The Greatness of the Chaturmasya Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.6.237.1)

नारद उवाच । कदा विधिनिषेधौ च कर्तव्यौ विष्णुसन्निधौ । युष्मद्वाक्यामृतं पीत्वा तृप्तिर्मम न विद्यते

nārada uvāca kadā vidhiniṣedhau ca kartavyau viṣṇusannidhau yuṣmadvākyāmṛtaṁ pītvā tṛptirmama na vidyate

Narada said: "When should the ordinance and the prohibition be observed in Vishnu's presence? Having drunk the nectar of your words, I still find no satisfaction."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.237.2)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । कर्कसंक्रांतिदिवसे विष्णुं संपूज्य भक्तितः । फलैरर्घ्यः प्रदातव्यः शस्तजंबूफलैः शुभैः

brahmā uvāca karkasaṁkrāṁtidivase viṣṇuṁ saṁpūjya bhaktitaḥ phalairarghyaḥ pradātavyaḥ śastajaṁbūphalaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Brahma said: "On the day of Karka Sankranti, having worshipped Vishnu with devotion, an offering of fruits should be made, with excellent and auspicious jambu fruits."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.237.3)

जंबूद्वीपस्य संज्ञेयं फलेन च विजायते । मन्त्रेणानेन विप्रेंद्र श्रद्धाधर्मसुसंयतैः

jaṁbūdvīpasya saṁjñeyaṁ phalena ca vijāyate mantreṇānena vipreṁdra śraddhādharmasusaṁyataiḥ

This very name of Jambudvipa arises from that fruit; O foremost of brahmins, by this mantra, offered by those who are well-restrained in faith and righteousness —

Verse 4 (skanda.6.237.4)

षण्मासाभ्यंतरे मृत्युर्यत्र क्वापि भवेन्मम । तन्मया वासुदेवाय स्वयमात्मा निवेदितः

ṣaṇmāsābhyaṁtare mṛtyuryatra kvāpi bhavenmama tanmayā vāsudevāya svayamātmā niveditaḥ

(The mantra continues): "Should my death occur anywhere within these six months, I have myself offered my own self to Vasudeva."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.237.5)

इति मन्त्रेणार्घ्यम् । ततो विधिनिषेधौ च ग्राह्यौ भक्त्या हरेः पुरः । चातुर्मास्ये समायाते सर्वलोकमहासुखे

iti mantreṇārghyam tato vidhiniṣedhau ca grāhyau bhaktyā hareḥ puraḥ cāturmāsye samāyāte sarvalokamahāsukhe

(Thus ends the mantra for the offering.) Then, when Chaturmasya arrives, a season of great joy for all the worlds, both the ordinance and the prohibition should be embraced with devotion before Hari.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.237.6)

विधिर्वेदविधिः कार्यो निषेधो नियमो मतः । विधिश्चैव निषेधश्च द्वावेतौ विष्णुरेव हि

vidhirvedavidhiḥ kāryo niṣedho niyamo mataḥ vidhiścaiva niṣedhaśca dvāvetau viṣṇureva hi

The ordinance to be performed is the Vedic ordinance; the prohibition is held to be discipline. Both this ordinance and this prohibition are, in truth, Vishnu himself.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.237.7)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेव्य एव जनार्दनः । विष्णोः कथा विष्णुपूजा ध्यानं विष्णोर्नतिस्तथा

tasmātsarvaprayatnena sevya eva janārdanaḥ viṣṇoḥ kathā viṣṇupūjā dhyānaṁ viṣṇornatistathā

Therefore, with every effort, Janardana alone should be served, through the recitation of Vishnu's stories, the worship of Vishnu, meditation upon him, and bowing down to him.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.237.8)

सर्वमेव हरिप्रीत्या यः करोति स मुक्तिभाक् । वर्णाश्रमविधेर्मूर्तिः सत्यो विष्णुः सनातनः

sarvameva hariprītyā yaḥ karoti sa muktibhāk varṇāśramavidhermūrtiḥ satyo viṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ

Whoever does everything for Hari's pleasure becomes fit for liberation; the eternal and true Vishnu is himself the very embodiment of the ordinances of varna and ashrama.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.237.9)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण जन्मकष्टादिनाशनम् । हरिरेव व्रताद्ग्राह्यो व्रतं देहेन कारयेत् । देहोऽयं तपसा शोध्यः सुप्ते देवे तपोनिधौ

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa janmakaṣṭādināśanam harireva vratādgrāhyo vrataṁ dehena kārayet deho'yaṁ tapasā śodhyaḥ supte deve taponidhau

