The Festival of the Lord's Repose and the Chaturmasya Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.2.76.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि शयनोत्सवमुत्तमम्। आषाढीमवधिं कृत्वा हरेः स्वापस्तु कर्कटे

jaiminiruvāca ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi śayanotsavamuttamam āṣāḍhīmavadhiṁ kṛtvā hareḥ svāpastu karkaṭe

Jaimini said: Now I shall further declare the excellent Shayanotsava, the festival of the Lord's repose; taking the Ashadhi ekadashi as its starting point, Hari's repose begins at the sun's entry into Cancer.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.76.2)

वार्षिकांश्चतुरो मासान्यावत्स्यात्कार्त्तिकी द्विजाः। अयं पुण्यतमः कालो हरेराराधनं प्रति

vārṣikāṁścaturo māsānyāvatsyātkārttikī dvijāḥ ayaṁ puṇyatamaḥ kālo harerārādhanaṁ prati

For the four months of the rainy season, until the Kartiki arrives, O brahmins, this is the most holy time for the worship of Hari.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.76.3)

काश्यां बहुयुगं वासान्नियमव्रतसंस्थितेः। फलं यदुक्तं तद्विद्यात्क्षेत्रे श्रीपुरुषोत्तमे

kāśyāṁ bahuyugaṁ vāsānniyamavratasaṁsthiteḥ phalaṁ yaduktaṁ tadvidyātkṣetre śrīpuruṣottame

The fruit declared for dwelling many ages in Kashi, established in vows and observances, should be known to be obtained in the field of Sri Purushottama through Chaturmasya.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.76.4)

चातुर्मास्यदिनैकेन वसतः सन्निधौ हरेः। वार्षिकाणां चतुर्णां तु यान्यहानि वसन्नयेत्

cāturmāsyadinaikena vasataḥ sannidhau hareḥ vārṣikāṇāṁ caturṇāṁ tu yānyahāni vasannayet

By dwelling even a single day of the Chaturmasya in Hari's presence — for as many days as one dwells through the four months of the rains —

Verse 5 (skanda.2.76.5)

पुण्यक्षेत्रे जगन्नाथसन्निधौ निर्मलांतरे। प्रत्यक्षं वाजिमेधस्य सहस्रस्य लभेत्फलम्

puṇyakṣetre jagannāthasannidhau nirmalāṁtare pratyakṣaṁ vājimedhasya sahasrasya labhetphalam

in that holy field, in the presence of Jagannatha, with a pure heart, one directly obtains the fruit of a thousand horse-sacrifices.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.76.6)

स्नात्वा सिंधुजले पुण्ये दृष्ट्वा श्रीपुरुषोत्तमम्। चातुर्मास्यव्रते तिष्ठन्न शोचति कुतश्चन

snātvā siṁdhujale puṇye dṛṣṭvā śrīpuruṣottamam cāturmāsyavrate tiṣṭhanna śocati kutaścana

Having bathed in the holy waters of the sea and beheld Sri Purushottama, one who remains established in the Chaturmasya vow never grieves for anything.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.76.7)

चातुर्मास्ये निवसति क्षेत्रे श्रीपुरुषोत्तमे। साक्षाद्दृष्टिर्भगवतस्तद्द्वयं मुक्तिसाधनम्

cāturmāsye nivasati kṣetre śrīpuruṣottame sākṣāddṛṣṭirbhagavatastaddvayaṁ muktisādhanam

To dwell in the field of Sri Purushottama during Chaturmasya, and the direct sight of the Lord — these two alone are the means to liberation.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.76.8)

तस्मात्सर्वाणि संत्यज्य श्रौतस्मार्त्तानि मानवः। प्रयत्नान्निवसेत्पुण्ये क्षेत्रे श्रीपुरुषोत्तमे

tasmātsarvāṇi saṁtyajya śrautasmārttāni mānavaḥ prayatnānnivasetpuṇye kṣetre śrīpuruṣottame

Therefore a man should abandon all Shrauta and Smarta duties and diligently dwell in the holy field of Sri Purushottama.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.76.9)

