Parva 2 Chapter 78: puṇyakavratavarṇanam - description of puṇyaka vratam

umā said: O woman with a pure, beautiful smile (arundhati)! Since when I became the one who knows all, due to the blessings of my husband, I knew the scheme of observing the auspicious puṇyaka vow. sanātanaḥ puṇyavidhiriti buddhyāvagamyatām | mahādevaprasādena mayā dṛṣṭastvarundhati ||2-78-2 O arundhati! Understand by your intellect that the observance of puṇyaka is eternal. I knew about this due to the blessings of the great deva, shiva. puṇyakāni ca sarvāṇi cīrṇavatyasmyanindite | anujṣayā bhagavato bhartuḥ sharvasya dhīmataḥ ||2-78-3 O the one who is never despised! I observed the vow of puṇyaka completely, with the permission of my husband, sharva, the lord with high intellect. satītvaṁ dharmacharaṇaṁ yasyā nityamakhaṇḍitam | puṇyakānāṁ vidhistasyāḥ purāṇaiḥ parikīrtitaḥ || 2-78-4 The observance of puṇyaka vow is celebrated in ancient histories for those women who are faithful to their husbands and who are fixed in dharma. dānopavāsapuṇyāni sukṛtānyapyarundhati | niṣphalānyasatīnāṁ hi puṇyakāni tathā śubhe ||2-78-5 O arundhati! The auspicious and good deeds of offering gifts and observing fasts are not fruitful for women who are not faithful to their husbands. O auspicious woman! It is the same with the observance of puṇyaka as well. yā vaṣchayanti bhartāraṁ yoniduṣṭāścha yāḥ striyaḥ | yonidoṣātpuṇyaphalaṁ nāśnanti nirayaṅgamāḥ || 2-78-6 Those women who cheat their husbands, having a polluted yoni do not get the auspicious results of this (puṇyaka) vow. They go to hell. sādhvyo jagaddhārayanti suśīlāḥ patidevatāḥ | ananyā dharmanityāścha satīpanthānamāśritāḥ ||2-78-7 The women with good character, faithful to husbands, having good habits, who are always fixed in the path of dharma and faithful women, support the world. avāgduṣṭāḥ śauchayuktā dhṛtimatyaḥ śubhavratāḥ | satataṁ sādhuvādinyo dhārayanti jagatkhalu ||2-78-8 It is definite that the entire world is supported by the women, whose words are not defective, who are pure in body with a brave mind, who observe auspicious vows and always utter auspicious words. vyādhitaḥ patito vāpi dīno vāpi kathaṣchana | na tyaktavyaḥ striyā bhartā dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ ||2-78-9 A woman should not abandon her husband, even if he is unwell, fallen or suffering from disease. This is an eternal conduct. akāryakāriṇaṁ vāpi patitaṁ vāpi nirguṇam | strī patiṁ tārayatyeva tathā''tmānaṁ śubhānane ||2-78-10 Even if the husband does deeds which should not be done or he is fallen without any qualities, a woman saves her husband and herself, O the one with an auspicious face! yoniduṣṭastriyo nāsti prāyaśchittaṁ hataiva sā | vāgduṣṭe vihitaṁ sadbhiḥ prāyaśchittaṁ purātane ||2-78-11 There is no repentance for those women with polluted yonis. She is spoiled. Since ancient times, the good have prescribed the methods for repentance for those who are polluted by using (improper) words. bhartuśchandena kartavyaṁ vratakaṁ sarvadā striyā | upavāso'pi vā satye kāṅkṣantyā sukṛtāṁ gatim ||2-78-12 With the consent of husband, a woman shall observe the vow of puṇyaka always. A woman who desires an auspicious refuge shall also observe fast, O, true woman! kalpāntarasahasreṣu na strī sā labhate gatim | tiryagyonisahasreṣu pacyate yoniviplavāt ||2-78-13 The woman with a polluted yoni will fall into the wombs of thousands of beings. She will not attain refuge