Chapter Nineteen

            Performing the Pumsavana Ritualistic Ceremony

 

   This chapter explains how Diti, Kasyapa Muni's wife, executed Kasyapa Muni's instructions on devotional service. During the first day of the bright fortnight of the moon in the month of Agrahayana (November-December), every woman, following in the footsteps of Diti and following the instructions of her own husband, should begin this pumsavana-vrata. In the morning, after washing her teeth, bathing and thus becoming purified, she should hear about the birth mystery of the Maruts. Then, covering her body with a white dress and being properly ornamented, before breakfast she should worship Lord Visnu and mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, Lord Visnu's wife, by glorifying Lord Visnu for His mercy, patience, prowess, ability, greatness and other glories and for how He can bestow all mystic benedictions. While offering the Lord all paraphernalia for worship, such as ornaments, a sacred thread, scents, nice flowers, incense and water for bathing and washing His feet, hands and mouth, one should invite the Lord with this mantra: om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya mahanubhavaya mahavibhutipataye saha maha-vibhutibhir balim upaharami. Then one should offer twelve oblations in the fire while chanting this mantra: om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya mahavibhuti-pataye svaha. One should offer obeisances while chanting this mantra ten times. Then one should chant the Laksmi-Narayana mantra.

   If either a pregnant woman or her husband regularly discharges this devotional service, both of them will receive the result. After continuing this process for one full year, the chaste wife should fast on the purnima, the full-moon day, of Karttika. On the following day, the husband should worship the Lord as before and then observe a festival by cooking nice food and distributing prasada to the brahmanas. Then, with the permission of the brahmanas, the husband and wife should take prasada. This chapter ends by glorifying the results of the pumsavana function.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                             sri-rajovaca

                      vratam pumsavanam brahman

                         bhavata yad udiritam

                        tasya veditum icchami

                        yena visnuh prasidati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-raja uvaca--Maharaja Pariksit said; vratam--the vow; pumsavanam--called pumsavana; brahman--O brahmana; bhavata--by you; yat--which; udiritam--was spoken of; tasya--of that; veditum--to know; icchami--I want; yena--by which; visnuh--Lord Visnu; prasidati--is pleased.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Maharaja Pariksit said: My dear lord, you have already spoken about the pumsavana vow. Now I want to hear about it in detail, for I understand that by observing this vow one can please the Supreme Lord, Visnu.

 

                              TEXTS 2-3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                        sukle margasire pakse

                        yosid bhartur anujnaya

                         arabheta vratam idam

                         sarva-kamikam aditah

 

                        nisamya marutam janma

                       brahmanan anumantrya ca

                       snatva sukla-dati sukle

                          vasitalankrtambare

                       pujayet pratarasat prag

                        bhagavantam sriya saha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; sukle--bright; margasire--during the month of November--December; pakse--during the fortnight; yosit--a woman; bhartuh--of the husband; anujnaya--with the permission; arabheta--should begin; vratam--vow; idam--this; sarva-kamikam--which fulfills all desires; aditah--from the first day; nisamya--hearing; marutam--of the Maruts; janma--the birth; brahmanan--the brahmanas; anumantrya--taking instruction from; ca--and; snatva--bathing; sukla-dati--having cleaned the teeth; sukle--white; vasita--should put on; alankrta--wearing ornaments; ambare--garments; pujayet--should worship; pratah-asat prak--before breakfast; bhagavantam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sriya saha--with the goddess of fortune.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami said: On the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Agrahayana [November-December], following the instructions of her husband, a woman should begin this regulative devotional service with a vow of penance, for it can fulfill all one's desires. Before beginning the worship of Lord Visnu, the woman should hear the story of how the Maruts were born. Under the instructions of qualified brahmanas, in the morning she should wash her teeth, bathe, and dress herself with white cloth and ornaments, and before taking breakfast she should worship Lord Visnu and Laksmi.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         alam te nirapeksaya

