Anushasanika Parva — The Mantras for success in journey, entry into new buildings, and for propitiating malevolent spirits

Yuthishthira said O grandfather, O you of great wisdom, O you who know all branches of knowledge, what is that subject of silent recitation by recititing which every day one may win the merit of virtue in a large measure?

What is that Mantra for recitation, which gives, success, if recited on the occasion of starting on a journey or in entering a new building, or at the beginning of any undertaking, or on the occasion of sacrifices in honour of the deities or of the manes?

You should tell me what, indeed, what Mantra it is, which propitiates all malevolent influences, or brings on prosperity or growth or protection from evil, or the destruction of enemies, or the dispelling of fears, and which, at the same time, is consistent with the Vedas.

Bhishma said Hear, O king, with rapt attention, what that Mantra is which was declared by Vyasa. It was ordained by Savitri and is highly excellent. It is capable of purifying a person forthwith of all his sins.

Hear, O sinless one, as I recite to you the ordinances about that Mantra. Indeed, O chief of the sons of Pandu, by listening to those ordinances, one becomes purged of all his sins.

One who recites this Mantra day and night becomes never sullied by sin. I shall now declare it to you what that Mantra is. Do you listen with rapt attention.

Indeed, the man who hears it becomes gifted with longevity, O prince, and attaining to the fruition of all his desires, sports happily both in this life and in the next.

This Mantra, O king, was daily recited by the foremost of royal sages performing Kshatriya duties and steadily observing the vow of truth.

Indeed, o foremost of kings, those monarchs who, with controlled senses and tranquil soul, recite this Mantra every day, succeed in winning unrivalled prosperity.

Salutations to Vasishtha of high vows, after having bowed with respect to Parashara, that Ocean of the Vedas. Salutation to the great snake Ananta, and salutations to all those who are crowned with success, and who are of undecaying glory.

Salutations to the Rishis, and to Him who is the Highest of the High, the god of gods, and the giver of boons to all those that are foremost. Salutations unto Him of a thousand heads. Him that is most auspicious. Him who has a thousand names. viz., Janardana.

Aja, Ekapada, Ahivradhna, the unvanquished Pinakin, Rita, Pitrirupa, the threeeyed Maheshvara, Vrishakapi, Shambhu, Havana, and Ishvara, these are the celebrated eleven Rudras, who are the lords of all the worlds.

These eleven highsouled ones have been mentioned as a hundred in the Shatarudra (of the Vedas). Angsha, Bhaga, Mitra, Varuna the lord of waters, Dhatri, Aryaman, Jayanta, Bhaskara, Tvashtri, Pushan, Indra, and Vishnu, are said to comprise a tale of twelve. These twelve are called Adityas and they are the sons of Kashyapa as the Shruti declares.

Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Savittra, Anila, Anala, Pratyusha, and Prabyhava, are the eight Vasus, named in the scriptures.

Nasatya and Dasra are said to be the two Ashvins. They are the sons of Martanda born of his wife Samjna, from whose nostrils they emanated.

After this I shall recite the names of those who are the witnesses of all deeds in the worlds. They take note of all sacrifices, of all gifts, of all good deeds.

Those lords among the deities see everything although they are invisible. Indeed, they see all the good and bad deeds of all beings. They are Mrityu, Kala, the Vishvedevas, the Pitris having forms, the great Rishis having penances for wealth, the Munis, and others crowned with success and devoted to penances and Liberation.

These of sweet smiles, confer various benefits upon those men who recite their names. Indeed, gifted as they are with celestial energy, they confer various regions of happiness created by the Grandfather upon such men.

They live in all the worlds and attentively mark all deeds. By reciting the names of those lords of all living creatures, one always becomes gifted with righteousness and wealth and cnjoyments in profusion.

One acquires hereafter diverse regions of auspiciousness and happiness created by the Lord of the universe.

These thirty three deities, who are the lords of all beings, as also Nandishvara of huge body, and that preeminent one who has the bull for the emblem on his banner, and those masters of all the worlds, viz., the followers and associates of him called Ganeshvara, and those called Saunyas, and those called the Raudras, and those called the Yogas, and those who are known as the Bhutas, and the luminaries in the firmament, the Rivers, the sky, the king of birds (viz., Garuda), all those persons on Earth who have become crowned with success on account of their who are existing in an immobile or mobile form, Himavat, all the mountains the four Oceans, the followers and companions of Bhava who are gifted with prowess equal to that of Bhava hiinself, the illustrious and evervictorious Vishnu and and Skanda, and Ambika, these are the great souls by reciting whose names with controlled senses, one becomes purged of all his sins. penances, and

After this, I shall recite the names of those foremost Rishis who are known as Manavas. They are Yavakrita, and Raibhya and Arvavasu, and Paravasu, and Aushija, and Kakshivat, and Vala the son of Angirasa. Then is Kanwa the son of the Rishi Medhatithi, and Varishada.

