व्रतांते शयनं दद्यात्सर्वोपस्करसंयुतम्। उमामहेश्वरौ हैमौ वृषभं च गवा सह
At the conclusion of the vow, one should give a bed furnished with all accessories, along with golden images of Uma and Maheshvara, a bull, and cows.
स्थापयित्वा च शयनं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्। द्वादश्यां वत्सरं त्वेकं महालक्ष्म्या च केशवम्
Having set up the bed, one should present it to a Brahmin on the twelfth day, together with Mahalakshmi and Keshava for one year.
ब्रह्माणं सह सावित्र्या पूजयित्वा नरस्त्विह। सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति मनसा समभीप्सितान्
Here, after worshipping Brahma together with Savitri, a man attains all the desires he longs for in his mind.
अन्यान्यपि यथाशक्ति मिथुनान्यंबरादिभिः। धान्यालङ्कारगोदानैरन्यैश्च धनसञ्चयैः
According to ability, one should also give other pairs with garments and the like, with gifts of grain, ornaments, cows, and other accumulations of wealth.
वित्तशाठयेन रहितः पूजयेद्गतविस्मयः। एवं करोति यः सम्यक्सौभाग्यशयनव्रतम्1.29.
Free from miserliness and without astonishment, one should worship; whoever performs the vow of the Auspicious Bed in this manner, properly—
सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति पदं वा नित्यमश्नुते। फलस्यैकस्य च त्यागमेतत्कुर्वन्समाचरेत्
He attains all desires or enjoys an eternal state; performing this, he should also renounce the fruit of a single act.
यशः कीर्तिमवाप्नोति प्रतिमासं नराधिप। सौभाग्यारोग्यरूपैश्च वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः
He attains fame and renown each month, O king, as well as good fortune, health, beauty, garments, ornaments, and jewels.
न वियुक्तो भवेद्राजन्सौभाग्यशयनप्रदः। यस्तु द्वादशवर्षाणि सौभाग्यशयनव्रतम्
He is never deprived, O king, who bestows the Auspicious Bed; and whoever observes the vow of the Auspicious Bed for twelve years—
करोति सप्त चाष्टौ वा ब्रह्मलोके महीयते। पूज्यमानो वसेत्सम्यक्यावत्कल्पायुतं नरः
Whether for seven or eight years, is honored in the world of Brahma; he dwells there, worshipped, for as many as ten thousand aeons.
विष्णोर्लोकमथासाद्य शिवलोकगतस्तथा। नारी वा कुरुते या तु कुमारी वा नरेश्वर
Having attained the world of Vishnu, and likewise having gone to the world of Shiva, whether a woman or a maiden performs it, O king—
सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति देव्यनुग्रहलालिता। शृणुयादपि यश्चैव प्रदद्यादथवा मतिम्
She too obtains that fruit, cherished by the grace of the goddess; and whoever hears or gives his mind to this—
सोपि विद्याधरो भूत्वा स्वर्गलोके चिरं वसेत्। इदमिह मदनेन पूर्वसृष्टं शतधनुषा च कृतं नरेण तद्वत्
He too, becoming a Vidyadhara, dwells long in heaven; this was formerly established here by Madana and accomplished by Shatadhanu, and likewise by men.
कृतमथ पवनेन नंदिना च किमु जननाथमहाद्भुतं न वा स्यात्
And if it was performed by Pavana and Nandina, then what wonder is there, O lord of men, if it is not a great marvel?
भीष्म उवाच। यज्ञपवर्तमासाद्य विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। पदानि चेह दत्तानि किमर्थं पदपद्धतिः
Bhishma said: Having reached the sacrificial ground, the mighty Vishnu placed his steps here; for what purpose was this arrangement of steps made?
कृता वै देवदेवेन तन्मे वद महामते। कतमो दानवस्तेन विष्णुना दमितोत्र वै
Indeed, it was done by the god of gods—tell me this, O wise one; which demon was subdued here by Vishnu?
कृत्वा वै पदविन्यासं तन्मे शंस महामुने। स्वर्लोके वसतिर्विष्णोर्वैकुंठेऽस्य महात्मनः
Having made the arrangement of steps, tell me, O great sage, about Vishnu's residence in heaven, in Vaikuntha, the abode of the great soul.
