युगादयो युगांताश्च तथा कल्पादयोऽपि च । सर्वेभ्योऽप्यधिकं मासमेतेभ्यो वद पावनम्
The beginnings and ends of ages, and likewise the beginnings of kalpas—among all these, tell me which month is the most sanctifying.
सर्वयज्ञमय श्रीमन्नेकं निश्चित्य मे वद । वराह उवाच- विधिनाविधिनाचैव ये यजंति नराधमाः
O glorious one, composed of all sacrifices, determine one for me and tell me. Varāha said: Whether by proper or improper rites, those degraded men who worship—
माधवे मासि मां भक्त्या तैश्च पूज्योऽस्म्यहं सदा । हिरण्याक्षो वरारोहे माधवे तु मधुर्हत
In the month of Mādhava, those who worship me with devotion are always to be honored; in Mādhava, the demon Hiraṇyākṣa was slain by the boar.
आदिदैत्यावुभावेतौ हत्वा त्वं तु समुद्धृता । त्रेतायुगे त्रयी धर्मो ज्ञानवर्णव्यवस्थितिः
Both the primordial demons were slain, and you were uplifted; in the Tretā age, the triple dharma and the order of knowledge and castes were established.
माधवे मासि संभूता तेन मे माधवःप्रियः । त्रेतायुगं तृतीयायां शुक्लायां मासि माधवे
In the month of Mādhava, I was born; therefore Mādhava is dear to me. In the third, bright month of Mādhava, the Tretā age began.
प्रवृत्तं च त्रयी धर्माः प्रवृत्तास्ते प्रवर्द्धिताः । अक्षया सोच्यते लोके तृतीया हरिवल्लभा
The triple dharma commenced and flourished; the third is called inexhaustible in the world, beloved of Hari.
स्नाने दानार्चने श्राद्धे जपे पूर्वजतर्प्पणे । येऽर्चयंति यवैर्विष्णुं श्राद्धं कुर्वंति यत्नतः
In bathing, giving, worship, ancestral rites, recitation, and offerings to ancestors—those who worship Viṣṇu with barley, and perform ancestral rites with care—
तेषां ददाम्यहं सर्वं यन्मनोऽभीष्टमुत्तमम् । ये ददंत्यपि दानानि धन्यास्ते धार्मिका नराः
To them I grant all their highest wishes; those who give gifts are blessed, those men are righteous.
ये यजंति हरेर्नित्यमध्वरैर्विविधैरपि । माधवे यजते यो मां तेभ्यस्तदधिकं फलम्
Those who worship Hari constantly with various sacrifices—whatever the form—yet whoever worships Me in the month of Mādhava attains a greater reward than they.
स्नानं दानं जपो होमस्तपो यज्ञ व्रतादिकम् । वैशाखे यत्कृतं देवि तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
Bathing, giving, recitation, fire-offering, austerity, sacrifice, and vows—whatever is performed in the month of Vaiśākha, O Goddess, listen to the merit gained from that.
मन्वंतराणां कोट्यस्तु दशपंच च सप्त च । मत्सान्निध्यगतास्तेपि तिष्ठंति भयवर्जिताः
Even those who have come into My presence for ten, five, and seven crores of Manvantaras remain there, free from fear.
यद्यपि स्युर्ग्रहाः सर्वे क्रूरा जन्मव्ययाष्टकाः । प्रातःस्नानेन वैशाखे सर्वे सौम्या भवंति ते
Even if all the planets are cruel, bringing birth, loss, and the eighth house, by bathing in the morning during Vaiśākha, they all become auspicious for that person.
वैशाखे मासि यो विप्रान्भोजयेद्भक्तितत्परः । सिक्थेसिक्थे भवेत्तृप्तिः पितॄणां युगसंख्यया
Whoever, with devotion, feeds Brāhmaṇas in the month of Vaiśākha, the satisfaction of the ancestors endures for as many ages as there are grains of flour.
यच्छंति तत्र मधुराधिकभोजनानि ये वायवाशन तिलोदक भोजनानि । छत्रांबराणि चरणोचितरक्षणानि धन्यास्त एव परितोषकराहि विष्णोः
Those who offer there sweet and abundant foods, wind-dried or cooked with sesame water, as well as umbrellas, garments, and proper foot protection—these blessed ones alone bring satisfaction to Viṣṇu.
