Parva 2 Chapter 81: umāvratakathanasamāptiḥ - narration of umāvrata concluded

umā said: If the woman who considers her husband as god desires to have relatives of good quality, she shall observe fast on all seventh days, eating only once in a day. tataḥ samvatsare pūrṇe vṛkṣaṁ dadyāddhiraṇmayam | sadakṣiṇaṁ brāhmaṇāya śubhabandhumatī bhavet ||2-81-2 On the completion of one year, she shall offer a golden tree along with tribute to Brahmins. Then she shall have good relatives. karaṣje dīpakaṁ dadyātsadā yā pramadā vare | pūrṇe saṁvatsare dadyātsauvarṇaṁ dīpakaṁ tataḥ ||2-81-3 O the best among women! She shall offer lamps of copper always. On the completion of one year, she shall offer a lamp of gold. ruchyā sā strī bhavedbharturiṣṭā putravtī tathā | sapatnīnāmadhi tathā dīpavajjvalate śubhe ||2-81-4 O auspicious woman! She shall become dear to her husband. She shall be blessed with children. She will function as a leading light to her co-wives. yā śeṣabhojinī nityaṁ naiva ca syādaruntudā | na ca syādvyaśanā saumye nityaṁ ca patidevatā ||2-81-5 O gentle woman! She will eat always at the last. She will never use cruel, harsh words. The woman who considers her husband as god shall not have food twice a day. śaucānvitā ca satataṁ na ca rūkṣābhibhāṣiṇī | śvaśrūśvaśurayornityaṁ śuśrūṣābhiratā satī ||2-81-6 She will always be clean and pure. She will never say harsh words. The woman who is faithful to her husband, shall take care of her father and mother in law always. kiṁ tasyā vratakaiḥ kāryaṁ kiṁ vā syādupavāsakaiḥ | yā bhartṛdevatā nityaṁ satyadharmaguṇānvitā ||2-81-7 All the vows and fasts are of no use to the woman who considers her husband as god and who is fixed in truth and dharma always. vidhavā strī tu yā hi syāddaivayogātsatī sati | tasyā vakṣyāmi yo dharmaḥ purāṇoktaḥ sumadhyame ||2-81-8 O woman who is faithful to your husband! If at all the woman who is faithful to her husband becomes a widow due to fate, O woman with a beautiful waist! I shall tell you her duties mentioned in ancient histories. patiṁ saṅkalpayitvā sā citrasthaṁ vātha mṛnmayam | tasya pūjāṁ sadā kuryātsatām dharmamanusmaret ||2-81-9 She shall conceive her husband in a picture or in an idol of earth and offer worship daily, remembering her good duties. tata evābhyanujṣāṁ sā nityaṁ yāceta suvratā | vratake chopavāse ca bhojane ca viśeṣataḥ ||2-81-10 The woman who observes good vows shall always seek his permission for vow, fast and specially for eating. bhartṛlokānvrajatyeva na chedvyuccharate patim | śāṇḍilī sūryavadbhāti satataṁ patidevatā ||2-81-11 She shall attain the world of her husband, who does not cheat her husband. She who considers her husband as god always shines like sun. adyaprabhṛti sarveṣāṁ devānāṁ caiva yoṣitaḥ | drakṣyanti puṇyakavidhiṁ paurāṇo yaḥ sanātanaḥ ||2-81-12 From today, all the women including those belonging to the gods will consider the vow of puṇyaka, mentioned in ancient histories as eternal. munishcha nāradaḥ kṛtsnaṁ paurāṇaṁ jṣāsyate vidhim | upavāsasya dharmātmā vratakānāṁ tathaiva ca ||2-81-13 Especially sage nārada, expert on dharma will consider this ancient vow as suitable for all fasts. aditistapasendrāṇī tvaṁ ca somasute vare | pravartane puṇyakānāṁ vratakānāṁ ca sarvadā ||2-81-14 O the daughter of moon! aditi, indrāṇi and you shall initiate observation of this puṇyaka vow with penance. kīrtanīyāḥ satīnāṁ hi bhaviṣyatha guṇānvitāḥ | upavāsavratavidhiṁ yathāvadiha kṛtsnaśaḥ ||2-81-15 This vow is shall be praised by all women faithful to their husbands and observed by them with the right schedule. prādurbhāveṣu sarveṣu bhāryā viṣṇormahātmanaḥ | jṣāsyanti puṇyakavidhiṁ nityameva sanātanam ||2-81-16 The wives of the great soul viṣṇu, in all the incarnations, always know the vow of puṇyaka as eternal. saviśeṣaṁ ca dharmāṇāṁ strīdharmeṣu prashasyate | patibhaktiraduṣṭatvamavāgduṣṭatvameva ca ||2-81-17 Among all duties, especially in the duties of