The Year-Long Vow of the Twelve Forms of Vishnu (Dvadashamurti-vrata)

Verse 1 (skanda.2.84.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच। अत्र वः कथयिष्यामि व्रतं सांवत्सरं परम्। संवत्सरस्यादिदिने पौर्णमास्यां तु फाल्गुने

jaiminiruvāca atra vaḥ kathayiṣyāmi vrataṁ sāṁvatsaraṁ param saṁvatsarasyādidine paurṇamāsyāṁ tu phālgune

Jaimini said: Here I shall declare to you the supreme year-long vow; on the full moon of Phalguna, the first day of the year,

Verse 2 (skanda.2.84.2)

अनादिदेवस्य हरेर्मूर्त्तयो द्वादशैव याः। विष्ण्वादिनामप्रथिताः प्रतिमासं प्रपूजयेत्

anādidevasya harermūrttayo dvādaśaiva yāḥ viṣṇvādināmaprathitāḥ pratimāsaṁ prapūjayet

one should begin worshipping, month by month, one of the twelve forms of the beginningless Lord Hari, renowned by names beginning with Vishnu.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.84.3)

एकैकां मूर्तिमेतासां मासेषु द्वादशस्वपि। प्रत्यहं पूजयेत्पुष्पैः फलैर्द्वादशभिस्तथा

ekaikāṁ mūrtimetāsāṁ māseṣu dvādaśasvapi pratyahaṁ pūjayetpuṣpaiḥ phalairdvādaśabhistathā

One by one, in the twelve months, one should worship each of these forms daily with flowers, and with twelve kinds of fruit.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.84.4)

अशोको मल्लिका चैव पाटलं च कदंबकम्। करवीरं जातिपुष्पं मालतीशतपत्रकम्

aśoko mallikā caiva pāṭalaṁ ca kadaṁbakam karavīraṁ jātipuṣpaṁ mālatīśatapatrakam

Ashoka, jasmine, patala, kadamba, oleander, the jati-flower, malati, and the hundred-petalled bloom,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.84.5)

उत्पलं चैव वासंती कुंदं पुन्नागकं तथा। एतानि क्रमशो दद्यात्कुसुमानि हरेर्मुदा

utpalaṁ caiva vāsaṁtī kuṁdaṁ punnāgakaṁ tathā etāni kramaśo dadyātkusumāni harermudā

blue lotus, vasanti, kunda, and punnaga — these flowers one should offer in due order to Hari with joy.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.84.6)

दाडिमं नारिकेलं च आम्रं च पनसं तथा। खर्जूरं तृणराजं च प्राचीनामलकं तथा

dāḍimaṁ nārikelaṁ ca āmraṁ ca panasaṁ tathā kharjūraṁ tṛṇarājaṁ ca prācīnāmalakaṁ tathā

Pomegranate, coconut, mango, and jackfruit, date, sugarcane, and the wild amla,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.84.7)

श्रीफलं नागरंगं च क्रमुकं करमङ्गकम्। जातीफलं च क्रमशः फलान्येतानि वै ददेत्

śrīphalaṁ nāgaraṁgaṁ ca kramukaṁ karamaṅgakam jātīphalaṁ ca kramaśaḥ phalānyetāni vai dadet

bael-fruit, orange, areca-nut, and karambhaka, and nutmeg — these fruits too, in due order, one should offer.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.84.8)

भक्ष्यभोज्यानि चोष्याणि लेह्यानि मधुराणि च। आसनाद्युपचारांश्च दत्त्वा स्तुत्वा जगद्गुरुम्

bhakṣyabhojyāni coṣyāṇi lehyāni madhurāṇi ca āsanādyupacārāṁśca dattvā stutvā jagadgurum

Foods to be chewed, eaten, sucked, and licked, and sweets, together with a seat and other ritual honours — having offered these, one should praise the World-Teacher:

Verse 9 (skanda.2.84.9)

सर्वव्यापिञ्जगन्नाथ भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभो। त्राहि मां पुंडरीकाक्ष विष्णो संसारसागरात्

sarvavyāpiñjagannātha bhūtabhavyabhavatprabho trāhi māṁ puṁḍarīkākṣa viṣṇo saṁsārasāgarāt

'O all-pervading Jagannatha, Lord of past, present, and future, save me, O Lotus-Eyed Vishnu, from the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.84.10)

एकार्णवजले रौद्रे निरालंबे पुरा मधुम्। अवधीर्विश्वरक्षार्थ मधुसूदन रक्ष माम्

ekārṇavajale raudre nirālaṁbe purā madhum avadhīrviśvarakṣārtha madhusūdana rakṣa mām

