177 - Vows observed on the second lunar day

Agni said: 

1-8. Ishall describe vows (performned) on the second lunar day which would confer enjoyment, emancipation etc. Eating flower oneshould worship Aśvins the celestials. One who practises vow for a year would get good fortune and reach heaven. Oneshould worship the god of Death on the second day of the bright fortnight in the month of) kārttika (November-December). A practiser of the vow fasting for a year would reach heaven and (would) not (go to) hell. Ishall describe the vow (called) asünyasayana (the bed that has not become empty) which would confer (the fruit of) not becoming a widow. Thisshould be practised on the second lunar day in the dark fortnight in (the month of) sråvara (August-September). “O Bearer of Srivatsa (a mark on the chest of lord Vishņu)! Consort of Sri! (Lakshmi)! Abode of Sri (Lakshmi)! Consort of Sri! Immutable! May not my life of a householder get destroyed. Let it be the conferer of virtue, materials and desire. Let not the (sacred) fires be destroyed. Let not the deities be destroyed. Let not my ancestors be destroyed on account of my married life beingshattered. Just as you the lord never get separated from (Goddess) Lakshmi, so also o lord! let not my association with my wife get separated. O Conferer of boons, O Lord! Just as your bed does not become devoid of (Goddess) Lakshmi, o Slayer of (demon) Madhu! let my bed also he not empty. Oneshould worship (Goddess) Lakshmi and (Lord) Vishņu for a year and bed and fruitsshould be given away (as gift). 

9-12. Libationshould be offered to Soma (moon) every month with the recitation of) sacred syllables. One who lights up the courtyard of the sky! One who is born from the churning of the milky ocean! Enjoyer of the starry quarters of heaven! Younger brother of Lakshmi! Obeisance to you. Oṁ Śrim obeisance to the Sustainer of Śrī! Oneshould worship lord Hari of the form of the Moon. Dham, dham, bham, ham obeisance to Sri! to the great soul of ten forms! Oblation (should be made) in the night with ghee. A bed may be given to a brahmin. A pot with water and an image of the deity together with a lamp, food vessel, umbrella,shoe, seat and a vessel (may be given) then. 

13-14. One who docs so in the company of his wise would get enjoyment and emancipation. Ishall describe thc kāntivrata (the vow that makes oneshining). Itshould be done in the white (fortnight) of (the morth of) kärttika (November-December). Taking food only in the night on the second lunar day, oneshould worship Bala (rama) (brother of Vishņu in his manifestation as Krishņa) and Keśava for a year. One getsshining (body), long life and health etc. 

15-20. Then Ishall describe the Vishņuvrata which gets the mentally desired (fruits), after doing it for four days in the second lunar day in the white (fortnight) of (the month of) pausa (January -February) etc. Oneshould bathe on the first (day) with white mustard, then with black sesamum the second day) and with vacā (aconis calamus) on the third day and with all herbs on the fourth (day). Murāmāṁsi, Vaca, kustha, ustha saileya (bitumen), the two (kinds of) rajani, sati, champaka and musta are remembered to be the collection of herbs. Oneshould worship with (the repetition of) the names Krishņa, Achyuta (unslipping), Ananta (endless), Hrushikeśa (the lord of the senses) with flowers duly at the foot, navel, eye and head. Libation (should be made) to Moon with the (repetition of the) names Sasi, chandra, sašānka and indu. The person (who does the vowshould eat in the night before the moon sets. (By the practice of) this purifying (vow) for a year and a half, the performer would get all things. This vow was practised by the kings and women in the past.