Narada said:—O sinless lady Vaidharbi, cognizant of religious rites, hear how Umā described the regulations of the Punyaka rite in the days of yore (10). O goddess, on one occasion, the goddess Umā, of pure vows, performed the religious rite of Punyaka; and at the termination of the ceremony she invited all her friends. Aditi and other daughters of Daksha of indomitable energy, Pulomā's daughter Sachi, renowned in the world for her devotion to her husband, the great Sati, Soma's beloved spouse Rohini, Purvaphalguni, Revati, Shatabhisā and Maghā had all come there before and had been worshipping the great goddess Umā (11–14). The worshipful presiding goddesses of the charming rivers Gangā, Saraswati, Vena, Godā, Vaitarani, Gandaki and others, the auspicious and chaste lady Lopamudrā and others who, all, by virtue of their own prowess, have been upholding the universe, the auspicious daughters of the mountains, the daughters of the fire, of firm vows, Shāhā, the wife of the Regent of fire, the illustrious goddess Sāvitri, Hriddhi, the beloved wife of Kuvera, the queen of the lord of waters, the wife of the Regent of departed manes, the wives of Vasus, the ascetic and vow-observing Hri, Shree, Dhriti, Kirti, Ashā, Medhā, Priti, Mati, Khyāti, Sannati and other chaste ladies, ever engaged in the well-being of creatures, (were all present there) O highly youthful lady. At the termination of the ceremony Amvikā, with mountains of various corns and jewels, cloths of various colours and most excellent ornaments, honored them all (15-21). Having accepted the offerings of the goddess those chaste ascetic ladies took their seats and engaged in conversation on different topics (22). O thou having thy husband as thy god, when the subject of the Punyaka rite was cropped up in the course of their conversation the goddess spoke many things about it and of the regulations regarding its performance (23).

Thereupon with the consent of that assembly of chaste ladies Arundhati, the daughter of Soma, addressed the goddess Umā about the most important regulation regarding the Punyaka rite (24). O Vaidarbhi, to please them all, the goddess Umā, compassing the well-being of all creatures, gave them an account of religious rites in my presence (25). O fair one, at that time Umā made over the mountain of jewels to me; and I too, having accepted that present, dedicated it to the service of the Brāhmanas (26). O auspicious lady, listen, with all these (ladies), to what I saw about the Punyaka rites and what Umā said to the chaste Arundhati. I shall relate it in full from the very beginning (27-28).

CHAPTER CCXXV. PUNYAKA DESCRIBED BY UMA.

Uma said:—O you of pure smiles, when by the grace of my lord I became omniscient I came to know of the sacred regulations of all the religious rites (1). O Arundhati, although the regulation of sacred rites exists eternally I however came to know of it through the favour of Mahādeva (2). O you blameless lady, by the command of my husband, the divine and intelligent Bhava, I performed the religions rites (3). In the Puranas the religious rites have been sanctioned for them who desire to practise chastity and holy rites. O pious Arundhati, gifts, fastings and performance of good and religious works are fruitless for unchaste women (4-5). Religious rites are contaminated by the sin of sexual intercourse. Thereupon those, who deceive their husbands or hold a sinful intercourse, do not attain to the fruits of sacred rites; on the other hand they go to hell (6). Those good-natured and chaste damsels, having husband for their God, are upholding the universe, who do not know any other man but their lord, who cherish whole-minded devotion for virtue and who follow the way of a chaste woman as their only refuge (7). Those, who do not commit sin even by speech, who are pure, intelligent, sweet-speeched and always perform pious rites, are preserving the world (8). A wife, under no circumstances, should relinquish her husband even if he be poor, diseased or outcasted. Such is the eternal virtue (9). A wife can save herself and her husband even if he be devoid of accomplishments, if he perpetrates wrong deeds and be outcasted (10). In the Vedas the sages have laid down purificatory rites for women who commit sin by words. But there is no penance (laid down) for them who commit sin by sexual intercourse; consider them as fallen for ever (11). O blessed lady, the woman, who wishes to wend the ways of the pious, should perform rites and fasts according to the desire of her husband (12). By a promiscuous intercourse a woman is born in a degraded birth. And she does not attain to a better life even within a thousand births (13). If accidently an unchaste woman is born as a woman she is born as a Chandāla, becomes highly wicked and lives on a dog's flesh (14). O you having asceticism for your wealth, the sages have designated the husband as the God of women. She is a pious and chaste woman with whom her husband is pleased (15). There is no sacred region for those women whose fall has been brought about by curiosity. O gentle lady, those women, whose minds are devoted to and fixed on their husbands, and who do not disregard them even by their words, actions and mind, attain to the fruits of religious rites. Such has been laid down by those who are engaged in religious ceremonies (16–17). O beautiful lady, listen you all to the regulations of religious rites intended for the celestial region which I have witnessed by virtue of my asceticism (18).

O you of firm vows, having risen up early in the morning and bathed, a chaste woman, desirous of performing a penance or fasting, should salute the feet of her father-in-law and mother-in-law and then communicate it to her husband. Then taking Kusa grass and a copper vessel she should first sprinkle the right horn of a cow with water. And then with this water she should sprinkle first the head of her husband who had controlled himself and performed ablutions. She should then pour it on her own head. In the code of ordinances this practice is called bathing at all the holy shrines (19–22). O great Arundhati, while performing a Vrata or a fast both the husband and wife should bathe in this way (23). By Hara's energy and by virtue of my asceticism I have seen it myself. While performing a religious ceremony one should herself wash her feet; and using an arrow, sleeping and sitting are forbidden. While fasting or performing a Vrata, a woman should not shed tears, quarrel or be angry or else she would be immediately fallen (24–25). O you born of the Moon, on the occasion of a Vrata or a fast, a woman should use a white cloth and a white under-vest. She should use shoes made of reeds and such-like grasses. She should avoid collyrium, perfumeries and flowers. Without rubbing her teeth with a piece of wood and washing her head she should perform all the purificatory rites with earth. With Vilwa and Amlaki mixed with water and free from earth she should wash her head. She should rub oil on her head, feet and body. While fasting or performing a Vrata one should always avoid conveyances drawn by bullocks, camels and asses and should not bathe naked. O auspicious daughter of Soma, it is better to bathe in the water of a river or fountain, not to speak of bathing in the tanks and wells full of water-born plants, which is always regarded greatly. It is not con venient for women, who do not come out publicly, consequently they are allowed to bathe with water from a vessel. In such a procedure the ancient custom is to use new vessels. One, washing her head in this way, attains to the fruits of Tapas (26-35).

CHAPTER CCXXVI. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Uma said:—Thus according to all the prescribed rules a self-controlled and chaste woman should observe the vow either for one year, six months or one month; and afterwards, she must reverentially invite eleven chaste women. O auspicious lady, I have myself observed this sacred rule (1-2). Having taken those chaste ladies from their husbands after paying them the proper return the principal lady should dedicate them along with water to the preceptor. And having taken them back from the preceptor, paying him his fees according to the practices of the country and time she should return them to their husbands (3). Thereupon at the end of the month in the light fort-night after offering adoration she should bring about the termination of the rite (4). In order to accomplish her Vrata, a woman, bent upon performing it, should day and night fast just at the beginning and at the termination (5). Thus when Vrata terminates she should make her husband trim his nails and crop his hairs. And she should also do it herself. Such is laid down in the Sruti (6). Thereafter, O auspicious lady, she should bathe and adorn herself with ornaments and garlands as on the occasion of a wedding (7). Thereupon saluting her husband's feet either with mind or with words, she, after reciting the following Mantra, should bathe with water in the pot (8). "Water is the procreator of the Rishis and the preserver of the universe. It is born in the celestial region and is called Madanti (in a sacrifice). It is the origin of piety and therefore delightful. It is pure and purifying. Let it therefore, with juice productive of highest good, cover me with blessings (9). This hymn, (offered) to water is heard everywhere. O you of perfectly beautiful limbs, listen now to Mantras sanctioned by the Puranas for women which run as follows (10).

