्ठे न दाहो नरके भवेत् । स्वर्णपात्रे तथा रौप्ये ताम्रे वा च सुरेश्वरि

ye narāstu suraśreṣṭhe na dāho narake bhavet svarṇapātre tathā raupye tāmre vā ca sureśvari

Those men who perform this worship never suffer the burning of hell. O queen of gods, in a vessel of gold, or of silver, or of copper —

Verse 6 (padma.6.85.6)

मृन्मये वाथ कर्त्तव्यं शयनं विष्णुसंज्ञकम् । तत्र तोयं च संस्थाप्य शीतलं गंधवासितम्

mṛnmaye vātha karttavyaṁ śayanaṁ viṣṇusaṁjñakam tatra toyaṁ ca saṁsthāpya śītalaṁ gaṁdhavāsitam

— or in a clay vessel, the resting-place of Vishnu should be arranged. Having filled it with cool, fragrant water there —

Verse 7 (padma.6.85.7)

तस्मिंस्तोये ततो विष्णोः स्थापनं कारयेद्बुधः । गोपालनाम्नी मूर्त्तिश्च रामनाम्नी तथापि वा

tasmiṁstoye tato viṣṇoḥ sthāpanaṁ kārayedbudhaḥ gopālanāmnī mūrttiśca rāmanāmnī tathāpi vā

— the wise should have Vishnu installed in that water. An image called Gopala, or one called Rama —

Verse 8 (padma.6.85.8)

शालग्राम शिला वापि स्थापनीया विशेषतः । प्रतिमां वा महाभाग तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम्

śālagrāma śilā vāpi sthāpanīyā viśeṣataḥ pratimāṁ vā mahābhāga tasya puṇyamanaṁtakam

— or the shaligrama stone especially, should be installed. O greatly blessed one, the merit of that image is endless.

Verse 9 (padma.6.85.9)

यावद्धराधरालोका यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ । तावत्तस्य कुले कश्चिन्न भवेद्देवि नारकी

yāvaddharādharālokā yāvaccaṁdra divākarau tāvattasya kule kaścinna bhaveddevi nārakī

As long as the mountains and worlds endure, as long as the moon and sun endure, so long, O goddess, no one in his lineage goes to hell.

Verse 10 (padma.6.85.10)

तस्माज्ज्येष्ठे महादेवि तोयस्थं पूजयेद्धरिम् । वीततापो नरस्तिष्ठेद्यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

tasmājjyeṣṭhe mahādevi toyasthaṁ pūjayeddharim vītatāpo narastiṣṭhedyāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

Therefore, O great goddess, in the month of Jyeshtha, Hari resting in water should be worshipped. A man, freed of affliction, remains steadfast until the great dissolution.

Verse 11 (padma.6.85.11)

सुशीतले तथा तोये तुलसीदलवासितम् । शुचिशुक्रगते काले पूजयेद्धरणीधरम्

suśītale tathā toye tulasīdalavāsitam śuciśukragate kāle pūjayeddharaṇīdharam

In the month of Shuchi (Ashadha), when the sun is in Shukra, one should worship the Bearer-of-the-Earth in exceedingly cool water scented with tulasi leaves.

Verse 12 (padma.6.85.12)

शुचिशुक्रगते काले येऽर्चयिष्यंति केशवम् । जलस्थं विविधैः पुष्पैर्मुच्यंते यमपीडनात्

śuciśukragate kāle ye'rcayiṣyaṁti keśavam jalasthaṁ vividhaiḥ puṣpairmucyaṁte yamapīḍanāt

Those who, at that time, worship Keshava resting in water with various flowers are freed from the torments of Yama.

Verse 13 (padma.6.85.13)

जलप्रेष्ठो यतो विष्णुर्जलशायी जलप्रियः । तस्माद्ग्रीष्मे विशेषेण जलस्थं पूजयेद्धरिम्

jalapreṣṭho yato viṣṇurjalaśāyī jalapriyaḥ tasmādgrīṣme viśeṣeṇa jalasthaṁ pūjayeddharim

Vishnu holds water most dear, reclines upon water, and loves water; therefore, in the summer season especially, Hari resting in water should be worshipped.

