The Observances and Rules of the Chaturmasya Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.6.232.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः प्रसुप्ते देवदेवेशे शंखचक्रगदाधरे यच्चान्यदपि कर्तव्यं नियमो व्रतमेव वा

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ prasupte devadeveśe śaṁkhacakragadādhare yaccānyadapi kartavyaṁ niyamo vratameva vā

The sages said: While the God of gods, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, lies asleep, whatever else ought to be done — whether observance or vow —

Verse 2 (skanda.6.232.2)

होमो वाथ जपो वाथ दानं वा तद्वदस्व नः सूत उवाच यः कश्चिन्नियमो विप्राः प्रसुप्ते गरुडध्वजे

homo vātha japo vātha dānaṁ vā tadvadasva naḥ sūta uvāca yaḥ kaścinniyamo viprāḥ prasupte garuḍadhvaje

'—whether fire-offering, or recitation, or gift-giving — tell us of that.' Suta said: O brahmins, whatever observance is kept while the Garuda-bannered one sleeps,

Verse 3 (skanda.6.232.3)

अनंतफलदः स स्यादित्युवाच पितामहः तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कश्चिद्बाह्यो विजानता

anaṁtaphaladaḥ sa syādityuvāca pitāmahaḥ tasmātsarvaprayatnena kaścidbāhyo vijānatā

—that, the Grandsire declared, bears endless fruit; therefore, with every effort, a discerning person should observe some outward discipline.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.232.4)

नियमो वा जपो होमः स्वाध्यायो व्रतमेव वा कर्तव्यं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठास्तुष्ट्यर्थं चक्रपाणिनः

niyamo vā japo homaḥ svādhyāyo vratameva vā kartavyaṁ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāstuṣṭyarthaṁ cakrapāṇinaḥ

O best of brahmins, an observance, or recitation, fire-offering, Vedic study, or a vow — this ought to be undertaken for the satisfaction of the discus-bearer.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.232.5)

चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासानेकभुक्तेन यो नयेत् वासुदेवं समुद्दिश्य स धनी जायते नरः

caturo vārṣikānmāsānekabhuktena yo nayet vāsudevaṁ samuddiśya sa dhanī jāyate naraḥ

Whoever passes the four months of the rains eating only one meal a day, with Vasudeva as his object, becomes a wealthy man.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.232.6)

नक्षत्रैर्भोजनं कुर्याद्यः प्रसुप्ते जनार्दने स धनी रूपसंपन्नः सुमतिश्च प्रजायते

nakṣatrairbhojanaṁ kuryādyaḥ prasupte janārdane sa dhanī rūpasaṁpannaḥ sumatiśca prajāyate

Whoever eats only by starlight while Janardana sleeps becomes wealthy, endowed with beauty, and of good understanding.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.232.7)

एकांतरोपवासैश्च यो नयेद्द्विजसत्तमाः चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्वैकुंठे स सदा वसेत्

ekāṁtaropavāsaiśca yo nayeddvijasattamāḥ caturo vārṣikānmāsānvaikuṁṭhe sa sadā vaset

O best of brahmins, whoever passes the four months of the rains fasting on alternate days ever after dwells in Vaikuntha.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.232.8)

षष्ठान्नकालभोजी स्याद्यः प्रसुप्ते जनार्दने राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्यां स कृत्स्नं फलमाप्नुयात्

ṣaṣṭhānnakālabhojī syādyaḥ prasupte janārdane rājasūyāśvamedhābhyāṁ sa kṛtsnaṁ phalamāpnuyāt

Whoever eats only every sixth mealtime while Janardana sleeps obtains the entire fruit of the Rajasuya and the Ashvamedha.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.232.9)

त्रिरात्रोपोषितो यस्तु चतुर्मासान्सदा नयेत् न स भूयोऽपि जायेत संसारेऽत्र कथंचन

trirātropoṣito yastu caturmāsānsadā nayet na sa bhūyo'pi jāyeta saṁsāre'tra kathaṁcana

Whoever fasts for three nights at a stretch and thus continually passes the four months is never born again in this cycle of existence, in any way.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.232.10)

सायंप्रातः परो भूत्वा चतुर्मासान्सदा नयेत् अग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य स फलं लभते नरः

sāyaṁprātaḥ paro bhūtvā caturmāsānsadā nayet agniṣṭomasya yajñasya sa phalaṁ labhate naraḥ

Whoever, eating only morning and evening, thus passes the four months, obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.232.11)

