21 - The Pancha-Ratri-Vrata The Holy Rite of Five Nights 

Sanaka said: 

1. I shall tell you another Vrata which is the excellent most in all worlds. It is well known as Hari-Panchami.1 Listen accurately to its essential nature. 

1. Hari-panchami or Pancha-råtri-vrata as stated in the colophon, is not recorded in Kane's HD.V.1 in the list of Vratas (ch. XIII pp.251-462). It is called Hari Panchaka as it extends for five days from the Dashami day to the Full-moon day. One should start to observe it from the month of Margashirsha on the 10th day of the bright half. The usual procedure of fast, worship, keeping awake (on the 11th and 15th day of the bright half) are common to all such fasts. It is to be observed every month for one year. In the concluding rite (Uddyapana), a pitcher of water with five precious stones deposited in it, is to be given to a Brahmana, expert in spiritual knowledge. Rice-pudding mixed with honey and fruits are also to be offered. As usual, Brahmanas (the number to be limited according to one's financial capacity) are to be fed after which one is to breakfast (in silence) in company of one's kinsmen.

2. O excellent sage, it is conducive to the removal of all miseries of men and women. It is the primary cause of righteousness, wealth, love and liberation. 

3-4. It is the bestower of all desires and it grants the benefit of all Vratas. On the Dashami (tenth) day in the bright half of the month of Margashirsha, the devotee, keeping under control his sense-organs, should take his bath after brushing his teeth. After performing the worship of the Lord duly, he should perform the five great Yajnas.2 

2. Pancha-mahayajñas 

Five 'great sacrifices'—The term is applied to the five daily 'sacrifices' or acts of piety to be performed by a householder. They are: deva-yajna (offerings in fire), pity-yajna (Tarpana, etc. to ancestors), bhuta-yajna (offering of bali-a ball of food to beings). Manushya-yajna (giving food to a Brahmana) and Brahma Yajna (study or recital of Veda or at least one mantra (Tait. Aranyaka II.10). They are called 'great yajnas' or 'great sacrificial sessions' eulogistically. The term yajna as applied to these five daily duties, is figurative and the term mahi is laudatory (Apastamba Dh.S.I: 4.12.13-1 also Baudhayana Dh.S. II.6.1-8).

5-6. On that day he should observe all the rules (of religious discipline) and take food only once. O leading sage, on the Ekadashi (eleventh) day, he should get up early in the morning and take his bath. According to the prescribed manner, he should worship Hari in his abode. He should bathe the Lord the chiefs of Devas, in Pañchāmruta duly. 

7. With great devotion he should worship him, according to the prescribed order, with scents, fragrant flowers and other things, incense and lamps, food offerings, betel leaves and circumambulations. 

8-9a. After worshipping the Lord of the chiefs of Devas, he should utter the following Mantra: "Obeisance to you, the embodiment of perfect knowledge. Salutations be to you, the bestower of knowledge. Bow to you, abiding in all forms, to one who bestows all Siddhis. (Super-human powers). 

9b-lla. After bowing thus to Vasudeva, Janardana, the Lord of Devas, 'he should dedicate the fast to the Lord with the following Mantra, "At thy behest, O Keshava, I shall observe fast for five days beginning from today. O Lord of the universe, be the bestower of my desires." 

11b-12a. After dedicating the fast thus, he should control his sense-organs. O Brahmana, on the night of the Ekadashi day, he should remain awake. 

12b-13. Osage, the worship of Vishnu must be conducted thus, on the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth and on the full-moon days. He must keep awake during the nights of Ekadashi and the full moon day. 

14. The worship by means of Pañchāmruta, etc. is common to all five days. On the full moon day, he should bathe Vishnu in milk according to his capacity. Homa should be performed with sesamum seeds. Gift of the sesamum seeds should also be made. 

15. On the sixth day, he should perform all rites befitting his stage in life (i.e., householders'), take in Panchagavya and duly perform the worship of Hari. 

16. He should then feed the Brahmanas without any restriction, if he has the means. Thereafter, restrained in speech, he should take his food along with his kinsmen. 

17. O Narada, men should thus perform the holy Vrata in accordance with the injunctions mentioned before, in the bright halves of the months from Pausha to Karttika. 

18. Thus the Vrata which is destructive of sins, should be performed for one full year. When the month of Margashirsha comes again, the performer of the Vrata should perform the Udyāpana (concluding) rites. 

19. On the Ekadashi day, he should fully abstain from taking food as before. O Brahmana, with due reverence and attention, he should take in Panchagavya on the Dvadashi day. 

20. After duly worshipping the Lord of Devas with scents, fragrant flowers and other things, the devotee who has conquered his sense organs should offer the following present to a Brahmana. 

21-22. (The present is :) Milk-pudding mixed with honey and ghee. It should be accompanied with fruits, O leading sage, to a Brahmana who is a learned scholar in spiritual topics; he should offer a jar filled with scented water along with the usual Dakshina. The water-jar should contain five precious stones within it and be covered with a cloth. 

23. (Mantra) “O Atman of everything, O Lord of all living beings, O Omnipresent and eternal deity Madhava, be pleased with this gift of Paramānna (rice boiled in milk)." 

24. Repeating this Mantra, he should present the milk pudding. Thereafter, according to his capacity, he should feed the Brahmanas. Restrained in speech, he should himself take food in the company of his kinsmen. 

25. He who performs this Vrata called Hari Panchaka never returns from Brahmaloka. 

26. O Brahmana, this excellent Vrata must be performed by those who wish for salvation. It is like the conflagration unto the forest of all sins. 

27. From this Vrata of fasts, men obtain that benefit which one attains after giving thousands and crores of cows. 

28. He who is devoted 10 Narayana and listens to this narrative, is liberated from millions of extremely terrific sins.”