> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 6

> *******

> Chapter Nineteen: Performing the Pumsavana Ritualistic Ceremony

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> TEXT 1

> srî-râjovâca

> vratam pumsavanam brahman

> bhavatâ yad udîritam

> tasya veditum icchâmi

> yena visnuh prasîdati

> srî-râjâ uvâca--Mahârâja Parîksit said; vratam--the vow; pumsavanam--called pumsavana; brahman--O brâhmana; bhavatâ--by you; yat--which; udîritam--was spoken of; tasya--of that; veditum--to know; icchâmi--I want; yena--by which; visnuh--Lord Visnu; prasîdati--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.

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> TEXT 2-3

> srî-suka uvâca

> sukle mârgasire pakse

> yosid bhartur anujnayâ

> ârabheta vratam idam

> sârva-kâmikam âditah

> nisamya marutâm janma

> brâhmanân anumantrya ca

> snâtvâ sukla-datî sukle

> vasîtâlankrtâmbare

> pûjayet prâtarâsât prâg

> bhagavantam sriyâ saha

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; sukle--bright; mârgasire--during the month of November--December; pakse--during the fortnight; yosit--a woman; bhartuh--of the husband; anujnayâ--with the permission; ârabheta--should begin; vratam--vow; idam--this; sârva-kâmikam--which fulfills all desires;

> âditah--from the first day; nisamya--hearing; marutâm--of the Maruts; janma--the birth; brâhmanân--the brâhmanas; anumantrya--taking instruction from; ca--and; snâtvâ--bathing; sukla-datî--having cleaned the teeth; sukle--white; vasîta--should put on; alankrtâ--wearing ornaments; ambare--garments; pûjayet--should worship; prâtah-âsât prâk--before breakfast; bhagavantam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sriyâ 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.

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> TEXT 4

> alam te nirapeksâya

> pûrna-kâma namo 'stu te

> mahâvibhûti-pataye

> namah sakala-siddhaye

> alam--enough; te--to You; nirapeksâya--indifferent; pûrna-kâma--O Lord, whose desire is always fulfilled; namah--obeisances; astu--may there be; te--unto You; mahâ-vibhûti--of Laksmî; 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.

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> TEXT 5

> yathâ tvam krpayâ bhûtyâ

> tejasâ mahimaujasâ

> justa îsa gunaih sarvais

> tato 'si bhagavân prabhuh

> yathâ--as; tvam--You; krpayâ--with mercy; bhûtyâ--with opulences; tejasâ--with prowess; mahima-ojasâ--with glory and strength; justah--endowed; îsa--O my Lord; gunaih--with transcendental qualities; sarvaih--all; tatah--therefore; asi--You are; bhagavân--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.

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> TEXT 6

> visnu-patni mahâ-mâye

> mahâpurusa-laksane

> prîyethâ me mahâ-bhâge

> loka-mâtar namo 'stu te

> visnu-patni--O wife of Lord Visnu; mahâ-mâye--O energy of Lord Visnu; mahâ-purusa-laksane--possessing the qualities and opulences of Lord Visnu; prîyethâh--kindly be pleased; me--upon me; mahâ-bhâge--O goddess of fortune; loka-mâtah--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.

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> TEXT 7

> om namo bhagavate mahâ-purusâya mahânubhâvâya mahâvibhûti-pataye

> saha mahâ-vibhûtibhir balim upaharâmîti. anenâhar-ahar

> mantrena visnor âvâhanârghya-pâdyopasparsana-snâna-vâsa-upavîta-

> vibhûsana-gandha-puspa-dhûpa-dîpopahârâdy-upacârân susamâhitopâharet.

