Bringing the Vow to Conclusion

Narada said:

1-9. O king, now listen properly to the rite of bringing to conclusion — what the rite is — being told by me in brief. The observer of the vow should bring to conclusion the vow on the fourteenth of Kartika for pleasing Vishnu. Above the Tulasi he should put up an auspicious pavilion with a good arched doorway and beautified with flowers and chowries. At the doors he should separately honour the door-keepers. He (should have) Jaya and Vijaya, meritorious and of good character. At the root of the Tulasi he should draw (an) auspicious (circle) all around. It should be properly beautified and ornamented with four colours. Above it should be a covering (decked) with five jewels. Having placed there a pitcher with a big fruit, he should worship there the god of gods holding a conch, a disc, a mace, having put on a silken yellow garment and with Lakshmi. The observer of the vow should also honour in the circle the regents of quarters like Indra, since he was awakened by the gods on DvadasI along with Trayodasl. He was seen to be honoured on the fourteenth. Therefore, he is more venerable. A man, calm and of a restrained mind, should devoutly fast on that day.

10-24. With his preceptor's consent he should worship the golden (image of) the lord of the god of gods in sixteen ways of worship with several eatables. By means of auspicious (acts like) singing and (playing upon) musical instruments, he should keep awake at night. Those who on (the night of) keeping awake in honour of the Disc-holder (i.e. Vishnu), sing devoutly, are free from heaps of sins due to hundreds of existences. That fruit (which is obtained) by those keeping awake on the day of Vishnu, and singing and dancing, is said to be the fruit of those who give a thousand cows. He should sing, dance etc. and should present spectacles. Of him who keeps awake on the night of keeping awake for Vishnu, in front of Vishnu, he who amuses Vishnu's devotees by reciting Vishnu's accounts, who produces the sounds of musical instruments with his mouth, and who presents free talks, who with these dispositions keeps awake in honour of Vishnu, his religious merit everyday is said to be equal to (a visit to) crores of holy places. Then on the full-moon day he should invite thirty or more brahmanas with their wives according to his capacity. Since having given boons Vishnu took up the form of fish, therefore, whatever is given, offered into fire or muttered is said to be of an inexhaustible fruit. Therefore, the observerer of the vow should feed those brahmanas with sweetened milk etc. He should (saying) Ato deva, offer Sheshamum-seeds and sweetened milk to two separately for pleasing the god of gods and deities. Having then worshipped the god (Vishnu), Tulasi and (other) deities, he should give them presents according to his capacity and salute them. Then the observer of the vow should duly worship there a tawny cow. Having honoured his preceptor instructing him in the vow with garments, ornaments etc. and having honoured him with his wife, he should give the cow to him. 'Due to your grace may the lord of gods be always pleased with me. May all that sin committed by me during seven existences, perish due to this vow, and may my progeny be stable. Due to the worship may my desires be always fruitful. On death may I obtain Vishnu's position very difficult to be secured.'

25-31 Having thus apologised to and pleased the brahmanas, he should dismiss them. Then the observer of the vow should give (the materials of) the worship with the jewels to his preceptor. Then the devoted one should eat with his friends and elders. The rite is said to be like this in Kartika or Magha. A man who thus duly observes the Kartika vow, is free from sins, and getting release he would go into Vishnu's proximity. The fruit due to the proper observance of this vow should be known to be a crore times more than that of all vows, (visits to) all holy places and all gifts. Those who are engrossed in devotion to Vishnu and who observe the Kartika vow are lucky and very meritorious, and get all the fruits. Sins remaining in his body have deliberation through fear of him. They say, 'If this man observes this vow, where shall we go? ' Those devotees who in this way listen to the restraints, and those who narrate them before Vishnu's devotees, would obtain the fruit due to their having properly observed the vow, and have all their sins destroyed.