Verse 14 (padma.6.85.14)

नीरमध्ये स्थितं कृत्वा शालग्रामसमुद्भवम् । येनार्चितो महाभक्त्या स भवेत्कुलपावनः

nīramadhye sthitaṁ kṛtvā śālagrāmasamudbhavam yenārcito mahābhaktyā sa bhavetkulapāvanaḥ

Whoever, having placed the stone born of Shaligrama in the midst of water, worships it with great devotion, becomes the purifier of his own lineage.

Verse 15 (padma.6.85.15)

कर्कराशि गते सूर्ये मिथुनस्थे विशेषतः । येनार्चितो हरिर्भक्त्या जलमध्ये तु सुंदरि

karkarāśi gate sūrye mithunasthe viśeṣataḥ yenārcito harirbhaktyā jalamadhye tu suṁdari

O beautiful one, when the sun is in the sign of Cancer, or especially in Gemini, whoever has worshipped Hari with devotion in the midst of water —

Verse 16 (padma.6.85.16)

द्वादश्यां तु विशेषेण जलस्थ जलशायिनः । येनार्चनं कृतं तेन कोटियज्ञशतं कृतम्

dvādaśyāṁ tu viśeṣeṇa jalastha jalaśāyinaḥ yenārcanaṁ kṛtaṁ tena koṭiyajñaśataṁ kṛtam

— whoever, especially on the twelfth day, has performed worship of the Water-Reclining One resting in water has thereby, as it were, performed a hundred million sacrifices.

Verse 17 (padma.6.85.17)

निक्षिप्य जलपात्रे तु मासे माधवसंज्ञके । माधवं येऽर्चयिष्यंति देवास्ते तु नरा भुवि

nikṣipya jalapātre tu māse mādhavasaṁjñake mādhavaṁ ye'rcayiṣyaṁti devāste tu narā bhuvi

Those men who, having placed the image in a water-vessel in the month named Madhava, worship Madhava, are themselves gods upon the earth.

Verse 18 (padma.6.85.18)

पात्रे गंधोदकं कृत्वा यः क्षिपेद्गरुडध्वजम् । द्वादश्यां पूजयेद्रात्रौ मुक्तिभागी भवेत्तु सः

pātre gaṁdhodakaṁ kṛtvā yaḥ kṣipedgaruḍadhvajam dvādaśyāṁ pūjayedrātrau muktibhāgī bhavettu saḥ

Whoever fills a vessel with scented water and places the Bearer-of-the-Garuda-banner in it, and worships it on the night of the twelfth day, becomes a sharer in liberation.

Verse 19 (padma.6.85.19)

अश्रद्दधानः पापात्मा नास्तिकोऽच्छिन्नसंशयः । हेतुनिष्ठश्च पंचैते न पूजाफल भागिनः

aśraddadhānaḥ pāpātmā nāstiko'cchinnasaṁśayaḥ hetuniṣṭhaśca paṁcaite na pūjāphala bhāginaḥ

The faithless, the sinful, the atheist, the one whose doubts remain unresolved, and the one who relies only on logic — these five do not share in the fruit of worship.

Verse 20 (padma.6.85.20)

तथा महादेवि प्रभुं जलस्थं जगदीश्वरम् । पूजयेद्यो नरो नित्यं महापापैः प्रमुच्यते

tathā mahādevi prabhuṁ jalasthaṁ jagadīśvaram pūjayedyo naro nityaṁ mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate

O great goddess, thus whatever man ever worships the Lord of the universe, resting in water, becomes freed from great sins.

Verse 21 (padma.6.85.21)

ॐह्री ह्रीं रामाय नमः । इति मंत्रेण देवेशि पूजनं तत्र वै स्मृतम् । ॐ क्लीं कृष्णाय गोविंदाय गोपीजनवल्लभाय नमः । इति मंत्रेण गिरिजे उदकं चाभिमंत्रयेत् । देवदेव महाभाग श्रीवत्सकृत लांछन

oṁhrī hrīṁ rāmāya namaḥ iti maṁtreṇa deveśi pūjanaṁ tatra vai smṛtam oṁ klīṁ kṛṣṇāya goviṁdāya gopījanavallabhāya namaḥ iti maṁtreṇa girije udakaṁ cābhimaṁtrayet devadeva mahābhāga śrīvatsakṛta lāṁchana

'Om Hrim, salutation to Rama' — with this mantra, O queen of gods, the rite of worship is prescribed there. 'Om Klim, salutation to Krishna, Govinda, beloved of the gopis' — O daughter of the mountain, with this mantra one should consecrate the water. 'O God of gods, O greatly blessed, bearer of the Shrivatsa mark —'