> om--O my Lord; namah--obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full with six opulences; mahâ-purusâya--the best of enjoyers; mahâ-anubhâvâya--the most powerful; maha-vibhuti--of the goddess of fortune; pataye--the husband; saha--with; mahâ-vibhûtibhih--associates; balim--presentation s; upaharâmi--I am offering; iti--thus; anena--by this; ahah-ahah--every day; mantrena--mantra; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; âvâhana--invocations; arghya-pâdya-upasparsana--water for washing the hands, feet and mouth; snâna--water for bathing; vâsa--garments; upavîta--a sacred thread; vibhûsana--ornaments; gandha--scents; puspa--flowers; dhûpa--incense; dîpa--lamps; upahâra--gifts; âdi--and so on; upacârân--presentations; su-samâhitâ--with great attention; upâharet--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.

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> TEXT 8

> havih-sesam ca juhuyâd

> anale dvâdasâhutîh

> om namo bhagavate mahâ-purusâya mahâvibhûti-pataye svâheti

> havih-sesam--remnants of the offering; ca--and; juhuyât--one should offer; anale--in the fire; dvâdasa--twelve; âhutîh--oblations; om--O my Lord; namah--obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mahâ-purusâya--the supreme enjoyer; mahâ-vibhûti--of the goddess of fortune; pataye--the husband; svâhâ--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 mahavibhutipataye svaha.

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> TEXT 9

> sriyam visnum ca varadâv

> âsisâm prabhavâv ubhau

> bhaktyâ sampûjayen nityam

> yadîcchet sarva-sampadah

> sriyam--the goddess of fortune; visnum--Lord Visnu; ca--and; vara-dau--the bestowers of benedictions; âsisâm--of blessings; prabhavau--the sources; ubhau--both; bhaktyâ--with devotion; sampûjayet--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.

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> TEXT 10

> pranamed dandavad bhûmau

> bhakti-prahvena cetasâ

> dasa-vâram japen mantram

> tatah stotram udîrayet

> pranamet--should offer obeisances; danda-vat--like a stick; bhûmau--on the ground; bhakti--through devotion; prahvena--humble; cetasâ--with a mind; dasa-vâram--ten times; japet--should utter; mantram--the mantra; tatah--then; stotram--prayer; udîrayet--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.

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> TEXT 11

> yuvâm tu visvasya vibhû

> jagatah kâranam param

> iyam hi prakrtih sûksmâ

> mâyâ-saktir duratyayâ

> yuvâm--both of you; tu--indeed; visvasya--of the universe; vibhû--the proprietors; jagatah--of the universe; kâranam--the cause; param--supreme; iyam--this; hi--certainly; prakrtih--energy; sûksmâ--difficult to understand; mâyâ-saktih--the internal energy; duratyayâ--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.

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> TEXT 12

> tasyâ adhîsvarah sâksât

> tvam eva purusah parah

> tvam sarva-yajna ijyeyam

> kriyeyam phala-bhug bhavân

> tasyâh--of her; adhîsvarah--the master; sâksât--directly; tvam--You; eva--certainly; purusah--the person; parah--supreme; tvam--You; sarva-yajnah--personified sacrifice; ijyâ--worship; iyam--this (Laksmî); kriyâ--activities; iyam--this; phala-bhuk--the enjoyer of the fruits; bhavân--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.

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> TEXT 13

> guna-vyaktir iyam devî

> vyanjako guna-bhug bhavân

> tvam hi sarva-sarîry âtmâ

> srîh sarîrendriyâsayâh

> nâma-rûpe bhagavatî

> pratyayas tvam apâsrayah

> guna-vyaktih--the reservoir of qualities; iyam--this; devî--goddess; vyanjakah--manifester; guna-bhuk--the enjoyer of the qualities; bhavân--You; tvam--You; hi--indeed; sarva-sarîrî âtmâ--the Supersoul of all living entities; srîh--the goddess of fortune; sarîra--the body; indriya--senses; âsayâh--and the mind; nâma--name; rûpe--and form; bhagavatî--Laksmî; pratyayah--the cause of manifestation; tvam--You; apâsrayah--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.

