Seven Nights at Gundicha and the Vanajagarana Rite for the Ancestors

Verse 1 (skanda.2.74.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच। अश्वमेधांगसरसो नृसिंहस्य च दक्षिणे। तत्रासीनश्च भगवान्पुनश्चावतरन्निव

jaiminiruvāca aśvamedhāṁgasaraso nṛsiṁhasya ca dakṣiṇe tatrāsīnaśca bhagavānpunaścāvataranniva

Jaimini said: To the south of the Ashvamedha-tank and of Nrisimha, the Lord, seated there, appears as though incarnating anew.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.74.2)

बभासे दिव्यरूपोऽसौ दुर्विभाव्यः सुरासुरैः। तदा पूजोपहारैश्च भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकैस्तथा

babhāse divyarūpo'sau durvibhāvyaḥ surāsuraiḥ tadā pūjopahāraiśca bhakṣyabhojyādikaistathā

He shines in his divine form, incomprehensible even to gods and demons; then with articles of worship and with foods and delicacies,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.74.3)

पूजयित्वा जगन्नाथं तोषयेद्गीतनृत्यकैः। पुष्पोपहारैर्विविधैः सुगंधैरनुलेपनैः

pūjayitvā jagannāthaṁ toṣayedgītanṛtyakaiḥ puṣpopahārairvividhaiḥ sugaṁdhairanulepanaiḥ

having worshipped Jagannatha, one should please him with songs and dances, with various flower-offerings, fragrances, and unguents,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.74.4)

कृष्णागुरुजधूपैश्च गंधतैलप्रदीपकैः। तोषयेज्जगतां नाथमनेकैरुपहारकैः

kṛṣṇāgurujadhūpaiśca gaṁdhatailapradīpakaiḥ toṣayejjagatāṁ nāthamanekairupahārakaiḥ

with incense of black aloe-wood and lamps of scented oil, and please the Lord of the worlds with many offerings.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.74.5)

बिन्दुतीर्थतटे तस्मिन्सप्ताहानि जनार्दनः। तिष्ठेत्पुरा स्वयं राज्ञे वरमेतत्समादिशत्

bindutīrthataṭe tasminsaptāhāni janārdanaḥ tiṣṭhetpurā svayaṁ rājñe varametatsamādiśat

On the bank of that Bindu-tirtha, Janardana abides for seven days; of old he himself granted this boon to the king:

Verse 6 (skanda.2.74.6)

त्वत्तीर्थतीरे राजेंद्र स्थास्यामि प्रतिवत्सरम्। सर्वतीर्थानि तस्मिंश्च स्थास्यंति मयि तिष्ठति

tvattīrthatīre rājeṁdra sthāsyāmi prativatsaram sarvatīrthāni tasmiṁśca sthāsyaṁti mayi tiṣṭhati

'O king of kings, I shall dwell on the bank of your tirtha every year; and while I dwell there, all sacred waters will dwell there as well.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.74.7)

तत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन तीर्थे तीर्थोघपावने। सप्ताहं ये प्रपश्यंति गुंडिचामण्डपे स्थितम्

tatra snātvā vidhānena tīrthe tīrthoghapāvane saptāhaṁ ye prapaśyaṁti guṁḍicāmaṇḍape sthitam

Those who bathe there duly, at that tirtha which purifies all others, and who behold me for seven days as I stay in the Gundicha pavilion,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.74.8)

मां च रामं सुभद्रां च मत्सायुज्यमवाप्नुयुः। ततस्तस्मिन्महापुण्ये सर्वपापप्रणाशने

māṁ ca rāmaṁ subhadrāṁ ca matsāyujyamavāpnuyuḥ tatastasminmahāpuṇye sarvapāpapraṇāśane

together with Rama and Subhadra, attain union with me.' Then, at that most holy time, which destroys every sin,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.74.9)

सर्वतीर्थैकफलदे विष्णु प्रीतिकरे शुभे। स्नात्वा संतर्प्य विधिवत्पितॄन्देवानतंद्रितः

sarvatīrthaikaphalade viṣṇu prītikare śubhe snātvā saṁtarpya vidhivatpitṝndevānataṁdritaḥ

which alone grants the fruit of every sacred water, dear and auspicious to Vishnu, one should bathe there and, without slackness, duly offer libations to ancestors and gods,

Verse 10 (skanda.2.74.10)

