त्रिंशन्मिताननेकान्वा स्वशक्त्या वा निमंत्रयेत् । वरान्दत्त्वा यतो विष्णुर्मत्स्यरूपी अभूत्तदा
He should invite thirty or more, or as many as he is able; for it was then, after granting boons, that Viṣṇu became the Fish-incarnation.
तस्यां दत्तं हुतं जप्तं तदक्षयफलं स्मृतम् । अतस्तान्भोजयेद्विप्रान्पायसान्नादिना व्रती
Whatever is given, offered into the fire, or recited on that day is said to yield imperishable results; therefore, the vow-observer should feed the Brāhmaṇas with milk-rice and other foods.
अतो देवा इति द्वाभ्यां जुहुयात्तिलपायसम् । प्रीत्यर्थं देवदेवस्य देवानां च पृथक्पृथक्
Then, with two ladles, he should offer sesame-milk-rice for the pleasure of the Lord of gods, and separately for the other gods.
दक्षिणां च यथाशक्ति प्रदद्यात्प्रणमेच्च तान् । पुनर्देवं समभ्यर्च्य देवांश्च तुलसीं तथा
He should give gifts according to his ability and bow to them; then, having worshipped the Lord again, the gods, and also the tulasī plant—
ततो गां कपिलां तत्र पूजयेद्विधिवद्व्रती । गुरुं व्रतोपदेष्टारं वस्त्रालंकरणादिभिः
After that, the vow-observer should properly worship a tawny cow there, as well as the guru who has instructed him in the vow, with garments, ornaments, and the like.
सपत्नीकं समभ्यर्च्य गां च तस्मै प्रदापयेत् । युष्मत्प्रसादाद्देवेशः प्रसन्नो मे भवेत्तदा
Having worshipped him together with his wife, he should give him the cow; ‘By your favor, O Lord of gods, may the Lord be pleased with me then.’
व्रतादस्माच्च यत्पापं सप्तजन्मकृतं मया । तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु स्थिरा मे चास्तु संततिः
‘Whatever sin I have committed in seven births by this vow, may all that be destroyed, and may my lineage be stable.’
मनोरथाश्च सफलाः संतु नित्यं ममार्चनात् । देहांते वैष्णवं स्थानं प्राप्नुयामतिदुर्लभम्
‘May my wishes always be fulfilled through my worship; at the end of my body, may I attain the exceedingly rare abode of Viṣṇu.’
इति क्षमाप्यतान्विप्रान्प्रसाद्य च विसर्जयेत् । तामर्चां गुरवे दद्याद्रत्नयुक्तां तदा व्रती
Having thus honored and satisfied the Brāhmaṇas, he should dismiss them; then the vow-observer should give that worship, adorned with jewels, to the guru.
तदा सुहृद्गुरुयुतः स्वयं भुंजति भक्तिमान् । कार्त्तिके वाथ तपसि विधिरेवंविधः स्मृतः
Then, accompanied by friends and the guru, the devotee himself partakes of the food; such is the prescribed procedure in Kārttika or during austerities.
एवं यः कुरुते सम्यक्कार्तिकस्य व्रतं नरः । विपाप्मा स विनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुसान्निध्यगो भवेत्
Thus, whoever properly observes the vow of Kārtika, that man becomes freed from all sin and attains the presence of Viṣṇu.
सर्वव्रतैः सर्वतीर्थैःस र्वदानैश्च यत्फलम् । तत्कोटिगुणितं ज्ञेयं सम्यगस्य विधानतः
The fruit gained from all vows, all sacred bathing places, and all gifts—know that, when performed properly, this vow yields a result multiplied by ten million times.
ते धन्यास्ते महापुण्यास्तेषां सर्वफलोदयः । विष्णुभक्तिरता ये स्युः कार्तिके व्रतकारिणः
Blessed and greatly meritorious are those whose every desire is fulfilled—those devoted to Viṣṇu who observe the vow in Kārtika.
देहस्थितानि पापानि वितर्कं यांति तद्भयात् । क्व यास्यामो वदंत्येवं यद्ययं व्रतकृन्नरः
The sins residing in the body, out of fear, begin to wonder, 'Where shall we go?' when a man undertakes this vow.
इत्यूर्जव्रतनियमान्शृणोति भक्ता ये चैतत्कथयंति चैव वैष्णवाग्रे । ते सम्यग्व्रतकरणात्फलं लभेरन्तत्सर्वं कलुषविनाशनं लभंते
Those devotees who listen to or recite these regulations of the Urja vow before Vaiṣṇavas, by properly performing the vow, obtain all its fruits and gain the destruction of all impurity.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायामुत्तरखंडे कार्तिकमाहात्म्ये श्रीकृष्णसत्यभामासंवादे उद्यापनवर्णनोनाम पंचनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-fifth chapter, entitled 'Description of the Completion Ceremony,' in the section on the greatness of Kārtika, in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā, in the Uttara-khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, comprising fifty-five thousand verses.
