The Bhishmapanchaka Vow and the Ashunya-Shayana Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.6.265.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । प्रभूतानि त्वयोक्तानि व्रतानि नियमास्तथा । प्रसुप्ते पुंडरीकाक्षे येषां संख्या न विद्यते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ prabhūtāni tvayoktāni vratāni niyamāstathā prasupte puṁḍarīkākṣe yeṣāṁ saṁkhyā na vidyate

The sages said: Numerous vows and regulations, when the Lotus-eyed lies asleep, have been described by you — of these no counting exists.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.265.2)

अशक्त्या हि शरीरस्य नियमानां कथं चरेत् । व्रतं हि सुकुमारांगो दानैर्वापि वदस्व नः

aśaktyā hi śarīrasya niyamānāṁ kathaṁ caret vrataṁ hi sukumārāṁgo dānairvāpi vadasva naḥ

But due to weakness of the body, how can one whose limbs are delicate observe these regulations? Tell us of a vow, or else the gifts, suited for such a one.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.265.3)

सूत उवाच । अशक्तो नियमं कर्तुं सुकुमारो भवेत्तु यः । तेन तत्र प्रकर्तव्यं विख्यातं भीष्मपंचकम्

sūta uvāca aśakto niyamaṁ kartuṁ sukumāro bhavettu yaḥ tena tatra prakartavyaṁ vikhyātaṁ bhīṣmapaṁcakam

Suta said: Whoever, being delicate, is unable to observe the full regulations, by him there should be performed the celebrated Bhishmapanchaka vow.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.265.4)

कार्त्तिकस्य सिते पक्ष एकादश्यां समाहितः । प्रातरुत्थाय विप्रेंद्र कर्तव्यं दंतधावनम्

kārttikasya site pakṣa ekādaśyāṁ samāhitaḥ prātarutthāya vipreṁdra kartavyaṁ daṁtadhāvanam

In the bright fortnight of Kartika, on the eleventh day, with a composed mind, O foremost of brahmins, rising in the morning, one should clean the teeth.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.265.5)

ततस्तु नियमं कुर्याद्वासुदेवपरायणः । पूर्वोक्तानां च सर्वेषां नियमानां द्विजोत्तमाः

tatastu niyamaṁ kuryādvāsudevaparāyaṇaḥ pūrvoktānāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ niyamānāṁ dvijottamāḥ

Then, devoted to Vasudeva, one should observe the regulation; O best of the twice-born, of all the previously mentioned regulations —

Verse 6 (skanda.6.265.6)

उपवासः प्रकर्तव्यस्तस्मिन्नहनि भक्तितः । अशक्त्या वा शरीरस्य हेमं दद्यात्स्वशक्तितः

upavāsaḥ prakartavyastasminnahani bhaktitaḥ aśaktyā vā śarīrasya hemaṁ dadyātsvaśaktitaḥ

— fasting is to be performed on that day with devotion; or, on account of the body's weakness, one should give gold according to one's means.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.265.7)

ब्राह्मणाय हविष्यान्नं दातव्यं वैष्णवैर्नरैः । एवं पञ्चदिनं यावत्कर्तव्यं व्रतमुत्तमम्

brāhmaṇāya haviṣyānnaṁ dātavyaṁ vaiṣṇavairnaraiḥ evaṁ pañcadinaṁ yāvatkartavyaṁ vratamuttamam

Consecrated food is to be given to a brahmin by devotees of Vishnu; thus, for five days, this excellent vow is to be performed.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.265.8)

पूजनीयो हृषीकेशो जलशायिस्वरूपधृक् । गंधैर्धूपैश्च नैवेद्यै रात्रिजागरणैरपि

pūjanīyo hṛṣīkeśo jalaśāyisvarūpadhṛk gaṁdhairdhūpaiśca naivedyai rātrijāgaraṇairapi

Hrishikesha, bearing the form of the one reclining on the waters, is to be worshipped with fragrances, incense, food-offerings, and with night vigils as well.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.265.9)