"'May I do good unto my husband, may I not waste money, may I be accomplished, and perform religious rites with my husband and serve him as a slave for a boon. May I not disregard my husband with deeds, mind, or words. And even when enraged may I follow him (11). May I reign supreme over the other wives of my husband, be gifted with a charming beauty, be fortunate, a mother of sons, liberal in distributing food, speak of others' accomplishments and be free from poverty by every means (12). May my husband be of a beautiful face; may he depend on me, be devoted to me, have his mind fixed on me and follow me. May our attachment be like that of a pair of Chakravāka birds; may not disaffection grow between us and may we be crowned with auspiciousness (13). May I go to the region of those most excellently chaste women, who, having attained to highest culture through devotion to their husbands, have purified the families of their father and husband and who have been upholding the whole universe (14). May the earth, air, water, ether, fire, sky, the soul, nature, the principles of greatness and egoism and the sages, who are my witness, remember my penances and reverential faith (15). May the elemental creation, existing everywhere, who are engaged in the works of creatures, who are born of men and otherwise and are pervaded by the qualities of Satwa, etc., and who have worked out the bodies of creatures, witness my Vrata and reverential faith (16). May the sun and moon, the witness of pious works, Yama, the ten quarters and my mind always bear testimony to my penances and resolution (17)'. From the very beginning of a Vrata all the articles should be inspired every day with the mantra, for such is laid down in the Puranas (18). O auspicious Arundhati, after bathing thus she should present to her husband two pieces of raiment made by her own hand. If by an impediment those two pieces of cloth are not made by her own hand, she should present another fresh white cloth together with thread spun by her own hands (19–20), O youthful lady, afterwards she should feed, as mush as lies in her power, along with her husband, another Brāhmana endued with discriminative knowledge, self-controlled and pure (21). She should also give to the Brāhmana two pieces of cloth, beds, conveyances, corns and a house consisting of servants, male and female (22). She should also, according to her power, give ornaments and diverse sorts of corn especially a mountain of jems mixed with sessamum seeds (23). She should also give elephants, horses, and kine, covered with sheets of diverse colours (24). She should also give salt, butter, treacle, honey, gold, various perfumeries, juice, flowers, silver, copper vessels, all sorts of fruits, raiments, wood, stone, curd, milk, clarified butter, Durva and other articles, which she wishes. With them she should present beautiful idols of Umā and Maheshwara and their likenesses in painting. O chaste lady, all the gifts should be given away according to the husband's desire and in agreement with his means, country and time, either small or great (25–29). If the husband permits her she should also give away vessels full of sessamum seeds and Kapilā kine with bell-metalled vessels (30). O blameless and lucky damsel, if one gives away the skin of a black antelope together with sessamum and raiments, a mirror, and deer-skin, she attains to all desired-for objects (31), O you of a fair face, if a woman thus performs a Vrata (rite) she becomes the foremost of her sex, lucky, a mother of sons, beautiful, liberal, rich and of lotus-eyes. She also gets a daughter, beautiful and accomplished after her own heart. Those, who make presents in this way, become the foremost of all lucky women, mother of sons, rich and endued with accomplishments (32-34), O Arundhati, because I was the first person to perform this Vrata, it passes, in the world, by the name of Umā-Vrata (35), O blameless lady, this is the best of Vratas that women can perform. And if they make presents according to the ordinances of this Vrata they acquire all desired-for objects (36). O gentle lady, propitiated at the performance of this Vrata the god of gods, Siva, the rider of the bull, selected me as his queenly consort (37). At the termination of the Vrata, women should distribute edibles and other articles procurable in the country and at the time (37). O fair lady, the articles of the Vrata should be distributed amongst the Brāhmanas. And as desired by them, food should be offered accompanied with presents (29). Pāyasa should be given in this Vrata: it gives a separate fruit. However animals should not be sacrificed any how. Such is laid down in the Puranas (40). O