श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम् षष्ठ: स्कन्ध: एकोन्विंश: अध्याय: राजा उवाच - The King said - व्रतं पुंसवनं ब्रह्मन् भवता यदुदीरितम् ।
तस्य वेदितुमिच्छामि येन विष्णु: प्रसीदति ॥१॥
व्रतम् पुंसवनम् ब्रह्मन् the vow of Punsavana, O Holy One!
भवता यत्-उदीरितम् By you, which is spoken of तस्य वेदितुम्-इच्छामि of that I wish to know येन विष्णु: प्रसीदति by which Vishnu is pleased 'O Holy One! The Punsavana vow, of which you have spoken, I wish to know about that, by observing which Lord Vishnu is pleased.'


श्री शुक उवाच - Shree Shuka said - शुक्ले मार्गशिरे पक्षे योषिद्भर्तुरनुज्ञया ।
आरभेत व्रतमिदं सार्वकामिकमादित: ॥२॥
शुक्ले मार्गशिरे पक्षे in the bright of Margashirsa fortnight
योषित्-भर्तु:-अनुज्ञया a wife, by husband's permission आरभेत व्रतम्-इदम् may start vow this सार्वकामिकम्-आदित: all desires granting from the beginning From the beginning of the bright fortnight of the month of Margashirsha, a wife should start to observe this all desires granting vow, with the permission of her husband.


निशम्य मरुतां जन्म ब्राह्मणाननुमन्त्र्य च ।
स्नात्वा शुक्लदती शुक्ले वसीतालङ्कृताम्बरे ।
पूजयेत्प्रातराशात्प्राग्भगवन्तं श्रिया सह ॥३॥
निशम्य मरुताम् जन्म hearing of the Maruta's birth
ब्राह्मणान्-अनुमन्त्र्य च Braahmanas consulting and स्नात्वा शुक्ल-दती after bathing, cleaning the teeth शुक्ले वसीत-अलङ्कृत-अम्बरे in clean wearing ornaments clothes पूजयेत्-प्रात:-आशात्-प्राक्- should worship, morning meals before भगवन्तम् श्रिया सह The Lord, Laxmi with After having heard about the birth of the Maruta's, and having consulted the Braahmanas, she should clean her teeth, bathe and wear clean clothes and ornaments and worship The Lord with Goddess Laxmi, before having her morning meals.


अलं ते निरपेक्षाय पूर्णकाम नमोऽस्तु ते ।
महाविभूतिपतये नम: सकलसिद्धये ॥४॥
अलम् ते निरपेक्षाय enough is for You, The Unconcerned
पूर्णकाम नम:-अस्तु ते of sated desires, obeisance be to You महा-विभूति-पतये of the highest glory The Lord नम: सकल-सिद्धये Hail to the mystic powers 'All that is, is enough for You, as You are The Unconcerned, and sated of desires. Obeisance to You, The Lord of the highest glories, and Hail to The Abode of mystic powers.


यथा त्वं कृपया भूत्या तेजसा महिनौजसा ।
जुष्ट ईश गुणै: सर्वैस्ततोऽसि भगवान् प्रभु: ॥५॥
यथा त्वम् कृपया भूत्या because, You by compassion, fortune,
तेजसा महिना-ओजसा glory and great virility जुष्ट: ईश गुणै: सर्वै:- endowed, O Lord! by virtues all तत:-असि भगवान् प्रभु: therefore You are The Almighty Ruler 'O Lord! Because You are endowed with compassion, fortune, glory and great virility and all the virtues, therefore, You are The Almighty Ruler.'


विष्णुपत्नि महामाये महापुरुषलक्षणे ।
प्रीयेथा मे महाभागे लोकमातर्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥६॥
विष्णु-पत्नि महामाये O Vishnu's consort! O Embodiment of great powers!
महापुरुष-लक्षणे of the Supreme Person's characteristics प्रीयेथा: मे महाभागे may You be pleased with me, O Most auspicious One! लोकमात:-नम:-अस्तु ते O Mother of the Universe! obeisance be to You 'O Consort of Vishnu! O Embodiment of great powers! You have the characteristics of The Supreme Person, may You be pleased with me. O Most auspicious One! O Mother of the Universe! Obeisance be to You.'


ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महानुभावाय महाविभूतिपतये सह महाविभूतिभिर्बलिमुपहराणीति । अनेनाहरहर्मन्त्रेण विष्णोरावाहनार्घ्यपाद्योपस्पर्शनस्नानवासौपवीतविभूषणगन्धपुष्पधूपदीपोपहाराद्युपचारांश्च समाहित उपहरेत् ॥७॥
ॐ नमो भगवते the mystic syllable OM! Hail! to Lord Vishnu,
महा-पुरुषाय Supreme The Person! महा-अनुभावाय महा-विभूति-पतये of great glory, of great fortune the Lord सह महा-विभूतिभि:- along with all highest potencies बलिम्-उपहराणि-इति offerings presenting thus अनेन-अह:-अह:-मन्त्रेण with this, again and again by the Mantra विष्णो:-आवाहन- Lord Vishnu's invocation अर्घ्य-पाद्य-उपस्पर्शन- water for hands feet and mouth स्नान-वास-उपबीत- for bath, clothes, sacred thread विभूषण-गन्ध-पुष्प-धूप- ornaments, sandal paste, flowers, incense दीप-उपहार-आदि-उपचारान्-च light, food and other things for worship and समाहित: उपहरेत् with concentration should offer 'To the mystical syllable OM, Hail! To Lord Vishnu, The Supreme Person! The Lord of great glory and of great fortune, along with all His highest potencies,' thus presenting the offerings, with this Mantra, should again and again invoke, offer water to wash the hands, feet and mouth and for bathing. And with concentration should offer clothes, sacred thread, ornaments, sandal-paste, flowers, incense, light, food and other things of worship.


हवि:शेषं तु जुहुयादनले द्वादशाहुती: ।
ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महाविभूतिपतये स्वाहेति ॥८॥
हवि:-शेषम् तु of the offered food left over indeed
जुहुयात्-अनले द्वादश-आहुती: oblation to fire should, twelve oblations ॐ नमो भगवते महा-पुरुषाय 'OM Hail! to The Lord, The Supreme Person, महा-विभूति-पतये to The Goddess Mahaalaxmi's Spouse स्वाहा-इति I offer the oblation, thus From the food left over after offering, twelve oblations should be offered into the fire, 'OM Hail to The Lord, The Supreme Person, The Spouse of Goddess Mahaalaxmi's', I offer the oblation, thus.


श्रियं विष्णुं च वरदावाशिषां प्रभवावुभौ ।
भक्त्या सम्पूजयेन्नित्यं यदीच्छेत्सर्वसम्पद: ॥९॥
श्रियम् विष्णुम् च Goddess Laxmi Vishnu and
वरदौ-आशिषाम् प्रभवौ-उभौ Bestower of boons, desires, fulfillers both भक्त्या सम्पूजयेत्- with devotion should worship नित्यम् यदि-इच्छेत्-सर्व-सम्पद: every day if one desires all fortunes The one who desires all kinds of fortune, should worship every day and with devotion, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi, both of Whom are Bestower of boons and fulfillers of desires.


प्रणमेद्दण्डवद्भूमौ भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा ।
दशवारं जपेन्मन्त्रं तत: स्तोत्रमुदीरयेत् ॥१०॥
प्रणमेत्-दण्डवत्-भूमौ should bow, lying prostrate on the ground
भक्ति-प्रह्वेण चेतसा with devotion (intense) humbled mind दश-वारम् जपेत्-मन्त्रम् ten times, repeat the Mantra तत: स्तोत्रम्-उदीरयेत् then the stotra should recite One should bow by prostrating on the ground. With a mind humbled by intense devotion, should repeat the Mantra ten times, and then should recite this stotra (hymn) ….


युवां तु विश्वस्य विभू जगत: कारणं परम् ।
इयं हि प्रकृति: सूक्ष्मा मायाशक्तिर्दुरत्यया ॥११॥
युवाम् तु विश्वस्य विभू You both indeed, (are) the universe's Sovereigns
जगत: कारणम् परम् of the world's cause ultimate इयम् हि प्रकृति: सूक्ष्मा she indeed is Nature subtle माया-शक्ति: दुरत्यया deluding potency, difficult to overcome You both indeed are the Sovereign of the universe and the undoubted ultimate cause of the world. She (Mahaalaxmi's) is the subtle unmanifest Nature, and the deluding potency, difficult to overcome.


