50 - Dharanivrata

Durvasas said:

1. After going to Pushkaratirtha, sage Agastya returned to the palace of Bhadrashva in the month of Karttika.

2. The righteous king duly received him with arghya, Padya etc., and offered a seat. he then asked him with curiosity.

The king said:

3-4. O sage, formerly you told me about the observance of Dvadashi in the month of Ashvina. Now be pleased to tell me what is sacred in the month of Karttika.

Agastya said:

 5. O king, Dvadashi in the month of Karttika is spoken of as most sacred. I shall tell you about its observance and results. Listen to me with rapt attention.

6. In the manner detailed earlier, take the sankalpa and perform bath.

7-10. Then perform worship to Lord Narayana. The head should be worshipped as Sahasrashiras (thousand-headed), the hands as Purusha (Supreme Man), neck as Vishvarupin (universal form), weapons as jnanastra (weapon of knowledge), chest as Shrivatsa, belly as Jagadvasishnu (the abode of all the worlds), waist as Divyamurti (divine-bodied), feet as Sahasrapada (thousand-footed), and the whole body together as Damodara. Thus, perform worship in the reverse order (from head to foot).

11-12. After worship in this manner, place in front four pots smeared with white sandal and with gems within, decorated in the neck with flower garlands and placed in copper receptacles filled with sesamum and (a little) gold.

13. Consider these four pots (of water) as representing the four oceans. In their midst, as before, place the golden image of Vishnu wearing yellow cloth and in the form of a yogin.

14. After worship in the prescribed manner, keep awake (the whole night).

15. Then perform Vaishnava sacrifice for the lord as Yogishvara (the great yogin) in the sixteen-petalled chakra¹ devised by yogins.

1. Specified mystic figure with sixteen points engraved on a metal plate.

16. In the morning give four pots to Brahmins, and the fifth containing Yogishvara with particular devotion (to an exalted person like the preceptor).

17-18. Giving (to an ordinary Brahmin) is equivalent to the acquisition of Vedas, giving it to one steeped in Vedic knowledge brings double the result, giving it to an Acharya of the Pancharatras² brings about the result a thousand-fold, and giving it to one who is learned in the secrets of all this makes the result a crore time more.

2. The Vaishnavas who follow the Pancharatragama.

19. When the guru is available, if ignoring him the gift is given to another, it becomes useless and Leads to the donor’s downfall.

20-21. Persuade the guru to accept it, and then think of others, because, learned or otherwise, the guru is lord Janardana. Whether he follows the proper path or not he is highly important.

22. If anyone, after resorting to the guru, falls out with him, he is put to torment in the hell for numerous Yugas.

23. After worshipping Vishnu and giving gifts thus, Brahmins should be fed according to one’s means and given dakshina.

24. The Creator formerly performed this Dharanivrata and attained his position and the eternal Brahman.

25. Similarly, the Haihaya king named Krutavirya got the son named Kartavirya and attained the eternal Brahman.

26. Performing. this vrata, Shakuntala got through Dushyanta the son Bharata who became an emperor.

27. The emperors referred to in the Vedas, all got their positions by performing this vrata.

28. When Dharani (Earth) sank into Patala, she performed this vrata and hence it is known as Dharanivrata.

29. When the vrata was completed, the earth was raised by Vishnu in his form as Varaha and placed over the water like a canoe.

30-31. O sage, I have thus told you about this Dharanivrata. He who Listens to this and he who performs this, becomes freed from all sins and gets merged in Vishnu.