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> TEXT 14

> yathâ yuvâm tri-lokasya

> varadau paramesthinau

> tathâ ma uttamasloka

> santu satyâ mahâsisah

> yathâ--since; yuvâm--both of you; tri-lokasya--of the three worlds; vara-dau--givers of benedictions; parame-sthinau--the supreme rulers; tathâ--therefore; me--my; uttama-sloka--O Lord, who are praised with excellent verses; santu--may become; satyâh--fulfilled; mahâ-âsisah--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.

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> TEXT 15

> ity abhistûya varadam

> srînivâsam sriyâ saha

> tan nihsâryopaharanam

> dattvâcamanam arcayet

> iti--thus; abhistûya--offering prayers; vara-dam--who bestows benedictions; srî-nivâsam--unto Lord Visnu, the abode of the goddess of fortune; sriyâ saha--with Laksmî; tat--then; nihsârya--removing; upaharanam--the paraphernalia for worship; dattvâ--after offering; âcamanam--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.

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> TEXT 16

> tatah stuvîta stotrena

> bhakti-prahvena cetasâ

> yajnocchistam avaghrâya

> punar abhyarcayed dharim

> tatah--then; stuvîta--one should praise; stotrena--with prayers; bhakti--with devotion; prahvena--humble; cetasâ--with a mind; yajna-ucchistam--the remnants of sacrifice; avaghrâya--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.

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> TEXT 17

> patim ca parayâ bhaktyâ

> mahâpurusa-cetasâ

> priyais tais tair upanamet

> prema-sîlah svayam patih

> bibhryât sarva-karmâni

> patnyâ uccâvacâni ca

> patim--the husband; ca--and; parayâ--supreme; bhaktyâ--with devotion; mahâ-purusa-cetasâ--accepting as the Supreme Person; priyaih--dear; taih taih--by those (offerings); upanamet--should worship; prema-sîlah--being affectionate; svayam--himself; patih--the husband; bibhryât--should execute; sarva-karmâni--all activities; patnyâh--of the wife; ucca-avacâni--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.

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> TEXT 18

> krtam ekatarenâpi

> dam-patyor ubhayor api

> patnyâm kuryâd anarhâyâm

> patir etat samâhitah

> krtam--executed; ekatarena--by one; api--even; dam-patyoh--of the wife and husband; ubhayoh--of both; api--still; patnyâm--when the wife; kuryât--he should execute; anarhâyâm--is unable; patih--the husband; etat--this; samâhitah--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.

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> TEXT 19-20

> visnor vratam idam bibhran

> na vihanyât kathancana

> viprân striyo vîravatîh

> srag-gandha-bali-mandanaih

> arced ahar-ahar bhaktyâ

> devam niyamam âsthitâ

> udvâsya devam sve dhâmni

> tan-niveditam agratah

> adyâd âtma-visuddhy-artham

> sarva-kâma-samrddhaye

> visnoh--of Lord Visnu; vratam--vow; idam--this; bibhrat--executing; na--not; vihanyât--should break; kathancana--for any reason; viprân--the brâhmanas; striyah--women; vîra-vatîh--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; bhaktyâ--with devotion; devam--Lord Visnu; niyamam--the regulative principles; âsthitâ--following; udvâsya--placing; devam--the Lord; sve--in His own; dhâmni--resting place; tat--to Him; niveditam--what was offered; agratah--after dividing first among the others; adyât--one should eat; âtma-visuddhi-artham--for self-purification; sarva-kâma--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.

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> TEXT 21

> etena pûjâ-vidhinâ

> mâsân dvâdasa hâyanam

> nîtvâthoparamet sâdhvî

> kârtike carame 'hani

> etena--with this; pûjâ-vidhinâ--regulated worship; mâsân dvâdasa--twelve months; hâyanam--a year; nîtvâ--after passing; atha--then; uparamet--should fast; sâdhvî--the chaste wife; kârtike--in Kârttika; 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].

