अनुशासनिक पर्व — निर्धनों के लिए यज्ञ-तुल्य विधान

Yudhishthira said O grandfather, you have duly described to us the subject of Sacrifices, including the merits in full that attach to them both here and hereafter.

It should be remembered, however, O grandfather, that Sacrifices are incapable of being celebrated by poor men, for these require a large store of various articles.

Indeed, O grandfather, the merit attaching to Sacrifices can be acquired by only kings and princes. That merit is incapable of being acquired by those who have no wealth and power and who live alone and are helpless.

Do you tell, us O grandfather, what the ordinances are about those acts that are fraught with merit equal to what belongs to Sacrifices and which, therefore, are capable of being performed by poor men.

Bhishma said Listen, O Yudhishthira! Those ordinances that I have told you of, those, viz., that were first promulgated by the great Rishis Angirasa, and that have reference to meritorious fasts for their soul, are considered as equal to Sacrifices.

That man who takes one meal in the forenoon and one at night, without taking any food or drink during the interval and who observes this regulation for a period of six years successively abstaining all the while from injuring any creature and regularly pouring libations on his sacred fire every day, attains, forsooth, to success. Such a man acquires hereafter a car of the colour of heated gold, and acquires a residence, for millions of years, in the region of Prajapati, in the company of celestial ladies, that ever echoes with the sound of music and dance, and shines with the effulgence of fire.

He who passes three years, taking one meal a day and abstaining all the while from intercourse with any other woman except his own married wife, attains to the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Such a man is considered as having performed a Sacrifice, with plenty of gifts in gold, that is dear to Vasava himself. By practising truthfulness of speech, making gifts, respecting the Brahmanas, avoiding malice, becoming forgiving and self controlled and conquering anger, a man acquires the highest end. Riding on a car of the colour of white clouds that is drawn by swans, he lives, for millions and millions of years, in the company of Apsaras. Fasting for a whole day and taking only one meal on the second day, he who pours libations upon his sacred fire for the period of a whole year, indeed, he who observes such a fast and attends every day to his fire and rises every day from bed before sunrise, acquires the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Such a man acquires a car drawn by swans and cranes.

up from Surrounded by the most beautiful ladies, he lives in the region of Indra. That man who takes only one meal every third day, and pours libations every day on his sacred fire for a period of a whole year, indeed, he who thus attends to his fire every day and wakes sleep every morning before sun rise, acquires the high merit of the Atiratra sacrifice. He acquires a car drawn by peacocks and swans and cranes.

Proceeding to the region of the seven Rishis, he lives there, surrounded by Apsaras of great beauty. It is wellknown that such residence lasts for full three Padmas of years.

Fasting for three days successively, he who takes only one meal every fourth day, and pours libations every day on his sacred fire, acquires the great merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. The car he acquires is graced by highly beautiful celestial ladies who have Indra for their father.

He lives in the region, of Indra for millions and millions of years, and enjoys great happiness by witnessing the sports of the king of the gods.

Fasting for four days successively he who eats only one meal every fifth day, and pours libations on the sacred fire every day for a the period of a whole year, and who lives without cupidity, telling the truth, respecting the Brahmanas, abstaining from every sort of injury, and avoiding malice and sin, acquires the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.

The car he rides, is made of gold and drawn by swans and effulgent like many suns rising together. He acquires, besides, a palatial building of pure white.

He lives there happily for full one and fifty Padmas of years.

He who fasting for five days, takes food only on the sixth day, and pious libations on his sacred fire every day for one year, and who performs three ablutions in course of the day for purifying himself and saying his prayers and paying his adoration, and who leads a celibate life, divested of malice in his conduct, acquires the merit of the Gomedha sacrifice.

He acquires an excellent car adorned with pure gold, effulgent like a blazing fire and drawn by swans and peacocks.

He sleeps on the lap of Apsaras and is awakened every morning by the melodious sound of Nupuras and Kanchis.

He leads such a happy life for ten thousand millions of years and three thousand millions besides and eight and ten Padmas and two Patakas.

Such a man lives also, honoured by all, in the region of Brahma for as many years as there are hairs on the bodies of five thousand bears.

Fasting for six days, he who takes only one meal every seventh day and pours libations on the sacred fire every day, for a full year, controlling speech all the while and observing the vow of celibacy and abstaining from the use of flowers and unguents and honey and meat, acquires the region of the Maruts and of Indra. Crowned with the fruition of every wish as it originates in the mind, he is waited upon and adored by celestial ladies.

He acquires the merits of a sacrifice in which profuse gold is given away. Proceeding to the regions named, he lives there for numberless years in the enjoyment of greatest happiness.

He who shows mercy to all and fasting for seven days eats on every eighth day for whole year, and, pouring libations every day on the sacred fire, worship the celestials, regularly, acquires the great merits of the Paundarika sacrifice. The car he rides is lotus-hued.

on car Forsooth, such a man acquires also a large number of young and beautiful ladies, some having complexions that are dark, some with complexions that are gold, and some that are Shyamas, whose looks and gestures are of the most agreeable kind.

He who fasts for eight days and takes only one meal on every ninth day for one full year, and pours libations on the sacred fire every day, wine the great merits of a thousand Horse sacrifices. The car he rides in Heaven is beautiful like a lotus.

He always journeys, that accompanied by the daughters of Rudra bedecked with celestial garlands and gifted with the effulgence of the midday sun or of fires of burning flames.

Acquiring the regions of Rudra, he lives there in great happiness for number less years.

He who fasts for nine days and takes only one meal every tenth day for a whole year, and pours libations on his sacred fire every day, gains the high merit of a thousand Horse sacrifices and attains to the companionship of Brahmana's daughters whose beauty charm the hearts of all creatures.

These ladies, possessed of such beauty, and some of them possessed of colour of the lotus and some like that of the same flower of the blue variety, always keep him in joy. He acquires a beautiful car which moves in beautiful circles and which looks like the dense cloud called Avarta, resemble also an ocean wave.

That car resounds with the constant tinkle of rows of pearls and gems, and the melodious sound of conchs, and is adorned with columns made of crystals and diamonds, as also with an altar constructed of the same minerals.

He rides such a car, drawn by swans and cranes, and lives for millions and millions of years in great happiness in Heaven.

He who fasts for ten days and cats only clarified butter on every eleventh day for one full year and pours libations on his sacred fire every day, who never, in word or thought, seeks the company of other people's wives and who never utters a false hood even for the sake of his mother and father, succeeds in seeing Mahadeva of great power seated on his car. Such a person acquires the great merit of a thousand Horse sacrifices.

He sees the car of the Selfcreate Brahman himself approach for taking him on it. He rides on it, accompanied by celestial ladies gifted with great beauty, and complexions as effulgent as that of pure gold.

Gified with the blazing splendour of the cycle fire, he lives for many years in a celestial mansion in Heaven, full of every happiness.

For those numberless years he experiences the joy of bending his head in respect to Rudra worshipped by the celestials and Danavas.

Such a person sees every day the great god. That man who having fasted for eleven days, cats only a little clarified butter on the twelfth, and acts thus for a whole year, succeeds in acquiring the merits of all the Sacrifices. The car he rides, is effulgent like a dozen suns.

Adorned with costly gems and pearls and corals, embellished with rows of swans and snakes and peacocks and Chakravakas uttering their melodious notes, and beautified with large domes, is the quarter to which he attains in the region of Brahman.

That house, O king, is always filled with men and women. This is what the highly blessed Rishi Angirasa, knowing every duty, said.

That man who having fasted twelve days, eats a little clarified butter on the thirteenth, and acts thus for a whose year, succeeds in acquiring the merits of the divine sacrifice.

Such a man gets a car of the colour of the new-blown lotus, adorned with pure gold and heaps of jewels and gems.

He goes to the regions of the Maruts which are full of celestial ladies, which are adorned with every kind of celestial ornament, which are filled with celestial perfumes, and which contain every element of happiness,

That resolute resides in the abode of Brahma for the period counted as two Shankha, two Mahapadma, a Kalpa, four ages, ten crore and four Padma years.

Soothed with the sound of music and the sweet voice of Gandharvas and the sounds and blare of drums and Panavas, he is constantly pleased by celestial ladies of great beauty.

That man who having fasted for thirteen days, eats a little clarified butter on the fourteenth day, and acts thus for a full year, acquires the merits of the Mahamedha sacrifice.

Celestial ladies of indescribable beauty, and whose age cannot be determined for they look ever young, adorned with every ornament and with armlets of blazing effulgence, wait upon him with many cars and follow him in his journeys.

He is waked every morning from his bed by the melodious note of swans, the tinkle of Nupuras, and the highly agreeable jingle of Kanchis. Indeed, he lives in a superior house, waited upon by such celestial ladies, for years as countless as the sands on the shores of Ganga.

That man who, keeping his senses under restraint, fasts for a fortnight and takes only one meal on the sixteenth day, and acts thus for a whole year, pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, acquires the great merits of a thousand Rajasuya sacrifices. The car he rides, is highly beautiful and is drawn by swans and peacocks.

Riding on such a car which is, besides, adorned with garlands of pearls and the purest gold and graced with bevies of celestial ladies decked with ornaments of every sort, having one column and four arches and seven altars exceedingly auspicious, having thousand of banners and echoing with the sound of music, celestial and celestial attributes, set with gems and pearls and corals, and effulgent like lightning, such a man lives in Heaven for a thousand cycles, having elephants and rhinoceroses for dragging that car of his.

That man who having fasted for fifteen days takes one meal on the sixteenth day and acts thus for one whole year, acquires the merits of the Soma sacrifice.

Proceeding to the celestial region, he lives in the company of Soma's daughters. His body fragrant with unguents whose perfumes are as sweet as those of Soma himself, he acquires the power of going immediately to any place he likes.

Seated on his car he is waited upon by beautiful damsels of agreeable manners, and commands all articles of enjoyment.

He enjoys such happiness upto the period of one hundred Padma years as longer as ten Mahakalpa and four ages.

That man who having fasted for sixteen days, eats a little clarified butter on the seventeenth day, and acts thus for a whole year, pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, proceeds to the regions of Varuna and Indra and Rudra and the Maruts and Ushanas and Brahman himself.

There he is waited upon by celestial ladies and sees the celestial Rishi called Bhurbhuva and sees the entire universe.

The daughters of the king of the dcities gladden him there. Those damsels, of agreeable manners and adorned with every ornament, are capable of assuming thirty-two forms.

As long as the Sun and Moon move in the sky, so long does that wise man live in those regions of happiness, living upon the succulence of ambrosia and nectar.

That man who having fasted for seventeen days, takes only one meal on the eighteenth day, and acts thus for a whose year, succeeds! in seeing the seven regions of the universe.

While making his journeys on his car, he is always followed by a large train of cars producing the most agreeable rattle and ridden by celestial ladies shining with ornaments and beauty.

Enjoying the greatest happiness, the car he rides, is celestial and endued with the greatest beauty. It is drawn by lions and tigers, and produces ratile as deep as the muttering of the clouds.

He lives in such happiness for a thousand aeons, living with celestial ladies upon ambrosia that is as sweet as nectar itself.

That man who having fasted, for eighteen days, eats only one meal on the nineteenth day and acts thus for a full year, succeeds in perceiving all the seven regions of the universe.

The region to which he attains is peopled by various tribes of Apsaras and resounds with the sweet note of Gandharvas. The car he rides is effulgent like the sun.

His heart shorn of every anxiety, he is waited upon by the foremost of celestial ladies. Decked with celestial garlands, and possessed of beauty, he lives in such happiness for millions and millions of years.

