Agnipurana 198

English (machine translation) 198

Language: English

198.8 — 5 parts
198.16 — 5 parts

198.1

The monthly votive observances.
Agni said:
I shall explain the monthly votive observance that bestows worldly enjoyment and liberation.
For four months, beginning with Āṣāḍha, the wise person should avoid oil baths.

198.2

By giving up flowers and salt in Vaiśākha, one who gives a cow becomes a king.
One who gives a cow and fasts for a month, observing the Bhīma votive observance, becomes Hari.

198.3

Bathing in the morning for the four months beginning with Āṣāḍha, one goes to Viṣṇu.
In the month of Māgha or in Caitra, one should make a gift of an effigy cow made of jaggery.

198.4

Observing the jaggery vow on the third lunar day, the great observer of vows becomes the lord of Gaurī.
Eating only at night during the months beginning with Mārgaśīrṣa, one partakes of Viṣṇu’s realm.

198.5

Likewise, one who observes the single-meal vow [attains the same]; the votive observance of the twelfth lunar day is distinct.
Observing the fruit vow for four months, one should give up fruit and give it away.

198.6

During the four months beginning with Śrāvaṇa, the observer of vows obtains everything through votive observances.
Fasting on the eleventh lunar day in the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha,

198.7

one should make the resolution for the four-month votive observances.
On the full moon of Āṣāḍha, or at the solstice of Cancer, one should worship Hari:

198.8

‘O God, this votive observance has been undertaken by me before you;

198.8.p1

[Footnote]

198.8.p2

[Variant reading:] "māse yavāśo ca" in manuscript kha.

198.8.p3

[Variant reading:] "bhīmavrataparo hariḥ" in manuscript ṅa.

198.8.p4

[Variant reading:] "dvādaśīvratakaṃ param" in manuscript ṅa.

198.8.p5

[Variant reading:] "āṣāḍhagaṃ vṛṣasaṅkrāntyāṃ karkaṭe ca" in manuscript jha.

198.8_2

may it reach an obstacle-free completion, Keśava, when you are pleased.

198.9

O God, if I should die while this votive observance is undertaken but incomplete,
let it become complete for me, Janārdana, by your grace.’

198.10

Giving up meat and the like, a twice-born becomes [purified]; renouncing oil, he should worship Hari.
Fasting on alternate days or for three nights, he partakes of Viṣṇu’s realm.

198.11

One performing the cāndrāyaṇa penance reaches Viṣṇu’s realm; observing silence, one becomes a vessel of liberation.
One performing the prājāpatya vow attains heaven, eating barley meal and barley gruel.

198.12

One whose food is milk and similar products attains heaven, as does one who consumes the five products of the cow and water.
A person eating vegetables, roots, and fruits goes to the city of Viṣṇu.

198.13

Abstaining from meat, eating barley, and giving up savory liquids, one goes to Hari.
I shall explain the Kaumuda votive observance: fasting in Āśvina,

198.14

one should worship Viṣṇu on the twelfth lunar day, anointing [the icon] with blue and white lotuses and the like,
and should offer lamps and food-offerings prepared with ghee and sesame oil.

198.15

One should worship with [the mantra] ‘Om, homage to Vāsudeva’ and with a garland of jasmine flowers;
the observer of the Kaumuda vow will obtain virtue, pleasure, wealth, and liberation.