Especially during Chaturmasya, the sufferings born of birth and the like are destroyed. Hari alone is to be grasped through the vow, and the vow is to be carried out through the body. While the Lord, the treasury of austerity, lies asleep, this body is to be purified by tapas.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.237.10)

नारद उवाच । किं व्रतं किं तपः प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मन्ब्रूहि सविस्तरम् । सुप्ते देवे मया कार्यं कृतं यच्च महाफलम्

nārada uvāca kiṁ vrataṁ kiṁ tapaḥ proktaṁ brahmanbrūhi savistaram supte deve mayā kāryaṁ kṛtaṁ yacca mahāphalam

Narada said: "What is called the vow, and what is called austerity? Tell me this in detail, O Brahma, what I should do while the Lord sleeps, that which bears great fruit."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.237.11)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । व्रतं विष्णुव्रतं विद्धि विष्णुभक्तिसमन्वितम् । तपश्च धर्मवर्तित्वं कृच्छ्रादिकमथापि वा

brahmā uvāca vrataṁ viṣṇuvrataṁ viddhi viṣṇubhaktisamanvitam tapaśca dharmavartitvaṁ kṛcchrādikamathāpi vā

Brahma said: "Know the vow to be the vow of Vishnu, joined with devotion to Vishnu; and know austerity to be steadfast adherence to dharma, or else the performance of penances such as the Krichchhra vow."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.237.12)

शृणु व्रतस्य माहात्म्यं वक्ष्यामि प्रथमं तव । ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतं सारं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम्

śṛṇu vratasya māhātmyaṁ vakṣyāmi prathamaṁ tava brahmacaryavrataṁ sāraṁ vratānāmuttamaṁ vratam

Hear the greatness of the vow; I shall tell it to you first. The vow of brahmacharya is the essence of all vows, the foremost among them.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.237.13)

ब्रह्मचर्यं तपः सारं ब्रह्मचर्यं महत्फलम् । क्रियासु सकलास्वेव ब्रह्मचर्यं विवर्द्धयेत्

brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ sāraṁ brahmacaryaṁ mahatphalam kriyāsu sakalāsveva brahmacaryaṁ vivarddhayet

Brahmacharya is the essence of austerity; brahmacharya bears great fruit. In all one's undertakings, one should continually strengthen one's brahmacharya.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.237.14)

ब्रह्मचर्यप्रभावेण तप उग्रं प्रवर्त्तते । ब्रह्मचर्यात्परं नास्ति धर्मसाधनमुत्तमम्

brahmacaryaprabhāveṇa tapa ugraṁ pravarttate brahmacaryātparaṁ nāsti dharmasādhanamuttamam

Through the power of brahmacharya, fierce austerity is set in motion. There is no higher instrument for the practice of dharma than brahmacharya.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.237.15)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सुप्ते देवे गुणोत्तरम् । महाव्रतमिदं लोके तन्निबोध सदा द्विज

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa supte deve guṇottaram mahāvratamidaṁ loke tannibodha sadā dvija

Especially during Chaturmasya, while the Lord sleeps, this is the great vow, foremost in virtue among all in this world; understand this always, O brahmin.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.237.16)

नारायणमिदं कर्म यः करोति न लिप्यते । शतत्रयं षष्टियुतं दिनमाहुश्च वत्सरे

nārāyaṇamidaṁ karma yaḥ karoti na lipyate śatatrayaṁ ṣaṣṭiyutaṁ dinamāhuśca vatsare

Whoever performs this act as offered to Narayana is not tainted by sin. It is said that the year consists of three hundred and sixty days.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.237.17)

तत्र नारायणो देवः पूज्यते व्रतकारिभिः । सत्क्रियाममुकीं देव कारयिष्यामि निश्चयः

tatra nārāyaṇo devaḥ pūjyate vratakāribhiḥ satkriyāmamukīṁ deva kārayiṣyāmi niścayaḥ

In that year, the god Narayana is worshipped by those who keep the vow, with the resolve: "O God, I shall surely perform this particular virtuous deed."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.237.18)

कुरुते तद्व्रतं प्राहुः सुप्ते देवे गुणोत्तरम् । वह्निहोमो विप्रभक्तिः श्रद्धा धर्मे मतिः शुभा

kurute tadvrataṁ prāhuḥ supte deve guṇottaram vahnihomo viprabhaktiḥ śraddhā dharme matiḥ śubhā

He who performs that vow while the Lord sleeps is said to hold the most excellent of practices: the fire-oblation, devotion to brahmins, faith, and an auspicious mind turned toward dharma.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.237.19)