auspicious daughter of Soma, the second Vrata, that I am now, describing to you, I had also known of by the favour of Māhadeva (41). The learned hold that a son is the only fruit that women should desire for. Those, who wish to have sons should give away small vessels (42). In the two auspicious months of Jaistha and Ashāda, or either in the former or in the latter one should observe the ordinances mentioned before (43). O fair lady, when the appointed two months or one month will be over one should give away a small vessel filled with Sirbat (44). O you having the effulgence of the moon, she should also, in the same way, distribute clarified butter, curd, milk, honey and jars full of water (45). She should give away small vessels proportionate to the number of sons she desires for to a Brāhmana self-controlled, of firm vows and of ripened knowledge (46). If any woman wishes to have a daughter she will undoubtedly have her if she, out of her own will, presents any article to a Brāhmana (47). O you of pure smiles, sheets and kine or gold are the most becoming presents in it. In this Vrata, according to the regulations regarding the gift of small vessels for sons, a wise and pure woman should give away sacrificial threads (48-49). A woman, observing the rules of Vrata, should make presents to the Brāhmanas for one full year, under the auspicies of the stars (favourable either to the son or to the daughter[297]) (50). O truthful Arundhati, when one year is complete, she should, with the permission of her husband, make presents of small vessels (51). Having completed the Vrata, in the full moon of the month of Kārtika (October) she should, of her own will, present to a Brāhmana, sacrificial thread and golden thread (52). If a chaste lady, according to her might, gives to a Brāhmana sacrificial thread, small vessels and Dakshinā (money presents) she attains to all desired-for objects (53). So long a woman observes this vow she should not take new rice, fruits or enjoy flowers (54). O you conversant with religious tenets, taking one meal a day, a woman should perform the Punyaka rite; and she should give meals to the Brāhmanas and her husband in the same way. If a woman observes a vow in the way for one full year she becomes, lucky, beautiful, mistress of riches and does never become a widow (55–56). O Arundhati, a woman, who does not take Vārtāku for one full year, never witnesses the destruction of her son; know this for certain. If a woman does not take the meat of a hare or deer she becomes chaste and long-lived. The woman, who seeks the well-being of her husband, should avoid bottle-gourds, potherbs and turmeric. The woman, who after the completion of one year, gives vegetables from the beginning accompanied with money-gifts, will be the foremost of those having sons (57-60). The woman, who from the very beginning washes herself her feet, attains to fame and never suffers anxiety (61). The chaste woman, who avoids taking her food in the night and who takes it only in the day for one full year, becomes lucky and her sons never die. And undoubtedly she rules over the other wives of her husband (62–63). In this way when one year will be complete she should present to an illustrious Brāhmana after her own heart, a most excellent sun of gold. The pious woman, who will thus observe a Vrata, should dedicate to the sun, not declining, flowers, fruits and other edibles (64–65).

"O fair lady, in this way, the chaste woman, who will take her meals after the sunset for full one year, should give to a selected Brāhmana edibles purified by the moon and stars, and the moon, stars and planets made of gold and raiments covered with salt (65–67). O you having the colour of an immortal, by so doing a woman becomes lucky, beautiful and worthy of being looked at by all. And her body will be cool like the moon. The woman, who in the light half of the month of Kartika, offers to the gods untouched water for washing feet with Kusā, and balls of barley with curd, acquires all desired-for objects. The chaste woman, who does not take her food without seeing the sun either on a clear or a cloudy day, has all her objects accomplished. The liberal-minded woman, who according to her might gives gold to a Brāhmana, becomes lucky, beautiful and worthy of of being looked at by all (68-72)".

[297]The purport of the sloka is that some stars as Pushya etc., are favourable for having a son and Rohini and others for a daughter. The woman, who wishes to have a son, must give away presents under the auspices of the former; and she, who wishes to have a daughter, must do so under the auspices of the latter. We have rendered the sloka freely to make the sense clear.