तटस्थं नरसिंहं तं पूजयित्वा प्रणम्य च। महावेदीं नरो गत्वा कृतशौचाचमक्रियः

taṭasthaṁ narasiṁhaṁ taṁ pūjayitvā praṇamya ca mahāvedīṁ naro gatvā kṛtaśaucācamakriyaḥ

and, having worshipped and bowed to Narasimha standing on the bank, and completed the rites of purification and sipping, a man should go to the Mahavedi.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.74.11)

पूजयेत्पूर्ववद्विप्राः प्रणमेद्वापि भक्तितः। सप्ताहं यो नरो नारी न सा प्राकृतमानुषी

pūjayetpūrvavadviprāḥ praṇamedvāpi bhaktitaḥ saptāhaṁ yo naro nārī na sā prākṛtamānuṣī

He should worship as before, O brahmins, or bow with devotion; the man or woman who does so for seven days is no ordinary human being.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.74.12)

विष्णुसायुज्यमाप्नोति शासनान्मुरवैरिणः। दिवा तदृर्शनं पुण्यं रात्रौ दशगुणं भवेत्

viṣṇusāyujyamāpnoti śāsanānmuravairiṇaḥ divā tadṛrśanaṁ puṇyaṁ rātrau daśaguṇaṁ bhavet

By the ordinance of the Enemy-of-Mura, such a one attains union with Vishnu; the merit of beholding him by day becomes tenfold by night.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.74.13)

यत्किंचित्क्रियते कर्म संनिधौ जगदीशितुः। स्वल्पं वाप्यथवा भूरि कोटिकोटिगुणं भवेत्

yatkiṁcitkriyate karma saṁnidhau jagadīśituḥ svalpaṁ vāpyathavā bhūri koṭikoṭiguṇaṁ bhavet

Whatever act, small or great, is performed in the presence of the Lord of the World becomes multiplied ten million times over.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.74.14)

तुलापुरुषदानानि महादानानि यो ददेत्। एके प्रदत्ते दानेपि सर्वं दत्तं भवेद्द्विजाः

tulāpuruṣadānāni mahādānāni yo dadet eke pradatte dānepi sarvaṁ dattaṁ bhaveddvijāḥ

One who gives great gifts such as tula-purusha-dana — O brahmins, even in giving one such gift, all such gifts are considered given.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.74.15)

सर्वं मेरुसमं दानं सर्वे व्याससमा द्विजाः। महावेद्यां गते कृष्णे योगोऽयं खलु दुर्लभः

sarvaṁ merusamaṁ dānaṁ sarve vyāsasamā dvijāḥ mahāvedyāṁ gate kṛṣṇe yogo'yaṁ khalu durlabhaḥ

There, every gift equals the gift of Mount Meru, and every brahmin equals Vyasa; when Krishna has gone to the Mahavedi, this conjunction is indeed rare to attain.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.74.16)

अर्द्धोदयादिका योगाः स्कन्देन परिभाषिताः। महावेद्याख्ययोगस्य कला नार्हंति षोडशीम्

arddhodayādikā yogāḥ skandena paribhāṣitāḥ mahāvedyākhyayogasya kalā nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm

The conjunctions beginning with Ardhodaya have been described by Skanda, but they are not worth even a sixteenth part of this conjunction called Mahavedi.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.74.17)

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि पितॄणां कार्यमुत्तमम्। यावज्जीवं गयाश्राद्धैरलभ्यं भुवि यत्फलम्

ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi pitṝṇāṁ kāryamuttamam yāvajjīvaṁ gayāśrāddhairalabhyaṁ bhuvi yatphalam

Now I shall further declare the supreme rite for the ancestors, whose fruit cannot be obtained on earth even by a lifetime of shraddhas performed at Gaya.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.74.18)

दिविस्था नरकस्था वा तिर्यग्योनिगतास्तथा। तथा मनुष्यजातिस्थाः सर्वे पितृपितामहाः

divisthā narakasthā vā tiryagyonigatāstathā tathā manuṣyajātisthāḥ sarve pitṛpitāmahāḥ

Whether dwelling in heaven or in hell, or gone into the wombs of beasts, or born in the human condition — all one's fathers and forefathers,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.74.19)

शतं पुरुषविख्याता यं वांछंति सुतैः कृतम्। तं वो विधिं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं मुनयो वरम्

śataṁ puruṣavikhyātā yaṁ vāṁchaṁti sutaiḥ kṛtam taṁ vo vidhiṁ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ munayo varam

a hundred generations of renowned forefathers, wish this rite to be performed by their sons; I shall declare that rite to you — hear it well, O sages.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.74.20)

