CHAPTER CXXXVIII
(NARADA GIVES A HISTORY OF VRATAS PERFORMED BY OTHER LADIES)
Uma said:—The chaste woman, who wishes that her friends and relatives may be accomplished, should fast on every seventh day of a fort-night for one year. After the completion of the year, she should give to a Brāhmana a golden tree accompanied with money gifts. She will then have pious kinsmen (1–2). O pious and foremost of ladies, she, who duly places a lamp before a Karanja tree for one year and a golden one on the day in which the year is complete, becomes the mother of sons, a favourite of her husband by virtue of her beauty and shines over the other wives of her lord like a lamp (3–4). O auspicious lady, the chaste woman who does not cut others to the quick with her harsh words, does not take her food on Wednesday and does not use a harsh word, who always takes food last of all, who is pure in her habits, who serves her father-in-law and mother-in-law, who regards her husband as her god and who is truthful, does not stand in need of the performance of a Vrata or fasting (5-7).
O youthful and chaste lady, if any chaste woman accidently suffers widow-hood she should observe some rites laid down in the Puranas. Hear, I shall describe them. Remembering the virtuous conduct of the pious, a widow should place an earthen image of her husband or a painting of his likeness and should worship it (8-9). While performing a Vrata or fasting and especially at the time of taking meals a chaste lady should take the permission of that image. The widow, who does not disobey her husband, goes to his region like Shāndili and shines there like the sun (10–11). From to-day the celestial damsels will learn the eternal religious rites that have been laid down in the Puranas (12). The pious-souled Muni Narada will learn the entire code of regulations relating to fast and Vrata as described in the Puranas (13). O most excellent daughter of Soma, in the matter of extending religious rites according to the rules of fast and Vrata as mentioned before the virtuous Aditi, Indrani and yourself will be most celebrated in the band of chaste women. In all the incarnations of the high-souled Vishnu his wives will always be informed of the rules of the eternal Punyaka rite. O chaste lady, what more shall I speak; of all the virtues and especially amongst the duties of women, devotion to husband, absence of wickedness and that of sin even by words are the foremost (14–17).
Narada said:—Thus addressed by the great goddess, beloved of Hara, the ascetic ladies, having Tapas for their wealth, saluted her and went away (18). According to the regulations mentioned before, Aditi, ever observant of religious rites, performed the Umā Vrata. The Vrata, in which she having bound Kashyapa to the Pārijāta tree, gave him to me, is celebrated by the name of Aditi-Vrata. And according to the rules of that Vrata Satyabhāmā has presented her gifts (19–20). Sāvitri too, ever stationed in virtue, observed that. Vrata. At present Satyabhāmā has properly performed this Vrata. It has excelled all others (21). If this Vrata is performed in the evening or at a proper place, worship, recitation of names and prostration bear double the fruit. Celebrating Savitri Vrata and Aditi-Vrata, a chaste lady can save the family of her husband, that of her father and her own self too (22–23). Having performed a rite according to the rules of Uma-Vrata Indra's queen distributed numberless crimson-coloured raiments and food with fish and meat (24). There is another rule laid down for this Vrata which should be observed on the fourth day. According to it one should fast day and night, and give away a hundred jars. O illustrious lady, having performed that Uma-Vrata the goddess Gangā bathed early in the morning in her own water. O beloved queen of Hari, while performing this Gangā-Vrata in the light-half of the month of Māgha, if one bathes in any other water, it is said to give all desired-for objects (25–27). O beloved wife of Hari, having performed the Ganga-Vrata a woman, cognizant of all religious rites, can save seven generations of both the sides (28). O auspicious lady, while performing this Ganga-Vrata that dissipates sorrows and grants all objects of desire one should give away a thousand jars (29). O beloved queen of Hari, in a country where the dewy season prevails, one can perform the Vrata that Yama's wife celebrated and which passes by the name of Yama-Vratha (30). O auspicious lady, having bowed unto her husband after bathing, a woman, of pure conduct, while performing this Vrata, should address the following words to the sky:—"As I am, while performing the Vratā Jāmaratha, holding the dew on my back, I may become foremost of those women whose sons survive and of those who are devoted to their husbands. May I rule over the other wives of my husband, may I not see Yama and may live happily for ever with my husband and sons. May I, by virtue of this Vrata, repair to the same region with my husband, become rich, have good raiments, become open-handed, fond of my own people and accomplished" (31–34). Hiving done so she should offer honey to a Brāhmana and make him recite benedictory verses and then feed him with sessamum and pudding (35). O beloved wife of Hari possessing the hue of an immortal, thus the goddesses observed the diverse Vratas described by the great goddess, the wife of Rudra (36). I tell you the truth; by virtue of my ascetic powers you will reap the fruits of auspicious and holy rites, described in the Puranas, which the goddess Umā obtained before (37-38).
Vaishampāyana said:—Thereupon by virtue of the boon conferred by Umā Rukshmini observed, by her celestial vision, all the rules of Vrata and performed it (39). She gave away bulls, jems and food because they yeild greater fruits and grant all desired-for objects in all the forms of Umā-Vrata (40). O Janamejaya, having celebrated this Vrata formerly Jāmavati too made a present of a beautiful jewelled tree. Having performed this Umāvrata Satyā distributed a number of yellow raiments. O descendant of Kuru, having performed this holy rite Shatabhisha acquired the most exalted position amongst the stars (41-44).
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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