All these are gifted with the energy of Brahman and have been spoken of as creators of the universe. They have originated from Rudra and Anala and the Vasusa By reciting their namnes people get great benefits.

Indeed, by doing good deeds on Earth, people sport happily in the celestial region, with the celestials. These Rishis are the priests of Indra. They live in the East.

That man who, with rapt attention, recites the names of these Rishis succeeds in ascending to the regions of Indra and getting great honours there.

Unmuchu, Pramuchu, Svastwyatreya of great energy, Dridhavya, Urdhavahu, Trinasoma Angirasa, and Agastya of great energy, the son of Mitravaruna, these seven are the Ritvijas of the Yama the king of the dead, and live in the southern quarter

Dridheyu, Riteyu, illustrious Parivyadha, Ekata, Dvita, and Trita, the last three gifted with solar effulgence, and Atri's son of righteous soul, viz., the Rishi Sarasvata, these seven who had acted as Ritvijas in the great sacrifice of Varuna, have taken up their abodes in the Western quarter.

Atri, the illustrious Vasishtha, the great Rishi Kashyapa, Gautama, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra the son of Kushika, and Richika's fierce and energetic son Jamadagni, these seven are the Ritvijas of the Lord of treasures and live in the Northern quarter.

There are seven other Rishis who live in all directions without being confined to any particular one. They, it is, who give fame and of all that is beneficial to men, and they have been sung as the creators of the worlds.

Dharma, Kama, Kala, Vasu, Vasuki, Ananta, and Kapila, these seven are the upholders of the world.

Rama, Vyasa, Drona's son Ashvatthama, are the other Rishis. These are the great Rishis as divided into seven groups, cach group consisting of seven.

They are the creators of that peace and good which men enjoy. They are said to be the Regents of the quarters. One should turn his face to that direction in which one of these Rishis live if one desires to adore him.

Those Rishis are the creators of all creatures and have been considered as the purifiers of all. Samvarta, Merusavarna, the righteous Markandeya, and Sankhya and Yoga, and Narada and the great Rishi Durvasas, these are gifted with severe penances and great selfcontrol, and arc celebrated over the three worids.

There are others who are equal to Rudra himself. They live in the region of Brahman. By naming them with respect a sonless man obtains a son, and a poor man acquires riches.

Indeed, by naming them, one acquires success in religion, and wealth and pleasure. One should also take the name of that celebrated king who was Emperor of all the Earth and equal to a Prajapati, viz., that foremost of monarchs, Prithu, the son of Vena. The Earth became his daughter. One should also name Pururavas, of the Solar race and equal unto Mahendra himself in power.

He was the son of Ila and celebrated over the three worlds. One should, indeed, take the name of that dear son of Budha.

One should also take the name of Bharata, that hero celebrated over the three worlds. He also who in the golden age worshipped the gods in a grand Gomedha sacrifice, viz., the illustrious Rantideva, who was equal to Mahadeva himself, should be named. Gifted with penances, possessed of every auspicious mark, the source of every kind of good to the world, he was the conqueror of the universe.

One should also take the name of the royal sage Shveta of illustrious fame. (He had pleased the great Mahadeva and it was for his sake that Andhaka was killed.) One should also take the name of the illustrious royal sage Bhagiratha, who through the favour of Mahadeva, succeeded in bringing down the sacred river from the celestial region.

It was Bhagiratha who caused the ashes of the sixty thousand sons of Sagara to be washed with the sacred waters of Ganga and thereby rescued them from their sin. Indeed, one should take the names of all these who were gifted with the blazing effulgence of fire, great beauty, and high energy.

Some of them were of aweinspiring forms and great power. One should take the names of these deities and Rishis and kings, those lords of the universe, who are multipliers of fame. Sankhya, and Yoga which is highest of the high, and Havya and Kavya and that refuge of all the Shrutis, viz., Supreme Brahınan, have been declared to be the sources of great good to are all creatures. These sacred and sinpurifying, and have been spoken of very highly. These are the foremost of medicines for curing all diseases, and are the givers of success in all deeds.

