चरानंतव्रतं तत्त्वं नव वर्षाणि पंच च
Observe the endless vow in truth for fifteen years.
भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगान्सर्वान्कामान्यथेप्सितान्
Having enjoyed abundant pleasures and all desired objects,
इति दत्त्वा वरं देवस्तत्रैवांतर्हितोऽभवत्
Thus, having granted the boon, the god thereupon disappeared.
शीलया सह धर्मात्मा भुक्त्वा भोगान्मनोरमान् कल्पस्थानी च संभूतो दृश्यतेद्यापि स ज्वलन्
With his wife Śīlā, the righteous one enjoyed delightful pleasures, and having become established for an aeon, he is still seen shining even today.
एतत्ते कथितं पार्थ व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम्
Thus, O Pārtha, the supreme vow among vows has been described to you.
ये च शृण्वंति सततं वाच्यमानं नरोत्तम
And those best of men who always listen as it is being spoken,
संसारसागरगुहां सुसुखं विहर्तुं वांछंति ये कुरुकुलोद्भव शुद्धसत्त्वाः
Those pure-hearted ones of the Kuru lineage who wish to happily roam the cave of the ocean of worldly existence,
इति श्रीभविष्ये महाऽपुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादेऽअनंतचतुर्दशीव्रतवर्णनं नाम चतुर्नवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttara Parva, in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira, this is the ninety-fourth chapter named 'The Description of the Anantacaturdaśī Vow.'
अनन्त उवाच । तुष्टोऽहं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ भक्त्या तव विशेषतः । वरं गृहाण विप्रेन्द्र तुष्टोऽस्मि त्यज विस्मयं ।। । कौण्डिन्य उवाच । स्वकर्म्मफलभोगेन यां यां योनिं व्रजाम्यहं । तस्यां तस्यां हृषीकेश हरिभक्तिर्दृढास्तु मे ।। अतिप्रमादान्मोहाद्वा यन्मया दुष्कृतं कृतं । तदागः क्षम्यतां नाथ प्रणमामि पुनः पुनः ।। श्रुत्वानन्तस्तु तद्वाक्यं ददौ तस्मै वरत्रयं । दारिद्रनाशनं धर्म्मं विष्णुलोकं तथाक्षयं
Ananta said: 'I am pleased, O best of Brahmins, especially by your devotion. Choose a boon, O foremost of Brahmins, I am pleased; let go of your astonishment.' Kauṇḍinya said: 'By the enjoyment of the fruits of my own actions, whichever womb I enter, in each of them, O Hṛṣīkeśa, may my devotion to Hari be firm. Through great negligence or delusion, whatever wrong I have done, may that sin be forgiven, O Lord; I bow again and again.' Having heard those words, Ananta granted him three boons: the removal of poverty, righteousness, and the eternal world of Viṣṇu.
श्रवणिकाव्रतम् एताः काः किं च कुर्वंति धर्मं चासां ब्रवीहि मे
The vow of Śravaṇikā—who are they, what do they do, and what is their duty? Tell me about them.
ब्रह्मणा प्रथमं सृष्टा नियोगश्च जने कृतः
They were first created by Brahmā, and a command was given among the people.
यो यद्वदति लोकेस्मिञ्छुभं वाप्यथ वाऽशुभम्
Whatever anyone says in this world, whether auspicious or inauspicious,
जातास्त्रिलोके पूज्यास्तु नियमेन प्रजापते
Born in the three worlds, they are to be honored by all, as ordained by the Lord of Creatures.
तासामस्तीह सा शक्तिरचिन्त्या तर्कहेतुभिः
Among them, here, that power is inconceivable by means of logical reasoning.
तच्छृण्वंति यतः पार्थ नैका श्रावणिका मताः
Because they listen, O Partha, they are not considered mere listeners.
यथा हि सिद्धगंधर्वा नागाः किंपुरुषाः खगाः तथैताः पुण्यनामानो वंद्याः श्रावणिकाः स्मृताः
Just as Siddhas, Gandharvas, Nagas, Kimpurushas, and birds are, so too these virtuous ones, called Shravanikas, are remembered as worthy of reverence.
ता समुद्दिश्य कर्तव्यस्तं नारीनरैरिह
With them in mind, actions must be performed here by men and women.
आघ्राय धूपं पक्वान्नं जलं चागन्ध मेव च
After offering incense, cooked food, water, and also fragrance,
अदत्त्वा यदि मृत्युः स्यादंतरालेपि पांडव सफेनिलैर्मुखै रौद्रैर्भ्रियंते नीचदुःखिताः ।। 4.95.
If one does not give, O Pandava, death may occur even in the interval; the wretched and miserable are tormented by fierce, foaming-mouthed beings.
श्रूयंते हि पुरा पार्थ पृथिव्यां नहुषो नृपः
It is heard, O Partha, that long ago on earth was King Nahusha.
प्रत्यक्षरूपसंपन्ना दर्शनीयतरा शुभा
She was endowed with a manifest form, exceedingly beautiful and auspicious.
शब्दगद्गदसंभाषा मत्तमातंगगामिनी
Her speech was indistinct, like the sound of an intoxicated elephant walking.
सा कदाचिद्गता स्नातुं गंगायां चाश्रमे मुनेः
Once, she went to bathe in the Ganga at the sage’s hermitage.
भोजयंती मुनीनां तु पत्नीर्नानान्नभोजनैः
She served the wives of the sages with various kinds of food.
पूज्यं भगवति ब्रूहि किमेतद्व्रतमुच्यते
O revered one, tell me, what is this vow called?
अरुन्धत्युवाच जयश्रिये शृणुष्व त्वं नाम्ना श्रावणिकाव्रतम्
Arundhati said: Listen, O Jayashri, to the vow named Shravanikā.
गूढं बह्मर्षिसर्वस्वं सुपतिव्रतकं शुभम्
It is secret, the essence of all great sages, supremely auspicious for devoted wives.
एवमुक्ता जयश्रीस्तु भोज्ये तस्मिन्यदृच्छया
Thus addressed, Jayashri, by chance, partook of the food there.
भुक्त्वाचम्य जगामाथ स्वपुरं परमेश्वरम् 4.95.
Having eaten and rinsed her mouth, she then went to her own city, to the Supreme Lord.
ततस्तु समये पूर्णे म्रियमाणा महासती
Then, when the time was fulfilled, the great and virtuous lady was dying.