सत्संगो विष्णुपूजा च सत्यवादो दया हृदि । आर्जवं मधुरा वाणी सच्चरित्रे सदा रतिः

satsaṁgo viṣṇupūjā ca satyavādo dayā hṛdi ārjavaṁ madhurā vāṇī saccaritre sadā ratiḥ

Association with the virtuous, worship of Vishnu, truthful speech, compassion in the heart, honesty, sweet speech, and constant delight in good conduct —

Verse 20 (skanda.6.237.20)

वेदपाठस्तथाऽस्तेयमहिंसा ह्रीः क्षमा दमः । निर्लोभताऽक्रोधता च निर्मोहोऽममताऽरतिः

vedapāṭhastathā'steyamahiṁsā hrīḥ kṣamā damaḥ nirlobhatā'krodhatā ca nirmoho'mamatā'ratiḥ

Vedic study, refraining from theft, non-violence, modesty, forbearance, self-control, freedom from greed, freedom from anger, freedom from delusion, freedom from attachment, and dispassion —

Verse 21 (skanda.6.237.21)

श्रुतिक्रियापरं ज्ञानं कृष्णार्पितमनोगतिः । एतानि यस्य तिष्ठंति व्रतानि ब्रह्मवित्तम

śrutikriyāparaṁ jñānaṁ kṛṣṇārpitamanogatiḥ etāni yasya tiṣṭhaṁti vratāni brahmavittama

...knowledge devoted to the rites enjoined by the shruti, and a mind whose movement is offered up to Krishna; in whomever these vows are established, O foremost among the knowers of Brahman —

Verse 22 (skanda.6.237.22)

जीवन्मुक्तो नरः प्रोक्तो नैव लिप्यति पातकैः । व्रतं कृतं सकृदपि सदैव हि महाफलम्

jīvanmukto naraḥ prokto naiva lipyati pātakaiḥ vrataṁ kṛtaṁ sakṛdapi sadaiva hi mahāphalam

...that person is declared to be liberated while still living, and is never touched by sin. A vow performed even a single time always bears great fruit.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.237.23)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण ब्रह्मचर्यादिसेवनम् । अव्रतेन गतं येषां चातुर्मास्यं सदा नृणाम्

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa brahmacaryādisevanam avratena gataṁ yeṣāṁ cāturmāsyaṁ sadā nṛṇām

Especially during Chaturmasya, one should observe brahmacharya and similar practices. Those men whose Chaturmasya has always passed without any vow being kept —

Verse 24 (skanda.6.237.24)

धर्मस्तेषां वृथा सद्भिस्तत्त्वज्ञैः परिकीर्तितः । सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां व्रतचर्या महाफलम्

dharmasteṣāṁ vṛthā sadbhistattvajñaiḥ parikīrtitaḥ sarveṣāmeva varṇānāṁ vratacaryā mahāphalam

...their remaining practice of dharma is declared futile by the virtuous knowers of truth. For all the varnas alike, the observance of the vow bears great fruit.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.237.25)

स्वल्पापि विहिता वत्स चातुर्मास्ये सुखप्रदा । सर्वत्र दृश्यते विष्णुर्व्रतसेवापरैर्नृभिः

svalpāpi vihitā vatsa cāturmāsye sukhapradā sarvatra dṛśyate viṣṇurvratasevāparairnṛbhiḥ

Even a small observance kept during Chaturmasya, O child, bestows happiness. To those men devoted to the keeping of vows, Vishnu becomes visible everywhere.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.237.26)

चातुर्मास्ये समायाते पालयेत्तत्प्रयत्नतः

cāturmāsye samāyāte pālayettatprayatnataḥ

When Chaturmasya arrives, one should observe it with diligent effort.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.237.27)

भजस्व विष्णुं द्विजवह्नितीर्थवेदप्रभेदमयमूर्तिमजं विराजम् । यत्प्रसादाद्भवति मोक्षमहातरुस्थस्तापं न यास्यति भवार्कसमुद्भवं तम्

bhajasva viṣṇuṁ dvijavahnitīrthavedaprabhedamayamūrtimajaṁ virājam yatprasādādbhavati mokṣamahātarusthastāpaṁ na yāsyati bhavārkasamudbhavaṁ tam

Worship Vishnu, unborn and resplendent, whose one form pervades alike the brahmin, the sacred fire, the holy tirtha, and the Veda; by whose grace a person comes to rest upon the great tree of liberation, and is no longer scorched by the torment born of the sun of worldly existence.