मघा वै पितृनक्षत्रं पितॄणा प्रीतिदं परम्। तत्र श्राद्धं तु प्रीणाति दत्तं पुत्रैर्मुदान्वितैः

maghā vai pitṛnakṣatraṁ pitṝṇā prītidaṁ param tatra śrāddhaṁ tu prīṇāti dattaṁ putrairmudānvitaiḥ

Magha is indeed the ancestral asterism, supremely pleasing to the ancestors; a shraddha offered there by joyful sons gladdens them.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.74.21)

पंचमी च तिथिः श्रेष्ठा श्राद्धेभ्युदयकारिणी। उभयोर्यदि संयोगो महापुण्यतमा तिथिः

paṁcamī ca tithiḥ śreṣṭhā śrāddhebhyudayakāriṇī ubhayoryadi saṁyogo mahāpuṇyatamā tithiḥ

The fifth lunar day is best, bringing prosperity through shraddha; if the two — Magha and the fifth — coincide, that day is most supremely holy.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.74.22)

यस्यां श्राद्धे कृते पुत्रैः पितॄणामुद्धृतिर्भवेत्। सर्वतीर्थमये तस्मिन्संनिधौ मुरवैरिणः

yasyāṁ śrāddhe kṛte putraiḥ pitṝṇāmuddhṛtirbhavet sarvatīrthamaye tasminsaṁnidhau muravairiṇaḥ

On which day, if shraddha is performed by sons, the deliverance of the ancestors is achieved — in that presence of the Enemy-of-Mura, composed of all sacred waters,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.74.23)

श्राद्धं चेच्छ्रद्धया कुर्यान्नीलकण्ठनृसिंहयोः। मध्ये मेध्यतमे देशे योगे परमदुर्लभे

śrāddhaṁ cecchraddhayā kuryānnīlakaṇṭhanṛsiṁhayoḥ madhye medhyatame deśe yoge paramadurlabhe

if one performs shraddha with faith between Nilakantha and Nrisimha, in that most sacred spot, at that supremely rare conjunction,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.74.24)

पुरुषाञ्छतमुद्धृत्य ब्रह्मलोके महीयते। प्रशस्यः कुतपः कालो मन्दीभूतदिवाकरः

puruṣāñchatamuddhṛtya brahmaloke mahīyate praśasyaḥ kutapaḥ kālo mandībhūtadivākaraḥ

one delivers a hundred generations of forefathers and is honoured in Brahmaloka. The praised 'kutapa' period, when the sun's heat has slackened, is midday.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.74.25)

पितॄनुद्दिश्य वा दद्यादशक्तः कनकं शुचिः। तर्पयित्वा तिलैः सम्यक्पैतृकीं प्रीतिमुत्तमाम्

pitṝnuddiśya vā dadyādaśaktaḥ kanakaṁ śuciḥ tarpayitvā tilaiḥ samyakpaitṛkīṁ prītimuttamām

If unable to perform the full rite, a pure man should, with the ancestors in mind, give gold, having duly satisfied them with sesame and water for their supreme pleasure.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.74.26)

अथवा भोजयैद्विप्रान्भोज्यमूल्यानि वा ददेत्। एकस्मै वा गुणवते सहस्रं भोजनं ददेत्

athavā bhojayaidviprānbhojyamūlyāni vā dadet ekasmai vā guṇavate sahasraṁ bhojanaṁ dadet

Or he should feed brahmins, or give the value of the feast in money; or he should give a feast worth a thousand portions to a single worthy brahmin.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.74.27)

गुणागुणविवेकस्तु नात्र योगे विधीयते। तस्मिन्सुदुर्लभे योगे सर्वे मुनिसमा द्विजाः

guṇāguṇavivekastu nātra yoge vidhīyate tasminsudurlabhe yoge sarve munisamā dvijāḥ

At this conjunction no distinction of merit or demerit in the recipient is observed; at that most rare conjunction, all brahmins are equal to sages.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.74.28)

आषाढस्य सिते पक्षे पंचमी पितृदैवतम्। नक्षत्रं जगदीशस्य महावेदीसमागमः

āṣāḍhasya site pakṣe paṁcamī pitṛdaivatam nakṣatraṁ jagadīśasya mahāvedīsamāgamaḥ

In the bright fortnight of Ashadha, the fifth day, the ancestral asterism, and the arrival of the Lord of the World at the Mahavedi —

Verse 29 (skanda.2.74.29)

एते यदा त्रयः स्युश्चेदिंद्रद्युम्नसरोवरे। चतुष्पादः स्मृतो योगः पितॄणामक्षयप्रदः

ete yadā trayaḥ syuścediṁdradyumnasarovare catuṣpādaḥ smṛto yogaḥ pitṝṇāmakṣayapradaḥ

when these three coincide at the Indradyumna-tank, it is remembered as the 'four-footed' conjunction, bestowing imperishable benefit upon the ancestors.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.74.30)

