माधवे मासि मां भक्त्या तैश्च पूज्योऽस्म्यहं सदा । हिरण्याक्षो वरारोहे माधवे तु मधुर्हत
In the month of Madhava, those who worship me with devotion are always worthy to worship me. O beautiful one, in Madhava, Hiranyaksha was slain.
आदिदैत्यावुभावेतौ हत्वा त्वं तु समुद्धृता । त्रेतायुगे त्रयी धर्मो ज्ञानवर्णव्यवस्थितिः
Both of those primordial demons were slain, and you were uplifted. In the Treta age, the triple Vedic dharma, the order of knowledge and castes, was established.
माधवे मासि संभूता तेन मे माधवःप्रियः । त्रेतायुगं तृतीयायां शुक्लायां मासि माधवे
In the month of Madhava, I was manifested; therefore, Madhava is dear to me. The Treta age began in the third bright fortnight of the month of Madhava.
प्रवृत्तं च त्रयी धर्माः प्रवृत्तास्ते प्रवर्द्धिताः । अक्षया सोच्यते लोके तृतीया हरिवल्लभा
The triple dharmas began and flourished then. The third, beloved of Hari, is called imperishable in the world.
स्नाने दानार्चने श्राद्धे जपे पूर्वजतर्प्पणे । येऽर्चयंति यवैर्विष्णुं श्राद्धं कुर्वंति यत्नतः
In bathing, giving, worship, ancestral rites, recitation, and offerings to ancestors—those who worship Vishnu with barley, and perform shraddha with diligence—
तेषां ददाम्यहं सर्वं यन्मनोऽभीष्टमुत्तमम् । ये ददंत्यपि दानानि धन्यास्ते धार्मिका नराः
To them I grant everything their mind desires, the highest. Those who give gifts are blessed; those men are righteous.
ये यजंति हरेर्नित्यमध्वरैर्विविधैरपि । माधवे यजते यो मां तेभ्यस्तदधिकं फलम्
Those who worship Hari daily with various sacrifices—who worship me in Madhava—receive a greater reward than all others.
स्नानं दानं जपो होमस्तपो यज्ञ व्रतादिकम् । वैशाखे यत्कृतं देवि तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
Bathing, giving, recitation, oblation, austerity, sacrifice, vows, and the like—whatever is done in Vaisakha, O goddess, hear the merit obtained from it.
मन्वंतराणां कोट्यस्तु दशपंच च सप्त च । मत्सान्निध्यगतास्तेपि तिष्ठंति भयवर्जिताः
The tens, fives, and sevens of crores of manvantaras—even those who come into my presence remain free from fear.
यद्यपि स्युर्ग्रहाः सर्वे क्रूरा जन्मव्ययाष्टकाः । प्रातःस्नानेन वैशाखे सर्वे सौम्या भवंति ते
Even if all the planets are cruel, causing birth and death, by bathing in the morning in Vaisakha, they all become auspicious.
वैशाखे मासि यो विप्रान्भोजयेद्भक्तितत्परः । सिक्थेसिक्थे भवेत्तृप्तिः पितॄणां युगसंख्यया
In the month of Vaisakha, one who feeds Brahmins with utmost devotion—there is satisfaction for the ancestors, equal to the number of ages.
यच्छंति तत्र मधुराधिकभोजनानि ये वायवाशन तिलोदक भोजनानि । छत्रांबराणि चरणोचितरक्षणानि धन्यास्त एव परितोषकराहि विष्णोः
Those who give sweet, abundant meals there, barley food, sesame water, meals, umbrellas, garments, and protection for the feet—those blessed ones are truly pleasing to Vishnu.
विशेषादिह दातव्यास्तिला मधुसमन्विताः । धर्माय बृहते दीर्घ दुरितक्षय हेतवे
Especially here, sesame mixed with honey should be given—for the sake of great dharma, for long life, and for the destruction of sin.
एवंकृते तु यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते मनुजैश्च तैः । तत्कैर्गणयितुं शक्यं वर्षकोटिशतैरपि
The merit obtained by men who act thus—cannot be counted even by hundreds of crores of years.
पुत्रपौत्रादिसंपत्ति दीर्घायूंषि यथेप्सितम् । इहाप्नोति परत्रापि मामेव प्रतिपद्यते
The desired attainment of sons, grandsons, and other wealth, and long life—one obtains here, and in the next world attains me alone.