अयाचितं चरेद्यस्तु प्रसुप्ते मधुसूदने न विच्छेदो भवेत्तस्य कदाचित्सह बंधुभिः

ayācitaṁ caredyastu prasupte madhusūdane na vicchedo bhavettasya kadācitsaha baṁdhubhiḥ

Whoever lives on unsolicited food while Madhusudana sleeps never suffers separation from his kinsmen.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.232.12)

तैलाभ्यंगं च यो जह्याद्घृताभ्यंगं विशेषतः चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्स स्वर्गे भोगभाग्भवेत्

tailābhyaṁgaṁ ca yo jahyādghṛtābhyaṁgaṁ viśeṣataḥ caturo vārṣikānmāsānsa svarge bhogabhāgbhavet

Whoever gives up oil-anointing, and especially ghee-anointing, for the four months of the rains, becomes a sharer of enjoyment in heaven.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.232.13)

ब्रह्मचर्येण यो मासांश्चतुरोऽपि नयेन्नरः विमानवरमारूढः स स्वर्गे स्वेच्छया वसेत्

brahmacaryeṇa yo māsāṁścaturo'pi nayennaraḥ vimānavaramārūḍhaḥ sa svarge svecchayā vaset

Whoever passes all four months in celibacy dwells in heaven at will, mounted upon an excellent celestial chariot.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.232.14)

यः स्नानं चतुरो मासान्कुरुते तैलवर्जितम् मधुमांसपरित्यागी स भवेन्मुक्तिभाक्सदा

yaḥ snānaṁ caturo māsānkurute tailavarjitam madhumāṁsaparityāgī sa bhavenmuktibhāksadā

Whoever bathes without oil for the four months, and abandons honey and meat, ever becomes a partaker of liberation.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.232.15)

वर्जयेच्छ्रावणे शाकं दधि भाद्रपदे च यः क्षीरमाश्वयुजे मासि कार्तिके च सदामिषम्

varjayecchrāvaṇe śākaṁ dadhi bhādrapade ca yaḥ kṣīramāśvayuje māsi kārtike ca sadāmiṣam

Whoever gives up leafy vegetables in Shravana, curd in Bhadrapada, milk in the month of Ashvina, and meat always in Karttika —

Verse 16 (skanda.6.232.16)

न स पापेन लिप्येत संवत्सरकृते पुनः एतत्प्राह द्विजश्रेष्ठा मनुः स्वायंभुवो वचः

na sa pāpena lipyeta saṁvatsarakṛte punaḥ etatprāha dvijaśreṣṭhā manuḥ svāyaṁbhuvo vacaḥ

—he is never again touched by sin arising in the course of the year. This teaching, O best of brahmins, was declared by Svayambhuva Manu.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.232.17)

शाके संक्रमते ब्रह्मा श्रावणे मासि संस्थिते दध्नि भाद्रपदे विष्णुः क्षीरे चाश्वयुजे हरः

śāke saṁkramate brahmā śrāvaṇe māsi saṁsthite dadhni bhādrapade viṣṇuḥ kṣīre cāśvayuje haraḥ

Brahma passes into leafy vegetables when the month of Shravana arrives; Vishnu into curd in Bhadrapada; Hara into milk in Ashvina.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.232.18)

त्रयोऽपि कार्तिके मासि संक्रमंति तथाऽऽमिषे तस्मादेतान्स देवेषु सर्वथा परिवर्जयेत्

trayo'pi kārtike māsi saṁkramaṁti tathā''miṣe tasmādetānsa deveṣu sarvathā parivarjayet

And all three pass into meat in the month of Karttika; therefore one should altogether avoid these, out of regard for the gods.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.232.19)

यः कांस्यं वर्जयेन्मर्त्यः प्रसुप्ते गरुडध्वजे स फलं प्राप्नुयात्कृत्स्नं वाजपेयातिरात्रयोः

yaḥ kāṁsyaṁ varjayenmartyaḥ prasupte garuḍadhvaje sa phalaṁ prāpnuyātkṛtsnaṁ vājapeyātirātrayoḥ

Whatever mortal avoids bell-metal vessels while the Garuda-bannered one sleeps obtains the entire fruit of the Vajapeya and the Atiratra sacrifices.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.232.20)

अक्षारलवणाशी च यो भवेद्ब्राह्मणोत्तमः तस्यापि सकलाः पूर्ताः प्रभवंति सदा ततः

akṣāralavaṇāśī ca yo bhavedbrāhmaṇottamaḥ tasyāpi sakalāḥ pūrtāḥ prabhavaṁti sadā tataḥ