भोगिभोगासने सुप्तश्चातुर्मास्येषु वै प्रभुः। सर्व क्षेत्रेषु सान्निध्यं न करोति जगद्गुरुः

bhogibhogāsane suptaścāturmāsyeṣu vai prabhuḥ sarva kṣetreṣu sānnidhyaṁ na karoti jagadguruḥ

Though the Lord lies asleep upon the serpent-couch during Chaturmasya, the World-Teacher does not grant his presence equally in every sacred field.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.76.10)

अत्र साक्षान्निवसति यथा वैकुण्ठवेश्मनि। द्वादशस्वपि मासेषु भगवानत्र मूर्तिमान्। मुक्तिदश्चक्षुषा दृष्टश्चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

atra sākṣānnivasati yathā vaikuṇṭhaveśmani dvādaśasvapi māseṣu bhagavānatra mūrtimān muktidaścakṣuṣā dṛṣṭaścāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

Here he dwells visibly, just as in the abode of Vaikuntha; through all twelve months the Lord remains here embodied, but during Chaturmasya his sight bestows liberation in a special measure.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.76.11)

अष्टमासनिवासेन दृष्ट्वा विष्णुं दिने दिने। यदाप्नोति फलं तद्धि चातुर्मास्यदिनैकतः

aṣṭamāsanivāsena dṛṣṭvā viṣṇuṁ dine dine yadāpnoti phalaṁ taddhi cāturmāsyadinaikataḥ

The fruit obtained by dwelling eight months, beholding Vishnu day after day, is obtained by a single day of Chaturmasya.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.76.12)

चातुर्मास्यनिवासेन क्षेत्रे श्रीपुरुषोत्तमे। दिनं दिनं महापुण्यं सर्वक्षत्रनिवासजम्। फलं ददाति भगवान्क्षेत्रे वर्षनिवासतः

cāturmāsyanivāsena kṣetre śrīpuruṣottame dinaṁ dinaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ sarvakṣatranivāsajam phalaṁ dadāti bhagavānkṣetre varṣanivāsataḥ

By dwelling through Chaturmasya in the field of Sri Purushottama, each day becomes greatly meritorious — the Lord grants the fruit that elsewhere arises from dwelling a whole year in any sacred field.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.76.13)

सर्वपापप्रसक्तोऽपि सर्वाचारच्युतोऽपि च। सर्वधर्मबहिर्भूतो निवसेत्पुरुषोत्तमे

sarvapāpaprasakto'pi sarvācāracyuto'pi ca sarvadharmabahirbhūto nivasetpuruṣottame

Even if a man is steeped in every sin, fallen from every observance, and outside every dharma, he should still dwell in Purushottama-kshetra.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.76.14)

चातुर्मास्यमथेकं यः कुर्याद्वै पापकृन्नरः। विहाय सर्वपापानि बहिरंतश्च निर्मलः

cāturmāsyamathekaṁ yaḥ kuryādvai pāpakṛnnaraḥ vihāya sarvapāpāni bahiraṁtaśca nirmalaḥ

Even a sinful man who performs a single Chaturmasya there casts off every sin, outward and inward, and becomes pure,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.76.15)

नरसिंहप्रसादेन वैकुण्ठभवनं व्रजेत्

narasiṁhaprasādena vaikuṇṭhabhavanaṁ vrajet

and by the grace of Nrisimha goes to the abode of Vaikuntha.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.76.16)

तस्मान्नरः सर्वभावैर्विष्णोः शयनभावितान्। वार्षिकांश्चतुरो मासान्निवसेत्पुरुषोत्तमे

tasmānnaraḥ sarvabhāvairviṣṇoḥ śayanabhāvitān vārṣikāṁścaturo māsānnivasetpuruṣottame

Therefore a man, with his whole being attuned to Vishnu's repose, should dwell in Purushottama for the four months of the rainy season.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.76.17)

कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्याज्जन्मसाफल्यमृच्छति

kuryādanyanna vā kuryājjanmasāphalyamṛcchati

Whether he performs other observances or not, by this alone his birth attains its fulfilment.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.76.18)