अनेकजन्मार्जित पातकावली विलीयते माधव मज्जनेन । जनस्य तत्रोषसि पुण्यतीर्थे यथाविधानं श्रयते तथा वा
The chain of sins accumulated over many births is dissolved by bathing in Madhava; in that holy place, people attain merit according to prescribed rules, or as they are able.
यः परित्यज्य वैशाखं व्रतमन्यदुपाचरेत् । स करस्थं महारत्नं हित्वा लोष्टं हि याचते
Whoever abandons the Vaiśākha vow and observes another instead, is like one who, having a great jewel in his hand, throws it away and begs for a clod of earth.
सूतउवाच- एवं स भगवान्पूर्वमादिदेवो वदद्विभुः । माधवं मासमुद्दिश्य जगत्यां जगतीधरः
Sūta said: Thus, in ancient times, the Blessed Lord, the Primeval God, spoke these words, addressing the month of Mādhava, the Sustainer of the Worlds upon the earth.
किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन न तदस्ति महीसुराः । यदप्राप्यं भवेन्मासि माधवे माधवार्चनात्
Why speak at length? There is nothing, O best of sages, that cannot be attained in the month of Mādhava by worshipping Mādhava.
शृणुध्वं च पुरावृत्तमिहार्थे परमाद्भुतम् । ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं यमस्य च महात्मनः
Now hear an ancient and most wondrous story related to this matter—the conversation between a brāhmaṇa and the great-souled Yama.
मध्यदेशे महाग्रामो ब्राह्मणानां बभूव ह । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये यामुनस्य गिरेरधः
In the central region, there was a great village of brāhmaṇas, situated between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā rivers, at the foot of the Yamuna mountain.
विद्वांसस्तत्र भूयिष्ठा ब्राह्मणाश्चावसंस्तदा । अथ प्राह यमः कंचित्पुरुषं कृष्णपिंगलम्
There, most of the inhabitants were learned brāhmaṇas. Then Yama spoke to a certain man, dark and tawny in appearance.
रक्ताक्षमूर्द्ध्वरोमाणं काकजंघाक्षिनासिकम् । गच्छ त्वं भो महाग्रामं गत्वा ब्राह्मणमानय
With red eyes, hair standing upright, and limbs like a crow—legs, eyes, and nose—he was told: 'Go, O you, to the great village and bring a brāhmaṇa.'
वसिष्ठगोत्रसंभूतं नामतो यज्ञदत्तकम् । शमे निविष्टं विद्वांसं यज्ञकर्मविशारदम्
He is born of the lineage of Vasiṣṭha, named Yajñadatta, established in tranquility, learned, and expert in sacrificial rites.
नचान्यमानयेथास्त्वं सगोत्रं तस्य पार्श्वतः । सहितादृग्गुणस्तेन तुल्योऽध्ययन जन्मना
Do not bring anyone else from his family or those near him—only one who matches him in qualities, study, and birth.
आकृत्या च तथा चिह्नैः समस्तेनैव सत्तमः । तमानय यथोद्दिष्टा पूजा कार्या हि तस्य मे
By form and by all distinguishing marks, bring that excellent one exactly as described; for I must perform worship for him.
स गत्वा प्रतिकूलं तु चकार यमशासनम् । तमेव मानयामास प्रतिषिद्धो यमेन यः
He went and, acting contrary to the command of Yama, honored only the one whom Yama had forbidden.
तस्मै यमः समुत्थाय पूजां कृत्वा च धर्मवित् । प्रोवाच नीयतामेष सोऽन्य आनीयतामिति
Yama, rising up, performed worship for him according to dharma, and said, 'Let this one be sent back; bring another instead.'
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्ते तु वचने धर्मराजेन स द्विजः । उवाच धर्मराजं तं निर्विण्णो गमनाय वै
Sūta said: When the Lord of Dharma spoke thus, the brāhmaṇa, disheartened at the prospect of returning, addressed Dharmarāja.
ब्राह्मण उवाच- कस्मादहमिहानीतः कस्मात्प्रेरयसे पुनः । गंतुं नैवोत्सहे तत्र मर्त्यलोकं पुनः प्रभो
The brāhmaṇa said: 'Why have I been brought here? Why do you send me back again? I am unable, O Lord, to return to the mortal world.'