Varaha Purana

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.

षड्भिः पात्रैरुपेतं तु ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् । एकं मधुमयं पात्रं द्वितीयं घृतपूरितम् ।। ५८.

One should offer to the Brahmin six vessels: one filled with honey, a second filled with ghee,

तृतीयं तिलतैलस्य चतुर्थं गुडसंयुतम् । पञ्चमं लवणैः पूर्णं षष्ठं गोक्षीरसंयुतम् ।। ५८.

A third with sesame oil, a fourth with jaggery, a fifth filled with salt, and a sixth with cow's milk.

एतानि दत्त्वा पात्राणि सप्तजन्मान्तरं भवेत् । सुभगो दर्शनीयश्च नारी वा पुरुषोऽपि वा ।। ५८.

Having given these vessels, for seven lifetimes one becomes fortunate and attractive, whether woman or man.

अगस्त्य उवाच । अथाविघ्नकरं राजन् कथयामि श्रृणुष्व मे । येन सम्यक् कृतेनापि न विघ्नमुपजायते ।। ५९.

Agastya said: Now, O King, I will tell you the means to remove obstacles; listen to me. By which, even when performed properly, no hindrance arises.

चतुर्थ्यां फाल्गुने मासि ग्रहीतव्यं व्रतं त्विदम् । नक्ताहारेण राजेन्द्र तिलान्नं पारणं स्मृतम् । तदेवाग्नौ तु होतव्यं ब्राह्मणाय च तद् भवेत् ।। ५९.

O King, this vow is to be undertaken on the fourth day in the month of Phalguna. One should eat only at night, with sesame rice as the meal for breaking the fast. That same food should be offered into the fire and given to a Brahmin.

चातुर्मास्यं व्रतं चैतत् कृत्वा वै पञ्च मे तथा । सौवर्णं गजवक्त्रं तु कृत्वा विप्राय दापयेत् ।। ५९.

Having performed this four-month vow five times for me, one should have a golden image of the elephant-faced one made and give it to a Brahmin.

पायसैः पञ्चभिः पात्रैरुपेतं तु तिलैस्तथा । एवं कृत्वा व्रतं चैतत् सर्वविघ्नैर्विमुच्यते ।। ५९.

With five vessels of milk-rice and sesame seeds, having thus performed this vow, one becomes freed from all obstacles.

हयमेधस्य विघ्ने तु संजाते सगरः पुरा । एतदेव चरित्वा तु हयमेधं समाप्तवान् ।। ५९.

Formerly, when an obstacle arose during Sagara's horse sacrifice, by performing this very vow, he completed the horse sacrifice.

तथा रुद्रेण देवेन त्रिपुरं निघ्नता पुरा । एतदेव कृतं तस्मात् त्रिपुरं तेन पातितम् । मया समुद्रं पिबता एतदेव कृतं व्रतम् ।। ५९.

Likewise, when Rudra, the god, destroyed Tripura in ancient times, he performed this very vow, and thus Tripura was felled by him. When I drank the ocean, I too performed this vow.

अन्यैरपि महीपालैरेतदेव कृतं पुरा । तपोऽर्थिभिर्ज्ञानकृतैर्निर्विघ्नार्थे परंतप ।। ५९.

Other kings in ancient times, seekers of austerity and knowledge, have also performed this very vow for the removal of obstacles, O scorcher of foes.