And the best of brahmins who eats without alkali or salt — for him too, thereby, all the fruits of pious public works ever arise.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.232.21)

यो होमं चतुरो मासान्प्रकरोति तिलाक्षतैः स्वाहांतैर्वैष्णवैर्मंत्रैर्न स रोगेण युज्यते

yo homaṁ caturo māsānprakaroti tilākṣataiḥ svāhāṁtairvaiṣṇavairmaṁtrairna sa rogeṇa yujyate

Whoever performs fire-offerings for the four months with sesame and unbroken rice, using Vaishnava mantras ending in svaha, is never afflicted by disease.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.232.22)

यो जपेत्पौरुषं सूक्तं स्नात्वा विष्णोः स्थितोऽग्रतः मतिस्तस्य विवर्धेत शुक्लपक्षे यथोडुराट्

yo japetpauruṣaṁ sūktaṁ snātvā viṣṇoḥ sthito'grataḥ matistasya vivardheta śuklapakṣe yathoḍurāṭ

Whoever, having bathed, stands before Vishnu and recites the Purusha-sukta, his understanding grows like the moon in the bright fortnight.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.232.23)

शतमष्टोत्तरं यावत्फलहस्तः प्रदक्षिणाम् करोति विष्णोर्मौनेन न स पापेन लिप्यते

śatamaṣṭottaraṁ yāvatphalahastaḥ pradakṣiṇām karoti viṣṇormaunena na sa pāpena lipyate

Whoever circumambulates Vishnu one hundred and eight times in silence, fruit in hand, is never touched by sin.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.232.24)

मिष्टान्नं ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां यो ददाति स्वशक्तितः विशेषात्कार्तिके मासि सोऽग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्

miṣṭānnaṁ brāhmaṇeṁdrāṇāṁ yo dadāti svaśaktitaḥ viśeṣātkārtike māsi so'gniṣṭomaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever gives sweet food to the foremost of brahmins according to his means, especially in the month of Karttika, obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.232.25)

यः स्वाध्यायं चतुर्वेदैर्विष्णोरायतने चरेत् चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्स विद्वान्सर्वदा भवेत्

yaḥ svādhyāyaṁ caturvedairviṣṇorāyatane caret caturo vārṣikānmāsānsa vidvānsarvadā bhavet

Whoever performs Vedic recitation of the four Vedas in Vishnu's shrine for the four months of the rains ever after becomes a learned man.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.232.26)

नृत्यगीतादिकं यश्च कुर्याद्विष्णोः सदा गृहे अप्सरसोऽस्य कुर्वंति पुरतः स्वर्गतस्य च

nṛtyagītādikaṁ yaśca kuryādviṣṇoḥ sadā gṛhe apsaraso'sya kurvaṁti purataḥ svargatasya ca

Whoever performs dance, song, and the like ever in Vishnu's house — for him, once he has gone to heaven, the Apsarases perform the same before him.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.232.27)

यस्तु रात्रिदिनं विप्रो नृत्यगीतादिकं ददेत् चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्स गन्धर्वत्वमाप्नुयात्

yastu rātridinaṁ vipro nṛtyagītādikaṁ dadet caturo vārṣikānmāsānsa gandharvatvamāpnuyāt

And the brahmin who offers dance, song, and the like both day and night for the four months of the rains attains the state of a Gandharva.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.232.28)

एते च नियमाः सर्वे शक्यंते यदि भो द्विजाः कर्तुं च चतुरो मासानेकस्मिन्वाऽपि कार्त्तिके

ete ca niyamāḥ sarve śakyaṁte yadi bho dvijāḥ kartuṁ ca caturo māsānekasminvā'pi kārttike

O brahmins, if all these observances can be kept for the four months, or even for Karttika alone —

Verse 29 (skanda.6.232.29)

तथापि चैव कर्तव्यं लोकद्वयमभीप्सता कार्तिक्यां ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा वैष्णवैः पुरुषैरिह

tathāpi caiva kartavyaṁ lokadvayamabhīpsatā kārtikyāṁ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhā vaiṣṇavaiḥ puruṣairiha

—then, O best of brahmins, this too ought to be done here, in Karttika, by Vaishnava men desiring both worlds:

Verse 30 (skanda.6.232.30)