आषाढशुक्लैकादश्यां कुर्यात्स्वापमहोत्सवम्। मण्डपं रचयेत्तत्र शयनागारमुत्तमम्

āṣāḍhaśuklaikādaśyāṁ kuryātsvāpamahotsavam maṇḍapaṁ racayettatra śayanāgāramuttamam

On the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, one should perform the festival of the Lord's repose; there one should build a fine pavilion as the sleeping-chamber.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.76.19)

देवस्य पुरतः शय्यां रत्नपल्यंकिकोपरि। स्वास्तीर्य सोपधानां तु मृदुचीनोत्तरच्छदाम्

devasya purataḥ śayyāṁ ratnapalyaṁkikopari svāstīrya sopadhānāṁ tu mṛducīnottaracchadām

Before the Lord, upon a jewelled couch, spread with a bolster and a soft silken coverlet,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.76.20)

कर्पूरधूलिविक्षिप्तां साधुचंद्रातपां शुभाम्। सर्वतो वेष्टितां छिद्ररहितां चदनोक्षिताम्

karpūradhūlivikṣiptāṁ sādhucaṁdrātapāṁ śubhām sarvato veṣṭitāṁ chidrarahitāṁ cadanokṣitām

sprinkled with camphor-dust, beautiful with its moonlight-white canopy, enclosed on every side, without a gap, sprinkled with sandal,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.76.21)

साधुद्वारां समां स्निग्धां नानाचित्रोपशोभिताम्। एकं स्वापगृहं कृत्वा निशीथे प्रतिमात्रयम्

sādhudvārāṁ samāṁ snigdhāṁ nānācitropaśobhitām ekaṁ svāpagṛhaṁ kṛtvā niśīthe pratimātrayam

with a fine doorway, level, smooth, adorned with various paintings — having made a single sleeping-chamber, at midnight, three images —

Verse 22 (skanda.2.76.22)

सौवर्णं राजतं वापि रीतिजं दार्षदं तथा। यथाश्रद्धं प्रकुर्वीत प्रशस्तं चोत्तरोत्तरम्

sauvarṇaṁ rājataṁ vāpi rītijaṁ dārṣadaṁ tathā yathāśraddhaṁ prakurvīta praśastaṁ cottarottaram

of gold, of silver, or of bell-metal or stone, as one's faith allows, each successively more excellent than the last,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.76.23)

तत्त्रयाणां सुराणां वै पादमूले यथातथम्। निधाय पूजूयेद्देवांस्तच्छेषं तेषु निक्षिपेत्

tattrayāṇāṁ surāṇāṁ vai pādamūle yathātatham nidhāya pūjūyeddevāṁstaccheṣaṁ teṣu nikṣipet

placing them fittingly at the feet of those three deities, one should worship the deities and place the remainder of the offerings upon them.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.76.24)

पूजांते भावयेदैक्य तेषां कृष्णादिभिः सह। एह्येहि भगवन्देव सर्वलोकैकजीवन

pūjāṁte bhāvayedaikya teṣāṁ kṛṣṇādibhiḥ saha ehyehi bhagavandeva sarvalokaikajīvana

At the end of the worship, one should meditate on their oneness with Krishna and the others: 'Come, come, O Lord God, sole life of all the worlds,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.76.25)

स्वापार्थं चतुरो मासान्सर्वकल्याणवृद्धये। इति संप्रार्थ्य देवेशांस्तदंगात्तत्स्रजां त्रयम्

svāpārthaṁ caturo māsānsarvakalyāṇavṛddhaye iti saṁprārthya deveśāṁstadaṁgāttatsrajāṁ trayam

to sleep for four months, for the increase of all welfare' — having thus prayed to the Lords of gods, taking three garlands from their bodies,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.76.26)

प्रत्यर्चासु विनिक्षिप्य मांगल्यस्तुतिगीतिभिः। नयेच्छय्यागृहद्द्वारं वासयेद्धटिकात्रये

pratyarcāsu vinikṣipya māṁgalyastutigītibhiḥ nayecchayyāgṛhaddvāraṁ vāsayeddhaṭikātraye

placing them upon the substitute images, one should lead them, amid auspicious hymns of praise, to the door of the sleeping-chamber and seat them there for three ghatikas.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.76.27)