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> TEXT 22

> svo-bhûte 'pa upasprsya

> krsnam abhyarcya pûrvavat

> payah-srtena juhuyâc

> carunâ saha sarpisâ

> pâka-yajna-vidhânena

> dvâdasaivâhutîh patih

> svah-bhûte--on the following morning; apah--water; upasprsya--contacting; krsnam--Lord Krsna; abhyarcya--worshiping; pûrva-vat--as previously; payah-srtena--with boiled milk; juhuyât--one should offer; carunâ--with an offering of sweet rice; saha--with; sarpisâ--ghee; pâka-yajna-vidhânena--according to the injunctions of the Grhya-sûtras; dvâdasa--twelve; eva--indeed; âhutîh--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.

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> TEXT 23

> âsisah sirasâdâya

> dvijaih prîtaih samîritâh

> pranamya sirasâ bhaktyâ

> bhunjîta tad-anujnayâ

> âsisah--blessings; sirasâ--with the head; âdâya--accepting; dvijaih--by the brâhmanas; prîtaih--who are pleased; samîritâh--spoken; pranamya--after offering obeisances; sirasâ--with the head; bhaktyâ--with devotion; bhunjîta--he should eat; tat-anujnayâ--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.

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> TEXT 24

> âcâryam agratah krtvâ

> vâg-yatah saha bandhubhih

> dadyât patnyai caroh sesam

> suprajâstvam susaubhagam

> âcâryam--the âcârya; agratah--first of all; krtvâ--receiving properly; vâk-yatah--controlling speech; saha--with; bandhubhih--friends and relatives; dadyât--he should give; patnyai--to the wife; caroh--of the oblation of sweet rice; sesam--the remnant; su-prajâstvam--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.

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> TEXT 25

> etac caritvâ vidhivad vratam vibhor

> abhîpsitârtham labhate pumân iha

> strî caitad âsthâya labheta saubhagam

> sriyam prajâm jîva-patim yaso grham

> etat--this; caritvâ--performing; vidhi-vat--according to the injunctions of sâstra; vratam--vow; vibhoh--from the Lord; abhîpsita--desired; artham--object; labhate--gets; pumân--a man; iha--in this life; strî--a woman; ca--and; etat--this; âsthâya--performing; labheta--can get; saubhagam--good fortune; sriyam--opulence; prajâm--progeny; jîva-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.

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> TEXT 26-28

> kanyâ ca vindeta samagra-laksanam

> patim tv avîrâ hata-kilbisâm gatim

> mrta-prajâ jîva-sutâ dhanesvarî

> sudurbhagâ subhagâ rûpam agryam

> vinded virûpâ virujâ vimucyate

> ya âmayâvîndriya-kalya-deham

> etat pathann abhyudaye ca karmany

> ananta-trptih pitr-devatânâm

> tustâh prayacchanti samasta-kâmân

> homâvasâne huta-bhuk srî-haris ca

> râjan mahan marutâm janma punyam

> diter vratam câbhihitam mahat te

> kanyâ--an unmarried girl; ca--and; vindeta--can get; samagra-laksanam--possessing all good qualities; patim--a husband; tu--and; avîrâ--a woman without a husband or son; hata-kilbisâm--free from fault; gatim--the destination; mrta-prajâ--a woman whose children are dead; jîva-sutâ--a woman whose child has a long duration of life; dhana-îsvarî--possessing wealth; su-durbhagâ--unfortunate; su-bhagâ--fortunate; rûpam--beauty; agryam--excellent; vindet--can get; virûpâ--an ugly woman; virujâ--from the disease; vimucyate--is freed; yah--he who; âmayâ-vî--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-devatânâm--of the forefathers and demigods; tustâh--being pleased; prayacchanti--they bestow; samasta--all; kâmân--desires; homa-avasâne--on the completion of the ceremony; huta-bhuk--the enjoyer of the sacrifice; srî-harih--Lord Visnu; ca--also; râjan--O King; mahat--great; marutâm--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.

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