पितृकार्ये न सीदंति निरूप्य श्राद्धमत्र वै। शृणुध्वमन्यद्विप्रा वै प्रसंगाच्च ब्रवीमि वः

pitṛkārye na sīdaṁti nirūpya śrāddhamatra vai śṛṇudhvamanyadviprā vai prasaṁgācca bravīmi vaḥ

Here, when shraddha is duly performed, the ancestors never suffer want in their needs. Hear something further, O brahmins, which I tell you in passing.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.74.31)

नभस्य दर्शे यः कुर्याच्चतुर्ष्वपि युगादिषु। श्राद्धं पितॄन्समुद्दिश्याऽश्वमेधांगसंभवे

nabhasya darśe yaḥ kuryāccaturṣvapi yugādiṣu śrāddhaṁ pitṝnsamuddiśyā'śvamedhāṁgasaṁbhave

Whoever performs shraddha on the new moon of Bhadrapada, or on any of the four Yugadi days, for the sake of the ancestors, at the tank born of the Ashvamedha,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.74.32)

गयाश्राद्धसहस्रस्य श्रद्धया विहितस्य वै। फलं यद्धि समं त्वस्य नात्र कार्या विचारणा

gayāśrāddhasahasrasya śraddhayā vihitasya vai phalaṁ yaddhi samaṁ tvasya nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

obtains, without doubt, a fruit equal to that of a thousand shraddhas performed with faith at Gaya — of this there should be no question.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.74.33)

दानं होमो जपश्चापि सर्वपापापनोदनः। दिनानि सप्त यान्यत्र कृष्णे वसति मंडपे

dānaṁ homo japaścāpi sarvapāpāpanodanaḥ dināni sapta yānyatra kṛṣṇe vasati maṁḍape

Giving, fire-oblation, and recitation all remove every sin, during the seven days that Krishna dwells in the pavilion there.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.74.34)

एकस्मादुत्तरं श्रेयो यत्तस्मादुत्तरोत्तरम्। आषाढशुक्ल तृतीयायां प्रातःस्नानं समाचरेत्

ekasmāduttaraṁ śreyo yattasmāduttarottaram āṣāḍhaśukla tṛtīyāyāṁ prātaḥsnānaṁ samācaret

Each successive day is more excellent than the one before it. On the third day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, one should perform the morning bath,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.74.35)

इंद्रद्युम्नतटे देशे नृसिंहक्षेत्र उत्तमे। व्रतमेतत्तु गृह्णीयात्संकल्प्य विधिवन्नरः

iṁdradyumnataṭe deśe nṛsiṁhakṣetra uttame vratametattu gṛhṇīyātsaṁkalpya vidhivannaraḥ

on the bank of the Indradyumna tank, in that excellent field of Nrisimha; and a man should undertake this vow, having made his resolve according to rule.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.74.36)

वनजागरणं नाम भगवत्प्रीतिवर्द्धनम्। सर्वपापप्रशमनं सर्वव्रतफलप्रदम्

vanajāgaraṇaṁ nāma bhagavatprītivarddhanam sarvapāpapraśamanaṁ sarvavrataphalapradam

It is called 'Vanajagarana,' the Forest-Vigil, which increases the Lord's pleasure, allays every sin, and grants the fruit of every vow.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.74.37)

दिनानि सप्त मौनी स्यात्कृतत्रिषवणक्रियः। कुंभे च पूजयेद्देवं त्रिसंध्यं भक्तिभावितः

dināni sapta maunī syātkṛtatriṣavaṇakriyaḥ kuṁbhe ca pūjayeddevaṁ trisaṁdhyaṁ bhaktibhāvitaḥ

For seven days one should keep silence, performing the threefold daily ablutions, and worship the Lord in a water-vessel at the three junctures of the day, filled with devotion.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.74.38)

गोघृतेनाथ तैलेन तिलजेन प्रदीपयेत्। अहर्निशं हरेरग्रे रक्षेत्तं यत्नतो व्रती

goghṛtenātha tailena tilajena pradīpayet aharniśaṁ hareragre rakṣettaṁ yatnato vratī

One should light a lamp with cow's ghee or sesame oil before Hari, day and night, and the votary should carefully keep it burning.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.74.39)

दिवा दिवा वसेन्मौनी रात्रौ रात्रौ च जागृयात्। मंत्रं भागवतं जप्यान्नित्यकृत्यांतरे व्रती

divā divā vasenmaunī rātrau rātrau ca jāgṛyāt maṁtraṁ bhāgavataṁ japyānnityakṛtyāṁtare vratī