पंचामृतैः स्नापयेत्तान्पृथक्पलशताधिकैः। सुगन्धचंदनैर्लिप्तान्वस्त्रालंकरणादिभिः

paṁcāmṛtaiḥ snāpayettānpṛthakpalaśatādhikaiḥ sugandhacaṁdanairliptānvastrālaṁkaraṇādibhiḥ

He should bathe them separately with the five nectars, each in a measure exceeding a hundred palas, anoint them with fragrant sandal, and adorn them with garments and ornaments.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.76.28)

पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं प्रांजलिर्मंत्रमुच्चरेत्। जगद्वन्द्य जगन्नाथ जगत्त्राणपरायण

pūjayitvā yathānyāyaṁ prāṁjalirmaṁtramuccaret jagadvandya jagannātha jagattrāṇaparāyaṇa

Having worshipped duly, with folded hands he should recite this mantra: 'O Jagannatha, worshipped by the world, devoted to the world's protection,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.76.29)

हिताय जगतामीश चातुर्मास्यान्घनागमान्। सुप्त्वा प्रशमयारिष्टाञ्छक्रेण सह पूजितः

hitāya jagatāmīśa cāturmāsyānghanāgamān suptvā praśamayāriṣṭāñchakreṇa saha pūjitaḥ

O Lord, for the good of the world, sleeping through the coming rains of Chaturmasya, worshipped together with Indra, allay all evils,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.76.30)

एह्येहि शयनागारं सुखमत्र स्वप प्रभो। इति संप्रार्थ्य देवेशं स्वापयेत्पुरुषोत्तमम्

ehyehi śayanāgāraṁ sukhamatra svapa prabho iti saṁprārthya deveśaṁ svāpayetpuruṣottamam

come, come, to the sleeping-chamber; sleep here in comfort, O Lord' — having thus prayed to the Lord of gods, one should put Purushottama to sleep.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.76.31)

सुदृढं बन्धयेद्द्वारं विष्णोः शयनवेश्मनः। स्वापयित्वा जगन्नाथं लभते सुखमुत्तमम्

sudṛḍhaṁ bandhayeddvāraṁ viṣṇoḥ śayanaveśmanaḥ svāpayitvā jagannāthaṁ labhate sukhamuttamam

He should firmly close the door of Vishnu's sleeping-chamber; having put Jagannatha to sleep, a man obtains supreme happiness.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.76.32)

वार्षिकांश्चतुरो मासान्प्रसुप्ते वै जनार्दने। व्रतैरनेकैर्नियमैर्मासान्वै चतुरः क्षिपेत्

vārṣikāṁścaturo māsānprasupte vai janārdane vratairanekairniyamairmāsānvai caturaḥ kṣipet

While Janardana sleeps through the four months of the rains, one should pass those four months in many vows and observances.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.76.33)

कल्पस्थायी विष्णुलोके नरो भक्तो भवेद्ध्रुवम्। नियमव्रतानि गदतः शृणुध्वं मुनयो मम

kalpasthāyī viṣṇuloke naro bhakto bhaveddhruvam niyamavratāni gadataḥ śṛṇudhvaṁ munayo mama

Such a man assuredly remains a devotee, dwelling in Vishnuloka for a whole kalpa. O sages, now hear from me the vows and observances.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.76.34)

मंचखट्वादिशयनं वर्जयेद्भक्तिमान्नरः। अनृतौ न व्रजेद्भार्यां मासं मधु परौदनम्

maṁcakhaṭvādiśayanaṁ varjayedbhaktimānnaraḥ anṛtau na vrajedbhāryāṁ māsaṁ madhu paraudanam

A devoted man should give up sleeping on a cot or bedstead; he should not approach his wife except in her fertile season; he should not eat honey nor ordinary cooked rice during that month.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.76.35)