षष्ठेऽहनि ततो जाते पूजयेद्ब्राह्मणोत्तमान् । तांश्च वस्त्रैर्हिरण्येन मिष्टान्नेन प्रभक्तितः

ṣaṣṭhe'hani tato jāte pūjayedbrāhmaṇottamān tāṁśca vastrairhiraṇyena miṣṭānnena prabhaktitaḥ

Then, when the sixth day has come, one should worship the foremost of brahmins, and honor them with garments, with gold, and with sweet food, with great devotion.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.265.10)

ततः कृतांजलिर्भूत्वा याचयेद्ब्राह्मणोत्तमान् । सर्वे मे नियमाः प्राप्ता युष्माकं च प्रसादतः

tataḥ kṛtāṁjalirbhūtvā yācayedbrāhmaṇottamān sarve me niyamāḥ prāptā yuṣmākaṁ ca prasādataḥ

Then, with joined palms, one should beseech the foremost of brahmins: 'All my regulations have been fulfilled, and that through your grace.'

Verse 11 (skanda.6.265.11)

ततस्तैरपि वक्तव्यं चतुर्मासीसमुद्भवम् । व्रतानां नियमानां च व्रतं भूयात्तवाखिलम्

tatastairapi vaktavyaṁ caturmāsīsamudbhavam vratānāṁ niyamānāṁ ca vrataṁ bhūyāttavākhilam

Then they too should say: 'May the entire fruit of the vows and regulations arising from the four months be yours.'

Verse 12 (skanda.6.265.12)

ततो विसर्ज्य तान्विप्रान्भोजनं स्वयमाचरेत् । सर्वाहारेण राजेंद्र पंचगव्यप्रपूर्वकम्

tato visarjya tānviprānbhojanaṁ svayamācaret sarvāhāreṇa rājeṁdra paṁcagavyaprapūrvakam

Then, having taken leave of those brahmins, one should oneself partake of food — O foremost of kings, with all kinds of food, taking the panchagavya first.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.265.13)

यः करोति व्रतं तस्य फलं स्याद्बहुपुण्यदम् । यः पुनर्व्रतमेतद्धि कुरुते दिनपंचकम् । उपवासपरस्तस्य फलं शतगुणं भवेत्

yaḥ karoti vrataṁ tasya phalaṁ syādbahupuṇyadam yaḥ punarvratametaddhi kurute dinapaṁcakam upavāsaparastasya phalaṁ śataguṇaṁ bhavet

For him who performs this vow, the fruit becomes greatly meritorious; but for him who performs this very vow, devoted to fasting for the full five days, his fruit becomes a hundredfold.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.265.14)

एकादश्यां हरेः पूजां जातिपुष्पैः समाचरेत् । द्वादश्यां बिल्वपत्रेण शतपत्र्या ततः परम् । त्रयोदश्यां चतुर्दश्यां सुरभ्या भक्तिपूर्वकम्

ekādaśyāṁ hareḥ pūjāṁ jātipuṣpaiḥ samācaret dvādaśyāṁ bilvapatreṇa śatapatryā tataḥ param trayodaśyāṁ caturdaśyāṁ surabhyā bhaktipūrvakam

On the eleventh, one should perform the worship of Hari with jasmine flowers; on the twelfth, with bilva leaves, and then further with the lotus; on the thirteenth and fourteenth, with devotion, with fragrant flowers.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.265.15)

भृंगराजेन पुण्येन पौर्णमास्यां प्रपूजयेत् । प्रतिपद्दिवसे सर्वैः पूजनीयो जनार्दनः । गोमूत्रं गोमयं क्षीरं दधि सर्पिः कुशोदकम्

bhṛṁgarājena puṇyena paurṇamāsyāṁ prapūjayet pratipaddivase sarvaiḥ pūjanīyo janārdanaḥ gomūtraṁ gomayaṁ kṣīraṁ dadhi sarpiḥ kuśodakam

On the full-moon day, one should worship with the sacred bhringaraja flower; on the day of the pratipada, Janardana is to be worshipped by all with cow's urine, cow-dung, milk, curd, ghee, and kusha-water.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.265.16)