तस्या अधीश्वर: साक्षात्त्वमेव पुरुष: पर: ।
त्वं सर्वयज्ञ इज्येयं क्रियेयं फलभुग्भवान् ॥12॥
तस्या: अधीश्वर: साक्षात्- of Her, The Controller, directly
त्वम्-एव पुरुष: पर: are You only, The Person Supreme त्वम् सर्व-यज्ञ इज्या-इयम् You are all the sacrifices, the action of oblations She is क्रिया-इयम् फल-भुक्-भवान् the activity is She, the fruit enjoyer are You You, The Supreme Person, are the direct Controller of Her, The Prakriti. You are the personification of all the sacrifices, while She is the action of oblations and the activity of the same, and You enjoy the fruits of the sacrifices.


गुणव्यक्तिरियं देवी व्यञ्जको गुणभुग्भवान् ।
त्वं हि सर्वशरीर्यात्मा श्री: शरीरेन्द्रियाशया ।
नामरूपे भगवती प्रत्ययस्त्वमपाश्रय: ॥१३॥
गुण-व्यक्ति:-इयम् देवी the Guna's manifestation, is this Goddess
व्यञ्जक: गुणभुक्-भवान् the prompter and the enjoyer of the Gunas are You त्वम् हि सर्व-शरीरी:-आत्मा You alone of all the embodied are the soul श्री: शरीर-इन्द्रिय-आशया the Goddess is the body, the senses and the inner sense नाम-रूपे भगवती the names and forms is the Goddess प्रत्यय:-त्वम्-अपाश्रय: the illuminator You and the ground This Goddess is the manifestation of the Gunas, while You are their prompter and the enjoyer. You are the soul of the embodied beings, and The Goddess is the body, the senses and the inner sense. The Goddess is the name and forms, You are their illuminator and their ground.


यथा युवां त्रिलोकस्य वरदौ परमेष्ठिनौ ।
तथा म उत्तमश्लोक सन्तु सत्या महाशिष: ॥१४॥
यथा युवाम् त्रिलोकस्य because You both, of the three worlds
वरदौ परमेष्ठिनौ are boon Bestower and the supreme Rulers तथा मे उत्तमश्लोक so my, O Lord of excellent renown! सन्तु सत्या: महाशिष: may be true, lofty aspirations O Lord of excellent renown! Because both of You are the boon Bestower and the supreme Rulers of the three worlds, so may my lofty aspirations prove to be true.


इत्यभिष्टूय वरदं श्रीनिवासं श्रिया सह ।
तन्नि:सार्योपहरणं दत्त्वाऽऽचमनमर्चयेत् ॥१५॥
इति-अभिष्टूय वरदम् thus having extolled The boons Bestower
श्री-निवासम् श्रिया सह Goddess Laxmi's abode, Laxmi along with तत्-नि:सार्य-उपहरणम् that removing offered food, दत्त्वा-आचमनम्-अर्चयेत् giving water (for the mouth), may worship Thus having extolled both of Them, The boons Bestower and The Abode of Goddess Laxmi, Vishnu, along with Goddess Laxmi, one must give water for the mouth, and remove the offered food, and continue to worship.


तत: स्तुवीत स्तोत्रेण भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा ।
यज्ञोच्छिष्टमवघ्राय पुनरभ्यर्चयेत्-हरिम् ॥१६॥
तत: स्तुवीत स्तोत्रेण then, should extol by a hymn
भक्ति-प्रह्वेण चेतसा with devotion humbled mind यज्ञ-उच्छिष्टम्-अवघ्राय sacrifice remnants smelling, पुन:-अभ्यर्चयेत्-हरिम् again, should worship Shree Hari Then, with devotion humbled mind, one should extol The Lord with a hymn, and after smelling the remnants of the sacrifice, should worship Shree Hari again.


पतिं च परया भक्त्या महापुरुषचेतसा ।
प्रियैस्तैस्तैरुपनमेत् प्रेमशील: स्वयं पति: ।
बिभृयात् सर्वकर्माणि पत्न्या उच्चावचानि च ॥१७॥
पतिम् च परया भक्त्या husband and, with high devotion
महा-पुरुष-चेतसा The Supreme Person thinking as प्रियै:-तै:-तै:-उपनमेत् with the liked all those things may offer प्रेमशील: स्वयम् पति: the loving himself husband बिभृयात् सर्व-कर्माणि assist in all activities पत्न्या उच्च-अवचानि च by the wife, high and low She should serve her husband with high devotion, thinking him to be The Supreme Person Himself. She should offer to him the things which he likes. And the loving husband should also assist the wife in her high and low activities.


