Matsyapurana 71

English (machine translation) 71

Language: English

71.1

Brahmā said: / He who has recourse to another’s wife out of delusion or pride, / tell, O god, creator of all mercy, the expiation for him also.

71.2

Tell that by which, O Lord, between a man and a woman here, / separation and the like, sorrow, disease, fear, and misery will not occur.

71.3

The Blessed Lord said: / On the second lunar day of the dark fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, Madhusūdana, / Keśava, always dwells with his wife in the ocean of milk.

71.4

Having worshipped Govinda on that day, one attains all desires, / followed by gifts of cattle, land, and gold for seven hundred kalpas.

71.5

That second lunar day is proclaimed as the Aśūnyaśayana; / on it one should worship Viṣṇu according to rule with these mantras:

71.6

“O bearer of the Śrīvatsa, O beloved of Śrī, O abode of Śrī, O lord of Śrī, O imperishable one! / May my householdership, which bestows dharma, wealth, and pleasure, not meet with ruin!

71.7

May the sacred fires not perish, O gods! O Puruṣottama! / May the ancestors not perish, and may there be no division between husband and wife!

71.8

Just as you, O God, are never separated from Lakṣmī, / so, O God, may my union with my wife never be broken!

71.9

Not empty of Lakṣmī, O giver of boons, have you gone to the bed to sleep; / in the very same way, O Madhusūdana, may my bed also not be empty!”

71.10

One should make the sound of song and musical instruments for the god of gods; / for one who is unable, a bell may be [used], since it consists of all musical instruments.

71.11

Having thus worshipped Govinda, one should eat at night, free from oil, / without pungents and salt, so long as those four [months] last.

71.12

Then, when morning has come, one should give an exquisite bed, / accompanied by the lord of Lakṣmī, equipped with lamps and vessels of food,

71.13

provided with sandals, shoes, an umbrella, a chowrie, and a seat, / equipped with desired furnishings, covered with white flowers and cloths,

71.14

with a pillow to rest upon, supplied with various kinds of fruits, / and likewise furnished with ornaments and grains according to one's capacity.

71.15

It should be given with devotion to a vipra whose limbs are not defective, a Vaiṣṇava, / a householder, learned in the Veda, and not fallen from caste.

71.16

Having made the couple sit there, and having adorned [them] according to rule, / one should give a vessel with eatables and foods to the wife.

71.17

To the brāhmaṇa as well, one should present a golden image of the god of gods / accompanied by furnishings and with a water-pot.

71.18

Whichever man should thus perform the Aśūnyaśayana [vow] of Hari, / free from financial deceit, devoted to Nārāyaṇa,

separation from his wife never occurs for him at any time; / nor, O Brahmā, does a woman become a widow as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure; / never do the husband and wife become disfigured or afflicted with grief.

71.20

Sons, cattle, and jewels do not perish, O Pitāmaha; / performing the Aśūnyaśayana [vow], he is glorified in the world of Viṣṇu / for seven thousand kalpas and seven hundred kalpas.

Translations (1)

The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English

Linked texts (1)

Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit