The Importance of the Vow of Janmastami

Shaunaka said:

1. O Suta, O you very wise one, tell me (about) Krishnastanri, and its excellent importance, (and) emancipate me from the great ocean (of the mundance existene). Suta said:

2-8. O brahmana, he who devoutly observes the (vow) Krsnastami, ultimately goes to Vishnu's city along with a crore (members) of his family. O best brahmana, when Astami falls on a Wednesday or Monday in conjunction with Rohini, itgives salvation to a crore (members) of his family. Even if a great sinner observes (this) excellent vow, he is freed from all sins and in the end goes to Vishnu's abode. O brahmana, that mean man who does not observe (the vow of) Krishnajanmastami, meets with misery here (i.e. in this world) and after death he would go to hell. That foolish woman who does not observe the vow of Krsnajanmastami goes to a terrible hell year after year. That foolish man who eats (food) on the day of JanmastamI, attains to a great hell. I am telling (you) the truth and truth (only). Formerly Dilipa asked the best sage Vasishtha. Listen to that (conversation), destroying all sins, O you very intelligent one. Dilipa said:

9-10. O great sage, tell me, I desire to hear (about) the Astanii in the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada on which Vishnu was born. How was the lord, holding a conch, a disc and a mace, born in (i.e. from) the womb of Devaki, to do what and for what purpose (was he born from her womb)? Vaistha said:

11-21. O king, I shall (tell you). I shall tell you for what purpose the lord of the world left the heaven and was born on the earth. Formerly the Earth was oppressed by kings like Kamsa. She, struck by Kamsa's messenger who was proud of his office, cried again and again, went with her eyes rolling to that place where the chief of gods, the lord of Uma and the bull-bannered god remained to tell him: " Olord, I am struck by Karhsa". Tears flowed (down her cheeks); she had become pale and insulted. The great god, seeing her weeping, came, with his lower lip throbbing with anger to the house of the Creator. Having gone to Brahma he asked him for the destruction of Karhsa. (He said to Brahma: ) " O Brahman, along with Vishnu, produce (i.e. find out) a means". Having heard those words of the lord (i.e. Shiva), Brahma went to the milky ocean where Vishnu was lying asleep on the serpent. Mounting upon the back of a swan he (i.e. Brahma) came to Vishnu. Having gone there, the Creator, the best among the speakers, joined by gods led by Hara (i.e. Shiva), praised him softly with words: " Salutation to the lotus-eyed one, Vishnu, the highest soul, the protector of the world. O you lord of Lakshmi, salutation to you." Having heard this praise from them, Vishnu said to all gods with saddened faces: " How (i.e. for what reason) have you come? " Brahma said:

22-26. O god, O lord of the world, listen, I (shall) tell you why we have come, O best of the gods, O cause of the worlds. King Karhsa has become arrogant due to the boon given by ava»" He has become unconquerable. He has struck the Earth; has afflicted her with the blow of his hand. After a boon was granted to him he was deceived by a trick. (He had said: ) " O Shiva, I should not meet with death except through my sister's son." Therefore. O god, having gone to Gokula, and obtained birth in (i.e. from) Devaki's womb, go yourself to kill that unconquerable Karhsa. The god, sent forth by Brahma, said to Shiva: ' O lord of gods, hand over Parvati. Having remained for a year, she will go."

27-49. With Parvati as his protector the god holding a conch, a disc, and a mace, undertook his journey to Mathura. The maceholder there (i.e. at Mathura) obtained birth in (i.e. from) the womb of Devaki. The lotus-eyed Parvati resorted to the womb of Yasoda. Having rested in (Devaki's) womb for nine months and, nine days, the lord of the world, the enemy of Kamsa and the son of Vasudeva, was born (on) the night when RohinI was in, conjunction (with the Moon), when clouds were thundering, of the day called Astami, (falling) in the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada. Yasoda, the daughter of Virata and the wife of Nanda, gave birth to a daughter. Anakadundubhi (i.e. Vasudeva) seeing his son, having lotus-like navel, and eyes like lotuspetals, began to be joyful, when Devaki, trembling with the fear of the demon, viz. Karhsa said (to him): " O lord, go, and hand over the son to Vairati (i.e. Yasoda). Having given (our) son to Yashoda, bring (here) her daughter." Hearing her words Vasudeva also was grieved. Placing the son on his side, he went to Yasoda. On his way Yamuna was full of water, fearful, very long, having deep water and flooded. Seeing this, Vasudeva remained on the bank watching Yamuna and afflicted with grief he cried through anxiety: " What (shall) I do? Where (shall) I go? Even destiny has deceived me. Now, how shall I go to Yasoda, to Nanda's house? " At that time, Vishnu gladly deceived, by means of a trick, his father who watching Yamuna remained on her bank for a moment. He looked (at Yamuna) again. In a moment she became (i.e. her water was) as high as the knee. Happy on seeing her (like that) he rose and started going. The lord of the world resorted to his magical power and fell into the water from his side. Seeing the son fallen (into the water) he wailed loudly and was extremely grieved. That Creator again deceived him by adoptnig a great trick. (He cried): " O lord of the worlds, protect me. O best god, protect my son." Seeing his father crying, (Krishna) the enemy of Kamsa, sported repeatedly in the water and with compassion again went to (i.e. clasped) the bosom of his father. Then with him the best of the the Yadus went to Nanda's abode. Having given the son to Yasoda, he brought her daughter. Then having come to his abode, he handed over the daughter (of Yasoda) to his wife (Devaki). The news that DevakI had delivered was received by the enemy of (Devaki's) son. Then his messengers set out to bring (either) the son (or) the daughter. Those messengers of Kamsa, having come (there), proceeded to take the daughter. Having dragged her forcibly from Devaki and Vasudeva, the messengers of Kamsa, seized her and gave her to the enemy of gods. That great unconquerable king having held her was frightened. Karhsa, the greatest among the demons, seeing her whose complexion was like pure gold, whose face was like the full moon, and whose eyes were like flashes of lightning, and who was smiling, ordered: " Take her and kill her (by dropping) her on a slab of stone." Receiving the order, the demons proceeded to destroy her. Gauri (i.e. Parvati) suddenly went to the sky. Gaurl (i.e. Parvati) said:

50. O king, listen, I shall tell you where your greatest enemy is. O greatest of the demons, your killer is hidden in Nanda's house. Vasishtha said:

51-57. Having spoken like this, the goddess went to her abode. Having heard the words of the goddess, king Kamsa was extremely pained. He said to his sister, PQtana: " You go to Nanda's house. Killing the son fraudulently, obtain many things that you desire, which I shall give for killing my enemy. O you auspicious one, go very quickly." That demoness, having received (Karhsa's) order, went to Gokula. Taking up an illusory form of a beautiful lady, she entered Gokula. Holding poison in her breasts, she went to kill (Krishna). Having entered unnoticed through the door of the cowherds' house, she went inside, took up the child, gave him her breast and obtained beatitude. Then having hurled (the demon) Sakata, and having crushed Trnavarta and others, and having curbed Kaliya, he went to the city of Madhu (i.e. Mathura). Having gone there he killed the cruel Karhsa and vanquished his wrestlers. O king, I have told you this vow of (i.e. to be observed oa) the day of Vishnu's birth.

58-62a. On hearing it, the sins (of the person who hears it), perish. (Then) what will happen on observing it? A man or a woman who observes this vow of (i.e. sacred to) Vishnu, obtains unequalled wealth as (much as is) desired in this (very) existence. (The vow should) not be observed on the third or the sixth day joined with the previous day. For those who desire religious merit, Astaml is Ekadashi; (they should) carefully avoid Astaml joined with Saptaml. Even without (the rise of) the constellation, Astaml, joined with Navami should be observed (as a fast day) if the constellation has risen, and there is partial Astaml and full Navami (then the vow should be observed). Astaml that is united with (i.e. has) Rohini (risen) for a short time, should be (regarded as) complete.

62b-67. O king, what is the use of observing crores of vows if Astaml with Rohini falls on a Wednesday or with the Moon (i.e. on a Monday). Such Astaml is obtained or not obtained even after hundreds of years when it falls on a Monday or Wednesday. Without (the rise of) the constellation (Rohini) the vow of Astanil should not be observed when the Astaml is joined with Navami. The vow of Astaml should be observed even on the seventh day, if it is joined with Rohini. When the eighth day of Krishna is (there) even for fortyeight seconds, for kastha (i.e. one thirtieth part of a kala, which is equal to fortyeight seconds) or for a period of fortyeight minutes on the ninth day, the vow of Kisnastaml should be observed. That Astaml is acceptable (i.e. the vow should be observed even) on the ninth day, but not on that eighth day which is united with the seventh day. What (then should be told) about Wednesday and especially about Monday? What (should be told) about Astami that is united with Navami? It gives salvation to crores of the members of the family. If there is the connection with the seventh day, (even) by (the measure of time called) pala, then a man should avoid the vow of Astami (on that day) like the pitcher of water full of the water of Ganga coming in contact with a drop of liquor. Dilipa said:

68. O great sage, O lord, tell (me), who first observed (this vow). Who brought it to light? What is its religious merit? What is its fruit? Vasishtha said:

69-77'. The great king Chitrasena indulged in great sins and in illicit intercourse, and stole the gold of a brahmana. He was always delighted with (i.e. always drank) liquor andflesh(-eating). Thus he was full of sins, and always took delight in killing animals. He always conversed with candalas and the fallen. The king who was like this thought of hunting. Knowing (that there was) a tiger in the forest and carefully surrounding it, he spoke these words to all his soldiers: " I alone shall kill it. If anyone else strikes him, he will be undoubtedly killed." The tiger came along the path of the king. The king, though ashamed, then went after the tiger. With much trouble and difficulty he became intent upon killing the tiger. In the evening he oppressed with hunger and thirst (remained) on the bank of Yamuna. That was the eighth day, united with RohinI — the birth-day (of Krsija). O king, candala-girls observed the vow in (i.e. on the bank of) Yamuna with many articles as presents, and very auspicious incense and lamps. Seeing the sandal, the flowers and (other) very charming articles like saffron, and food with many excellences, the kings' mind was perturbed. The king said:

78a. For want of food my life shall certainly and instantly depart today. The women said:

78b-85. O sinless king, on the day of Janmastami of (i.e. sacred to) Vishnu, you should not eat the hard flesh of a vulture, (of) a crow or of a cow, so also (you should not eat) food. There is no doubt (you have formerly) eaten it. What blemish would not come to the men who in this world eat (on the day of Krishnastami)? For him who, when his vital airs remain in his body (i.e. while alive), has not observed (the vow of) Jayantf, and has not observed a fast (on that day), the punishment is (going to) Yama's abode. His manes do not accept whatever he has offered to them with proper rites. When food is taken on a Jayanti, all the manes are thrown (down). Hearing this, O king, the king then observed that vow. Being delighted, he brought a few flowers, a little sandal, a small (piece of) cloth, observed the vow, and broke the fast at the end of the (Astami) day. By the power of this vow Chitrasena along with his dead ancestors got into a divine aeroplane and went to Vishnu's abode. Men obtain that fruit from the Astami-vow which they get after going to Mathura and seeing the lotus-like face of Krishna. The poor obtain that fruit by observing the Krishnastamivow which they get by going to Dvaraka and seeing Vishnu, the lord of the universe.

 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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