That man who having fasted for nineteendays, eats only one meal on every twentieth day, and acts thus for a full year, observing all thie while truthfulness of speech and observance of other (excellent) rituals, abstaining also froin meat, leading a celibate life and devoted to the behoof of all creatures, acquires the extensive regions of great happiness, belonging to the Adityas.

While making his journeys on his own car, he is followed by a large train of cars ridden by Gandharvas and Apsaras decked with celestial garlands and perfumes.

That man who having fasted for twenty days, takes a single meal on the (wenty first day, and acts thus for a full year, pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, acquires the regions of Ushanas and Shakra, of the Ashvins and the Maruts, and lives there in uninterrupted happiness of great measure.

Unacquainted with all sorrows; he rides the foremost of cars for making his journeys, and waited upon by foremost of celestial ladies, and possessed of power, he sports in joy like a celestial himself.

That man who having fasted for twentyone day, and acts thus for a full year, pouring libations on his sacred fire every day, abstaining from injuring any creature, observing truthfulness of speech, and freed from malice, acquires the regions of the Vasus and becomes endued with solar effulgence.

Gifted with the power of going every where that will, living upon nectar, and riding on the foremost of cars, his body decked with celestial ornaments, he sports in joy in the company of celestial ladies.

That man who having fasted for twentytwo days, takes a single meal on the twenty third day, and acts thus for a full year, thus regulating his diet and keeping his senses under restraint acquires the regions of the wind God of Ushanas and of Rudras. Capable of going everywhere at will, and always roving at will, he is adored by various tribes of Apsaras. man

Riding on the foremost of cars and his body decked with celestial ornaments, he sports for numberless years in great happiness in the company of celestial ladies.

That who having fasted for twentythree days eats a little clarified butter on the twentyfourth day, and acts thus for a full year, pouring libations on his sacred fire, lives for countless years in great happiness in the regions of the Adityas, his body decked with celestial dresses and garlands and celestial perfumes and unguents.

Riding on an excellent car, made of gold and gifted with great beauty and drawn by swans, he sports in joy in the company of thousands and thousands of celestial ladies.

That man who having fasted for twenty four days, takes a single meal on the twentyfifth day, and acts thus for full year, Succeeds in getting a car of the foremost kind, full of every object of enjoyment.

He is followed in his journeys by a large train of cars drawn by lions and tigers, and producing a sound as deep as the muttering of the clouds ridden by celestial ladies, and all made of pure gold and endued with great beauty. Himself riding on an excellent celestial car endued with great beauty, he lives in those regions for a thousand aeons, in the company of hundreds of celestial ladies and living upon ambrosia that is sweet as nectar itself.

That man who having fasted for twentyfive days, takes only one meal on the twenty sixth day, and acts thus för a full year in the observance of such a regulation about diet, keeping his senses under restraint, freed from attachment, and pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, that blessed man, adored by the Apsaras, acquires the regions of the seven Maruts and the Vasus. When making his journeys, he is followed by a large train of cars made of excellent crystal and adorned with all sorts of geins, and ridden by Gandharvas and Apsaras who show him every honour. He lives in those regions, in enjoyment of such happiness, and gifted with celestial energy, for two thousand cycles.

That man who having fasted for twentysix days eats a single meal on the twentyseventh day, and acts thus for a full year, pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, acquires great merit and proceeding to the celestial region, receives honours from the deities, Living there he subsists on nectar freed from thirst of every kind, and enjoying every happiness.

His soul purified of every dross and making his journeys on a celestial car of great beauty, he lives there, O king, acting like the celestial Rishis and the royal sages.

Gifted with great energy, he lives there in great happiness in the company of celestial ladies of highly agreeable manners, for three thousand cycles and aeons.

That man who having fasted for twenty seven days, takes a single meal on the twentyeighth day, and acts thus for a full year, with soul and senses under perfect restraint, acquires very great merit, which, in fact, is equal to what is acquired by the celestial Rishis. Having every article of enjoyment, and gifted with great energy, he shines with the effulgence of the midday sun.