कृतमेकतरेणापि दम्पत्योरुभयोरपि ।
पत्न्यां कुर्यादनर्हायां पतिरेतत् समाहित: ॥१८॥
कृतम्-एकतरेण-अपि performed by one (of the couple) also,
दम्पत्यो:-उभयो:-अपि both also (get the fruit) पत्न्याम् कुर्यात्-अनर्हायाम् on wife, should do, if unfit पति:-एतत् समाहित: the husband this with concentrated mind This, done by even one of the couple, is beneficial to both. If the wife is unfit, the husband should do it with concentrated mind.


बिष्णोर्व्रतमिदं बिभ्रन्न विहन्यात् कथञ्चन ।
विप्रान् स्त्रियो वीरवती: स्रग्गन्धबलिमण्डनै: ।
अर्चेदहरहर्भक्त्या देवं नियममास्थित: ॥१९॥
बिष्णो:-व्रतम्-इदम् बिभ्रन्- of Vishnu, the vow this undertaking,
न विहन्यात् कथञ्चन should not break ever विप्रान् स्त्रिय: वीरवती: the Braahmanas, women with husbands स्रक्-गन्ध-बलि-मण्डनै: with garland, sandal paste, gifts and ornaments अर्चेत्-अह:-अह:-भक्त्या worship day after day with devotion, देवम् नियमम्-आस्थित: The Deity, the discipline observing Having undertaken this vow of Lord Vishnu, one should never break it. One should worship with devotion the Braahmanas and women with their husbands and The Deity, with garlands, sandal paste, gifts and ornaments, day after day, observing the disciplines.


ऊद्वास्य देवं स्वे धाम्नि तन्निवेदितमग्रत: ।
अद्यादात्मविशुद्ध्यर्थं सर्वकामर्द्धये तथा ॥२०॥
ऊद्वास्य देवम् स्वे धाम्नि requesting to retire the Deity to own abode
तत्-निवेदितम्-अग्रत: that offered, before (others) अद्यात्-आत्म-विशुद्धि-अर्थम् must eat for self purification purpose सर्व-काम-ऋद्धये तथा (and) for all desires gratification Then, with devotion, requesting The Deity to retire to His own abode, one must eat the food offered to Him, first offering it to the others, for the purpose of purifying ones own self, and for the gratification of all desires.


एतेन पूजाविधिना मासान् द्वादश हायनम् ।
नीत्वाथोपचरेत्साध्वी कार्तिके चरमेऽहनि ॥२१॥
एतेन पूजा-विधिना by this process of worship
मासान् द्वादश हायनम् months twelve, one year नीत्वा-अथ-उपचरेत्-साध्वी taking, then should fast the pious lady, कार्तिके चरमे-अहनि in (the month) Kaartika, the last day A pious lady, should carry on with this process of worship for twelve months, or one year, and then on the last day of the month of Kaartika she should observe a fast.


श्वोभूतेऽप उपस्पृश्य कृष्णमभ्यर्च्य पूर्ववत् ।
पय:शृतेन जुहुयाच्चरुणा सह सर्पिषा ।
पाकयज्ञविधानेन द्वादशैवाहुती: पति: ॥२२॥
श्वोभूते-अप: उपस्पृश्य on the next day, having bathed in water
कृष्णम्-अभ्यर्च्य पूर्व-वत् and Krishna worshipping, like before पय:-शृतेनजुहुयात्- in milk cooked oblation चरुणा सह सर्पिषा should offer rice with clarified butter पाक-यज्ञ-विधानेन by the Paaka Yagya process द्वादश-एव-आहुती: पति: twelve only oblation, the husband On the next day morning, the husband should bathe in water and worship Krishna like before. Then only he should offer twelve oblation with rice cooked in milk and clarified butter, by the Paaka Yagya process.


आशिष: शिरसाऽऽदाय द्विजै: प्रीतै: समीरिता: ।
प्रणम्य शिरसा भक्त्या भुञ्जीत तदनुज्ञया ॥२३॥
आशिष: शिरसा-आदाय blessings with head accept
द्विजै: प्रीतै: समीरिता: by the Braahmanas pleased uttered प्रणम्य शिरसा भक्त्या bowing with head with devotion, भुञ्जीत तत्-अनुज्ञया should eat by their permission He should accept the blessings pronounced by the pleased Brahmanas, with his head bent low, with devotion. Then, with their permission he should eat.