Verse 22 (padma.6.85.22)

महादेव नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्ते विश्वभावन । अर्घं गृहाण भो देव मुक्तिं मे देहि सर्वदा

mahādeva namaste'stu namaste viśvabhāvana arghaṁ gṛhāṇa bho deva muktiṁ me dehi sarvadā

'O great god, salutation to you; salutation to you, O creator of the universe. O god, accept this offering, and grant me liberation forever.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.85.23)

नानाविधैः सुपुष्पैश्च पूजयेद्गरुडासनम् । सर्वबाधाविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णोः सायुज्यतामियात्

nānāvidhaiḥ supuṣpaiśca pūjayedgaruḍāsanam sarvabādhāvinirmukto viṣṇoḥ sāyujyatāmiyāt

One should worship him whose vehicle is Garuda with various beautiful flowers. Freed of all obstacles, the worshipper attains union with Vishnu.

Verse 24 (padma.6.85.24)

रात्रौ जागरणं तत्र द्वादश्यां सुसमाहितः । भक्तिपूर्वं भजेद्देवं विष्णुमव्ययमक्षयम्

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ tatra dvādaśyāṁ susamāhitaḥ bhaktipūrvaṁ bhajeddevaṁ viṣṇumavyayamakṣayam

On the night of the twelfth day, with full concentration one should keep vigil, worshipping with devotion the imperishable, undecaying god Vishnu.

Verse 25 (padma.6.85.25)

एवं वैशाख संबंधी भक्तिभावेन तत्परैः । उत्सवो विष्णुसंज्ञस्तु कर्त्तव्यो भक्तिमिच्छुभिः

evaṁ vaiśākha saṁbaṁdhī bhaktibhāvena tatparaiḥ utsavo viṣṇusaṁjñastu karttavyo bhaktimicchubhiḥ

Thus this festival, named for Vishnu and associated with Vaishakha, should be performed by those devoted to and desiring devotion.

Verse 26 (padma.6.85.26)

आगमोक्तेन मंत्रेण विधिं तत्र प्रकारयेत् । कृते सति महादेवि कोटियज्ञसमं फलम्

āgamoktena maṁtreṇa vidhiṁ tatra prakārayet kṛte sati mahādevi koṭiyajñasamaṁ phalam

There, the rite should be conducted with the mantra prescribed in the scriptures. O great goddess, when this is done, the fruit is equal to that of a million sacrifices.

Verse 27 (padma.6.85.27)

रागद्वेषविनिर्मुक्तो महामोहनिवर्त्तकः । इहलोके सुखं भुक्त्वा याति विष्णोः सनातनम्

rāgadveṣavinirmukto mahāmohanivarttakaḥ ihaloke sukhaṁ bhuktvā yāti viṣṇoḥ sanātanam

He becomes free of attachment and aversion, and dispels great delusion. Having enjoyed happiness in this world, he goes to Vishnu's eternal abode.

Verse 28 (padma.6.85.28)

ब्राह्मणो भक्तिभावेन यः करोत्युत्सवं भुवि । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो वैकुंठं गच्छते ध्रुवम्

brāhmaṇo bhaktibhāvena yaḥ karotyutsavaṁ bhuvi sarvapāpavinirmukto vaikuṁṭhaṁ gacchate dhruvam

The brahmin who, with devotion, performs this festival upon the earth becomes freed of all sin and surely goes to Vaikuntha.

Verse 29 (padma.6.85.29)

वेदाध्ययनहीनोऽपि शास्त्राध्ययनवर्जितः । हरिभक्तिं तु संप्राप्य लभते वैष्णवं पदम्

vedādhyayanahīno'pi śāstrādhyayanavarjitaḥ haribhaktiṁ tu saṁprāpya labhate vaiṣṇavaṁ padam

Even one devoid of Vedic study and excluded from the study of scripture, upon attaining devotion to Hari, obtains the Vaishnava state.

Verse 30 (padma.6.85.30)

आत्मारामः सदा मुक्तो विजितात्मा भवेत्तु सः । स वै विष्णुपदं याति यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ

ātmārāmaḥ sadā mukto vijitātmā bhavettu saḥ sa vai viṣṇupadaṁ yāti yāvaccaṁdra divākarau

He becomes one who ever delights in the self, forever liberated, his self mastered. He attains the abode of Vishnu, for as long as the moon and sun endure.