Varaha Purana

यक्ष्मणा दक्षशापेन पुराक्रान्तो निशाकरः । एतच्चीर्त्वा व्रतं सद्यः कान्तिमानभवत् किल ।। ५७.

Long ago, the moon was afflicted by consumption due to Dakṣa's curse; by performing this vow, he immediately regained his radiance.

द्वितीयायां तु राजेन्द्र कार्त्तिकस्य सिते दिने । नक्तं कुर्वीत यत्नेन अर्चयन् बलकेशवम् ।। ५७.

On the bright second day of Kārttika, O king, one should observe a fast at night with effort, worshipping Balakeśava.

बलदेवाय पादौ तु केशवाय शिरोऽर्चयेत् । एवमभ्यर्च्य मेधावी वैष्णवं रूपमुत्तमम् ।। ५७.

One should worship the feet of Baladeva and the head of Keśava; thus, having worshipped in this way, the wise one honors the supreme Vaiṣṇava form.

परस्वरूपं सोमाख्यं द्विकलं तद्दिने हि यत् । तस्यार्घं दापयेद् धीमान् मन्त्रेण परमेष्ठिनः ।। ५७.

On that day, the wise one should offer arghya to the supreme lord with the mantra, to the twofold form called Soma, which is the supreme form.

नमोऽस्त्वमृतरूपाय सर्वौषधिनृपाय च । यज्ञलोकाधिपतये सोमाय परमात्मने ।। ५७.

"Obeisance to you, who are of the form of nectar, lord of all herbs, ruler of the world of sacrifice, Soma, the supreme self."

अनेनैव च मार्गेण दत्त्वार्घ्यं परमेष्ठिनः । रात्रौ सविप्रो भुञ्जीत यवान्नं सघृतं नरः ।। ५७.

Having offered arghya to the supreme lord in this very manner, at night, the man, together with a brāhmaṇa, should eat barley food with ghee.

फाल्गुनादिचतुष्के तु पायसं भोजयेच्छुचिः । शालिहोमं तु कुर्वीत कार्त्तिके तु यवैस्तथा ।। ५७.

In the four months beginning with Phālguna, the pure one should serve rice pudding; in Kārttika, one should perform a rice offering with barley as well.

आषाढादिचतुष्के तु तिलहोमं तु कारयेत् । तद्वत् तिलान्नं भुञ्जीत एष एव विधिक्रमः ।। ५७.

In the four months beginning with Āṣāḍha, one should perform a sesame offering; likewise, one should eat sesame food—this is the prescribed procedure.

ततः संवत्सरे पूर्णे शशिनं कृतराजतम् । सितवस्त्रयुगच्छन्नं सितपुष्पानुलेपनम् । एवमेव द्विजं पूज्य ततस्तं प्रतिपादयेत् ।। ५७.

Then, at the completion of a year, one should worship the moon made of silver, covered with a pair of white garments and anointed with white flowers, and then give it to a brāhmaṇa.

कान्तिमानपि लोकेऽस्मिन् सर्वज्ञः प्रियदर्शनः । त्वत्प्रसादात् सोमरूपिन् नारायण नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ५७.

He becomes radiant, all-knowing, and pleasing to behold in this world. By your grace, O Nārāyaṇa in the form of Soma, obeisance to you.

अनेन किल मन्त्रेण दत्त्वा विप्राय वाग्यतः । दत्तमात्रे ततस्तस्मिन् कान्तिमान् जायते नरः ।। ५७.

By giving this, with self-control, to a brāhmaṇa, with this very mantra, as soon as it is given, the man becomes radiant.

आत्रेयेणापि सोमेन कृतमेतत् पुरा नृप । तस्य व्रतान्ते संतुष्टः स्वयमेव जनार्दनः । यक्ष्माणमपनीयाशु अमृताख्यां कलां ददौ ।। ५७.

This was also performed in ancient times by Soma, son of Atri, O king. At the end of the vow, Janārdana himself, being pleased, quickly removed consumption and granted him the portion called nectar.

तां कलां सोमराजाऽसौ तपसा लब्धवानिति । सोमत्वं चागमत् सोऽस्य ओषधीनां पतिर्बभौ ।। ५७.

That portion was obtained by King Soma through austerity; thus he attained the state of Soma and became the lord of herbs.

द्वितीयामश्विनौ सोमभुजौ कीर्त्येते तद्दिने नृप । तौ शेषविष्णू विख्यातौ मुख्यपक्षौ न संशयः ।। ५७.

On the second day, the Aśvins, who partake of Soma, are celebrated on that day, O king; those two are renowned as Śeṣa and Viṣṇu, the chief wings, without doubt.

न विष्णोर्व्यतिरिक्तं स्याद् दैवतं नृपसत्तम । नामभेदेन सर्वत्र संस्थितः परमेश्वरः ।। ५७.

There is no deity apart from Viṣṇu, O best of kings; the supreme lord exists everywhere under different names.