प्रतिपद्दिवसे सर्वान्प्राशयेत्कायशुद्धये । अगरं गुग्गुलं चैव कर्पूरं तगरं त्वचा

pratipaddivase sarvānprāśayetkāyaśuddhaye agaraṁ guggulaṁ caiva karpūraṁ tagaraṁ tvacā

On the day of the pratipada, one should partake of all these for the purification of the body; and aloeswood, guggulu, camphor, tagara, and cinnamon bark —

Verse 17 (skanda.6.265.17)

एकैकं निर्वपेद्धूपं प्रतिपद्दिवसेऽखिलम् । जलशायी जगद्योनिः शेषपर्यंकमाश्रितः

ekaikaṁ nirvapeddhūpaṁ pratipaddivase'khilam jalaśāyī jagadyoniḥ śeṣaparyaṁkamāśritaḥ

— each one, in turn, is to be offered as incense throughout the entire day of the pratipada. The One who reclines on the waters, the womb of the universe, resting upon the couch of Shesha —

Verse 18 (skanda.6.265.18)

अर्घं गृह्णातु मे देवो भीष्मपंचकसिद्धये । मंत्रेणानेन दातव्यो ह्यर्घो देवस्य भक्तितः

arghaṁ gṛhṇātu me devo bhīṣmapaṁcakasiddhaye maṁtreṇānena dātavyo hyargho devasya bhaktitaḥ

— 'may that God accept my offering, for the accomplishment of the Bhishmapanchaka.' With this very mantra, the offering is to be given to the God with devotion.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.265.19)

शंखतोयं समादाय सपुष्पफलचंदनैः । नैवेद्यं परमान्नं च स्वशक्त्या निर्वपेद्द्विजाः

śaṁkhatoyaṁ samādāya sapuṣpaphalacaṁdanaiḥ naivedyaṁ paramānnaṁ ca svaśaktyā nirvapeddvijāḥ

Taking up conch-water together with flowers, fruits, and sandalwood, the twice-born should offer the food-offering, sweet rice, according to their means.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.265.20)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं व्रतं वै भीष्मपंचकम् । संप्राप्यते फलं चैव व्रतानां नियमैः सह

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ vrataṁ vai bhīṣmapaṁcakam saṁprāpyate phalaṁ caiva vratānāṁ niyamaiḥ saha

This whole vow, the Bhishmapanchaka, has thus been told to you; and its fruit is obtained together with that of all the other vows and regulations.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.265.21)

ऋषय ऊचुः । यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तमशून्यशायिनीव्रतम् । इन्द्रेण यत्कृतं पूर्वं तुष्ट्यर्थं चक्रपाणिनः । प्रसुप्तस्य महाभाग फलं चैव प्रकीर्तितम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadetadbhavatā proktamaśūnyaśāyinīvratam indreṇa yatkṛtaṁ pūrvaṁ tuṣṭyarthaṁ cakrapāṇinaḥ prasuptasya mahābhāga phalaṁ caiva prakīrtitam

The sages said: This vow of Ashunya-shayana which you mentioned, that was performed formerly by Indra for the satisfaction of the Discus-Bearer while he slept — O most fortunate one, its fruit too has been declared.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.265.22)

कस्मिन्काले प्रकर्तव्यं केनैव विधिना तथा । तस्मात्सूत महाभाग विधानं विस्तराद्वद

kasminkāle prakartavyaṁ kenaiva vidhinā tathā tasmātsūta mahābhāga vidhānaṁ vistarādvada

At what time is it to be performed, and by what rite likewise? Therefore, O most fortunate Suta, tell us the procedure in full detail.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.265.23)

सूत उवाच । श्रावण्यां समतीतायां द्वितीयादिवसे स्थिते । प्रातरुत्थाय विप्रेन्द्रा नक्षत्रे विष्णुदैवते । पापिष्ठैः पतितैर्म्लेच्छैः संभाषं नैव कारयेत्

sūta uvāca śrāvaṇyāṁ samatītāyāṁ dvitīyādivase sthite prātarutthāya viprendrā nakṣatre viṣṇudaivate pāpiṣṭhaiḥ patitairmlecchaiḥ saṁbhāṣaṁ naiva kārayet