कांस्यं मांसं क्षुरं क्षौद्रं पुनर्भोजनमैथुने कार्तिके वर्जयेद्यस्तु य एतान्ब्राह्मणः सदा

kāṁsyaṁ māṁsaṁ kṣuraṁ kṣaudraṁ punarbhojanamaithune kārtike varjayedyastu ya etānbrāhmaṇaḥ sadā

Whatever brahmin always avoids, in Karttika, bell-metal, meat, the razor, honey, repeated eating, and sexual union —

Verse 31 (skanda.6.232.31)

पूर्वोक्तानां तु सर्वेषां नियमानां फलं लभेत्

pūrvoktānāṁ tu sarveṣāṁ niyamānāṁ phalaṁ labhet

—obtains the fruit of all the aforesaid observances.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.232.32)

अथ यः कार्तिके मासि प्रासादस्योपरि द्विजाः जलशाय्याख्यदेवस्य कलशे दीपकं ददेत् पूर्वोक्तनियमानां च स षण्णां फलभाग्भवेत्

atha yaḥ kārtike māsi prāsādasyopari dvijāḥ jalaśāyyākhyadevasya kalaśe dīpakaṁ dadet pūrvoktaniyamānāṁ ca sa ṣaṇṇāṁ phalabhāgbhavet

O brahmins, whoever, in the month of Karttika, places a lamp in the vessel atop the temple-tower of the god called Jalashayin, becomes a sharer of the fruit of the six aforesaid observances.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.232.33)

यद्यदिष्टतमं किंचित्सुप्राप्यं चैव यद्भवेत् नियमस्तस्य कर्तव्यश्चातुर्मास्ये शुभार्थिभिः

yadyadiṣṭatamaṁ kiṁcitsuprāpyaṁ caiva yadbhavet niyamastasya kartavyaścāturmāsye śubhārthibhiḥ

Whatever thing is most dear, yet also attainable, an observance concerning it should be undertaken during Chaturmasya by those desiring good.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.232.34)

नियमे च कृते दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय तदेव हि नियमस्तु कृतो यस्य स्वशक्त्या स्यात्फलं ततः

niyame ca kṛte dadyādbrāhmaṇāya tadeva hi niyamastu kṛto yasya svaśaktyā syātphalaṁ tataḥ

And having made such an observance, one should give that very thing to a brahmin; for whoever's observance is undertaken according to his own capacity, its fruit follows from that.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.232.35)

यो विना नियमं मर्त्यो व्रतं वा जाप्यमेव वा चतुर्मासान्नयेन्मूर्खो जीवन्नपि मृतो हि सः

yo vinā niyamaṁ martyo vrataṁ vā jāpyameva vā caturmāsānnayenmūrkho jīvannapi mṛto hi saḥ

That foolish mortal who passes the four months without any observance, vow, or recitation is, though living, indeed dead.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.232.36)

यथा काकयवाः प्रोक्ता यथारण्यास्तिलोद्भवाः नाममात्रप्रसिद्धाश्च तथा ते मानवा भुवि

yathā kākayavāḥ proktā yathāraṇyāstilodbhavāḥ nāmamātraprasiddhāśca tathā te mānavā bhuvi

As what is called crow-barley — a worthless weed-grain — or the sesame that grows wild in the forest, are famous in name only, so are such men upon the earth.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.232.37)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्यो यत्नेन कार्तिके एकोऽपि नियमः कश्चित्सुसूक्ष्मोऽपि द्विजोत्तमाः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāryo yatnena kārtike eko'pi niyamaḥ kaścitsusūkṣmo'pi dvijottamāḥ

Therefore, O best of brahmins, with every effort, some single observance, even a very slight one, should diligently be undertaken in Karttika.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.232.38)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं चातुर्मासीसमुद्भवम् व्रतानां नियमानां च माहात्म्यं विस्तराद्द्विजाः

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ cāturmāsīsamudbhavam vratānāṁ niyamānāṁ ca māhātmyaṁ vistarāddvijāḥ

O brahmins, all this arising from Chaturmasya has been declared to you in full — the greatness of the vows and observances.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.232.39)

यश्चैतच्छृणुयान्नित्यं पठेद्वापि समाहितः चातुर्मासी कृतात्पापात्सोऽपि मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

yaścaitacchṛṇuyānnityaṁ paṭhedvāpi samāhitaḥ cāturmāsī kṛtātpāpātso'pi muktimavāpnuyāt

Whoever constantly listens to this, or recites it with a focused mind, he too obtains liberation from whatever sin was committed during Chaturmasya.