Gunavati's Vow

Verse 1 (padma.6.89.1)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । ततो गुणवती श्रुत्वा रक्षसा निहतावुभौ । पितृभर्तजदुःखार्त्ता करुणं पर्यदेवयत्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca tato guṇavatī śrutvā rakṣasā nihatāvubhau pitṛbhartajaduḥkhārttā karuṇaṁ paryadevayat

Shri Krishna said: Then Gunavati, hearing that the demon had slain both her father and her husband, stricken with grief for both, began to wail piteously.

Verse 2 (padma.6.89.2)

गुणवत्युवाच । हा नाथ हा पितस्त्यक्त्वा गच्छतं क्व मया विना । बालाहं किं करोम्यद्य ह्यनाथा भवता विना

guṇavatyuvāca hā nātha hā pitastyaktvā gacchataṁ kva mayā vinā bālāhaṁ kiṁ karomyadya hyanāthā bhavatā vinā

Gunavati said: 'Alas, my husband! Alas, my father! Where have you both gone, leaving me behind? I am still but a child — what shall I do today, orphaned, without you both?'

Verse 3 (padma.6.89.3)

को नु मामास्थितां गेहे भोजनाच्छादनादिभिः । अकिंचित्कुशलां स्नेहात्पालयिष्यति दुःखिताम्

ko nu māmāsthitāṁ gehe bhojanācchādanādibhiḥ akiṁcitkuśalāṁ snehātpālayiṣyati duḥkhitām

'Who now will care for me at home with food, clothing, and the rest, tending with affection to this helpless, sorrowful girl?'

Verse 4 (padma.6.89.4)

हतभाग्या गतसुखा हतेशा हतजीविता । शरणं कं व्रजाम्यद्य त्वन्नाथा बतबालिशा

hatabhāgyā gatasukhā hateśā hatajīvitā śaraṇaṁ kaṁ vrajāmyadya tvannāthā batabāliśā

'I have become ill-fated, joyless, lordless, and lifeless. Alas! Without a protector, still a mere child, whose refuge shall I seek today?'

Verse 5 (padma.6.89.5)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । एवं बहुविलप्याथ कुररीव भृशातुरा । पपात भूमौ विकला रंभा वातहता यथा

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca evaṁ bahuvilapyātha kurarīva bhṛśāturā papāta bhūmau vikalā raṁbhā vātahatā yathā

Shri Krishna said: Having wailed thus at length, exceedingly distressed like an osprey bird, she fell senseless to the ground, like a plantain tree struck down by the wind.

Verse 6 (padma.6.89.6)

चिरादाश्वस्य सा भूमौ विलप्य करुणं बहु । निमग्ना दुःखजलधौ शोकार्त्ता समवर्त्तत

cirādāśvasya sā bhūmau vilapya karuṇaṁ bahu nimagnā duḥkhajaladhau śokārttā samavarttata

After a long while, having regained some composure, weeping most piteously as she lay upon the ground, she remained submerged in an ocean of sorrow, afflicted with grief.

Verse 7 (padma.6.89.7)

साग्रहोपस्करान्सर्वान्विक्रीय शुभकर्मकृत् । तयोश्चक्रे यथाशक्ति पारलौकिक सत्क्रियाम्

sāgrahopaskarānsarvānvikrīya śubhakarmakṛt tayoścakre yathāśakti pāralaukika satkriyām

Selling all the household goods and possessions, and performing meritorious deeds, she carried out, to the best of her ability, the sacred funerary rites for both of them for their welfare in the next world.

Verse 8 (padma.6.89.8)

तस्मिन्नेव पुरे वासं चक्रे प्रभृतिजीवितम् । विष्णुभक्तिपरा शांता सत्यशौचा जितेंद्रिया

tasminneva pure vāsaṁ cakre prabhṛtijīvitam viṣṇubhaktiparā śāṁtā satyaśaucā jiteṁdriyā

In that very city she dwelt for the rest of her life, devoted to devotion to Vishnu, tranquil, truthful, pure, and self-controlled.

Verse 9 (padma.6.89.9)

व्रतद्वयं तया सम्यगाजन्म मरणात्कृतम् । एकादशीव्रतं सम्यक्सेवनं कार्त्तिकस्य च

vratadvayaṁ tayā samyagājanma maraṇātkṛtam ekādaśīvrataṁ samyaksevanaṁ kārttikasya ca

From birth until death, she duly kept two vows — the Ekadashi vow, and the faithful observance of the month of Kartika.

Verse 10 (padma.6.89.10)

एतद्व्रतद्वयं कांते ममातीव प्रियंकरम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिकरं सम्यक्पुत्रसंपत्तिकारकम्

etadvratadvayaṁ kāṁte mamātīva priyaṁkaram bhuktimuktikaraṁ samyakputrasaṁpattikārakam

O beloved, these two vows are exceedingly dear to me. They duly bestow enjoyment and liberation, and grant sons and prosperity.