women, devotion to husband, absence of sinful deeds and the absence of use of bad words are considered the best. nārada uvāca evamuktāstu tāḥ sādhvyo mahādevyā tapodhanāḥ | jagmurhṛṣṭā mahādevīṁ praṇipatya harapriyām ||2-81-18 nārada said: The good women with the wealth of penance who were told thus by the great goddess (umā) paid obeisance to the great goddess, dear to hara (shiva) and went away happily. aditirvratakaṁ cakre śṛṇuyāddharmacāriṇī | umāvratavidhiḥ sarvaḥ pūrvoddiṣṭastayā kṛtaḥ ||2-81-19 O woman who proceeds in the path of dharma! (O rukmiṇī! nāradā continued) aditi observed the vow of umā as described before. Hear that as well. pārijāte nibadhyātha mama dattastu kaśyapaḥ | aditivratakaṁ nāma taddattaṁ satyabhāmayā ||2-81-20 Tying kashyapa on the pārijāta tree, aditi gave me. That same vow called the vow of aditi was also offered by satyabhāmā. tadeva vratakaṁ dattaṁ sāvitryā dharmanityayā | taireva yuktaiḥ saṁyuktamidaṁ tvabhyadhikaṁ kṛtam ||2-81-21 The same vow was offered by sāvitri, who is always fixed in dharma. Since it is joined with all appropriate items, it is considered to be the best. saṁdhyākāle tu saṁprāpte sthāne sthāne tathaiva ca | pūjanaṁ vā namaskāro japashcha dviguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ ||2-81-22 As the evening arrives, the worship, obeisance and the chanting becomes twice powerful than otherwise. sāvitrīvratakaṁ kṛtvā tathādityā vrataṁ satī | bhartuḥ kulaṁ pitṝkulamātmānaṁ caiva tārayet ||2-81-23 If the vow of sāvitri and the vow of aditi are observed by a woman, she saves the race of her husband, the race of her father as well as her own race. indrāṇī vratakaṁ cakre tadevaumaṁ yathāvidhi | raktamabhyadhikaṁ vāso bhojanaṁ caiva sāmiṣam ||2-81-24 indrāṇi also observed the same vow as per the schedule with red clothes, food as well as meat. caturthe divase vāpi puṇyakārthaṁ vidhiḥ punaḥ | ahorātropavāsaścha deyaṁ kumbhaśataṁ tathā ||2-81-25 On the fourth day, the rule for puṇyaka is to observe fast during the day and night. Also one hundred pots shall be offered. gaṅgayā vratakaṁ dattaṁ tadevaumaṁ yashaskari | snānamabhyadhikam tvatra pratyūṣasyātmano jale ||2-81-26 The famous gaṅgā also offered the vow. Bathing in the early morning in gaṅgā is considered the best in this. anyasminvā jale māghaśuklapakṣe haripriye | etadgaṅgāvrataṁ nāma sarvakāmapradaṁ smṛtam ||2-81-27 O the woman dear to hari (kṛṣṇa)! (nārada continued,) bathing can also be in some other water. It is said that this vow of gaṅgā is good for obtaining all desires. sapta sapta ca saptātha kulāni harivallabhe | strī tārayati dharmajṣā gaṅgāvratakacāriṇī ||2-81-28 O the wife of hari (kṛṣṇa)! (nārada continued) The woman who is fixed in dharma who observes the vow of gaṣgā will save twentyone races. deyaṁ kumbhasahasraṁ tu gaṅgāyā vratake śubhe | tāraṇaṁ pāraṇaṁ caiva tadvrataṁ sārvakāmikam ||2-81-29 In the auspicious vow of gaṅgā, a thousand pots shall be offered. This vow will fulfill all desires and save from all worries. yamabhāryā cakārātha vrataṁ yāmarathaṁ śubham | hemante tattu kartavyamākāśe harivallabhe ||2-81-30 The wife of the god of death also performed this auspicious vow named yāmarathaṁ. O the wife of hari! (nārada continued). This vow shall be observed in the autumn season under the open sky. imāni caiva vākyāni brūyādākāśamāsthitā | snātvā śuchisamācārā namaskṛtya patiṁ śubhe ||2-81-31 O auspicious woman! After bathing and paying obeisance to the husband, the following words shall also be pronounced under the open sky: carāmyahaṁ yāmarathaṁ himaṁ pṛṣṭhena dhāraye | pativratā jīvaputrā bhaveyaṁ ca puro'dhikā ||2-81-32 I am observing the vow yāmarathaṁ bearing the ice on my back. May I become the foremost, may I be faithful to my husband and may my sons live long. sapatnīradhitiṣṭheyaṁ paśyeyaṁ caiva mā yamam | sabhartṛputrā jīveyaṁ ciraṁ ca sukhameva ca ||2-81-33 May I become foremost among the co-wives, let me not