By day he should remain silent, and keep vigil each night; the votary should recite the Bhagavata mantra between his daily duties.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.74.40)

उपवासपरो भूत्वा सप्ताहानि नयेद्व्रती। अष्टमे प्रातरुत्थाय प्रतिष्ठां कारयेद्दिने

upavāsaparo bhūtvā saptāhāni nayedvratī aṣṭame prātarutthāya pratiṣṭhāṁ kārayeddine

Devoted to fasting, the votary should pass the seven days thus; rising on the morning of the eighth day, he should perform the concluding rite.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.74.41)

तस्मिन्नेव तीर्थवरे स्नात्वागत्य गृहं पुनः। मंडले सर्वतोभद्रे पूर्वे कुंभं निवेशयेत

tasminneva tīrthavare snātvāgatya gṛhaṁ punaḥ maṁḍale sarvatobhadre pūrve kuṁbhaṁ niveśayeta

Having bathed at that same excellent tirtha and returned home, he should place the water-vessel in the east upon a Sarvatobhadra diagram.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.74.42)

तत्रावाह्य हृषीकेशं पूजयेदुपचारकैः। तस्य पश्चिमदेशे च स्थंडिले विधिसंस्कृते

tatrāvāhya hṛṣīkeśaṁ pūjayedupacārakaiḥ tasya paścimadeśe ca sthaṁḍile vidhisaṁskṛte

There, having invoked Hrishikesha, he should worship him with ritual honours; and to its west, upon a duly consecrated altar-ground,

Verse 43 (skanda.2.74.43)

अग्निं प्रणीय गृह्योक्तविधिना ब्राह्मणावृतः। अग्निकार्यं प्रकुर्वीत समिदाज्यचरूंस्तथा

agniṁ praṇīya gṛhyoktavidhinā brāhmaṇāvṛtaḥ agnikāryaṁ prakurvīta samidājyacarūṁstathā

surrounded by brahmins, he should kindle the fire according to the Grhya rite, and perform the fire-rite with fuel-sticks, ghee, and cooked oblations.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.74.44)

सहस्रं जुहुयादग्नौ प्रत्येकं वा शतं शतम्। गायत्री वैष्णवी या वै तया होमविधिः स्मृतः

sahasraṁ juhuyādagnau pratyekaṁ vā śataṁ śatam gāyatrī vaiṣṇavī yā vai tayā homavidhiḥ smṛtaḥ

He should offer a thousand oblations into the fire, or a hundred each of various items; the rite of oblation is prescribed with the Vaishnavi Gayatri mantra.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.74.45)

संप्राश्य दक्षिणां दयाद्धेनुं वस्त्रं हिरण्यकम्। विप्रांश्च भोजयेदंते प्रीतये विश्वसाक्षिणः

saṁprāśya dakṣiṇāṁ dayāddhenuṁ vastraṁ hiraṇyakam viprāṁśca bhojayedaṁte prītaye viśvasākṣiṇaḥ

Having partaken of the sacred remnants, he should give as fee a cow, cloth, and gold, and finally feed the brahmins, for the pleasure of the Witness of the Universe.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.74.46)

व्रतराजमिमं कृत्वा विधिनानेन भो द्विजाः। चतुर्वर्गानवाप्नोति यो यः कामानभीप्सति

vratarājamimaṁ kṛtvā vidhinānena bho dvijāḥ caturvargānavāpnoti yo yaḥ kāmānabhīpsati

Having performed this king of vows according to this rite, O brahmins, whoever desires anything obtains all four goals of life.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.74.47)

नारी वा श्रद्धया युक्ता कुर्याद्वेदीमहोत्सवम्। सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति या कुर्याद्व्रतमुत्तमम्

nārī vā śraddhayā yuktā kuryādvedīmahotsavam sāpi tatphalamāpnoti yā kuryādvratamuttamam

A woman too, endowed with faith, who observes the festival of the Vedi, or performs this excellent vow, obtains that same fruit.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.74.48)

यात्राकर्तुः फलं यादृग्व्रतकर्तुश्च तत्फलम्। भवते वै द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कथितं वो मुदान्विताः

yātrākartuḥ phalaṁ yādṛgvratakartuśca tatphalam bhavate vai dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kathitaṁ vo mudānvitāḥ

Such as is the fruit for one who makes the pilgrimage, the same fruit belongs to one who performs the vow — this, O best of brahmins, has been joyfully declared to you.