                       purna-kama namo 'stu te

                          mahavibhuti-pataye

                        namah sakala-siddhaye

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   alam--enough; te--to You; nirapeksaya--indifferent; purna-kama--O Lord, whose desire is always fulfilled; namah--obeisances; astu--may there be; te--unto You; maha-vibhuti--of Laksmi; pataye--unto the husband; namah--obeisances; sakala-siddhaye--unto the master of all mystic perfections.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   [She should then pray to the Lord as follows.] My dear Lord, You are full in all opulences, but I do not beg You for opulence. I simply offer my respectful obeisances unto You. You are the husband and master of Laksmidevi, the goddess of fortune, who has all opulences. Therefore You are the master of all mystic yoga. I simply offer my obeisances unto You.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   A devotee knows how to appreciate the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                      om purnam adah purnam idam

                        purnat purnam udacyate

                        purnasya purnam adaya

                         purnam evavasisyate

 

   "The personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance." Therefore, to take shelter of the Supreme Lord is required. Whatever a devotee needs will be supplied by the complete Supreme Personality of Godhead (tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham). Therefore a pure devotee will not ask anything from the Lord. He simply offers the Lord his respectful obeisances, and the Lord is prepared to accept whatever the devotee can secure to worship Him, even patram puspam phalam toyam--a leaf, flower, fruit or water. There is no need to artificially exert oneself. It is better to be plain and simple and with respectful obeisances offer to the Lord whatever one can secure. The Lord is completely able to bless the devotee with all opulences.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       yatha tvam krpaya bhutya

                          tejasa mahimaujasa

                       justa isa gunaih sarvais

                      tato 'si bhagavan prabhuh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yatha--as; tvam--You; krpaya--with mercy; bhutya--with opulences; tejasa--with prowess; mahima-ojasa--with glory and strength; justah--endowed; isa--O my Lord; gunaih--with transcendental qualities; sarvaih--all; tatah--therefore; asi--You are; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prabhuh--the master.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O my Lord, because You are endowed with causeless mercy, all opulences, all prowess and all glories, strength and transcendental qualities, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of everyone.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In this verse the words tato 'si bhagavan prabhuh mean "Therefore You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of everyone." The Supreme Personality of Godhead is endowed with all six opulences in full, and moreover He is extremely kind to His devotee. Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless wants all the living entities to surrender unto Him so that they may engage in His service. Thus He becomes satisfied. Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless becomes pleased when His devotee offers Him patram puspam phalam toyam--a leaf, flower, fruit or water--in devotion. Sometimes the Lord, as the child of mother Yasoda, requests His devotee for some food, as if He were very hungry. Sometimes He tells His devotee in a dream that His temple and His garden are now very old and that He cannot enjoy them very nicely. Thus He requests the devotee to repair them. Sometimes He is buried in the earth, and as if unable to come out Himself, He requests His devotee to rescue Him. Sometimes He requests His devotee to preach His glories all over the world, although He alone is quite competent to perform this task. Even though the Supreme Personality of Godhead is endowed with all possessions and is self-sufficient, He depends on His devotees. Therefore the relationship of the Lord with His devotees is extremely confidential. Only the devotee can perceive how the Lord, although full in Himself, depends on His devotee for some particular work. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita (11.33), where the Lord tells Arjuna, nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin: "O Arjuna, merely be an instrument in the fight." Lord Krsna had the competence to win the Battle of Kuruksetra, but nonetheless He induced His devotee Arjuna to fight and become the cause of victory. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was quite competent enough to spread His name and mission all over the world, but still He depended upon His devotee to do this work. Considering all these points, the most important aspect of the Supreme Lord's self-sufficiency is that He depends on His devotees. This is called His causeless mercy. The devotee who has perceived this causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by realization can understand the master and the servant.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        visnu-patni maha-maye