Verse 11 (padma.6.89.11)

कार्तिके मासि ये नित्यं तुलासंस्थे दिवाकरे । प्रातः स्नास्यंति ते मुक्ता महापातकिनोऽपि च

kārtike māsi ye nityaṁ tulāsaṁsthe divākare prātaḥ snāsyaṁti te muktā mahāpātakino'pi ca

In the month of Kartika, when the sun is in the sign of Libra, those who ever bathe in the early morning are liberated, even if they are guilty of great sins.

Verse 12 (padma.6.89.12)

संमार्जनं गृहे विष्णोः स्वस्तिकादि निवेदनम् । विष्णुपूजां प्रकुर्वंति जीवन्मुक्ताश्च ते नराः

saṁmārjanaṁ gṛhe viṣṇoḥ svastikādi nivedanam viṣṇupūjāṁ prakurvaṁti jīvanmuktāśca te narāḥ

Those men who sweep and clean Vishnu's dwelling, offer swastika-marks and the like, and perform worship of Vishnu, become liberated while yet living.

Verse 13 (padma.6.89.13)

स्नानं जागरणं दीपं तुलसीवनसेवनम् । कार्त्तिके ये प्रकुर्वंति ते नरा विष्णुमूर्त्तयः

snānaṁ jāgaraṇaṁ dīpaṁ tulasīvanasevanam kārttike ye prakurvaṁti te narā viṣṇumūrttayaḥ

Those who perform bathing, night-vigil, the offering of lamps, and the tending of a grove of tulasi during Kartika are men who are themselves embodiments of Vishnu.

Verse 14 (padma.6.89.14)

इत्थं दिनत्रयमपि कार्तिके ये प्रकुर्वते । देवानामपि ते वंद्याः किं यैराजन्मतः कृतम्

itthaṁ dinatrayamapi kārtike ye prakurvate devānāmapi te vaṁdyāḥ kiṁ yairājanmataḥ kṛtam

Thus, those who do this for even just three days in Kartika are worthy of reverence even by the gods — what then of those who have done so from birth throughout their lives!

Verse 15 (padma.6.89.15)

इत्थं गुणवती सम्यक्प्रत्यब्दं प्रतिनीयते । नित्यं विष्णोः परिकरे भक्ता तत्परमानसा

itthaṁ guṇavatī samyakpratyabdaṁ pratinīyate nityaṁ viṣṇoḥ parikare bhaktā tatparamānasā

Thus Gunavati duly continued this practice year after year, ever a devotee within Vishnu's own circle, her mind fixed entirely upon him.

Verse 16 (padma.6.89.16)

कदाचिज्जरसा साथ कृशांगी ज्वरपीडिता । स्नातुं गंगां गता कांते कथंचिच्छनकैस्तथा

kadācijjarasā sātha kṛśāṁgī jvarapīḍitā snātuṁ gaṁgāṁ gatā kāṁte kathaṁcicchanakaistathā

O beloved, once, weakened by old age and afflicted with fever, she somehow made her way slowly to bathe in the Ganga.

Verse 17 (padma.6.89.17)

यावज्जलांतरगता कंपिता शीतपीडिता । तावत्सा विह्वला पश्यद्विमानं प्राप्तमंबरात्

yāvajjalāṁtaragatā kaṁpitā śītapīḍitā tāvatsā vihvalā paśyadvimānaṁ prāptamaṁbarāt

As soon as she entered the water, trembling and stricken by the cold, at that very moment, bewildered, she saw a celestial chariot descending from the sky.

Verse 18 (padma.6.89.18)

शंखचक्रगदापद्महस्तैरासन्नमंबरात् । विष्णुरूपधरैः सम्यग्वैनतेयध्वजांकितैः

śaṁkhacakragadāpadmahastairāsannamaṁbarāt viṣṇurūpadharaiḥ samyagvainateyadhvajāṁkitaiḥ

That chariot approached from the sky, borne by attendants who held the conch, discus, mace, and lotus in their hands, who bore the very form of Vishnu, and who were marked with the banner of Garuda.

Verse 19 (padma.6.89.19)

आरोहयन्विमानं तमप्सरोगणसेवितम् । चामरैर्वीज्यमानां तां वैकुंठमनयन्गणाः

ārohayanvimānaṁ tamapsarogaṇasevitam cāmarairvījyamānāṁ tāṁ vaikuṁṭhamanayangaṇāḥ

They placed her aboard that chariot, attended by troops of apsarases. Fanning her with chowries, those attendants carried her to Vaikuntha.

Verse 20 (padma.6.89.20)

अथ सा तद्विमानस्था ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमा । कार्त्तिकव्रतपुण्येन मत्सान्निध्यगताभवत्

atha sā tadvimānasthā jvaladagniśikhopamā kārttikavratapuṇyena matsānnidhyagatābhavat

Then, seated upon that chariot, radiant as a blazing flame, she attained closeness to me through the merit of the Kartika vow.