आचार्यमग्रत: कृत्वा वाग्यत: सह बन्धुभि: ।
दद्यात्पत्नै चरो: शेषं सुप्रजस्त्वं सुसौभगम् ॥२४॥
आचार्यम्-अग्रत: कृत्वा the preceptor, in the front keeping
वाग्यत: सह बन्धुभि: silently, with kinsmen दद्यात्-पत्नै चरो: शेषम् may give to the wife, of the offering's remnants सुप्रजस्त्वम् सुसौभगम् for good progeny, and good fortune He should first feed the preceptor, then must eat silently with the kinsmen, and then give the remnants of the offerings to the wife for good progeny and for good fortune.


एतच्चरित्वा विधिवद्व्रतं विभोरभीप्सितार्थं लभते पुमानिह ।
स्त्री त्वेतदास्थाय लभेत सौभगं श्रियं प्रजां जीवपतिं यशो गृहम् ॥२५॥
एतत्-चरित्वा विधिवद्-व्रतम् this by performing systematically, the vow
विभो:-अभीप्सित-अर्थम् of The Lord coveted objects लभते पुमान्-इह attains man here स्त्री तु-एतत्-आस्थाय woman and undertaking (it) लभेत सौभगम् श्रियम् प्रजाम् may attain, good fortune, affluence, progeny, जीवपतिम् यश: गृहम् longevity of her husband, glory and house This, the vow of Lord Vishnu, when performed systematically by a man, he attains the coveted objects, and when performed by a woman, she attains good fortune, affluence, progeny, longevity of her husband, glory and a comfortable house.


कन्या च विन्देत समग्रलक्षणं वरं त्ववीरा हतकिल्बिषा गतिम् ।
मृतप्रजा जीवसुता धनेश्वरी सुदुर्भगा सुभगा रूपमग्र्यम् ॥२६॥
कन्या च विन्देत a maid and may attain
समग्र-लक्षणम् वरम् with all good characteristics, a match तु-अवीरा हत-किल्बिषा गतिम् indeed a widow, rid of all sins, beatitude मृत-प्रजा जीव-सुता who has lost issues, long living progeny धनेश्वरी सुदुर्भगा सुभगा wealthy unfortunate may become highly fortunate रूपम्-अग्र्यम् (a girl will attain) beauty exquisite A maid who observes this vow, may attain a match with all good characteristics, a widow having rid of all sins may attain beatitude, a woman who has lost her issues, may attain long living progeny, a wealthy but ill fated woman may become most fortunate, and a girl may attain exquisite beauty.


विन्देद् विरूपा विरुजा विमुच्यते य आमयावीन्द्रियकल्पदेहम् ।
एतत्पठन्नभ्युदये च कर्मण्यनन्ततृप्ति: पितृदेवतानाम् ॥२७॥
विन्देत् विरूपा विरुजा attains, a sick malady suffering
विमुच्यते य: आमयावी- is rid of these and healthy इन्द्रिय-कल्प-देहम् Indriyas, and stout body एतत्-पठन्-अभ्युदये च this by reading, in auspicious and कर्मणि-अनन्त-तृप्ति: activities, endless gratification (ensues) पितृ-देवतानाम् to the departed souls and the gods A person sick and suffering from malady, is rid of the ailments and attains healthy Indriyas and a stout body. When this is read during the auspicious activities, it gives endless gratification to the departed souls and to the gods.


तुष्टा: प्रयच्छन्ति समस्तकामान् होमावसाने हुतभुक् श्रीर्हरिश्च ।
राजन् महन्मरुतां जन्म पुण्यं दितेर्व्रतं चाभिहितं महत्ते ॥२८॥
तुष्टा: प्रयच्छन्ति समस्त-कामान् satisfied, bestow, all desires
होम-अवसाने at the sacrifice's end हुतभुक् श्री:-हरि:-च Fire, Laxmi, Shree Hari and राजन् महत्-मरुताम् जन्म O King! of the sacred Maruta's birth पुण्यम् दिते:-व्रतम् and auspicious Diti's vow च-अभिहितम् महत्-ते and related, the sacred, to you At the end of the sacrifice, Fire, god, Goddess Laxmi, and Lord Shree Hari, are highly satisfied and confer all desires. O King! I have related to you the sacred story of the birth of the Marutas and the sacred and auspicious vow of Diti.


इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे वैयासिक्यामष्टादशसाहस्र्यां पारमहंस्यां संहितायां षष्ठे स्कन्धे पुंसवनव्रतकथनं नाम एकोनविंश: अध्याय: ॥१९॥ इति षष्ठ: स्कन्ध: समाप्त: This ends the nineteenth discourse entitled 'The procedure of observing the vow of Punsavana, detailed', in Book Six of the great and glorious Bhaagavata-Puraana. End of Book Six