                          mahapurusa-laksane

                        priyetha me maha-bhage

                       loka-matar namo 'stu te

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visnu-patni--O wife of Lord Visnu; maha-maye--O energy of Lord Visnu; maha-purusa-laksane--possessing the qualities and opulences of Lord Visnu; priyethah--kindly be pleased; me--upon me; maha-bhage--O goddess of fortune; loka-matah--O mother of the world; namah--obeisances; astu--may there be; te--unto you.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   [After profusely offering obeisances unto Lord Visnu, the devotee should offer respectful obeisances unto mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, and pray as follows.] O wife of Lord Visnu, O internal energy of Lord Visnu, you are as good as Lord Visnu Himself, for you have all of His qualities and opulences. O goddess of fortune, please be kind to me. O mother of the entire world, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Lord has multifarious potencies (parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate). Since mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, is the Lord's very precious potency, she is addressed here as maha-maye. The word maya means sakti. Lord Visnu, the Supreme, cannot exhibit His power everywhere without His principal energy. It is said, sakti saktiman abheda: the power and the powerful are identical. Therefore mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, is the constant companion of Lord Visnu; they remain together constantly. One cannot keep Laksmi in one's home without Lord Visnu. To think that one can do so is very dangerous. To keep Laksmi, or the riches of the Lord, without the service of the Lord is always dangerous, for then Laksmi becomes the illusory energy. With Lord Visnu, however, Laksmi is the spiritual energy.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya mahanubhavaya mahavibhuti-pataye saha maha-vibhutibhir balim upaharamiti; anenahar-ahar mantrena visnor avahanarghya-padyopasparsana-snana-vasa-upavita-vibhusana-gandha-puspa-dhupa-dipopaharady-upacaran susama-hitopaharet.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   om--O my Lord; namah--obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full with six opulences; maha-purusaya--the best of enjoyers; maha-anubhavaya--the most powerful; maha-vibhuti--of the goddess of fortune; pataye--the husband; saha--with; maha-vibhutibhih--associates; balim--presentation s; upaharami--I am offering; iti--thus; anena--by this; ahah-ahah--every day; mantrena--mantra; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; avahana--invocations; arghya-padya-upasparsana--water for washing the hands, feet and mouth; snana--water for bathing; vasa--garments; upavita--a sacred thread; vibhusana--ornaments; gandha--scents; puspa--flowers; dhupa--incense; dipa--lamps; upahara--gifts; adi--and so on; upacaran--presentations; su-samahita--with great attention; upaharet--she must offer.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My Lord Visnu, full in six opulences, You are the best of all enjoyers and the most powerful. O husband of mother Laksmi, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who are accompanied by many associates, such as Visvaksena. I offer all the paraphernalia for worshiping You." One should chant this mantra every day with great attention while worshiping Lord Visnu with all paraphernalia, such as water for washing His feet, hands and mouth and water for His bath. One must offer Him various presentations for His worship, such as garments, a sacred thread, ornaments, scents, flowers, incense and lamps.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This mantra is very important. Anyone engaged in Deity worship should chant this mantra, as quoted above, beginning with om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  havih-sesam ca juhuyad         xxx

                  anale dvadasahutih            xxx

      om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya mahavibhuti-pataye svaheti

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   havih-sesam--remnants of the offering; ca--and; juhuyat--one should offer; anale--in the fire; dvadasa--twelve; ahutih--oblations; om--O my Lord; namah--obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; maha-purusaya--the supreme enjoyer; maha-vibhuti--of the goddess of fortune; pataye--the husband; svaha--hail; iti--thus.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After worshiping the Lord with all the paraphernalia mentioned above, one should chant the following mantra while offering twelve oblations of ghee on the sacred fire: om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya mahavibhuti-pataye svaha.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       sriyam visnum ca varadav

