Haribodhinl, Bhishmapancaka etc.

The lord said:

1-15. O best god, also listen to the greatness of Prabodhini which destroys sins, enhances merit, and gives salvation to those who comprehend the truth. O Kartikeya, Ganga BhaglrathI roars on the earth till the time the Haribodhinl (Ekadashi) in Kartika has not come. The holy places and the lakes up to the ocean roar till the time the Prabodhini (Ekadashi) in Kartika has not arrived. Thousands of horse sacrifices and hundreds of Rajasuya sacrifices are equal to one fast on the Prabodhini (Ekadashi). O brahmana, Prabodhini gives even that which is desired but which is difficult to be got or reached in the three worlds with the mobile and the immobile. Obrahmana, Haribodhini when fasted on, easily gives affluence, union, knowledge, kingdom, happiness and wealth. Just by means of one fast Haribodhinl burns the sins resembling Meru and Mandara committed (by a man). O best among men, he who naturally observes a fast on the Prabodhini (day), according to the rule, gets the fruit as is told (in the sacred texts). The sin committed during thousands of former existences is burnt like a heap of cotton by keeping awake on the Prabodhini (day). O Kartikeya, listen; I shall tell you the characteristic(s) of the vigil, by merely knowing which Vishnu is not difficult to be secured. O noble one, a man should sing, play upon musical instruments, recite the Puranas, offer incense, light, eatables, flowers, besmear (the image) with sandal, offer fruits, respectful offerings, have faith, give gifts, control lais senses, be truthful, without sleep, full of joy and (religious) acts, (offer worship) with energy and without laziness etc. by going round (the image), and preceded by obeisance, so also accompanied by waving of lights. With a mind free from dejection he should wave lights before Vishnu in every watch. He who, with a concentrated mind, keeps vigil accompanied with these characteristics, and without dishonesty regarding money, for the lord, is not reborn on the earth.

16-26. He who thus devoutly and without deceitfulness keeps awake on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Vishnu, is taken to the highest position. He who, everyday in Kartika, worships Vishnu with the recital of the Purusa-sukta (hymn) has worshipped Vishnu for thousands of crores of years. The man who would everyday worship Vishnu in Kartika according to the prescribed manner for five days, would enjoy salvation. He who would worship Vishnu (saying) 'Salutation to Narayana', is free from torments in hell and goes to an auspicious position. He who recites in Kartika (the hymn containing) the thousand names of Vishnu, and (the account of) the release of the lord of elephants, does not have rebirth. He who keeps awake on the DvadasI in the month of Kartika lives in heaven for thousands of crores of yugas and hundreds of Manu's periods. And hundreds and thousands (persons) born in his family obtain Vishnu's position. Therefore, one should keep awake. O beautiful lady, he who eulogises and sings (songs about Vishnu) in the last watch (of a day) in Kartika, lives in SVetadvlpa with his dead ancestors. He who offers eatables to Vishnu at the end of a day in Kartika lives for so many yugas in heaven, O best sages. O best sage, he who would continuously worship the lord of gods with jasmine flowers and lotus, goes to the highest position. A man who observes (fast on) the Ekadashi of the bright half of Kartika, and gives auspicious pitchers (to brahmanas) in the morning, goes to my abode. Kartikeya said:

27-28. O lord, tell me about the virtuous vow, best among the vows, viz. Bhishmapancaka to be observed in the month of Kartika. Through favour to me and the sages, tell me, O grandsire, about the manner in which it is observed, and its fruit, O best god. The lord said:

29-45. O you best among the believers in vows, I shall explain to you the very meritorious vow which lasts for five days. Since Bhishma got it from Vishnu, it is called Bhishmapancaka. Who, except Vishnu, is able to tell the merits of this vow? Listen to the ancient practice. In the bright half of Kartika it was observed by Vasishtha, Bhrigu, Garga etc. in the ages like Krta. In the yugas like Treta it was observed by Ambarisa with (offerings of) food etc. and by brahmanas observing celibacy, muttering hymns and performing rites like sacrifices. So also (it was observed) by ksatriyas and vaisyas highly devoted to truth and purity. It is difficult to be observed by those who are void of truth (i.e. are not truthful) and cannot be observed by those of foolish hearts. They say it is difficult to be observed, (that is, it is) 'Bhishma'. It cannot be observed by ordinary men. O best brahmana, he who observes it, has (indeed) observed every (vow). This Bhishmapancaka vow gives great merit, destroys great sins. Therefore, men should carefully observe it. Having properly and according to the precept bathed on the Ekadashi in the bright half of Kartika one should take up this vow lasting for five days. The observer of the vow should especially bathe in the morning and at mid-day in a river or a spring, and having obtained cowdung with rice and barley he should in due course gratify his dead ancestors. One of a strong vow, having bathed and observed silence, and having put on washed garments, should carefully offer water and make respectful offering to Bhishma. He should carefully worship Bhishma and give gifts. He should carefully and especially give five jewels to a brahmana. Lord Vishnu with Lakshmi should also be always worshipped. By means of worshipping (Vishnu) during the group of five (days) Vishnu is pleased for crores of kalpas. Whatever (image etc.) is made, he should fashion it with five metals. By giving water and making a respectful offering, a man gets the entire fruit of vows (lasting) for a year. One who makes (the offering) with (the recital of) this hymn: 'I am offering this water to Bhishma who has Vaiyaghrapada gotra and Sarhkrta pravara' would enjoy salvation. 'I make the respectful offering to Bhishma, the incarnation of the Vasus, the son of Santanu, and a life-long celibate.' This is the hymn of the respectful offering.

1. This part is unintelligible (Tr.)

46-56. He, who, in this way, finishes the group of five (days), undoubtedly gets religious merit equal to that of a horse sacrifice. For five days he should carefully observe restraint. O son, the practice of a vow is not possible without restraint. Vishnu gave (the highest position) to Bhishma who departed in the Uttarayana; he became1....Then he should get Vishnu, the destroyer of all sins. Then he should devoutly bathe (the image) with water, honey, milk and ghee; so also with the five products of a cow and water mixed with sandal. Then he should besmear (the image of) Vishnu, the Garuda-bannered (god) with fragrant sandal, with saffron, and with camphor mixed with usira (sandal). He should worship (the image) with charming flowers along with black aloewood and incense. He, with devotion, should burn guggulu (a fragrant gum resin) with ghee before (the image of) Krishna. During the five days he should offer light day and night. He should offer excellent food as offering of eatables. Having thus worshipped, remembered and saluted the god, he should mutter one hundred and eight times the hymn Namo Vasudevaya. He should make an offering with Sheshamum, rice and barley smeared with ghee, with the utterance of the hymn of six syllables, along with the utterance of the exclamation svaha. The observer of the vow, having offered the evening sandhya prayer, having saluted Vishnu, having muttered the hymn as before, should sleep on the (bare) ground.

57-69. All this should be done for five days. Listen to the speciality of and that which is superior in this vow. On the first day the observer of the vow should worship Vishnu's feet with lotuses. On the second (day) he should worship his knees with bilva-leaves. Then, with his mind directed to him, he should devoutly worship the head of the Disc-holder, the god of gods, with jasmine flowers on the full-moon day of Kartika. Having succinctly worshipped Vishnu on the Ekadashi, he, after having eaten cowdung, should duly observe fast on the Ekadashi day. The observer of the vow should drink cow's urine on the DvadasI, milk on the TrayodasI and curd on the CaturdasI with (the recital of) the hymn. Having eaten (and drunk these) for the purification of his body and having fasted for four days, he should, after bathing, worship Vishnu according to the sacred precept. Giving up sinful thoughts the intelligent one, observing celibacy, should devoutly feed brahmanas, and give presents to them. The man, avoiding liquor and flesh, so also sinful coitus, subsisting on vegetables and sages' foods, should be deeply engaged in worshipping Krishna. Then having first (sipped) the five products of the cow, he should eat at night. He would obtain the fruit of the vow thus duly concluded. (Even) a drunkard who would drink liquor from birth to death obtains the highest position by observing this Bhishma-vow. By the words (i.e. order) of a brahmana, women should observe it, which enchances religious merit. Widows also should observe it for salvation, and an increase in their happiness. O Kartikeya, men observe the Kartika(vow) by bathing everyday and (giving) gifts for abundance of (the fulfilment of) all desires and for (obtaining) religious merit. O child, greatly engrossed in meditation upon Vishnu, they should also perform the Vaisvadeva sacrifice (in honour of all deities), which gives health and sons and destroys great sins.

