Varaha Purana

देवासुरमनुष्याणां दिदृक्षुं कलहप्रियम् । ब्रह्मपुत्रं तपोयुक्तं पप्रच्छुस्ता वराङ्गनाः ।। ५४.

Desiring to see the son of Brahma, devoted to austerity, who delights in quarrels and is sought by gods, demons, and humans, those excellent women questioned him.

अप्सरस ऊचुः । भगवन् ब्रह्मतनय भर्तृकामा वयं द्विज । नारायणश्च भर्त्ता नो यथा स्यात् तत् प्रचक्ष्व नः ।। ५४.

The Apsaras said: 'O revered one, son of Brahma, we are desirous of husbands, O twice-born. Tell us how Narayana may become our husband.'

नारद उवाच । प्रणामपूर्वकः प्रश्नः सर्वत्र विहितः शुभः । स च मे न कृतो गर्वाद् युष्माभिर्यौवनस्मयात् ।। ५४.

Narada said: 'A question preceded by reverent greeting is always auspicious everywhere; but you did not do so, out of pride and youthful arrogance.'

तथापि देवदेवस्य विष्णोर्यन्नामकीर्तितम् । भवतीभिस्तथा भर्त्ता भवत्विति हरिः कृतः । तन्नामोच्चारणादेव कृतं सर्वं न संशयः ।। ५४.

Nevertheless, whatever name of the god of gods, Vishnu, is spoken by you, so let him be your husband; Hari is thus made so. By uttering his name alone, all is accomplished, without doubt.

इदानीं कथयाम्याशु व्रतं येन हरिः स्वयम् । वरदत्वमवाप्नोति भर्तृत्वं च नियच्छति ।। ५४.

Now I shall quickly tell you the vow by which Hari himself grants boons and bestows the status of husband.

नारद उवाच । वसन्ते शुक्लपक्षस्य द्वादशी या भवेच्छुभा । तस्यामुपोष्य विधिवन् निशायां हरिमर्च्चयेत् ।। ५४.

Narada said: 'In spring, on the auspicious twelfth day of the bright fortnight, after fasting according to the prescribed manner, one should worship Hari at night.'

पर्यङ्कास्तरणं कृत्वा नानाचित्रसमन्वितम् । तत्र लक्ष्म्या युतं रौप्यं हरिं कृत्वा निवेशयेत् ।। ५४.

Having prepared a bed adorned with various designs, one should place upon it a silver image of Hari together with Lakshmi.

तस्योपरि ततः पुष्पैर्मण्डपं कारयेद् बुधः । नृत्यवादित्रगेयैश्च जागरं तत्र कारयेत् ।। ५४.

Then, above it, one should construct a pavilion with flowers, and arrange a vigil there with dance and musical instruments.

मनोभवायेति शिर अनङ्गायेति वै कटिम् । कामाय बाहुमूले तु सुशास्त्रायेति चोदरम् ।। ५४.

With 'for the mind-born' on the head, 'for Ananga' on the waist, 'for Kama' at the base of the arms, and 'for the good scriptures' on the abdomen—

मन्मथायेति पादौ तु हरयेति च सर्वतः । पुष्पैः संपूज्य देवेशं मल्लिकाजातिभिस्तथा ।। ५४.

'For Manmatha' on the feet, 'for Hari' everywhere; worship the lord of gods with flowers, especially those of the jasmine kind.

पश्चाच्चतुर आदाय इक्षुदण्डान् सुशोभनान् । चतुर्दिक्षु न्यसेत् तस्य देवस्य प्रणतो नृप ।। ५४.

Afterwards, taking four beautiful sugarcane stalks, one should place them in the four directions around the deity, bowing, O King.

एवं कृत्वा प्रभाते तु प्रदद्याद् ब्राह्मणाय वै । वेदवेदाङ्गयुक्ताय संपूर्णाङ्गाय धीमते ।। ५४.

Having done so, in the morning one should give them to a Brahmin who is learned in the Vedas and Vedangas, whose limbs are complete and who is wise.

ब्राह्मणांश्च तथा पूज्य व्रतमेतत् समापयेत् । एवं कृते तथा विष्णुर्भर्त्ता वो भविता ध्रुवम् ।। ५४.

One should also honor the Brahmins and complete this vow; by doing so, Vishnu will certainly become your husband.

अकृत्वा मत्प्रणामं तु पृष्टो गर्वेण शोभनाः । अवमानस्य तस्यायं विपाको वो भविष्यति ।। ५४.

Without offering me a respectful greeting, you asked out of pride, O beautiful ones; as a result of this disrespect, you will reap its consequence.

एतस्मिन्नेव सरसि अष्टावक्रो महामुनिः । तस्योपहासं कृत्वा तु शापं लप्स्यथ शोभनाः ।। ५४.

