191 - Madhuparka

Suta said:

1. After knowing so much about dharma, Earth asked again the Lord in the form of the boar.

Earth said:

2. I have now known so much Shástra from your own mouth. Still I don’t feel that I have known all that I should know.

3. It, therefore, behoves you to tell me as to what is the nature of madhuparka, who is its devatä and what merit arises from it.

4. And also what are its ingredients and to whom it should be given. 

5. Hearing these words of Earth, the great Lord in the form of the boar replied.

Varäha said:

6. Listen, O Earth, I shall tell you how madhuparka is made, what is its origin and how it should be gifted.

7. When I, Brahmä and Rudra caused dissolution of the world, all beings remained in an indistinct form.

8. Then from my right side came out Man, beautiful, lustrous, auspicious, humble and famous.

9. Then Brahma asked me: ‘‘O Vishnu, who is this person that has came out of your body to be a fourth among us three. He is small and has come out in secret. This is not proper on your part.”

10. Hearing these words of Brahma, I said:

11. “The being that has come out of me is known as Madhuparka, necessary in all ceremonies and capable of bringing about the release of devotees from samsära. This, in brief, is what I have to tell you and Rudra.”

12. (Brahma said:) “Good it is that he has come out as your part.” The origin of Madhuparka is thus decided.

13. Then Brahma asked me as to what should be done with madhuparka.

14. “Please tell me what is the way to utilise madhuparka so that it may not go in vain.”

15. Hearing the words of Brahma, I said: Madhuparka is to be made and gifted. If madhuparka is given after performing my worship one goes to the exalted place where there will be no sorrow.

16. I shall now say how its gift should be made by which one attains divine path.

17-18. When in my worship, the upachäras are over, madhuparka should be taken and this mantra uttered:

19. “This, O Lord, is what arose from your body. It is by name madhuparka and it is capable of granting release from samsära, I offer it to you with great devotion. Be pleased to receive it. I bow to you.”

20. O Earth, now listen to what I say about the nature of madhuparka and how it is to be offered.

21. It should be made with equal parts of honey, curds and ghee reciting the prescribed mantras if the full benefit should be attained.

22. It may then be offered to me in the proper manner. I have thus told you what you wanted to know.