70-78. O Kartikeya, with all efforts he should observe the Kartika (vow) at holy places. The conclusion of all the vows (observed) during the year is observed in Kartika. An image of Sin should be fashioned. It should have fearful clothes and should be very fierce. It should have a sword in its hand; it should have come out (i.e. should be prominent); it should have iron fangs and be dreadful. Covered with a black piece of cloth it should be put on a prastha (i.e. a particular measure) of Sheshamum seeds. Its wreath should be made of red flowers; its golden earrings should be bright. Having, with great devotion, worshipped it with (the utterance of) the names of Dharmaraja, he taking a handful of flowers, should recite this hymn: 'Due to the grace of your feet may the sin committed in another (i.e. previous) existence or in this, perish.' Having duly worshipped that golden image, and having, according to his capacity honoured the brahmanas, expounders of the Vedas, he should, to please Krishna, god of gods, of unimpaired acts, give it to a brahmana (saying) 'May Dharma be pleased with me.' According to his capacity he should give presents to the reader (of the next). Saying, 'May Krishna be pleased with me', he should give gold and cows also. Having done his deeds, and being detached, he should be controlled. According to his capacity he should give excellente gifts to others also.

79-83. (Such) a man, of a tranquil mind, and guiltless, would obtain the highest position. He should reflect upon Mahadeva who is dark green like the petal of a blue lotus, who has four fangs and four arms, who has eight feet, and one eye, who is spike-eared and has a rough voice, who is cold, who has two tongues, whose eyes are red, who has a lion-like thin cover. He has no form. Bhishma, being on the bed of arrows told this to me. This vow known as Bhishmapancaka on the earth, is confined to five days beginning with Ekadashi. There is no prohibition for him who is intent on taking food. Due to that vow Vishnu gives an auspicious fruit.

Suta said:

84-88. This has more religious merit than all (other) vows. It is difficult to be done on the earth. This secret, the collection of the essences of the sacred texts, is told by me. It is a secret of the gods. It is a great secret. It at once gives salvation even to those who are engaged in illicit intercourse. It would free one from both the sins of selling one's daughter or one's sister. This sacred text leading to salvation should not be revealed to other people. A man hearing it at once goes to salvation. It should be carefully preserved. This auspicious (vow) is not to be told to them who give it up. This is the truth and the (only) truth, O Kartikeya. Thus all the fruit that Kartika has is told. Shri Vishnu said:

89-96. The god of gods told it to his son for his welfare. Hearing those words of his father, Kartikeya was full of joy. All those, with the palms of their hands joined, said to the god, the life of the world: " We are blessed by hearing the fruit due to Kartika. Nothing else is to be heard. I have obtained the fruit of my existence." That man who, having heard (this description of) the greatness (of the vow), would honour the reader (of it) with (the grant of a piece of) land, gold, garments, is equal to Vishnu, since when the reader is honoured, Vishnu is worshipped. Like that he should always give to the reader if he desires the auspicious religious texts, Purana, or Vedic texts, etc. to be fruitful. One who desires religious merit should give the book to the reader only. Those who give the Puranic texts, enjoy inexhaustible fruits. He who would devoutly read this, or would retain it after having heard it, is freed from all sins, and goes to Vishnu's heaven. There is no doubt that merely by listening to the (account of this) importance, he gets wealth, grains, fame, sons, (long) life, and good health.

 

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