                        asisam prabhavav ubhau

                      bhaktya sampujayen nityam

                       yadicchet sarva-sampadah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sriyam--the goddess of fortune; visnum--Lord Visnu; ca--and; vara-dau--the bestowers of benedictions; asisam--of blessings; prabhavau--the sources; ubhau--both; bhaktya--with devotion; sampujayet--should worship; nityam--daily; yadi--if; icchet--desires; sarva--all; sampadah--opulences.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   If one desires all opulences, his duty is to daily worship Lord Visnu with His wife, Laksmi. With great devotion one should worship Him according to the above-mentioned process. Lord Visnu and the goddess of fortune are an immensely powerful combination. They are the bestowers of all benedictions and the sources of all good fortune. Therefore the duty of everyone is to worship Laksmi-Narayana.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Laksmi-Narayana--Lord Visnu and mother Laksmi--are always situated in everyone's heart (isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati). However, because nondevotees do not realize that Lord Visnu stays with His eternal consort, Laksmi, within the hearts of all living entities, they are not endowed with the opulence of Lord Visnu. Unscrupulous men sometimes address a poor man as daridra-narayana, or "poor Narayana." This is most unscientific. Lord Visnu and Laksmi are always situated in everyone's heart, but this does not mean that everyone is Narayana, especially not those in poverty. This is a most abominable term to use in connection with Narayana. Narayana never becomes poor, and therefore He can never be called daridra-narayana. Narayana is certainly situated in everyone's heart, but He is neither poor nor rich. Only unscrupulous persons who do not know the opulence of Narayana try to afflict Him with poverty.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       pranamed dandavad bhumau

                        bhakti-prahvena cetasa

                       dasa-varam japen mantram

                        tatah stotram udirayet

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pranamet--should offer obeisances; danda-vat--like a stick; bhumau--on the ground; bhakti--through devotion; prahvena--humble; cetasa--with a mind; dasa-varam--ten times; japet--should utter; mantram--the mantra; tatah--then; stotram--prayer; udirayet--should chant.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One should offer obeisances unto the Lord with a mind humbled through devotion. While offering dandavats by falling on the ground like a rod, one should chant the above mantra ten times. Then one should chant the following prayer.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       yuvam tu visvasya vibhu

                        jagatah karanam param

                       iyam hi prakrtih suksma

                        maya-saktir duratyaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yuvam--both of you; tu--indeed; visvasya--of the universe; vibhu--the proprietors; jagatah--of the universe; karanam--the cause; param--supreme; iyam--this; hi--certainly; prakrtih--energy; suksma--difficult to understand; maya-saktih--the internal energy; duratyaya--difficult to overcome.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My Lord Visnu and mother Laksmi, goddess of fortune, you are the proprietors of the entire creation. Indeed, you are the cause of the creation. Mother Laksmi is extremely difficult to understand because she is so powerful that the jurisdiction of her power is difficult to overcome. Mother Laksmi is represented in the material world as the external energy, but actually she is always the internal energy of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tasya adhisvarah saksat

                        tvam eva purusah parah

                       tvam sarva-yajna ijyeyam

                      kriyeyam phala-bhug bhavan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasyah--of her; adhisvarah--the master; saksat--directly; tvam--You; eva--certainly; purusah--the person; parah--supreme; tvam--You; sarva-yajnah--personified sacrifice; ijya--worship; iyam--this (Laksmi); kriya--activities; iyam--this; phala-bhuk--the enjoyer of the fruits; bhavan--You.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My Lord, You are the master of energy, and therefore You are the Supreme Person. You are sacrifice [yajna] personified. Laksmi, the embodiment of spiritual activities, is the original form of worship offered unto You, whereas You are the enjoyer of all sacrifices.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        guna-vyaktir iyam devi