Sportive ladies of the most delicate features and gifted with splendour of complexion, having deep bosoms, tapering thighs and full and round hips, decked with celestial ornaments, please him with their company while he rides on a delightent and excellent car effulgent like the sun and equipped with every article of enjoyment for thousands and thousands of aeons.

That man who having fasted for twentyeight days, takes a single meal on the twentyninth day, and acts thus for a full year, observing all the while truthfulness of speech, acquires auspicious regions of great happiness that are adored by celestial Rishis and royal sages. The car he obtains is effulgent like the sun and the moon made of pure gold and adorned with every sort of gem, ridden by Apsaras and Gandharvas singing melodiously.

Thereon he is attended by auspicious ladies adorned with celestial ornaments of every sort. Gifted with sweet dispositions and agreeable features, and endued with great energy, se gladden him with their company.

Endued with every article of enjoyment and with great energy, and possessed of the splendour of a burning fire, he shines like a celestial, with a celestial form having every excellence.

The regions he attains are those of the Vasus and the Maruts, of the Saddhyas and the Ashvins, of the Rudras and of Brahman himself.

That man who having fasted for a full month, takes a single meal on the first day of the following month, and acts thus for a full year, loO king on all things impartially, attains to the regions of Brahman himself.

There he lives upon ambrosia. Gifted with a beautiful form highly agreeable to all, he shines with energy and prosperity like the sun himself of a thousand rays.

Devoted to yoga and adorned with celestial dresses and garlands and smeared with celestial pertumes and unguents, he passes his time in great happiness, not experiencing the least sorrow. He shines on his car attended by ladies that blaze forth with effulgence emitted by themselves.

Those ladies the daughters of the celestial Rishis and the Rudras, worship him with veneration.

Capable of assuming various forms that are highly delightful and highly agreeable, their speech is characterized by various kinds of sweetness, and they are able to please the person they wait upon in various kinds of ways.

While making his journeys, he rides on a car that looks like the sky itself in colour, In his rear are cars which look like the Moon; before him are those which resemble the clouds; on his right are cars that are red; below him are those that are blue and above, him are those that are of variegated colour. He is always worshipped by those who wait upon him.

Gifted with great wisdom, he lives in the region of Brahman for as many years as are measured by the drops of rain that fall in course of a thousand years on the insular continent of Jamvudvipa.

Indeed, gifted with the effulgence a deity, he lives in that region of unalloyed happiness for as many years as the drops of rain which fall upon the Earth in the rainy season.

The man who having fasted for a whole month, eats on the first day of the following months and acts thus for ten years, acquires the status of a great Rishi. He has not to undergo any change of form while going to the celestial region for enjoying the rewards of his deeds in this life.

Indeed, this is the status which one acquires by controlling speech, practising self-denial, subjugating anger, sexual appetite, and the desire to eat, pouring libations on the sacred fire, and regularly worshipping the twotwilight's.

That man who purifies hiinself by the observance of these and similar vows and practices, and who eats in this way, becomes as pure as other and gifted with solar effulgence.

Such a man, o king proceeding to the celestial region in even his own corporeal frame, enjoys all the, happiness that is there like a celestial at his will.

I have thus told you, O chief of the Bharatas, what the excellent ordinances are as son about sacrifices, one ' after another, dependent upon the fruits of fasts.

Poor men, O of Pritha, may, nevertheless, acquire the fruits thereof (by the observance of fasts). By observing these fasts, even a poor man may acquire the highest end, O foremost one of Bharata's race, devoting himself all the while besides, to the worship of the celestials and the Brahinanas. I have thus recited to you in full the ordinance about fasts.

Do not entertain any doubt about those men who so observe vows, who are so hecdful and pure and great, who are so freed from pride and malice, who are endued with such devoted understandings, and who pursue their end with such firinness and fixity of purpose without ever deviating from their path.