Suta said: When Shravana has passed, and the second day has arrived — O foremost of brahmins, rising in the morning under the lunar asterism ruled by Vishnu, one should not converse with the most sinful, the fallen, or the outcaste.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.265.24)

ततो मध्याह्नसमये स्नात्वा धौतांबरः शुचिः । जलशायिनमासाद्य मंत्रेणानेन पूजयेत्

tato madhyāhnasamaye snātvā dhautāṁbaraḥ śuciḥ jalaśāyinamāsādya maṁtreṇānena pūjayet

Then, at midday, having bathed, clad in washed garments, pure, one should approach the One reclining on the waters and worship him with this mantra:

Verse 25 (skanda.6.265.25)

श्रीवत्सधारिञ्छ्रीकांत श्रीधामञ्छ्रीपतेऽव्यय । गार्हस्थ्यं मा प्रणाशं मे यातु धर्मार्थकामदम्

śrīvatsadhāriñchrīkāṁta śrīdhāmañchrīpate'vyaya gārhasthyaṁ mā praṇāśaṁ me yātu dharmārthakāmadam

'O bearer of the Shrivatsa, O beloved of Shri, O abode of Shri, O imperishable Lord of Shri — let not my household life, the giver of dharma, artha, and kama, come to ruin;'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.265.26)

पितरो मा प्रणश्यंतु मा प्रणश्यंतु चाग्नयः । देवता मा प्रणश्यंतु मत्तो दांपत्यभेदतः

pitaro mā praṇaśyaṁtu mā praṇaśyaṁtu cāgnayaḥ devatā mā praṇaśyaṁtu matto dāṁpatyabhedataḥ

'let not my ancestors perish, nor let my sacred fires perish; let not the deities perish, through any breach in my marital bond;'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.265.27)

लक्ष्म्या वियुज्यसे कृष्ण न कदाचिद्यथा भवान् । तथा कलत्रसम्बन्धो देव मा मे प्रणश्यतु

lakṣmyā viyujyase kṛṣṇa na kadācidyathā bhavān tathā kalatrasambandho deva mā me praṇaśyatu

'just as you, O Krishna, are never separated from Lakshmi, so too, O Lord, may the bond with my wife never be destroyed for me;'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.265.28)

लक्ष्म्या ह्यशून्यं शयनं यथा ते देव सर्वदा । शय्या ममाप्यशून्यास्तु तथा जन्मनि जन्मनि

lakṣmyā hyaśūnyaṁ śayanaṁ yathā te deva sarvadā śayyā mamāpyaśūnyāstu tathā janmani janmani

'just as your couch, O Lord, is ever unempty of Lakshmi, so too may my couch be unempty, birth after birth.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.265.29)

एवमर्थं निवेद्याथ ततो विप्रं प्रपूजयेत् । यथाशक्त्या द्विजश्रेष्ठा वित्तशाठ्यं विवर्जयेत्

evamarthaṁ nivedyātha tato vipraṁ prapūjayet yathāśaktyā dvijaśreṣṭhā vittaśāṭhyaṁ vivarjayet

Having thus made this petition, one should then worship a brahmin according to one's means; O best of the twice-born, one should avoid stinginess with wealth.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.265.30)

एवं भाद्रपदे मासि आश्विने कार्तिके तथा । पूजयेच्च जगन्नाथं जलशायिनमच्युतम्

evaṁ bhādrapade māsi āśvine kārtike tathā pūjayecca jagannāthaṁ jalaśāyinamacyutam

Thus, in the month of Bhadrapada, and likewise in Ashvina and Kartika, one should worship the Lord of the universe, the imperishable One reclining on the waters.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.265.31)

अक्षारभोजनं कार्यं विशेषात्तैलवर्जितम् । समाप्तौ च ततो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणेंद्राय भक्तितः

akṣārabhojanaṁ kāryaṁ viśeṣāttailavarjitam samāptau ca tato dadyādbrāhmaṇeṁdrāya bhaktitaḥ