                      vyanjako guna-bhug bhavan

                      tvam hi sarva-sariry atma

                        srih sarirendriyasayah

                         nama-rupe bhagavati

                       pratyayas tvam apasrayah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   guna-vyaktih--the reservoir of qualities; iyam--this; devi--goddess; vyanjakah--manifester; guna-bhuk--the enjoyer of the qualities; bhavan--You; tvam--You; hi--indeed; sarva-sariri atma--the Supersoul of all living entities; srih--the goddess of fortune; sarira--the body; indriya--senses; asayah--and the mind; nama--name; rupe--and form; bhagavati--Laksmi; pratyayah--the cause of manifestation; tvam--You; apasrayah--the support.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Mother Laksmi, who is here, is the reservoir of all spiritual qualities, whereas You manifest and enjoy all these qualities. Indeed, You are actually the enjoyer of everything. You live as the Supersoul of all living entities, aid the goddess of fortune is the form of their bodies, senses and minds. She also has a holy name and form, whereas You are the support of all such names and forms and the cause for their manifestation.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Madhvacarya, the acarya of the Tattvavadis, has described this verse in the following way: "Visnu is described as yajna personified, and mother Laksmi is described as spiritual activities and the original form of worship. In fact, they represent spiritual activities and the Supersoul of all yajna. Lord Visnu is the Supersoul even of Laksmidevi, but no one can be the Supersoul of Lord Visnu, for Lord Visnu Himself is the spiritual Supersoul of everyone."

   According to Madhvacarya, there are two tattvas, or factors. One is independent, and the other is dependent. The first tattva is the Supreme Lord, Visnu, and the second is the jiva-tattva. Laksmidevi, being dependent on Lord Visnu, is sometimes counted among the jivas. The Gaudiya Vaisnavas, however, describe Laksmidevi in accordance with the following two verses from the Prameya-ratnavali of Baladeva Vidyabhusana. The first verse is a quotation from the Visnu Purana.

 

                        nityaiva sa jagan-mata

                        visnoh srir anapayini

                       yatha sarva-gato visnus

                        tathaiveyam dvijottama

 

                     visnoh syuh saktayas tisras

                         tasu ya kirtita para

                       saiva sris tad-abhinneti

                      praha sisyan prabhur mahan

 

   "O best of the brahmanas, Laksmiji is the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, and therefore she is called anapayini. She is the mother of all creation. As Lord Visnu is all-pervading, His spiritual potency, mother Laksmi, is also all-pervading." Lord Visnu has three principal potencies--internal, external and marginal. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has accepted para-sakti, the spiritual energy of the Lord, as being identical with the Lord. Thus she is also included in the independent visnu-tattva."

   In the Kanti-mala commentary on the Prameya-ratnavali there is this statement: nanu kvacit nitya-mukta jivatvam laksmyah svikrtam, tatraha--praheti. nityaiveti padye sarva-vyapti-kathanena kalakasthety adi-padya-dvaye, suddho 'pity ukta ca mahaprabhuna svasisyan prati laksmya bhagavad-advaitam upadistam. kvacid yat tasyas tu dvaitam uktam, tat tu tad-avista-nitya-mukta jivam adaya sangatamas tu. "Although some authoritative Vaisnava disciplic successions count the goddess of fortune among the ever-liberated living entities (jivas) in Vaikuntha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in accordance with the statement in the Visnu Purana, has described Laksmi as being identical with the visnu-tattva. The correct conclusion is that the descriptions of Laksmi as being different from Visnu are stated when an eternally liberated living entity is imbued with the quality of Laksmi; they do not pertain to mother Laksmi, the eternal consort of Lord Visnu."

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       yatha yuvam tri-lokasya

                        varadau paramesthinau

                         tatha ma uttamasloka

                        santu satya mahasisah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yatha--since; yuvam--both of you; tri-lokasya--of the three worlds; vara-dau--givers of benedictions; parame-sthinau--the supreme rulers; tatha--therefore; me--my; uttama-sloka--O Lord, who are praised with excellent verses; santu--may become; satyah--fulfilled; maha-asisah--great ambitions.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   You are both the supreme rulers and benedictors of the three worlds. Therefore, my Lord, Uttamasloka, may my ambitions be fulfilled by Your grace.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        ity abhistuya varadam