पटोलं मूलकं चैव वार्ताकं च न भक्षयेत्। अभक्ष्यं वर्जयेद्दूरान्मसूरं सितसर्षपम्

paṭolaṁ mūlakaṁ caiva vārtākaṁ ca na bhakṣayet abhakṣyaṁ varjayeddūrānmasūraṁ sitasarṣapam

He should not eat parwal, radish, or brinjal; he should shun from afar such forbidden foods as lentils and white mustard.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.76.36)

राजमाषान्कुलत्थांश्च आशुधान्यं च संत्यजेत्। शाकं दधि पयो माषाच्छ्रावणादौ क्रमादिमान्

rājamāṣānkulatthāṁśca āśudhānyaṁ ca saṁtyajet śākaṁ dadhi payo māṣācchrāvaṇādau kramādimān

He should give up rajmash and kulattha pulses, and quick-ripening grain; in Shravana and the following months he should, in turn, give up greens, curd, milk, and black gram.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.76.37)

राजगोपयतींस्त्यक्त्वा नारोहेच्चर्मपादुके। वार्षिकांश्चतुरो मासानव्रतेन नयेद्यदि। तस्य पापस्य शांत्यर्थं कार्तिके वा व्रती भवेत्

rājagopayatīṁstyaktvā nāroheccarmapāduke vārṣikāṁścaturo māsānavratena nayedyadi tasya pāpasya śāṁtyarthaṁ kārtike vā vratī bhavet

He should forgo the patronage of kings and the company of cow-tenders, and not wear leather sandals; if he passes the four months of the rains without a vow, he should undertake a vow in Kartika to atone for that omission.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.76.38)

नमः कृष्णाय हरये केशवाय नमोनमः। नमोऽस्तु नारसिंहाय विष्णवे पापजिष्णवे

namaḥ kṛṣṇāya haraye keśavāya namonamaḥ namo'stu nārasiṁhāya viṣṇave pāpajiṣṇave

'Salutations to Krishna, salutations to Hari, salutations again and again to Keshava; salutations to Narasimha, salutations to Vishnu, the conqueror of sin' —

Verse 39 (skanda.2.76.39)

सायं प्रातर्दिवामध्ये कर्मांतेषु च योजयेत्

sāyaṁ prātardivāmadhye karmāṁteṣu ca yojayet

this mantra should be recited in the evening, morning, at midday, and at the close of every task.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.76.40)

तस्य पापानि घोराणि चितानि बहुजन्मसु। निर्दहत्येव सर्वाणि तूलराशिमिवानलः

tasya pāpāni ghorāṇi citāni bahujanmasu nirdahatyeva sarvāṇi tūlarāśimivānalaḥ

The terrible sins accumulated over many births by one who does this are utterly burnt away, like a heap of cotton by fire.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.76.41)

एकाहारो यताहारो विष्णुनिर्माल्यभोजनः। आषाढीमवधिं कृत्वा कार्तिक्यवधि यो भवेत्। नक्तभोजी भवेद्वापि स्वर्गस्तस्याल्पकं फलम्

ekāhāro yatāhāro viṣṇunirmālyabhojanaḥ āṣāḍhīmavadhiṁ kṛtvā kārtikyavadhi yo bhavet naktabhojī bhavedvāpi svargastasyālpakaṁ phalam

One who eats but once a day, restrained in diet, eating only Vishnu's sanctified remnants, from the Ashadhi to the Kartiki, or eats only at night — for him even heaven is but a small reward, so much greater is what he gains.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.76.42)

तैलाभ्यंगं दिवास्वापं मृषावादं च वर्जयेत्। आषाढशुक्लैकादश्यां संक्रांतौ कर्कटस्य वा

tailābhyaṁgaṁ divāsvāpaṁ mṛṣāvādaṁ ca varjayet āṣāḍhaśuklaikādaśyāṁ saṁkrāṁtau karkaṭasya vā

He should give up oil-massage, sleeping by day, and falsehood; on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, or at the sun's entry into Cancer,

Verse 43 (skanda.2.76.43)

आषाढ्यां वा नरो भक्त्या गृह्णीयान्नियमं व्रती। सर्वपापहरं देवं प्रपूज्य मधुसूदनम्

