62 - Ärogyavrata

Agastya said:

1. Now I shall tell you about another vrata called ‘Ärogyavrata which removes sins of every kind.

2. This vrata is to be observed by performing worship (to the Sun-god) in the names of Äditya, Bhäskara, Ravi, Bhänu, Surya, Diväkara and Prabhäkara.

3. The rule is that on the day food may be taken; on Saptamï day the sun should be worshipped (without food) and on the Ashtami day food may again be taken.

4. One who performs this worship of the Sun duly for one full year, gets health, wealth and grain in this life, and gets in the other world a place from where he neëd not return.

5-6. In days of yore, the glorious and valiant king by name Anaranya propitiated the god by this Vrata, as a result of which the god was pleased and he bestowed upon him sound health.

Bhadräshva said:

7. Was that king sickly that he is spoken of as getting healthy? O sage, how did he happen to get the disease?

Agastya said:

8. The king was, no doubt, glorious, famous, handsome, mighty and healthy. 

9. But once he happened to go to the Mänasa lake frequented by hosts of gods. He saw there in the middle of the Jake a big white lotus.

10. And within that an effulgent man of the size of the thumb, two-armed and clad in red silk.

11-12. Seeing him, he called his charioteer and spoke to him: “Bring that’ lotus to me. Wearing this on my head before the whole world, I shall become highly praiseworthy. So bring it quickly”. Told thus, the charioteer entered the lake.

  13. He went near it in order to catch it. But the moment he. touched the lotus, a boom emanated from it and, terrified by that sound, he fell down dead.

14. By the impact of that sound, the king lost his complexion, might and prowess and became a leper.

15. Seeing the transformation of that kind, the king was grief-stricken and began to think about how it happened.

16-17. When he was pondering thus, sage Vasishtha the son of Brahma, came there and asked him: “O king, how has your body become afflicted in this way? Tell me what I may do for you”

18. Asked thus by Vasishtha, the king told him about the lotus and all that happened.

19. After hearing that, the sage said: “O king, you are lucky. But you are also unlucky and hence you have become a leper”.

20-21. Told thus: the king shivering with fear and with folded hands, asked him: “O sage, I am righteous, how could I be otherwise”? Be pleased to tell me the cause of my leprosy.”

Vasishtha said:

22. “This lotus is called ‘Brahmapadma’ and it is well known over the three worlds. Its very Sight is equivalent to the sight of all gods.

23. Somewhere in this lake, it will be seen for six months. On seeing it, he who enters water gets cleansed of all sins and attains supreme beatitude.

24. This is the form of Brahman in the originating stage. Seeing this and then plunging in water, brings about liberation.

25. O king, your Charioteer saw this and was immersed in water. But you came here to catch hold of it and so you have committed a sin and, as a result, become a leper.

26-27. Since you were able to see this (lotus) I said you are lucky. But since you became stupefied (so as to attempt at plucking it) I said you are unlucky”.

28. Saying thus to the king, Vasishtha disappeared.

29. The king, grasping what Vasishtha had said, came there every day and saw the lord (in the lotus) (and got cured of the disease).

30. The gods too call it the golden lotus. Seeing the Brahmapadma with Hari within it in the Mänasa lake, one attains the supreme Brahman from where he does not return.

31. O king, there is another reason also for your becoming leprous. The sun remains within this lotus.

32-33. He is really the eternal Supreme self. You thought of wearing that on the head thinking you would become famous thereby and so sent the charioteer to fetch it. That very moment you became afflicted by leprosy.

34. Therefore, O king, you also perform this vrata and by its power you will be cured of leprosy.