Controlling one's senses, one should. O Bharata, take the names of these, morning and evening. It is these who protect. It is these who shower rain. It is these who shine and give light and heat. It is these who blow. It is these who create all things.

These are considered as the foremost of all, as the leaders of the universe, as highly clever in the performance of all things, as gifted with forgiveness, as complete masters of the senses. Indeed, it has been said that they remove all the evils to which human beings are subject.

These great ones are the witness of all good and bad deeds. Rising up in the morning one should take their names, for by this one is sure to acquire all that is good.

He who takes the names of these, becomes freed from the fear of fires and of thieves, Such a man never finds his way obstructed by any obstacle. By taking the names of these great ones, one becomes free from bad dreams of every kind.

Purged of every sin, such men take birth in auspicious families. That twiceborn person who, with controlled serises, recites these names on ccasions of performing the initiatory rites of sacrifices and other religious practices, becomes as the outcome thereof, gifted with righteousness, devoted to the study of the soul, possessed of forgiveness, and selfcontrol, and free from malice. If a man suffering from disease recites them, he becomes freed from his sin in the form of disease.

By reciting them within a house, all evils are removed from the inmates. By reciting them within a field, the growth of all kinds of crops is helped

Reciting them at the time of starting on a journey, or while one is away from his home, one meets with good fortune. These names lead to the protection of his ownself, of his children and wives, of his wealth, and of his seeds, and plants. The Kshatriya who recites these names at the time of joining a battle sees destruction overtake his enemies and good fortune crown him and his party. The man who recites these names on occasions of performing the rites in honour of the deities or the manes, helps the mancs and the deities eat to the sacrificial Havya and Kavya. The man who recites them becomes freed from fear of disease and beasts of prey, of elephants and thieves.

His burden of anxiety becomes lightened, and he becomes freed from every sin. By reciting these excellent Savitri Mantras on board a vessel, or in a car, or in the courts of kings, one acquires high success. There where these Mantras are recited, fire does not burn wood.

There children do not die, nor snakes live. Indeed, at such places, there can be no fear of the king, nor Pishachas and Rakshasas.

Indeed, the man who recites these Mantras ceases to have any fear of fire or water or wind, or beasts of prey.

These Savitri Mantras, recited duly bring on the peace and wellbeing of all the four castes. Those men who recite them with respect becomc frced from every sorrow and at last acquire a high end.

Even those are the results acquired by them who recite these Savitri Mantras which are of the form of Brahman. That man who recites these Mantras in the midst of kinc, sees his kine become fruitful.

Whether when starting on a journcy, or entering a house on returning, one should recite these Mantras on every occasion. These Mantras forin a great mystery of the Rishis and are the very highest of those which they silently recite. Such are these Mantras to them who practice the duty of recitation and pour libations on the sacrificial fire.

This that I have said to you, is the excellent opinion of Parashara. It was recited formerly to Shakra himself. Representing, as it does, Truth or Eternal Brahma, I have declared it fully to you.

It forms the hart of all creatures, and is the highest Shruti. All the princes of the solar and lunar families, viz.., the Raghavas and the Kauravas, recite these Mantras every day after having purified themselves. These form the highest end of human creatures. One becomes freed from every trouble and calamity by daily reciting the names of the celestials, of the seven Rishis, and of Dhruva. Indeed, such recitation speedily frees one from distress.

The sages of olden times, viz., Kashyapa. Gautama, and others, and Bhrigu, Angirasa and Atri and others, and Shukra, Agastya, and Brihaspati, and others, all of whom are regenerate Rishis, have worshipped these Mantras. Approved of by the son of Bharadvaja, these Mantras were attained by the sons of Richika. Having acquired them again from Vasishtha, Shakra and the Vasus went forth to battle and succeeded in vanquishing the Danavas.

That man who makes a present of a hundred kine with their horns covered with plate of gold to a Brahmana gifted with much learning and wellconversant with the Vedas, and he who causes the excellent Bharata story to be recited in his house every day, are said to acquire equal merits.

By reciting the name of Bhrigu, one's virtue becomes enhances. By bowing to Vasishtha, one's energy becomes enhanced. By bowing to Raghu, one becomes victorious in battle. By reciting the praises of the Ashvins, one becomes freed from diseases.

In have thus, O king, told you of the Savitri Mantras which are at one with eternal Brahma. If you wish to question mc on any other subject, you may do so. I shall, O Bharata, answer you.