face death for long, may I along with my husband and children live comfortably for long. patilokaṁ ca gaccheyaṁ bhaveyaṁ nandinī tathā | suchailā mṛṣṭahastā ca svajaneṣṭā guṇānvitā ||2-81-34 let me go to the world of my husband, let me be praised there. Saying these words, the woman, wearing good clothes, with her hands full, who is liked by all her relatives, who is with all good qualities evaṁ kṛtvā tato vipraṁ madhunā svasti vācayet | tilairapi tathā kṛṣṇaiḥ pāyasena tu bhojayet ||2-81-35 shall make a Brahmin pronounce auspicious words. She shall offer the Brahmin sesame and seeds and milk. evaṁ vratāni devībhiḥ kṛtānyamaravarṇini | mahādevyā puroktāni rudrapatnyā haripriye ||2-81-36 O woman as beautiful as goddess! (nārada continued) The goddesses performed such vows, O the woman who is dear to hari, as spoken before by the great goddess, wife of rudra (shiva). ahaṁ bravīmi tapasā madīyena samanvitā | sarvā drakṣyatha guṇyāni vratakāni tathaiva ca ||2-81-37 O goddesses! I shall tell you, all the vows with auspicious qualities. All these can be visualized by you, enriched by the strength of my penance. paurāṇānyumayā devyā yāni dṛṣṭāni vai purā | kalyāṇaguṇayuktāni pāvanāni śubhāni ca ||2-81-38 These ancient vows visualized by umā earlier are auspicious, sacred and combined with good qualities. vaiśampāyana uvāca rukmiṇī vratakaṁ cakre dṛṣṭvā vratakavistaram | umāyā varadānena dṛṣṭvā divyena cakṣuṣā ||2-81-39 vaiśampāyana said: Rukmiṇī realized the greatness of the vow with the divine eye obtained by the boon granted by umā. Then she observed the vow. umāvrateṣu sarveṣu vṛṣadānaṁ tathādhikam | ratnamālāpradānaṁ ca yathānnaṁ sārvakāmikam ||2-81-40 In all the vows of umā, the offering of bull is prominent along with the offerings of garlands of jewels as well as food liked by all. tathā jāmbavatī cakre puromāvratakaṁ yathā | dadāvabhyadhikaṁ sā tu ratnavṛkṣaṁ manoharam |2-81-41 jāmbavatī also observed the vow in the same manner in which umā observed the vow earlier. Beautiful trees of jewels were offered by her mostly. satyā dadau tathaivātha puromāvratakaṁ tathā | pītamabhyadhikaṁ vāsastayā dattamumāvrate ||2-81-42 satyābhāmā also observed the vow in the same manner in which umā observed the vow earlier. She offered mostly yellow clothes in the vow. rohiṇyātha ca phālgunyā maghayā ca purātane | vratāni khalu dattani bahūni kulavardhane ||2-81-43 rohiṇi, phālguni and magha also observed many types of vows earlier leading to the flourishing of their races. dadau śatabhiṣā caiva vratakaṁ puṇyalakṣaṇam | yena nakṣatramukhyatvaṁ jagāma kurunandana ||2-81-44 O the son of kuru (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) śatabhiṣā also observed the auspicious vow and obtained importance among the stars. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi pārijātaharaṇe umāvratakathanasamāptau pārijātaharaṇakathanasamāptau chaikāśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ || Thus this is eightyfirst chapter of viṣṇuparva, harivaṁśa, khila of mahābhārata, in the taking of pārijāta, narration of umāvrata concluded samāptaṁ chedaṁ harivaṁśasya pūrvārdham Thus ends the first part of harivaṁśa nīlakaṇṭha commentary ekāśītitame'dhyāye sauṣṭhavaṁ svajanasya ca | bhaveddhairyervratairyadyattattatspaṣṭaṁ nirūpyate || 1 || · 2-81-1 bāndhavāniti || · 2-81-5 vyaśanā annavarjitā saumye he arundhati || · 2-81-21 yuktaiḥ uchitasādhanaiḥ || · 2-81-26 ātmano gaṣgāyāḥ jale svayamāhṛte svyamupagate vā || · 2-81-29 tāraṇaṁ duḥkhānāṁ pāraṇaṁ manorathānām || · 2-81-30 yāmarathaṁ nāmataḥ ākāśe anāccādite deshe || · 2-81-32 dhāraye dhārayantī || · 2-81-34 mṛṣṭahastā viśuddhakarā || · 2-81-35 madhunā madhurasena || · 2-81-37 tapasā mattapobalenātindriyamapi puṇyaphalaṁ drakṣyatha || īti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ Kupārijātaharaṇe ekāśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ || Note : Verse 33, line 1 : tiṣṭheyaṁ is correct