Chapter 19: Performing the Pumsavana Ritualistic Ceremony

(1) The king said: 'Oh brahmin, I would like to hear about the pumsavana vow you mentioned and by which Lord Vishnu is pleased.'

(2-3) S'rî S'uka said: 'A woman with the permission of her husband should start with this vow that fulfills all desires on the first day of the bright fortnight of Agrahâyana [November-December]. According to the instructions of the brahmins having bathed, brushed her teeth, put on ornaments and garments, she must hear about the birth of the Maruts. Then, before taking breakfast, she has to worship the Supreme Lord and the goddess of fortune as follows: (4) 'Let there be my obeisances unto You oh Independent Lord and fulfillment of all desire. My respects for the husband of Lakshmî Devî, the Master of all Perfection. (5) Since You are the Lord endowed with mercy, opulence, prowess, glory and strength, You are the One Supreme Master of all divine qualities. (6) Oh S'rî Lakshmî, you being espoused to Lord Vishnu, are His energy and have all the qualities of the Supreme Personality. I beg you to be pleased with me oh Goddess of Fortune, oh Mother of the World. May there be my reverential homage unto you. (7) My obeisances unto the Supreme Lord and Personality of all Power, the husband of that Greatness of Wealth with His associates; Him I offer my presentations'.

With the invocation of Lord Vishnu by means of this mantra she must every day then offer attentively presentations of gifts, lamps, incense, flowers, scents, ornaments, garments, a sacred thread, bathing water and water for the hands, feet and mouth. (8) Next the remnants of the sacrifice should be offered in the fire with twelve oblations saying svâhâ [hail!] with the mantra: 'Oh my Lord all my respects for You as the One Supreme, Greatest Person who is the husband of the glory of all wealth, the goddess of fortune [om namo bhagavate mahâ-purushâya mahâvibhûti-pataye svâhâ].'

(9) Lord Vishnu and the goddess are the bestowers of all benedictions and together constitute the source of all blessings. If one desires all opulences one should daily be devoted with this worship. (10) In one's devotion stretched out straight on the ground ['dandavat'] one should in a humble state of mind offer one's obeisances uttering this mantra ten times and then pronounce the following prayer: (11) 'You two are the proprietors of the universe, the Supreme Cause. The external energy of the material world is hard to fathom, it is the deluding power that is difficult to overcome. (12) You as the Supreme Personality, the Lord of All Sacrifices, are her direct Master. She is the [original form of the] performance of this worship, while You are the enjoyer of the fruits. (13) This devî is the reservoir of all the qualities while You manifest and enjoy these qualities. The goddess of fortune is the body, the senses and the mind while You are the Supersoul of all the embodied beings. Lakshmî is the name and form while You are the support and certainty. (14) May my great ambitions be fulfilled oh Uttamas'loka, oh Lord Praised in the Verses, for the two of You are the supreme rulers, the bestowers of benedictions of the three worlds.'

(15) This is the way one should pray to Lakshmî and S'rînivâsa, her abode and the bestower of benedictions. After this offering one must put away the articles of worship and ritually wash one's hands and mouth. (16) With devotion and a humble mind, one then should offer prayers, smell the remnants of the sacrifice and again worship Lord Vishnu. (17) Accepting her husband with supreme devotion as the great Lord, the wife should prove her pious love for him with these offerings, while the husband himself also should perform all the menial and elevated activities of the wife. (18) When the wife is unable, the husband should execute this attentively, because when one of them does so, both wife and husband [will benefit]. (19-20) One should not deviate for any reason from the [prescribed] practice of this vow to Lord Vishnu. One should daily, in a regulated manner grant the brahmins and the women, together with their husbands and children, that what remains of the offerings to the Godhead consisting of garlands, sandalwood, food and ornaments. When one in respect of the regulative principles has placed the offerings before Him and has put the Godhead to rest, one should share the remnants of the food that was sacrificed with others and eat it. One will thus find one's soul purified and all one's desires fulfilled. (21) With this regulated puja the wife must after the time of twelve months, or a year, then fast on the last day [the full moon] of Kârttika [October-November]. (22) The next morning touching water and as before worshiping Lord Krishna, the husband must, according to the injunctions [as stated in the Grihya-sûtras], offer with twelve oblations in the fire sweet rice that with ghee was boiled in milk. (23) After having pleased the brahmins by devotedly expressing his obeisances bowing down, he, having accepted their blessings on his head, then with their permission should eat. (24) With friends and relatives controlling the voice, he should first of all properly receive the teacher of example, the âcârya, and then give the wife the remnant of the offering. That will ensure good progeny and fortune. (25) Performing this vow according to the instructions a man in this life will achieve that what he wanted from the Almighty Lord. A woman performing this may then achieve all fortune, opulence, progeny, a long living husband, a good reputation and a home. (26-28) When she is not married she can [with this vrata] get a husband with all good qualities. Being without a husband or son she may reach the state of perfection, the supreme destination. With a deceased child she may have a child that stays alive and [thus] prosper. Being unfortunate she will find fortune and being unattractive she will have a beautiful body. A diseased man will [with this vow] be freed from his disease and regain his full ability. When one following this course performs successfully the forefathers and the gods will be enormously pleased. Lord Vishnu, the Enjoyer of all Sacrifices [and His goddess] will upon the completion of this ceremony bestow all that one desires. Oh King, I thus extensively explained to you how Diti took the vow and gave birth to the pious Maruts.'

Thus the sixth Canto of the S'rîmad Bhâgavatam ends named: Prescribed Duties For Mankind.