स कथं मानुषे लोके पदन्यासं चकार ह। देवलोकेषु वै देव देवाः सेंद्रपुरोगमाः
How did he set foot in the world of men? In the worlds of the gods, indeed, the gods with Indra at their head—
तपसा महता ब्रह्मन्भक्ता ये सततं प्रभुम्। श्रीवराहस्य वसतिर्महर्ल्लोके प्रकीर्तिता
O Brahman, those who are ever devoted to the Lord through great austerity— it is said that the abode of Śrī Varāha is in Maharloka.
नृसिंहस्य तथा प्रोक्ता जनलोके महात्मनः। त्रिविक्रमस्य वसतिस्तपोलोके प्रकीर्तिता
Likewise, it is declared that the abode of the great-souled Nṛsiṃha is in Janaloka, and that of Trivikrama is renowned in Tapoloka.
लोकानेतान्परित्यज्य कथं भूमौ पदद्वयम्। क्षेत्रे पैतामहे चास्मिन्पुष्करे यज्ञपर्वते
Abandoning these worlds, how did he place two feet upon the earth, in this ancestral field, at Puṣkara, on the mountain of sacrifice?
पदानि कृतवान्ब्रह्मन्विस्तरान्मम कीर्तय। श्रुतेन सर्वपापस्य नाशो वै भविता ध्रुवम्
O Brahman, tell me in detail how he made his steps here; by hearing this, all sins will surely be destroyed.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। सम्यक्पृच्छसि भोस्त्वं यत्संशृणु त्वं समाहितः। यथापूर्वं पदन्यासः कृतो देवेन विष्णुना
Pulastya said: You have asked well, O best of men; now listen attentively as I recount how, in ancient times, Viṣṇu set his steps.
यज्ञपर्वतमासाद्य शिलापर्वतरोधसि। पुरा कृतयुगे भीष्म देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये
In the Kṛta Yuga, long ago, Bhīṣma, for the accomplishment of the gods’ purpose, Viṣṇu approached Yajña Mountain, on the slope of the stony mountain.
विष्णुना च कृतं पूर्वं पृथिव्यर्थे परंतप। त्रिदिवं सर्वमानीतं दानवैर्बलवत्तरैः
Formerly, O scorcher of foes, Viṣṇu acted for the sake of the earth, for all of heaven had been seized by the powerful Dānavas.
त्रैलोक्यं वशमानीय जित्वा देवान्सवासवान्। दानवा यज्ञभोक्तारस्तत्रासन्बलवत्तराः
Having conquered the gods along with Indra, the Dānavas brought the three worlds under their control; there, the mighty Dānavas became the enjoyers of sacrifice.
कृता बाष्कलिना सर्वे दानवेन बलीयसा। एवंभूते तदा लोके त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
All this was accomplished by Bāṣkali, the powerful Dānava; thus, at that time, in the world, in the three worlds with all their moving and unmoving beings—
परमार्तिं ययौ शक्रो निराशो जीविते कृतः। स बाष्कलिर्दानवेंद्रोऽवध्योयं मम संयुगे
Indra fell into utmost distress, despairing of life: ‘This Bāṣkali, lord of the Dānavas, is invincible to me in battle.’
ब्रह्मणो वरदानेन सर्वेषां तु दिवौकसाम्। तदहं ब्रह्मणो लोके वृतः सर्वैर्दिवौकसैः
By the boon granted by Brahmā to all the dwellers of heaven, I am now beset by all the gods in the world of Brahmā.
व्रजामि शरणं देवं गतिरन्या न विद्यते। एवं विचिंत्य देवेंद्रो वृतः सर्वैर्दिवौकसैः
I go for refuge to the Lord; there is no other recourse. Thus reflecting, the lord of the gods, surrounded by all the immortals—
जगाम त्वरितो भीष्म यत्र देवः पितामहः। ब्रह्मणः स पदं प्राप्य वृतस्तैश्च दिवौकसैः
Quickly went, O Bhīṣma, to where the god, the Grandfather, was; reaching the abode of Brahmā, accompanied by those immortals—