पृथुरुवाच- यत्त्वया कथितं ब्रह्मन्व्रतमूर्जस्य विस्तरात् । तत्र या तुलसीमूले विष्णोः पूजा त्वयोदिता
Pṛthu said: O Brāhmaṇa, the vow of Urja which you have described in detail—especially the worship of Viṣṇu at the base of the Tulasī plant as you instructed—
तेनाहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम् । कथं सातिप्रिया विष्णोर्देवदेवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः
Therefore, I wish to ask you about the greatness and origin of Tulasī. How is she so dear to Viṣṇu, the god of gods, the wielder of Śārṅga?
कथमेषा समुत्पन्ना कस्मिंस्थाने च नारद । एतद्ब्रूहि समासेन सर्वज्ञोऽसि मतो हि मे
How did she arise, and in what place, O Nārada? Tell me this in brief, for I consider you to be all-knowing.
नारदउवाच- पुरा रुद्रेण दैत्येंद्रे सिंधुसूनौ निपातिते । प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं देवा ब्रह्मादयोऽब्रुवन् । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम्
Nārada said: Long ago, when Rudra slew the lord of the demons, the son of the ocean, the gods led by Brahmā bowed their heads to Rudra and spoke. Listen, O King, as I recount the greatness and origin of Tulasī.
सेतिहासं पुरावृत्तं तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते । पुरा शक्रः शिवं द्रष्टुमगात्कैलासपर्वतम् । सर्वदेवैः परिवृतस्त्वप्सरोगणसेवितः
I will tell you the entire ancient story as it happened. Once, Indra went to Mount Kailāsa to see Śiva, surrounded by all the gods and attended by groups of celestial nymphs.
यावद्गतः शिवगृहं तावत्तत्राशु दृष्टवान् । पुरुषं भीमकर्माणं दंष्ट्रानयनभीषणम्
When he reached Śiva’s abode, he immediately saw there a man of terrifying deeds, frightening with his fangs and eyes.
स पृष्टस्तेन कस्त्वं भो क्व गतो जगदीश्वरः । एवं पुनः पुनः पृष्टः स यदा नोचिवान्नृप
Indra questioned him: 'Who are you, sir? Where has the Lord of the universe gone?' Though asked again and again, the man did not reply, O King.
ततः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिस्तन्निर्भर्त्स्य वचोऽब्रवीत् । रे मया पृच्छमानोऽपि नोत्तरं दत्तवानसि
Then, the thunderbolt-wielder, angered, rebuked him and said: 'Even though I am asking you, you have not given any answer.'
अतस्त्वां हन्मि वज्रेण कस्ते त्रातास्ति दुर्मते । इत्युदीर्य ततो वज्री वज्रेण चाहनद्दृढम्
'Therefore, I will strike you with my thunderbolt. Who will save you, wicked one?' Saying this, the wielder of the thunderbolt struck him forcefully with his weapon.
तेनास्य कंठे नीलत्वमगाद्वज्रं च भस्मतां । ततो रुद्र प्रजज्वाल तेजसा प्रदहन्निव
Because of this, his neck turned blue and the thunderbolt was reduced to ashes. Then Rudra blazed forth, as if burning with his radiance.
दृष्ट्वा बृहस्पतिस्तूर्णं कृतांजलिपुटोऽभवत् । इंद्रश्चदंडवद्भूमौ कृत्वा स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे
Seeing this, Bṛhaspati quickly folded his hands in reverence, and Indra, bowing to the ground, began to offer praise.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच- नमो देवाधिदेवाय त्र्यंबकाय कपर्दिने । त्रिपुरघ्नाय शर्वाय नमोंधकनिषूदिने
Bṛhaspati said: 'Salutations to the god of gods, to Tryambaka, the matted-haired one, the slayer of Tripura, to Śarva, and to the destroyer of Andhaka.'
विरूपायातिरूपाय बहुरूपाय शंभवे । यज्ञविध्वंसकर्त्रे च यज्ञानां फलदायिने
Salutation to Śambhu, who is formless and of infinite forms, who is the destroyer of sacrifices and the giver of the fruits of sacrifices.
कालांतकाय कालाय कालभोगधराय च । नमो ब्रह्मशिरोहंत्रे ब्राह्मणाय नमो नमः
Homage to him who is Death to Death, who is Time, who bears the enjoyment of Time; obeisance again and again to the slayer of Brahmā’s head, to the Brāhmaṇa.