āṣāḍhyāṁ vā naro bhaktyā gṛhṇīyānniyamaṁ vratī sarvapāpaharaṁ devaṁ prapūjya madhusūdanam

or on the Ashadhi itself, a devoted man should undertake the observance, having worshipped the sin-destroying Lord Madhusudana.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.76.44)

तदग्रे प्रतिसंकल्प्य व्रतार्चनजपादिकम्। प्रार्थयेत्परमानन्दं कृतांजलिपुटो व्रती

tadagre pratisaṁkalpya vratārcanajapādikam prārthayetparamānandaṁ kṛtāṁjalipuṭo vratī

Having resolved before him upon the vow, worship, recitation, and the like, the votary, with folded hands, should pray for supreme bliss:

Verse 45 (skanda.2.76.45)

चातुर्मास्यव्रतं देव गृहीतं त्वत्प्रसादतः। तव प्रसादान्निर्विघ्नं सिद्धिमायातु केशव

cāturmāsyavrataṁ deva gṛhītaṁ tvatprasādataḥ tava prasādānnirvighnaṁ siddhimāyātu keśava

'O Lord, by your grace I have undertaken the Chaturmasya vow; by your grace, O Keshava, may it come to accomplishment without hindrance.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.76.46)

व्रतेस्मिन्यद्यसंपूर्णे परलोकगतिर्भवेत्। तन्मे भवतुसंपूर्णं त्वत्प्रसादादधोक्षज

vratesminyadyasaṁpūrṇe paralokagatirbhavet tanme bhavatusaṁpūrṇaṁ tvatprasādādadhokṣaja

Should this vow remain incomplete, my passage to the world beyond would be obstructed; therefore, O Adhokshaja, by your grace, may it be completed.'

Verse 47 (skanda.2.76.47)

इति संप्रार्थ्य देवेशं पूर्वोक्तनियमे स्थितः। यापयेच्चतुरो मासान्विष्ण्वर्पित मतिर्व्रती

iti saṁprārthya deveśaṁ pūrvoktaniyame sthitaḥ yāpayeccaturo māsānviṣṇvarpita matirvratī

Having thus prayed to the Lord of gods, established in the aforesaid observance, the votary, with his mind offered to Vishnu, should pass the four months.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.76.48)

पारणं प्रतिमासांते प्रीत्यै कृष्णस्य कारयेत्

pāraṇaṁ pratimāsāṁte prītyai kṛṣṇasya kārayet

At the end of each month he should perform the pāraṇā, the breaking of the partial fast, for the pleasure of Krishna.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.76.49)

मिष्टान्नैर्भोजयेद्विप्रान्पूजयित्वा जगत्पतिम्। असमर्थस्तु कार्तिक्यां पारयेद्व्रतमुत्तमम्

miṣṭānnairbhojayedviprānpūjayitvā jagatpatim asamarthastu kārtikyāṁ pārayedvratamuttamam

Having worshipped the Lord of the world, he should feed brahmins with sweet food; one who is unable should conclude this excellent vow on the Kartiki.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.76.50)

तस्यां पूज्य जगन्नाथं वह्निस्थं तर्पयेत्ततः। द्विजाग्र्यान्पायसैर्मिष्टैर्विष्णुभक्त्या प्रपूजयेत्

tasyāṁ pūjya jagannāthaṁ vahnisthaṁ tarpayettataḥ dvijāgryānpāyasairmiṣṭairviṣṇubhaktyā prapūjayet

On that day, having worshipped Jagannatha, he should offer libations to the deity present in the fire, and then, with devotion to Vishnu, feed the foremost brahmins with sweet payasam.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.76.51)

यथाशक्त्या प्रदद्याद्वै कनकं वस्त्रमेव च। अशक्तः कार्तिके मासि व्रतं कुर्यात्पुरोदितम्

yathāśaktyā pradadyādvai kanakaṁ vastrameva ca aśaktaḥ kārtike māsi vrataṁ kuryātpuroditam

He should give gold and cloth as gifts according to his means; one who is unable should perform the aforesaid vow in the month of Kartika.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.76.52)

