111 - Exposition of Vratas to be observed on Dvitiyas (second Tithi in lunar fortnight) 

Sanatana said: 

1. O Brāhmaṇa, listen. I shall recount to you the Vratas of Dvitiyås (to be observed on the second day of the lunar fortnight). On observing them with devotion, a man is honoured in the Brahmaloka. 

2-3a. On the second day in the bright half of the month of Chaitra, the devotee should propitiate Brahmå along with his Shakti. He should eulogise the deity and propitiate him with Havişhyānna (cooked rice soaked in ghee), scents and other things. He shall thus attain the benefit of all sacrifices. After realising all desires, he shall attain the region of the supreme spirit in the end. 

3b-4a. O Brähmaņa, on this very day, others worship the rising crescent moon at the beginning of the night. They attain worldly pleasures and liberation. 

4b-6. Or on this day, one shall devotedly worship the twin gods, Ashvins and offer gold and silver eyes to a Brāhmana covering them with a pot filled with curd or ghee? O leading Brāhmaṇa, by performing this Netravrata1 for twelve years one becomes verily a king. He attains a comely form. He becomes valorous against the hosts of his enemies. He becomes interested in Dharma, and the chief of all kings. 

1. VV 45-6 describe the Netra-vrata or Chakshu-vrate. CC on Vrata I. 392-93 mentions that the Vratin (observer of the Vrata) is to subsist on curds and ghee on this tithi, 

7-8a. On the second day in the bright half of the month of Radha (Vaishakha), one shall worship Brahma in the form of Vişhņu in accordance with the injunction, over a pitcher containing seven kinds of grains. After enjoying all desirable worldly pleasures here one attains Vişhnuloka thereby. 

8b-9. On the second day in the bright half of the month of Jyeşhtha, one should worship the Sun-god, Lord of the worlds who has assumed the form of the four-faced Lord, in accordance with the injunctions. After feeding the Brāhmaṇas with devotion, he shall attain the world of Sun-God. 

10-12. The second day in the bright half of the month of Aşhadha is very meritorious. On that day, the observer of the Vrata takes Balarama in procession along with Subhadra. He goes round the various parts of the city, along with Brahmaņas and others. After going near a tank or a river, he should celebrate the great festival. At the end of it, he should re-instate them duly in the Lord’s abode. He should feed Brahmaṇas for completing the holy rite. 

13. Prajapati or the creator of the universe sleeps on the second day in the bright half of the month of Nabhas (Śhrāvana) That tithi is therefore very sacred. It is called Aśhokaśhayanā.1 

1. VV. 13-15 describe the Ashoka-Shayana-Vrata, also called Ashünya-Shayana-Vrata. It is meant for both men and women. NP prescribes the worship of the four-faced god Brahmå while he is lying in bed with his Śhakti, in this Vrata. But in Vishnudharmottara. I. 145. 6-20 and AP. 177. 3-12 the worship of Vişhnu and Lakşhmi is prescribed. Strangely enough after worshipping Brahmå the prayer is addressed to Vişhnu in the NP (v. 15); the name of the Vrata is based on the prayer. 

Lakşhmya na shünyan varada yatha to shayanan vibhu|

Shayya mamapyashūya stu tathaiva madhusüdana|| 

-AP, 177, 7b-8a.

It is to be observed for four months from Śhrāvana.

14-16a. One should worship the four-faced deity lying in the bed along with his Shakti. After bowing down to the Lord of the worlds, one shall utter this Mantra: “O Śhrīkānta (lover of Śhrī) O Śhrivatsadhårin (one who bears the Shrivatsa mark), Shrivāsa (abode of good fortune), O Śhrīpati (Lord of Śhrī), O Dharmārtha-Kāmada (the bestower of virtue, wealth, and love) may not my wedded life perish.” Here the charitable gift of a crescent made of gold is recommended. It brings about all Siddhis. 

16b-17a. On the second day in the bright half of the month of Bhādrapada, one should worship the creator of the universe in the form of Indra in accordance with the prescribed injunctions. He shall obtain the fruit of the performance of all sacrifices. 

17b-211.The second day in the bright half of the month Āśhvina is very holy. The charitable gift made on this day is said to yield endless benefits. Formerly, Yama was fed by Yamuna in her house on the second day in the bright half of Kārttika. Hence, this is called Yamadvitīyā.1 Ifone takes food in the house of one’s sister on this day, it is conducive to nourishment. He must give her clothes and ornaments. It is the tithi on which Lord Yamarāja was fed by Yamuna with her own hand, out of sisterly affection. Hence, he who takes his food from the hand of his sister on that day, attains excellent jewels, wealth and food-grains. 

1. VV. 186-21 describe the rama dvitiyä Vrata. It was on the 2nd day of the bright half of Kärttika that Yama, the god of Death, was fed by his sister Yamuna that people are advised to go to their sisters on this day and take meal and gift her with clothes and ornaments. The story is told in Bs. P. Uttara 14. 18-23. It is also known as Bhrátru-dvitiya (Bhaiyya-dūja and people make it a point to go to their sister’s place and offer her some gift. Vij. quotes CC, wherein the Bs. P. mentioned above is quoted. Vij. quotes from the Sanatkumara Samhita, LP & Pd. P. in support of this Vrata which is an act of fraternal affection. 

22. Pitris should be worshipped through Shraddha on the second day in the bright half of the month of Mårgaśhīrşha. Then the devotee obtains good health along with his sons and grandsons. 

23-24. On the second day in the bright half of the month of Pauşha, the rite of sprinkling with the water a cow’s horns, is the bestower of all desires unto men. The sight of the rising moon is also conducive to the attainment of all desires. For the purpose of achieving virtue, love and wealth, the devotee should restrict his diet to cooked rice soaked in ghee and subdue his sense-organs and worship the rising moon by offering Arghya and flowers along with ghee. 

25-29a. On the second day in the bright half of the month of Mågha, one shall duly worship Prajapati in the form of Sun, with red flowers and red unguents. He shall make an image of the deity in gold, according to his capacity. He should take a copper vessel full of wheat or rice grains. He should dedicate all these things to the Lord and offer the same to a Brahmaņa. If this Vrata is thus performed, the devotee shall be like the rising sun. The man will be unapproachable and unthwartable in the world. Aster enjoying all excellent worldly pleasures here, he attains Brahma’s region in the end. He will be seated in an excellent aerial chariot, eulogised frequently by the Devas. 

29b-31. An excellent Brāhmaṇa should worship Śhiva with white and fragrant flowers on the second day in the bright half of the month of Phålguna. He should make a canopy and decorate it with flowers and ornamental fittings. He should propitiate the Lord with Naivedyas of various kinds. He should offer incense and lights. He should perform Nirajana rite (waving of lights). Prostrating on the ground with eight limbs touching it, he shall make obeisance to the Lord. 

32. Worshipping the Lord of the Devas thus, the man becomes free from all sickness. With plenty of wealth and food-grains, he shall certainly live for a hundred years. 

33. The injunctions regarding the Dvitiyās of the bright half of the month should be followed in the case of those of the dark half of the month also, by the people clever in the matter of procedures. 

34. It is the fire-god alone that is worshipped separately in the different months. He assumes different forms and so is worshipped on the Dvitiyas. The vow of celibacy etc. are to be observed as before.