अगस्त्य उवाच । अतः परं महाराज सौभाग्यकरणं व्रतम् । श्रृणु येनाशु सौभाग्यं स्त्रीपुंसामुपजायते ।। ५८.

Agastya said: Now, O King, listen to the vow that brings good fortune, by which prosperity quickly arises for both women and men.

फाल्गुनस्य तु मासस्य तृतीया शुक्लपक्षतः । उपासितव्या नक्तेन शुचिना सत्यवादिना ।। ५८.

On the third day of the bright fortnight in the month of Phalguna, one should observe this, fasting at night, with purity and truthfulness.

सश्रीकं च हरिं पूज्य रुद्रं वा चोमया सह । या श्रीः सा गिरिजा प्रोक्ता यो हरिः स त्रिलोचनः ।। ५८.

Having worshipped Hari with Lakshmi, or Rudra together with Uma—she who is called Shri is Girija, and he who is Hari is the three-eyed one.

एवं सर्वेषु शास्त्रेषु पुराणेषु च पठ्यते । एतस्मादन्यथा यस्तु ब्रूते शास्त्रं पृथक्तया ।। ५८.

Thus it is taught in all the scriptures and Puranas; whoever explains the scripture differently, separating them, speaks wrongly.

रुद्रो जनानां मर्त्यानां काव्यं शास्त्रं न तद्भवेत् । विष्णुं रुद्रकृतं ब्रूयात् श्रीर्गौरी न तु पार्थिव । तन्नास्तिकानां मर्त्यानां काव्यं ज्ञेयं विचक्षणैः ।। ५८.

If someone says that Rudra is not the author of the scriptures or poetry for mortals, or that Vishnu is not made by Rudra, or Shri is not Gauri, O King, know that as the speech of non-believers, discerned by the wise.

एवं ज्ञात्वा सलक्ष्मीकं हरिं संपूज्य भक्तितः । मन्त्रेणानेन राजेन्द्र ततस्तं परमेश्वरम् ।। ५८.

Knowing this, O King, one should devoutly worship Hari with Lakshmi, using this mantra, and then that Supreme Lord.

गम्भीरायेति पादौ तु सुभगायेति वै कटिम् । उदरं देवदेवेति त्रिनेत्रायेति वै मुखम् । वाचस्पतये च शिरो रुद्रायेति च सर्वतः ।। ५८.

Recite: 'To the deep one' at the feet, 'to the auspicious one' at the waist, 'to the god of gods' at the belly, 'to the three-eyed one' at the face, 'to the lord of speech' at the head, and 'to Rudra' everywhere.

एवमभ्यर्च्य मेधावी विष्णुं लक्ष्म्या समन्वितम् । हरं वा गौरिसंयुक्तं गन्धपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात् ।। ५८.

Thus, the wise should worship Vishnu with Lakshmi, or Hara with Gauri, in order, with sandal, flowers, and other offerings.

ततस्तस्याग्रतो होमं कारयेन्मधुसर्पिषा । तिलैः सह महाराज सौभाग्यपतयेति च ।। ५८.

Then, in front of them, one should perform a fire offering with honey and ghee, together with sesame seeds, O King, reciting 'for the lord of prosperity.'

ततस्त्वक्षारविरसं निस्नेहं धरणीतले । गोधूमान्नं तु भुञ्जीत कृष्णेप्येवं विधिः स्मृतः । आषाढादिद्वितीयां तु पारणं तत्र भोजनम् ।। ५८.

Afterwards, one should eat wheat food, without salt, alkaline, or oily substances, placed on the ground; the same rule applies in Krishna Paksha. On the second day from Ashadha onwards, one should break the fast and eat.

यवान्नं तु ततः पश्चात् कार्त्तिकादिषु पार्थिव । श्यामाकं तत्र भुञ्जीत त्रीन् मासान् नियतः शुचिः ।। ५८.

Then, in Karttika and the following months, O King, one should eat barley food, or shyamaka grain, for three months, with discipline and purity.

ततो माघसिते पक्षे तृतीयायां नराधिप । सौवर्णां कारयेद् गौरीं रुद्रं चैकत्र बुद्धिमान् ।। ५८.

Then, on the third day of the bright fortnight in Magha, O ruler of men, the wise should make a golden image of Gauri and Rudra together.

सलक्ष्मीकं हरिं चापि यथाशक्त्या प्रसन्नधीः । ततस्तं ब्राह्मणे दद्यात् पात्रभूते विचक्षणे ।। ५८.

And also, according to ability and with a cheerful mind, an image of Hari with Lakshmi; then, one should give it to a discerning Brahmin who is worthy.

अन्नेन हीने वेदानां पारगे साधुवर्तिनि । सदाचारेति वा दद्यादल्पवित्ते विशेषतः ।। ५८.

If lacking food, one should give it to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas, of good conduct, or to one of righteous behavior, especially if one has little wealth.