व्रतं च विविधं विष्णोः कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणं तथा

vrataṁ ca vividhaṁ viṣṇoḥ kṛcchracāṁdrāyaṇaṁ tathā

There are various vows for Vishnu, and also the Krichchhra and Chandrayana vows.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.76.53)

पयः पीत्वा नयेद्यस्तु शाकाहारेण वा पुनः। भुक्त्वात्र विपुलान्भोगान्परं निर्वाणमृच्छति

payaḥ pītvā nayedyastu śākāhāreṇa vā punaḥ bhuktvātra vipulānbhogānparaṁ nirvāṇamṛcchati

One who completes it by drinking only milk, or by a diet of vegetables alone, enjoys abundant pleasures here and finally attains supreme liberation.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.76.54)

तत्रापि चेदशक्तः स्याद्भीष्मपंचकमुत्तमम्। प्रीतये देवदेवस्य वन्यवृत्तिर्भवेद्व्रती

tatrāpi cedaśaktaḥ syādbhīṣmapaṁcakamuttamam prītaye devadevasya vanyavṛttirbhavedvratī

If unable even for that, he should perform the excellent Bhishmapanchaka vow for the pleasure of the God of gods, and the votary should live on forest fare.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.76.55)

एतद्व्रतं समाख्यातं भगवत्प्रीतिकारकम्। सर्वपापप्रशमनं विष्णुलोकगतिप्रदम्। धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वकामप्रसाधनम्

etadvrataṁ samākhyātaṁ bhagavatprītikārakam sarvapāpapraśamanaṁ viṣṇulokagatipradam dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ sarvakāmaprasādhanam

This vow, which produces the Lord's pleasure, has been declared to you — it allays every sin, grants passage to Vishnuloka, brings prosperity, fame, and long life, and fulfils every desire.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.76.56)

मुनयः प्रोक्तमेतद्वो रहस्यं शृणुतापरम्। एतद्व्रतानि चान्यानि व्रतानि सबहूनि च

munayaḥ proktametadvo rahasyaṁ śṛṇutāparam etadvratāni cānyāni vratāni sabahūni ca

O sages, this mystery has been declared to you; now hear something further. This vow, and many other vows besides,

Verse 57 (skanda.2.76.57)

भगवद्भक्तिहीनानां जानीध्वं विफलानि वै। फलं महाक्रतूनां यत्तीर्थानां फलमुत्तमम्

bhagavadbhaktihīnānāṁ jānīdhvaṁ viphalāni vai phalaṁ mahākratūnāṁ yattīrthānāṁ phalamuttamam

know that, devoid of devotion to the Lord, are fruitless; but the fruit of great sacrifices, the excellent fruit of sacred places,

Verse 58 (skanda.2.76.58)

दानानां तपसां चैव सात्त्विकानां च यत्फलम्। एकया विष्णुभक्त्या तत्समग्रं फलमश्नुते

dānānāṁ tapasāṁ caiva sāttvikānāṁ ca yatphalam ekayā viṣṇubhaktyā tatsamagraṁ phalamaśnute

of gifts and austerities, and of sattvic deeds — all that fruit, in its entirety, is obtained by devotion to Vishnu alone.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.76.59)

ये पश्यंति महात्मानः शयनोप्सवमुत्तमम्। मातुर्गर्भे न स्वपंति कारयंति च ये महम्

ye paśyaṁti mahātmānaḥ śayanopsavamuttamam māturgarbhe na svapaṁti kārayaṁti ca ye maham

Those great souls who behold this excellent Shayanotsava never again sleep in a mother's womb, nor do those who cause it to be performed.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.76.60)

उत्सवांते व्रतं चेदं प्रतिज्ञाय तदग्रतः। पर्याप्तं पारयित्वा तु ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

utsavāṁte vrataṁ cedaṁ pratijñāya tadagrataḥ paryāptaṁ pārayitvā tu brahmaloke mahīyate

Having, at the close of the festival, vowed this observance before him, and having fully completed it, a man is honoured in the world of Brahma.