even at the end of thousands of eras. yadi sā nāma mānuṣyaṁ strī labhedasatī satī | chaṇḍālayonau durmedhā jāyate kukkurāśanā ||2-78-14 If the unfaithful woman is born as a woman again, she will be born as a chanḍāla woman, who eats dogs. bhartā devaḥ sadā strīṇāṁ sadbhirdṛṣṭastapodhane | yasyā hi tuṣyate bhartā sā satī dharmacāriṇī ||2-78-15 O the one with a wealth of penance! Husband is always the god for woman, as seen by the good men. The woman who makes her husband happy, is the faithful wife, who is in the path of dharma. kautūhalahatānāṁ tu strīṇāṁ loko na śobhanaḥ | bhartaryeva mano yāsāṁ sadbhāvena vyavasthītam ||2-78-16 The auspicious worlds are not for those women who are spoiled due to curiosity. The good natured woman who remains with her husband fully with her mind is considered as faithful. karmaṇā manasā vacā patim nāticaranti yāḥ | tāsāṁ puṇyaphalaṁ saumye puṇyakaiḥ samudāhṛtam ||2-78-17 The auspicious fruits of the puṇyaka vow, belong to that woman who does not cheat her husband with her deeds, mind and words, O gentle woman (arudhati)! puṇyakānāṁ vidhiṁ kṛtsnaṁ svarlokapratishobhane | nibodha saha sarvābhirdṛṣṭo yastapasā mayā ||2-78-18 O the woman who increases the beauty of heaven! I understood the scheme for observing puṇyaka completely due of my penance. Hear about this along with all women with attention. snātvā strī prātarutthāya patiṁ vijṣāpayetsatī | upavāsārthamatha vā vratakārthaṁ dṛtavrate ||2-78-19 O the one who observes the vow! The faithful wife shall get up early in the morning and take bath. Then, the woman, fixed in vow, shall inform her husband that she shall observe the fast and the vow. śvaśurābhyāṁ ca charaṇau satataṁ sattamasya ca | grahāyaudumbaraṁ pātraṁ sakuśaṁ sākṣtaṁ tathā ||2-78-20 She should worship the feet (pay obeisance to) of the parents of her husband and good men. Then she should take a copper vessel with kusha grass and unhusked grains. gośṛṅgaṁ dakṣiṇaṁ sicya pratigṛhṇīta tajjalam | tato bhartuḥ satī dadyātsnātasya prayatasya ca ||2-78-21 She should wet the right horn of the cow and collect the water. The faithful wife shall offer the water to her husband, who has purified himself by bathing. ātmano'pi niṣektavyaṁ tataḥ shirasi tajjalam | trailokyasarvatīrtheṣu snānametadudāhṛtam ||2-78-22 She should pour the water on to her head. This is considered equal to bathing in the waters of all the auspicious bathing places in the three worlds. upavāseṣu kartavyametaddhi vratakeṣu ca | snānametaddhi sāmānyaṁ strīṇāṁ puṁsāṁ ca bhāmini ||2-78-23 Do this during all fasts and also during the observance of puṇyaka vow. O beautiful woman! This is a common bath for women and men. arundhati mayā dṛṣṭaṁ tapasā haratejasā | aśalyaviddhaṁ śayanamāsanaṁ ca tathāvidham ||2-78-24 arundhati! I have seen this with penance and due to the splendour of hara (shiva). The bed for sleeping for the faithful wife shall not be sewn. The chair for sitting shall be similar. svayaṁ prakṣālanaṁ cāpi pādayoranuśabditam | aśruprapāto roṣaścha kalahashcha kṛtaḥ sati | upavāsādvratādvāpi sadyo bhraṁśayati striyaḥ ||2-78-25 (For the faithful wife) it is ordained that she shall wash her own feet. Shredding tears, getting angry and quarrelling, makes the faithful woman lose the benefits of the vow and the fast. śuklameva sadā vāsaḥ praśastaṁ candrasaṁbhave | antarvāso'paraṁ caiva upavāse vrate tathā ||2-78-26 O the daughter of moon! Wearing white clothes during