                        srinivasam sriya saha

                        tan nihsaryopaharanam

                        dattvacamanam arcayet

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   iti--thus; abhistuya--offering prayers; vara-dam--who bestows benedictions; sri-nivasam--unto Lord Visnu, the abode of the goddess of fortune; sriya saha--with Laksmi; tat--then; nihsarya--removing; upaharanam--the paraphernalia for worship; dattva--after offering; acamanam--water for washing the hands and mouth; arcayet--one should worship.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus one should worship Lord Visnu, who is known as Srinivasa, along with mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, by offering prayers according to the process mentioned above. After removing all the paraphernalia of worship, one should offer them water to wash their hands and mouths, and then one should worship them again.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tatah stuvita stotrena

                        bhakti-prahvena cetasa

                       yajnocchistam avaghraya

                       punar abhyarcayed dharim

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--then; stuvita--one should praise; stotrena--with prayers; bhakti--with devotion; prahvena--humble; cetasa--with a mind; yajna-ucchistam--the remnants of sacrifice; avaghraya--smelling; punah--again; abhyarcayet--one should worship; harim--Lord Visnu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, with devotion and humility, one should offer prayers to the Lord and mother Laksmi. Then one should smell the remnants of the food offered and then again worship the Lord and Laksmiji.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       patim ca paraya bhaktya

                          mahapurusa-cetasa

                      priyais tais tair upanamet

                       prema-silah svayam patih

                        bibhryat sarva-karmani

                         patnya uccavacani ca

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   patim--the husband; ca--and; paraya--supreme; bhaktya--with devotion; maha-purusa-cetasa--accepting as the Supreme Person; priyaih--dear; taih taih--by those (offerings); upanamet--should worship; prema-silah--being affectionate; svayam--himself; patih--the husband; bibhryat--should execute; sarva-karmani--all activities; patnyah--of the wife; ucca-avacani--high and low; ca--also.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Accepting her husband as the representative of the Supreme Person, a wife should worship him with unalloyed devotion by offering him prasada. The husband, being very pleased with his wife, should engage himself in the affairs of his family.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The family relationship of husband and wife should be established spiritually according to the process mentioned above.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          krtam ekatarenapi

                        dam-patyor ubhayor api

                       patnyam kuryad anarhayam

                         patir etat samahitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krtam--executed; ekatarena--by one; api--even; dam-patyoh--of the wife and husband; ubhayoh--of both; api--still; patnyam--when the wife; kuryat--he should execute; anarhayam--is unable; patih--the husband; etat--this; samahitah--with attention.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Between the husband and wife, one person is sufficient to execute this devotional service. Because of their good relationship, both of them will enjoy the result. Therefore if the wife is unable to execute this process, the husband should carefully do so, and the faithful wife will share the result.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The relationship between husband and wife is firmly established when the wife is faithful and the husband sincere. Then even if the wife, being weaker, is unable to execute devotional service with her husband, if she is chaste and sincere she shares half of her husband's activities.

 

                             TEXTS 19-20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      visnor vratam idam bibhran

                        na vihanyat kathancana

                       vipran striyo viravatih

                      srag-gandha-bali-mandanaih

                       arced ahar-ahar bhaktya

                        devam niyamam asthita

 

