Purnima Vrat Katha

Mother Yashoda said, "O Krishna! You are the creator of the maintenance and destruction of all deities. If there is a fast that truly guards against widowhood for women, please describe it."

Lord Shri Krishna said, "O Mother! Your question is appropriate. I describe an excellent fast, please listen with devotion. For the attainment of happiness and good fortune, women should observe the Dwatrinshi Purnima fast. By the meritorious fruit of this fast, women obtain happiness, good fortune, and wealth. This fast is the protector of married life and is very dear to Lord Shiva."

Mother Yashoda asked, "When and who performed this fast in the mortal world? What is the procedure of this fast so that Lord Shiva becomes pleased?"

Shri Krishna said, "On the earth, there was a very famous city, ruled by Chandrahasa and full of various types of gems. The name of that city was Kantika. In Kantika city, a Brahmin named Dhaneshwara used to reside. Dhaneshwara's wife was very virtuous, named Rupavati. They both were childless, due to which they were always sad. One day, a matted-haired Yogi arrived in their city. Except for Dhaneshwara's house, that matted-haired Yogi asked for alms from all other houses and did not accept alms from Rupavati. Subsequently, going to the bank of the Ganges, he washed the grain obtained in alms with Ganges water and consumed it. Dhaneshwara saw that Yogi doing so. Due to the disrespect of his own alms, Dhaneshwara's heart became distressed and he asked the Yogi, 'O Best among the twice-born! You accept alms from all other householders but do not accept alms from my house. What is the reason for this, please be kind enough to clarify.'

On Dhaneshwara's questioning in this manner, the Mahatma said, 'One who accepts alms from the house of a childless person accepts an item similar to the food of the fallen, because it should never be consumed.' Hearing this, Dhaneshwara, cursing his fate, began to criticize himself and, with folded hands, said to the Yogi, 'Please be kind enough to tell me some way to obtain a son. I am prosperous with wealth and grains, but I have no children.' Hearing this, the matted-haired Yogi said, 'Go! Worship and pray to Goddess Chandika.'

The Brahmin came home and narrated the entire account to his wife Rupavati and departed towards the forest to perform penance. In the forest, he worshipped Goddess Chandika. After sixteen days of fasting, Goddess Chandi gave vision to Dhaneshwara and said, 'O Dhaneshwara! Go, you will obtain a son. According to your strength, light lamps of flour (Choon), i.e., flour. Every day, keep increasing one lamp, in this way on Purnima, there should be thirty-two. Tell your wife about this fast. Now climb the mango tree and take a fruit as soon as possible and go home. Make your wife consume that fruit, she will surely become pregnant.'

As soon as it was morning, Dhaneshwara began to search for the mango tree. He made many efforts to climb the tree but did not succeed. Therefore, he became very worried. To resolve this crisis, praying to Lord Ganesha, he said, 'O Compassionate One! Have mercy on me, Lord! By Your grace, may my desire be fulfilled.' By praying to Ganesha ji in this manner, by the Lord's grace, he succeeded in climbing the tree. On trying three times, he obtained a fruit, seeing which he began to think, 'Is this a fruit obtained from a boon or not?' Coming home, he narrated the entire account to his wife and provided that fruit. On consuming that fruit, his wife became pregnant.

By the grace of the Mother Goddess, they obtained a handsome and virtuous son who was named Devadasa. Subsequently, Rupavati performed the fast according to the Mother's instructions. By divine coincidence, Dhaneshwara decided to send the son to Kashi for studies. Subsequently, seating him on a horse, he sent his son to Kashi along with his Matula, i.e., maternal uncle. Many days passed on the way. The maternal uncle along with the sister's son reached Kashi. It was night, so they both reached the house of a Brahmin named Devadatta and began to rest. Coincidentally, that day the householder was about to marry his daughter. The mandap was constructed after applying oil, etc. At the time of the wedding (Lagna), the groom caught a disease named Dhanurvata (Tetanus/convulsions). Then the groom's father discussed with his family members. Finally, he decided that this pilgrim boy (Karpatika) is as handsome as my son. I will perform the wedding-lagna with him. The groom's father requested Devadasa's maternal uncle, 'Give your sister's son to me for two gharis.'

The maternal uncle said, 'Whatever you obtain in Madhuparka and Kanyadana, if that is given to us, then my sister's son will become the groom of your procession.' On the agreement of the groom's father, he handed over his sister's son to them to make him the groom. Subsequently, his marriage was completed according to the rules. He could not eat with his wife and began to think in his mind, 'Whose bride will she be?'