विशेषादिह दातव्यास्तिला मधुसमन्विताः । धर्माय बृहते दीर्घ दुरितक्षय हेतवे
Especially here, one should give sesame seeds mixed with honey, for the sake of great righteousness, long life, and the destruction of sin.
एवंकृते तु यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते मनुजैश्च तैः । तत्कैर्गणयितुं शक्यं वर्षकोटिशतैरपि
The merit gained by people from such acts cannot be counted, even in hundreds of millions of years.
पुत्रपौत्रादिसंपत्ति दीर्घायूंषि यथेप्सितम् । इहाप्नोति परत्रापि मामेव प्रतिपद्यते
One attains sons, grandsons, and other prosperity, long life as desired, and hereafter, one reaches Me alone.
अनेकजन्मार्जित पातकावली विलीयते माधव मज्जनेन । जनस्य तत्रोषसि पुण्यतीर्थे यथाविधानं श्रयते तथा वा
The multitude of sins accumulated over many births is dissolved by bathing in Mādhava; in that sacred place, when one bathes according to the proper method, one attains merit.
यः परित्यज्य वैशाखं व्रतमन्यदुपाचरेत् । स करस्थं महारत्नं हित्वा लोष्टं हि याचते
Whoever abandons the Vaiśākha vow and observes another, 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 Lord, the primeval God, the all-pervading one, spoke about the month of Mādhava, the sustainer of the world.
किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन न तदस्ति महीसुराः । यदप्राप्यं भवेन्मासि माधवे माधवार्चनात्
What is the use of many words here, O best of sages? There is nothing unattainable in the month of Mādhava by worshipping Mādhava.
शृणुध्वं च पुरावृत्तमिहार्थे परमाद्भुतम् । ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं यमस्य च महात्मनः
Now hear the ancient, most wonderful story related to this, the conversation between a Brāhmaṇa and the great soul Yama.
मध्यदेशे महाग्रामो ब्राह्मणानां बभूव ह । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये यामुनस्य गिरेरधः
In the middle country there was a great village of Brāhmaṇas, situated between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, below the mountain of Yamunā.
विद्वांसस्तत्र भूयिष्ठा ब्राह्मणाश्चावसंस्तदा । अथ प्राह यमः कंचित्पुरुषं कृष्णपिंगलम्
There, most of the Brāhmaṇas were learned. Then Yama spoke to a certain man, dark and tawny.
रक्ताक्षमूर्द्ध्वरोमाणं काकजंघाक्षिनासिकम् । गच्छ त्वं भो महाग्रामं गत्वा ब्राह्मणमानय
With red eyes, hair standing upright, and crow-like legs, eyes, and nose—he said, 'Go, you, to the great village and bring a Brāhmaṇa.'
वसिष्ठगोत्रसंभूतं नामतो यज्ञदत्तकम् । शमे निविष्टं विद्वांसं यज्ञकर्मविशारदम्
One born of the lineage of Vasiṣṭha, named Yajñadatta, established in tranquility, learned, and skilled in sacrificial rites.
नचान्यमानयेथास्त्वं सगोत्रं तस्य पार्श्वतः । सहितादृग्गुणस्तेन तुल्योऽध्ययन जन्मना
And you should not bring anyone else of his family to his side—only one who is equal to him in learning, qualities, and birth.
आकृत्या च तथा चिह्नैः समस्तेनैव सत्तमः । तमानय यथोद्दिष्टा पूजा कार्या हि तस्य मे
By his appearance and by all his distinguishing marks, recognize the best among them; bring him as specified, for worship must be performed for him on my behalf.
स गत्वा प्रतिकूलं तु चकार यमशासनम् । तमेव मानयामास प्रतिषिद्धो यमेन यः
He went and, acting contrary, carried out Yama's command; he honored only the one forbidden by Yama.
तस्मै यमः समुत्थाय पूजां कृत्वा च धर्मवित् । प्रोवाच नीयतामेष सोऽन्य आनीयतामिति
Then Yama, the knower of righteousness, rose up, performed worship for him, and said, 'Let this one be taken away; bring another instead.'