47 – Buddhadvadashivrata

The colophon at the end of the chapter gives this name but its significance is not clear.

Durvasas said:

1. In the month of Shravana (Simha) on the Ekadashi day Of the bright half, observe the vrata as before, and worship Vishnu with sandal and flowers.

2-3. Worship the feet as Damodara, waist as Hrushikesha, belly as Sanatana, chest as Shrivatsadharin, hands as Chakrapani, neck as Hari, head as Munjakesha and tuft as Bhadra.

4. After worship in this manner, place the pot in front as before, and place over it covered in a pair of clothes, the golden image of the lord as Damodara.

5. After worship with sandal and flowers in proper form, give it to a Vaidik Brahmin as before.

6-7. Now listen to the account of the power of this vrata which is capable of removing all sins.

8. In the Krutayuga there was a mighty king by name Nruga. he was wandering in the forest for hunting,

9. Riding on his horse, he happened to enter into the interior of the dense forest full of tigers, lions, elephants, snakes and aborigines.

10. Being alone in a lonely place, he was sad and dismounting the horse, spread Kusha grass and slept on it.

11. In the night there came near him a multitude of fourteen thousand hunters for hunting.

12. They saw there the king adorned with golden jewels and full of high effulgence.

13. They quickly ran to their master and reported to him, and he immediately started to kill the king and take away the gold and gems he was adorning on his body.

14. The other hunters also rushed there to snatch away the horse from the sleeping king.

15. At that time there arose from the king’s person a divine   lady decked with sandal and garlands and ornaments white in colour.

16. With a Chakra held in her hand, she killed all the hunters, and then entered his body.

17. As she was entering into the body, the king rose up.

18. Seeing her disappear in his own body and seeing all those base men killed there, the king mounted the horse and went to the hermitage of sage Vamadeva.

19. Bowing to the sage with reverence, he asked him to be pleased to tell him as to who that lady was and who the killed hunters were.

Vamadeva said:

20. O king, in the previous life you were a Shudra, but you performed this Dvadashi vrata on hearing about it from Brahmins.

21. You observed the vrata on Dvadashi in the bright half of shravana month.

22. By this vrata you became a king and the goddess (of this vrata) protects you always from all dangers.

23. she who killed all these base and cruel men and protected you is this goddess.

24. Even this one goddess is capable of protecting from all dangers and bestowing (on the devotee) a kingdom. Twelve of them1 will well bring about the position of Indra.

1. The goddesses of the Dvadashis of all the twelve months.