One should eat food without salt, and especially without oil; and upon its completion, one should then give, with devotion, to the foremost of brahmins,

Verse 32 (skanda.6.265.32)

फलव्रीहिसमोपेतां शय्यां वस्त्रसमन्विताम् । सुवर्णं दक्षिणायां च तथैव च फलं लभेत्

phalavrīhisamopetāṁ śayyāṁ vastrasamanvitām suvarṇaṁ dakṣiṇāyāṁ ca tathaiva ca phalaṁ labhet

a bed furnished with fruit and rice, together with garments, and gold as the sacrificial fee; and thus one obtains the fruit.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.265.33)

एवं यः कुरुते सम्यग्व्रतमेतत्समाहितः । तस्य तुष्टिपथं याति जलशायी जगद्गुरुः

evaṁ yaḥ kurute samyagvratametatsamāhitaḥ tasya tuṣṭipathaṁ yāti jalaśāyī jagadguruḥ

Whoever thus performs this vow properly, with a composed mind, for him the One reclining on the waters, the Teacher of the universe, becomes pleased indeed.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.265.34)

यथा शक्रस्य संतुष्टः पूर्वमेव द्विजोत्तमाः । अशून्यं शयनं तस्य भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि

yathā śakrasya saṁtuṣṭaḥ pūrvameva dvijottamāḥ aśūnyaṁ śayanaṁ tasya bhavejjanmani janmani

O best of the twice-born, just as he, being pleased with Indra long before, granted that his couch would remain unempty birth after birth,

Verse 35 (skanda.6.265.35)

अष्टमासकृतं पापमज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतोऽपि वा । अशून्यशयनात्सर्वं व्रतान्नाशं नयेत्पुमान्

aṣṭamāsakṛtaṁ pāpamajñānājjñānato'pi vā aśūnyaśayanātsarvaṁ vratānnāśaṁ nayetpumān

— so too, whatever sin has been committed over the eight months, whether unknowingly or even knowingly, a man, through this vow of Ashunya-shayana, brings all of it to destruction.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.265.36)

पुत्रहीना च या नारी काकवन्ध्या च या भवेत् । विधवा या करोत्येतद्व्रतमेवं समाहिता । तस्यास्तुष्टो जगन्नाथः कायशुद्धिं प्रयच्छति

putrahīnā ca yā nārī kākavandhyā ca yā bhavet vidhavā yā karotyetadvratamevaṁ samāhitā tasyāstuṣṭo jagannāthaḥ kāyaśuddhiṁ prayacchati

Whatever woman is without a son, or is one who bears only a single child, or a widow, who performs this vow thus with a composed mind — for her, the Lord of the universe, being pleased, grants purification of body.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.265.37)

न तस्या जायते बुद्धिः कदाचित्पापसंभवा । न कामोपहता बुद्धिः कथंचिदपि जायते

na tasyā jāyate buddhiḥ kadācitpāpasaṁbhavā na kāmopahatā buddhiḥ kathaṁcidapi jāyate

Her intellect never becomes prone to sin; nor does her intellect ever become overpowered by desire, in any way whatsoever.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.265.38)

कुमारिकापि या सम्यग्व्रतमेतत्समाचरेत् । सा पतिं लभते विप्राः कुलीनं रूपसंयुतम्

kumārikāpi yā samyagvratametatsamācaret sā patiṁ labhate viprāḥ kulīnaṁ rūpasaṁyutam

Even a maiden who properly performs this vow, O brahmins, obtains a husband of good family, endowed with handsome form.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.265.39)

निष्कामः कुरुते यस्तु व्रतमेतत्समाहितः । चातुर्मास्युद्भवानां च नियमानां फलं लभेत्

niṣkāmaḥ kurute yastu vratametatsamāhitaḥ cāturmāsyudbhavānāṁ ca niyamānāṁ phalaṁ labhet

And whoever, free of desire, performs this vow with a composed mind, obtains the fruit of all the regulations arising from Chaturmasya.