                       udvasya devam sve dhamni

                        tan-niveditam agratah

                      adyad atma-visuddhy-artham

                        sarva-kama-samrddhaye

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visnoh--of Lord Visnu; vratam--vow; idam--this; bibhrat--executing; na--not; vihanyat--should break; kathancana--for any reason; vipran--the brahmanas; striyah--women; vira-vatih--who have their husband and sons; srak--with garlands; gandha--sandalwood; bali--offerings of food; mandanaih--and with ornaments; arcet--one should worship; ahah-ahah--daily; bhaktya--with devotion; devam--Lord Visnu; niyamam--the regulative principles; asthita--following; udvasya--placing; devam--the Lord; sve--in His own; dhamni--resting place; tat--to Him; niveditam--what was offered; agratah--after dividing first among the others; adyat--one should eat; atma-visuddhi-artham--for self-purification; sarva-kama--all desires; samrddhaye--for fulfilling.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One should accept this visnu-vrata, which is a vow in devotional service, and should not deviate from its execution to engage in anything else. By offering the remnants of prasada, flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and ornaments, one should daily worship the brahmanas and worship women who peacefully live with their husbands and children. Every day the wife must continue following the regulative principles to worship Lord Visnu with great devotion. Thereafter, Lord Visnu should be laid in His bed, and then one should take prasada. In this way, husband and wife will be purified and will have all their desires fulfilled.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          etena puja-vidhina

                        masan dvadasa hayanam

                        nitvathoparamet sadhvi

                         kartike carame 'hani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   etena--with this; puja-vidhina--regulated worship; masan dvadasa--twelve months; hayanam--a year; nitva--after passing; atha--then; uparamet--should fast; sadhvi--the chaste wife; kartike--in Karttika; carame ahani--on the final day.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The chaste wife must perform such devotional service continuously for one year. After one year passes, she should fast on the full-moon day in the month of Karttika [October-November].

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       svo-bhute 'pa upasprsya

                      krsnam abhyarcya purvavat

                         payah-srtena juhuyac

                         caruna saha sarpisa

                         paka-yajna-vidhanena

                        dvadasaivahutih patih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svah-bhute--on the following morning; apah--water; upasprsya--contacting; krsnam--Lord Krsna; abhyarcya--worshiping; purva-vat--as previously; payah-srtena--with boiled milk; juhuyat--one should offer; caruna--with an offering of sweet rice; saha--with; sarpisa--ghee; paka-yajna-vidhanena--according to the injunctions of the Grhya-sutras; dvadasa--twelve; eva--indeed; ahutih--oblations; patih--the husband.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   On the morning of the next day, one should wash oneself, and after worshiping Lord Krsna as before, one should cook as one cooks for festivals as stated in the Grhya-sutras. Sweet rice should be cooked with ghee, and with this preparation the husband should offer oblations to the fire twelve times.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          asisah sirasadaya

                      dvijaih pritaih samiritah

                       pranamya sirasa bhaktya

                        bhunjita tad-anujnaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   asisah--blessings; sirasa--with the head; adaya--accepting; dvijaih--by the brahmanas; pritaih--who are pleased; samiritah--spoken; pranamya--after offering obeisances; sirasa--with the head; bhaktya--with devotion; bhunjita--he should eat; tat-anujnaya--with their permission.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, he should satisfy the brahmanas. When the satisfied brahmanas bestow their blessings, he should devotedly offer them respectful obeisances with his head, and with their permission he should take prasada.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        acaryam agratah krtva

                      vag-yatah saha bandhubhih

                      dadyat patnyai caroh sesam

                       suprajastvam susaubhagam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryam--the acarya; agratah--first of all; krtva--receiving properly; vak-yatah--controlling speech; saha--with; bandhubhih--friends and relatives; dadyat--he should give; patnyai--to the wife; caroh--of the oblation of sweet rice; sesam--the remnant; su-prajastvam--which insures good progeny; su-saubhagam--which insures good fortune.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Before taking his meal, the husband must first seat the acarya comfortably, and, along with his relatives and friends, should control his speech and offer prasada to the guru. Then the wife should eat the remnants of the oblation of sweet rice cooked with ghee. Eating the remnants insures a learned, devoted son and all good fortune.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 etac caritva vidhivad vratam vibhor