 

CHAPTER NINETYSIX

The Birth ofJalandhara

Prithu said:

1-3. O brahmana, (after listening to) the vow of Kartika that you told in detail, and the worship of Vishnu at the Tulasi root that you told, I desire to ask about the greatness of Tulasi. How is she so very dear to the god of gods, Vishnu, aarngin? How and at what place has she sprung up, O Narada? (Please) tell this in brief. I look upon you as omniscient. Narada said:

4-11. Formerly when Rudra hurled down the Ocean's son, the lord of demons, gods like Brahma bowed to Rudra with their heads (bent). O king, listen. I shall tell you the greatness of Tulasi. I shall tell you all the old account with its history. Formerly, Indra surrounded by all deities and waited upon by celestial nymphs, went to Kailasa mountain, to see Shiva. When he went to diva's house, he quickly saw there a man of fearful deeds and fierce due to his fangs and eyes. He asked him: " O, who are you? Where has the lord of the world gone? " When asked repeatedly like this, he did not speak. O king, Indra got angry, reproached him, and said (these) words, " O, though asked by me you have not given a reply. Therefore, I shall kill you with the thunderbolt. O you wicked one, who is your protector here? " Speaking like this, then Indra struck him hard with his thunderbolt. Due to that (stroke) his throat became dark blue and the thunderbolt was reduced to ash. Then Rudra blazed, as it were burning with lustre. Seeing (this), Brahaspati quickly joined the palms of his hands. And Indra prostrating like a staff on the ground started praising (him). Brihaspati said:

12-14. Obeisance to Devadhideva (i.e. god of gods), to Tryambaka (i.e. having three eyes), to Kapardin (i.e. having braided and matted hair), to Tripuraghna (i.e. the destroyer of Tripura), to 3arva; salutation to the killer of Andhaka. Salutation to Virupa (i.e. the deformed one), to Atirupa (i.e. having a superior form), to Bahuriipa (i.e. the multi-formed one), to Sambhu, to the destroyer, and the giver of the fruit of the sacrifices. (Salutation) to the destroyer of Death, to Kala (i.e. Death), to him, having a deadly snake; salutation to him who destroyed Brahma's head; repeated salutations to the brahmana. Narada said:

15-16. Thus praised, Shiva, withdrawing the flame capable of burning the three worlds, said to the best brahmana (i.e. (Brihaspati): " O brahmana, ask for a boon. I am pleased with this praise of (i.e. done by) you. Be famous as (i.e. by the name) 'JIva' as you gave back (i.e. saved) Indra's life." Brihaspati said:

17. If, O god, you are pleased, (then) go to Indra who has sought your refuge. May this fire, risen from the (third) eye on your forhead be quelled. The lord said:

18. How can this (fire) enter the eye on the forehead? I shall cast it (far) away so that it would not trouble Indra.

Narada said:

19-24a. Saying so, and holding it in his hand, he threw it into the salt Ocean. It fell at the confluence of the river Ganga and the Ocean. Then it got a child's form and wept. Due to the sound of its weeping the earth repeatedly trembled. Heaven and Satyaloka became deafened due to that sound. Hearing it, and being very much wonderstruck, Brahma went there (saying): 'What is this? ' Just then he saw the child on the lap of the Ocean. Seeing Brahma coming, the Ocean too, joined the palms of his hands, and bowing to him with his head (bent) put the boy on his lap. Then Brahma said (these) words: " Whose wonderful child is this? " Hearing (these) words of Brahma, the Ocean said (these) words. Brahma said:

24b-25a. O you lord of the rivers, wherefrom did you get this very strong boy, by whose sound gods, demons and great serpents are frightened? The Ocean said:

25b-27. O Brahman, this is my boy born on the river Ganga. O lord of the world, perform for him the ceremonies (performed) at the birth of a child etc. Ocean's son seized Brahma's beard, and repeatedly shook it. From the eyes of him whose beard was (thus being) shaken, tears came (out). Somehow getting his beard freed, Brahma said to the Ocean. Brahma said:

28-30. Since he held these tears from my eyes, therefore, he will be famous by the name'Jalandhara'. Now only he will be a youth, master of all weapons and sacred books and will not be killed by any being except Rudra; and he will go where a born one goes. Narada said:

31-33. Speaking like this and calling Shukra he consecrated him on the throne. Taking leave of the lord of rivers, Brahma vanished (from there). Then, the Ocean, with his eyes blooming with joy on seeing him, solicited Kalanemi's daughter Vrnda for (being) his wife. Those demons, led by Kalanemi, were glad and gave that daughter to him (i.e. to Jalandhara). He, the mighty and powerful one, aided by Shukra, getting them as best friends, ruled over the earth.

 

CHAPTER NINETYSEVEN

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