Verse 21 (padma.6.89.21)

अथ ब्रह्मादिदेवानां यथा प्रार्थनया भुवम् । आगच्छता गणाः सर्वे यातास्तेऽपि मया सह

atha brahmādidevānāṁ yathā prārthanayā bhuvam āgacchatā gaṇāḥ sarve yātāste'pi mayā saha

And just as I came to earth at the prayer of Brahma and the other gods, all those attendants too went there together with me.

Verse 22 (padma.6.89.22)

एतेपि यादवाः सर्वे मद्गणा एव भामिनि । पिता ते देवशर्माभूत्सत्राजिदधिपो ह्ययम्

etepi yādavāḥ sarve madgaṇā eva bhāmini pitā te devaśarmābhūtsatrājidadhipo hyayam

O gracious one, all these Yadavas too are indeed my own attendants. Your father Devasharma has become, in this birth, this very king Satrajit.

Verse 23 (padma.6.89.23)

यश्चंद्रशर्मा सोऽक्रूरस्त्वं सा गुणवती शुभे । कार्त्तिकव्रतपुण्येन बहुमत्प्रीतिवर्द्धनी

yaścaṁdraśarmā so'krūrastvaṁ sā guṇavatī śubhe kārttikavratapuṇyena bahumatprītivarddhanī

He who was Chandrasharma has become Akrura. O auspicious one, you are that very Gunavati, who, through the merit of the Kartika vow, has become the one who greatly increases my love.

Verse 24 (padma.6.89.24)

मम द्वारे त्वया पूर्वं तुलसीवाटिका कृता । तस्मादयं कल्पवृक्षस्तवांगणतः शुभे

mama dvāre tvayā pūrvaṁ tulasīvāṭikā kṛtā tasmādayaṁ kalpavṛkṣastavāṁgaṇataḥ śubhe

In your former birth, you made a garden of tulasi at my door; because of that, O auspicious one, this wish-fulfilling tree grew from your very courtyard.

Verse 25 (padma.6.89.25)

कार्तिके दीपमानं च यत्त्वया तु कृतं पुरा । त्वद्देहगेहसंस्थेयं तस्माल्लक्ष्मी स्थिराभवत्

kārtike dīpamānaṁ ca yattvayā tu kṛtaṁ purā tvaddehagehasaṁstheyaṁ tasmāllakṣmī sthirābhavat

Because of the offering of lamps you made in Kartika in that former time, Lakshmi has become permanently established in your body and your home.

Verse 26 (padma.6.89.26)

यच्च व्रतादिकं सर्वं विष्णवे भर्तृरूपिणे । निवेदितवती तस्मान्मम भार्यात्वमागता

yacca vratādikaṁ sarvaṁ viṣṇave bhartṛrūpiṇe niveditavatī tasmānmama bhāryātvamāgatā

And because of whatever vows and the like you offered to Vishnu in the form of a husband, you have thereby come to be my wife.

Verse 27 (padma.6.89.27)

आजन्ममरणात्पूर्वं कार्त्तिके यद्व्रतं कृतम् । कदाचिदपि तेनैव मद्वियोगं न पश्यसि

ājanmamaraṇātpūrvaṁ kārttike yadvrataṁ kṛtam kadācidapi tenaiva madviyogaṁ na paśyasi

Because of that vow which you kept in Kartika from birth until death, you shall never at any time experience separation from me.

Verse 28 (padma.6.89.28)

एवं ये कार्त्तिके मासि नरा व्रतपरायणाः । मत्सान्निध्यं गतास्तेऽपि प्रीतिदा त्वं यथा मम

evaṁ ye kārttike māsi narā vrataparāyaṇāḥ matsānnidhyaṁ gatāste'pi prītidā tvaṁ yathā mama

Thus those men who, in the month of Kartika, are devoted to this vow, likewise attain closeness to me, just as you have become dear to me.

Verse 29 (padma.6.89.29)

यज्ञदानव्रततपः कारिणो मानवाः खलु । कार्त्तिकव्रतपुण्यस्य नाप्नुवंति कलामपि

yajñadānavratatapaḥ kāriṇo mānavāḥ khalu kārttikavratapuṇyasya nāpnuvaṁti kalāmapi

Even men who perform sacrifices, charitable gifts, vows, and austerities indeed do not attain even a fraction of the merit of the Kartika vow.

Verse 30 (padma.6.89.30)

इत्थं निशम्य भुवनाधिपतेस्तदानीं प्राक्पुण्यजन्मभव वैभव जातहर्षा । विश्वेश्वरं त्रिभुवनैकनिदानभूतं कृष्णंप्रणम्य वचनं निजगाद सत्या

itthaṁ niśamya bhuvanādhipatestadānīṁ prākpuṇyajanmabhava vaibhava jātaharṣā viśveśvaraṁ tribhuvanaikanidānabhūtaṁ kṛṣṇaṁpraṇamya vacanaṁ nijagāda satyā

Hearing these words of the Lord of the worlds, Satya, filled with joy at the splendor born of the merit of her former life, bowed to Krishna, the Lord of the universe, the sole primal cause of the three worlds, and spoke these words —