                   abhipsitartham labhate puman iha

                stri caitad asthaya labheta saubhagam

                 sriyam prajam jiva-patim yaso grham

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   etat--this; caritva--performing; vidhi-vat--according to the injunctions of sastra; vratam--vow; vibhoh--from the Lord; abhipsita--desired; artham--object; labhate--gets; puman--a man; iha--in this life; stri--a woman; ca--and; etat--this; asthaya--performing; labheta--can get; saubhagam--good fortune; sriyam--opulence; prajam--progeny; jiva-patim--a husband with a long duration of life; yasah--good reputation; grham--home.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   If this vow or ritualistic ceremony is observed according to the description of sastra, even in this life a man will be able to achieve all the benedictions he desires from the Lord. A wife who performs this ritualistic ceremony will surely receive good fortune, opulence, sons, a long-living husband, a good reputation and a good home.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In Bengal even today if a woman lives for a long time with her husband, she is considered very fortunate. A woman generally desires a good husband, good children, a good home, prosperity, opulence and so on. As recommended in this verse, a woman will receive all these desirable benedictions, and a man will also be able to receive all benedictions, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus by performing this particular type of vrata, a man and a woman in Krsna consciousness will be happy in this material world, and because of being Krsna conscious they will be promoted to the spiritual world.

 

                             TEXTS 26-28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kanya ca vindeta samagra-laksanam

                  patim tv avira hata-kilbisam gatim

                   mrta-praja jiva-suta dhanesvari

                   sudurbhaga subhaga rupam agryam

 

                    vinded virupa viruja vimucyate

                     ya amayavindriya-kalya-deham

                  etat pathann abhyudaye ca karmany

                     ananta-trptih pitr-devatanam

 

                  tustah prayacchanti samasta-kaman

                  homavasane huta-bhuk sri-haris ca

                   rajan mahan marutam janma punyam

                   diter vratam cabhihitam mahat te

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kanya--an unmarried girl; ca--and; vindeta--can get; samagralaksanam--possessing all good qualities; patim--a husband; tu--and; avira--a woman without a husband or son; hata-kilbisam--free from fault; gatim--the destination; mrta-praja--a woman whose children are dead; jiva-suta--a woman whose child has a long duration of life; dhana-isvari--possessing wealth; su-durbhaga--unfortunate; su-bhaga--fortunate; rupam--beauty; agryam--excellent; vindet--can get; virupa--an ugly woman; viruja--from the disease; vimucyate--is freed; yah--he who; amaya-vi--a diseased man; indriya-kalya-deham--an able body; etat--this; pathan--reciting; abhyudaye ca karmani--and in a sacrificial ceremony in which oblations are offered to the forefathers and demigods; ananta--unlimited; trptih--satisfaction; pitr-devatanam--of the forefathers and demigods; tustah--being pleased; prayacchanti--they bestow; samasta--all; kaman--desires; homa-avasane--on the completion of the ceremony; huta-bhuk--the enjoyer of the sacrifice; sri-harih--Lord Visnu; ca--also; rajan--O King; mahat--great; marutam--of the Maruts; janma--birth; punyam--pious; diteh--of Diti; vratam--the vow; ca--also; abhihitam--explained; mahat--great; te--to you.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   If an unmarried girl observes this vrata, she will be able to get a very good husband. If a woman who is avira--who has no husband or son--executes this ritualistic ceremony, she can be promoted to the spiritual world. A woman whose children have died after birth can get a child with a long duration of life and also become very fortunate in possessing wealth. If a woman is unfortunate she will become fortunate, and if ugly she will become beautiful. By observing this vrata, a diseased man can gain relief from his disease and have an able body with which to work. If one recites this narration while offering oblations to the pitas and demigods, especially during the sraddha ceremony, the demigods and inhabitants of Pitrloka will be extremely pleased with him and bestow upon him the fulfillment of all desires. After one performs this ritualistic ceremony, Lord Visnu and His wife, mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, are very pleased with him. O King Pariksit, now I have completely described how Diti performed this ceremony and had good children--the Maruts--and a happy life. I have tried to explain this to you as elaborately as possible.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Nineteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam,  entitled "performing the Pumsavana Ritualistic Ceremony."

 

                        END OF THE SIXTH CANTO

 

 


Return to Index