In the dreadful, unsupported waters of the one primordial ocean, of old you slew Madhu for the protection of the universe — O Madhusudana, protect me.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.84.11)

त्रीन्विक्रमान्क्रमित्वा यो हत्वा दैत्यबलं महत्। त्रैलोक्यं पालयामास त्रिविक्रम नमोस्तु ते

trīnvikramānkramitvā yo hatvā daityabalaṁ mahat trailokyaṁ pālayāmāsa trivikrama namostu te

You who, having taken three strides, slew the great host of daityas and protected the three worlds — O Trivikrama, salutations to you.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.84.12)

कृत्वा वामनकं रूपमृग्यजुःसामगर्भकम्। मोहयित्वाद्भुतं रूपं तस्मै मायाविने नमः

kṛtvā vāmanakaṁ rūpamṛgyajuḥsāmagarbhakam mohayitvādbhutaṁ rūpaṁ tasmai māyāvine namaḥ

Having taken the form of a dwarf, containing within it the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, and having through that wondrous form deluded him — salutations to you, O master of maya.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.84.13)

यः श्रियं धारयेन्नित्यं हृदि भक्तेभ्य एव च। ददात्यपि श्रियं तस्मै श्रीधराय नमोऽस्तु ते

yaḥ śriyaṁ dhārayennityaṁ hṛdi bhaktebhya eva ca dadātyapi śriyaṁ tasmai śrīdharāya namo'stu te

You who ever bear Shri in your heart, and grant prosperity to your devotees as well — O Shridhara, salutations to you.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.84.14)

इंद्रियाणामधिष्ठाता यः सर्वेषां सदा प्रभुः। सुखैकहेतुर्भक्तानां हृषीकेश नमोऽस्तु ते

iṁdriyāṇāmadhiṣṭhātā yaḥ sarveṣāṁ sadā prabhuḥ sukhaikaheturbhaktānāṁ hṛṣīkeśa namo'stu te

You who are the presiding lord of all the senses, forever their master, the sole cause of joy for your devotees — O Hrishikesha, salutations to you.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.84.15)

यन्नाभिपद्मसंभूतं जगदेतच्चराचरम्। विधातुरासनं नित्यं पद्मनाभ नमोऽस्तु ते

yannābhipadmasaṁbhūtaṁ jagadetaccarācaram vidhāturāsanaṁ nityaṁ padmanābha namo'stu te

You from whose lotus-navel this whole world, moving and unmoving, arose, the eternal seat of the Creator — O Padmanabha, salutations to you.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.84.16)

यस्यैतत्त्रिगुणैर्बद्धं जगदेतच्चराचरम्। दाम्ना बद्धः स गोप्या तु दामोदर नमोऽस्तु ते

yasyaitattriguṇairbaddhaṁ jagadetaccarācaram dāmnā baddhaḥ sa gopyā tu dāmodara namo'stu te

You by whom this whole world, moving and unmoving, is bound with the three gunas as with a rope, who yourself were bound with a rope by the milkmaid — O Damodara, salutations to you.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.84.17)

त्रैलोक्यविप्लवकरं हतवान्केशिदानवम्। ईशिता सर्वसौख्यानां त्राहि केशव मां प्रभो

trailokyaviplavakaraṁ hatavānkeśidānavam īśitā sarvasaukhyānāṁ trāhi keśava māṁ prabho

You who destroyed the demon Keshi, the ruinous threat to the three worlds, the lord of every happiness — protect me, O Keshava, my Lord.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.84.18)

स्रष्टा ससर्ज भूतानि जगतामादिकारणम्। अचिंत्यमहिमन्विष्णो नारायण नमोऽस्तु ते

sraṣṭā sasarja bhūtāni jagatāmādikāraṇam aciṁtyamahimanviṣṇo nārāyaṇa namo'stu te

The Creator, who brought forth all beings, the primal cause of the worlds, of inconceivable glory, O Vishnu — O Narayana, salutations to you.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.84.19)

मायया यस्य विश्वं वै मोहितं यदनाद्यया। सर्वधर्मस्वरूपाय माधवाय नमो नमः

māyayā yasya viśvaṁ vai mohitaṁ yadanādyayā sarvadharmasvarūpāya mādhavāya namo namaḥ

You by whose beginningless maya this universe is deluded, who are the very essence of all dharma — O Madhava, salutations, salutations to you.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.84.20)

ज्ञानिनां ज्ञानगम्यस्त्वमगतीनां गतिप्रदः। संपूर्णमस्तु गोविंद त्वत्प्रसादाद्व्रतं मम

jñānināṁ jñānagamyastvamagatīnāṁ gatipradaḥ saṁpūrṇamastu goviṁda tvatprasādādvrataṁ mama

You who are attained through knowledge by the wise, who grant refuge to the refugeless — may this vow of mine, O Govinda, by your grace, be brought to fulfilment.'