In this very lake, the great sage Ashtavakra, after being mocked by you, O beautiful ones, will curse you.

व्रतेनानेन देवेशं पतिं लब्ध्वाऽभिमानतः । अवमानेऽपहरणं गोपालैर्वो भविष्यति । पुरा हर्त्ता च कन्यानां देवो भर्त्ता भविष्यति ।। ५४.

By this vow, having obtained the Lord of the gods as husband, out of pride, there will be disrespect and abduction by cowherds. Previously, the god who was the thief of maidens will become their husband.

अगस्त्य उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा स देवर्षिः प्रययौ नारदः क्षणात् । ता अप्येतद् व्रतं चक्रुस्तुष्टश्चासां स्वयं हरिः ।। ५४.

Agastya said: Having spoken thus, the divine sage Narada departed at once. Those women also performed this vow, and Hari himself was pleased with them.

अगस्त्य उवाच । श्रृणु राजन् महाभाग व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । येन संप्राप्यते विष्णुः शुभेनैव न संशयः ।। ५५.

Agastya said: Listen, O fortunate king, to the supreme vow among vows, by which Vishnu is attained through auspiciousness—there is no doubt.

मार्गशीर्षेऽथ मासे तु प्रथमाह्नात् समारभेत् । एकभक्तं सिते पक्षे यावत् स्याद् दशमी तिथिः ।। ५५.

Then, in the month of Margashirsha, one should begin from the first day, taking one meal during the bright fortnight until the tenth lunar day arrives.

ततो दशम्यां मध्याह्ने स्नात्वा विष्णुं समर्च्य च । भक्त्या संकल्पयेत् प्राग्वद् द्वादशीं पक्षतो नृप ।। ५५.

Then, on the tenth day, after bathing at midday and worshipping Vishnu, one should, with devotion, resolve as before for the twelfth day of the fortnight, O king.

तामप्येवमुषित्वा च यवान् विप्राय दापयेत् । कृष्णायेति हरिर्वाच्यो दाने होमे तथार्च्चने ।। ५५.

Having observed it in this way, one should give barley to a Brahmin, saying 'for Krishna,' whether in giving, in sacrifice, or in worship.

चातुर्मास्यमथैवं तु क्षपित्वा राजसत्तम । चैत्रादिषु पुनस्तद्वदुपोष्य प्रयतः सुधीः । सक्तुपात्राणि विप्राणां सहिरण्यानि दापयेत् ।। ५५.

After thus completing the four-month period, O best of kings, again, beginning from Chaitra and onward, the wise should observe it with effort, giving bowls of flour with gold to Brahmins.

श्रावणादिषु मासेषु तद्वच्छालिं प्रदापयेत् । त्रिषु मासेषु यावच्च कार्त्तिकस्यादिरागतः ।। ५५.

In the months beginning with Shravana, likewise, one should give rice, for three months, until the beginning of Kartika arrives.

तमप्येवं क्षपित्वा तु दशम्यां प्रयतः शुचिः । अर्चयित्वा हरिं भक्त्या मासनाम्ना विचक्षणः ।। ५५.

Having thus completed it, on the tenth day, with purity and effort, after worshipping Hari with devotion, the wise should name the month.

संकल्पं पूर्ववद् भक्त्या द्वादश्यां संयतेन्द्रियः । एकादश्यां यथाशक्त्या कारयेत् पृथिवीं नृप ।। ५५.

With devotion, as before, one should resolve on the twelfth day, restraining the senses; on the eleventh day, according to ability, one should prepare the earth, O king.

काञ्चनाङ्गां च पातालकुलपर्वतसंयुताम् । भूमिन्यासविधानेन स्थापयेत् तां हरेः पुरः ।। ५५.

One should establish, by the prescribed method, an image of the earth with golden limbs, adorned with mountains and the netherworld, before Hari.

सितवस्त्रयुगच्छन्नां सर्वबीजसमन्विताम् । संपूज्य प्रियदत्तेति पञ्चरत्नैर्विचक्षणः ।। ५५.

Covered with a pair of white garments, containing all seeds, one should worship it as 'Priyadatta,' using five gems, O wise one.

जागरं तत्र कुर्वीत प्रभाते तु पुनर्द्विजान् । आमन्त्र्यं संख्यया राजंश्चतुर्विंशति यावतः ।। ५५.

One should keep vigil there, and at dawn, again, invite Brahmins by number, O king, up to twenty-four.

तेषां एकैकशो गां च अनड्वाहं च दापयेत् । एकैकं वस्त्रयुग्मं च अङ्गुलीयकमेव च ।। ५५.

To each of them, one should give a cow and a draught animal, a pair of garments, and a ring.