the observation of the vow and the fast is considered as best. She shall also wear another cloth inside. pādukārthaṁ tṛṇaiḥ kāryam sarvadā vratake sati | upavāse'pi ca vidhireṣa eva pravartitaḥ ||2-78-27 O the woman faithful to your husband! During the observation of the vow, the woman shall always wear footwear made of grass (tṛṇa). During the observance of fast also, this is to be followed. aṣjanaṁ rochanaṁ cāpi gandhānsumanasastathā | vratake chopavāse ca nityameva vivarjayet ||2-78-28 The aṣjana, gorochana, various fragrances and flowers are to be avoided during the observance of the vow as well as the fast. dantakāṣṭhaṁ śiraḥsnānamudvartanamathāpi vā | vivarjitaṁ mṛdā sarvaṁ śaucārthaṁ tu vidhīyate ||2-78-29 Brushing teeth, bathing the head and wiping the body, are to be avoided during the time of vow. Using earth to clean one's body is ordained. bilvāmṛtaphalairnityam śrīphalaiścha samācaret | prakṣālanaṁ vai śirasaḥ sadā mṛṇmiśritairjalaiḥ || 2-78-30 One should take bath with water in which the fruits of Bel (Aegle Marmelos) (bilva), amṛta and śrī are put. The head shall be washed with water in which earth is mixed. śiraso'bhyaṣjanaṁ saumye naiva tāvatpraśasyate | na pādayorna gātrasya sneheneti sthitiḥ smṛtā ||2-78-31 O gentle woman! One should not apply oil to the head. It is indicated that oil should not be applied on the feet or body. goyānamuṣṭrayānaṁ ca kharayānaṁ ca varjitam | nagnasnānaṁ ca satataṁ vrate cāpyupavāsake ||2-78-32 During the observation of fast, traveling on carts drawn by bull, camel and asses shall be avoided. During this time, bathing naked shall be avoided. nadījalaṁ prasravajaṁ praśastaṁ somanandini | śubhe taḍāge vāpyādau vistīrṇe jalajāyute ||2-78-33 O the daughter of moon! It is better to take bath in the flowing river water as also in auspicious, beautiful large ponds having lotus flowers. gatvā snānaṁ praśstaṁ tu sadaiva khalu sarvathā | alābhe tvavaruddhā strī ghaṭasnānaṁ samācaret || 2-78-34 Always taking bath in these waters is important. If this is not possible, the woman who cannot go outside, shall take bath with water pots. navaishcha kumbhaiḥ snātavyaṁ vidhireṣa purātanaḥ | snānaṁ ca kāryaṁ śirasā tapaḥphalamavāpnuyāt ||2-78-35 The ancient directive is to take bath using new water pots with water flowing over the head. With this, the result of the penance is achieved. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi pārijātaharaṇe'ṣṭasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the seventy-eighth chapter of viṣṇuparva, harivaṁśa, description of puṇyaka vratam. nīlakaṇṭha commentary athāṣṭasaptatitame'dhyāye'sminprāha pārvatī | arundhatyai svavaktreṇa prāguktamapi vistarāt || 1 || · 2-78-1 sarvajṣeti | ādiṣṭo upadiṣṭo bhartretyarthāt dṛṣṭo jṣātaścha | · 2-78-4 akhaṇḍitaṁ īpsitaṁ bhavet | · 2-78-11 purātane vede || · 2-78-12 he satye arundhati || · 2-78-14 asati bhūtvā satī vidyamanā || · 2-78-16 kautūhalaṁ āścaryaṁ proktam || · 2-78-20 audumbaraṁ tāmramayam || · 2-78-21 sicya siktva || · 2-78-24 vratāṅganiyamānāha aśalyetādinā || · 2-78-27 pādukārthaṁ tṛṇairvetrādibhiḥ pādatrāṇaṁ kartavyaṁ na tu charmamayamityarthaḥ || · 2-78-30 amṛtā harītakī āmalakī vā | śrīphalaiḥ pakvabilvaphalaiḥ amṛnmiśritairiti cchedaḥ || · 2-78-31 abhyaṣjanaṁ kalkasnānam || iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmaṣṭasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ || Note: verse 13, line 2: pacyate is the correct word