Verse 21 (skanda.2.84.21)

प्रतिमासं पूजनांते मंत्रैरेतैः कृतांजलिः। प्रार्थयेत्परया भक्त्या भजनांतं जनार्दनम्

pratimāsaṁ pūjanāṁte maṁtrairetaiḥ kṛtāṁjaliḥ prārthayetparayā bhaktyā bhajanāṁtaṁ janārdanam

At the end of the worship each month, with hands folded, one should recite these mantras and, with supreme devotion, pray to Janardana, right up to the vow's completion.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.84.22)

एवं संवत्सरं नीत्वा व्रतं वै मूर्तिपंजरम्। संपूर्णफलसिद्ध्यर्थं प्रतिष्ठाविधिमाचरेत्

evaṁ saṁvatsaraṁ nītvā vrataṁ vai mūrtipaṁjaram saṁpūrṇaphalasiddhyarthaṁ pratiṣṭhāvidhimācaret

Having thus passed the year, having built this shrine-kiosk of images as one's vow, one should, for the complete accomplishment of its fruit, perform the concluding installation-rite.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.84.23)

सुवर्णनिर्मिता विष्णोर्मूर्तयो द्वादशैव तु। यथाशक्ति कृताः स्थाप्याः कुंभेषु द्वादशस्वपि

suvarṇanirmitā viṣṇormūrtayo dvādaśaiva tu yathāśakti kṛtāḥ sthāpyāḥ kuṁbheṣu dvādaśasvapi

Twelve images of Vishnu, made of gold, made according to one's means, should be set up in twelve water-vessels,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.84.24)

आम्रपात्राच्छादितेषु साक्षात्तेषु पृथक्पृथक्। श्वेतवस्त्रावनद्धेषु गंधपल्लववारिषु

āmrapātrācchāditeṣu sākṣātteṣu pṛthakpṛthak śvetavastrāvanaddheṣu gaṁdhapallavavāriṣu

covered individually with mango-leaf covers, each wrapped in white cloth, with fragrance, foliage, and water within,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.84.25)

अष्टदिक्षु चतुर्दिक्षु सर्वतोभद्रमंडले। स्थापनीयाश्च ते कुंभास्तेषु पूज्याश्च मूर्तयः

aṣṭadikṣu caturdikṣu sarvatobhadramaṁḍale sthāpanīyāśca te kuṁbhāsteṣu pūjyāśca mūrtayaḥ

to be set up in the eight or four directions upon a Sarvatobhadra diagram; and in those vessels the images should be worshipped,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.84.26)

द्वादशाक्षरमंत्रेण उपचारैः पृथक्पृथक्। पंचामृतैश्च स्नपनं सर्वेषामादितो द्विजाः

dvādaśākṣaramaṁtreṇa upacāraiḥ pṛthakpṛthak paṁcāmṛtaiśca snapanaṁ sarveṣāmādito dvijāḥ

each separately with the twelve-syllabled mantra and its ritual honours; and first of all, O brahmins, all should be bathed with the five nectars,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.84.27)

गीतवादित्रनृत्याद्यैस्तथा ब्राह्मणपूजनैः। वस्त्रयुग्मैर्द्वादशभिश्छत्रोपानद्युगैस्तथा

gītavāditranṛtyādyaistathā brāhmaṇapūjanaiḥ vastrayugmairdvādaśabhiśchatropānadyugaistathā

with song, instrumental music, dance, and the worship of brahmins; with twelve pairs of garments, with pairs of umbrellas and sandals,

Verse 28 (skanda.2.84.28)

व्यजनैरुदकुंभैश्च शयनीयैः सपीठकैः। गंधैर्माल्यैः सुतांबूलैर्मुद्रिकाकुंडलैस्तथा

vyajanairudakuṁbhaiśca śayanīyaiḥ sapīṭhakaiḥ gaṁdhairmālyaiḥ sutāṁbūlairmudrikākuṁḍalaistathā

with fans and water-vessels, with couches and their stools, with fragrances, garlands, fine betel, and with rings and earrings,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.84.29)

प्रदीपाः सर्पिषा ज्वाल्या द्वादशद्वादश क्रमात्। नीत्वा त्रियामामित्थं वै प्रभाते वह्निकर्म च

pradīpāḥ sarpiṣā jvālyā dvādaśadvādaśa kramāt nītvā triyāmāmitthaṁ vai prabhāte vahnikarma ca

twelve lamps each, lit with ghee, should be duly presented in turn; having thus passed the three watches of the night, in the morning one should perform the fire-rite,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.84.30)

समिदाज्यचरूणां वै प्रतिदेवं शतत्रयम्। अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं तु तिलैर्व्याहृतिभिस्ततः

samidājyacarūṇāṁ vai pratidevaṁ śatatrayam aṣṭottarasahasraṁ tu tilairvyāhṛtibhistataḥ

with fuel-sticks, ghee, and oblation, three hundred for each deity, and then one thousand and eight oblations with sesame, accompanied by the sacred exclamations.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.84.31)

होमांते प्राशनं कृत्वा दद्यादाचार्यदक्षिणाम्। कपिला धेनवो देयाः सालंकाराश्च द्वादश

homāṁte prāśanaṁ kṛtvā dadyādācāryadakṣiṇām kapilā dhenavo deyāḥ sālaṁkārāśca dvādaśa

At the end of the fire-rite, having partaken of the offering, one should give the acharya his sacrificial fee: twelve adorned Kapila cows should be given,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.84.32)

शतं चतुश्चत्वारिंशद्ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्ततः। तद्देववृंदं सघटं सवितानं सचामरम्

śataṁ catuścatvāriṁśadbrāhmaṇānbhojayettataḥ taddevavṛṁdaṁ saghaṭaṁ savitānaṁ sacāmaram

and one hundred and forty-four brahmins should then be fed; that whole assembly of deities, together with their vessels, canopy, and chowries,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.84.33)

सर्वोपचारसहितमाचार्याय निवेदयेत्। व्रतराजमिमं कृत्वा सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

sarvopacārasahitamācāryāya nivedayet vratarājamimaṁ kṛtvā sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

together with every ritual honour, should then be offered to the acharya. Having performed this king of vows, one obtains every desire.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.84.34)

गुंडिचाद्यास्तु या यात्रा विष्णोर्द्वादश कीर्तिताः। तासां दर्शनजं पुण्यं व्रतेनानेन लभ्यते

guṁḍicādyāstu yā yātrā viṣṇordvādaśa kīrtitāḥ tāsāṁ darśanajaṁ puṇyaṁ vratenānena labhyate

The twelve pilgrimages of Vishnu, beginning with the Gundicha yatra, have been proclaimed; the merit born of beholding them is obtained through this vow.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.84.35)

ऐंद्रं पदं सार्वभौमं चक्रवर्तित्वमेव च। अष्टैश्वर्यमवाप्नोति देवदेवप्रसादतः

aiṁdraṁ padaṁ sārvabhaumaṁ cakravartitvameva ca aṣṭaiśvaryamavāpnoti devadevaprasādataḥ

One obtains the rank of Indra, universal sovereignty, the state of a world-emperor, and the eightfold divine powers, by the grace of the God of gods.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.84.36)

एतन्महापुण्यतमं नारदः कृतवान्व्रतम्। कृत्वा द्वादश वर्षाणि जीवन्मुक्तोऽभवन्मुनिः

etanmahāpuṇyatamaṁ nāradaḥ kṛtavānvratam kṛtvā dvādaśa varṣāṇi jīvanmukto'bhavanmuniḥ

This most holy vow was performed by Narada; having performed it for twelve years, that sage became liberated while yet living.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.84.37)

अन्ये च वैष्णवा ये वै चक्रुस्ते बहुशः पुरा। व्रतं नातः परतरं भगवत्प्रीतिकारकम्

anye ca vaiṣṇavā ye vai cakruste bahuśaḥ purā vrataṁ nātaḥ parataraṁ bhagavatprītikārakam

Other Vaishnavas too have performed it many times of old; there is no vow more pleasing to the Lord than this.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.84.38)

धर्म्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं ब्राह्मण्यं वंशवर्द्धनम्। भवंतोऽपि यतात्मानः कुर्वंति व्रतमुत्तमम्

dharmyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ brāhmaṇyaṁ vaṁśavarddhanam bhavaṁto'pi yatātmānaḥ kurvaṁti vratamuttamam

It is righteous, brings fame and long life, honours brahmins, and increases one's lineage; you too, with disciplined minds, should perform this excellent vow.