Devadasa was sitting alone and was worried in his mind when that bride came and asked him, 'What is the matter? You appear very worried and unhappy.' Devadasa narrated the entire account of what happened between his maternal uncle and the groom's father before the bride. The girl said, 'In contrast to a Brahma-marriage, how is this act possible? In the presence of deity, Brahmin, and fire, the marriage of both of us has taken place. Therefore, I will always remain your companion (Sahadharmini).' Devadasa said, 'Do not do so because my age is very short. Thus, I am short-lived.' But that bride, making a firm resolution, said, 'Whatever your fate is, the same will be mine. O my Lord! Rise, please accept food.' Subsequently, Devadasa ate with her. After the meal, he provided a gem-studded ring and a garment to that new bride and said to her, 'Take this and be of stable mind. To know about my death and life, make a flower garden (Pushpavatika), plant fragrant Navamallika flowers in that garden, water them daily, and live happily. As long as I am alive, that garden will remain green, and the day I die, the flowers will wither.' Saying this, Devadasa along with his maternal uncle departed from there in the Brahmamuhurta.

In the morning, when singing and music, etc., began for the farewell, the girl said to her father, 'This is not my husband. If he is, let him tell what I have given him. Let him show the ornaments, etc., which I gave him in Madhuparka and Kanyadana and also tell what secret talk I had with him at night.' Hearing the girl's words, the groom said, 'I don't know anything about this.' Subsequently, being ashamed, he went away somewhere."

Lord Shri Krishna said, "That boy Devadasa reached Kashi for studies. After some days passed, the time for his death arrived. At night a black venomous Serpent came to bite him. The place of his sleep was covered from all sides by the flames of poison, but that snake could not bite Devadasa because his mother had observed the Dwatrinshi Purnima fast. Subsequently, in the midday, Time (Kala) himself appeared to take his life and he appointed his death-noose (Mrityupasha) in the Ardhodaka, i.e., water, drinking which Devadasa became unconscious. At that same time, Mother Parvati along with Lord Shiva appeared there. Seeing this condition of Devadasa, Mother Parvati said to Lord Shiva, 'O Lord! His mother has performed the Dwatrinshi Purnima fast in former times. As a result, You give life to this orphan.' On Mother Parvati's request, Lord Shiva revived Devadasa. Thus, by the influence of the Dwatrinshi Purnima fast, that Brahmin son was saved even from death.

On the other side, Devadasa's new bride, observing that flower garden, was waiting for his time. She saw that all the flowers and leaves, etc., of the garden were destroyed. She was getting distressed when again her flower garden became green. From this, she came to know that her husband is safe. She happily said to her father, 'My husband is alive, you try to find him.' Here, the bride's father had just set out to find Devadasa when Devadasa also started from Kashi and, while traveling, reached the same place where his marriage had taken place. As soon as the information of his arrival was received, Devadatta happily brought him to his house. Subsequently, all the city dwellers also gathered and everyone thought that surely this is Devadatta's son-in-law. The new bride also recognized her husband. Everyone welcomed him with enthusiasm and joy; subsequently, he left for home along with the maternal uncle and father-in-law.

Both of them went and informed Dhaneshwara and Satyavati that 'Your son has come.' Hearing this, they both said, 'Where is the happiness of a son in the fate of us unfortunate ones?' On this, other people also said, 'It is true, your son has come.' When all other people said so, then both the Brahmin couple along with their relatives went happily to welcome their son. On the son's safe arrival, Dhaneshwara organized a grand and magnificent festival and provided various gifts and dakshina to the Brahmins. In this way, Dhaneshwara became a father of a son by the influence of the Dwatrinshi Purnima fast."

Shri Krishna says, "Whichever woman observes this fast, she is never a widow and obtains good fortune until many births; this is my word. This excellent fast is the one that increases sons and grandsons, etc. By observing this fast, whatever desire there is, it is certainly fulfilled. In this way, the procedure and story of the Dwatrinshi Purnima fast are completed."

Alternate Legend of Purnima Vrat

Ancient times, it is said. One time Narada Muni, wandering through the worlds of the deities, reached Vishnuloka. There he had vision of the conch, discus, mace, and lotus-bearing form of Shri Hari Vishnu. Bowing at His feet, Narada ji asked, "O Lord! In the Kali Yuga, which is the fast by which man being freed from all troubles of life earns merit and at the end obtains salvation?"

Lord Vishnu said, "O Narada! The man who fasts with devotion and according to rules for 32 Purnima dates, reads the Satyanarayana Katha, offers Arghya to the Moon, and gives charity to Brahmins, he being freed from all sins, attains Vishnuloka. I describe a story related to this fast, please listen carefully -

In ancient times, in Vidisha city, a Brahmin named Dharmadatta used to reside. Even being extremely poor, he was a very religious and devoted man. Once, Lord Vishnu giving vision in a dream, said - "O Dharmadatta! You observe the fast of 32 Purnimas. Fast on every Purnima, read the Satyanarayana Vrat Katha, and feed the Brahmins. From this, the poverty of your life will go away and ultimately you will obtain salvation."

Alternate Legend of Purnima Vrat

प्राचीन काल की बात है। एक समय नारद मुनि देवताओं के लोकों का भ्रमण करते हुये विष्णुलोक पहुँचे। वहाँ उन्हें श्रीहरि विष्णु के शङ्ख, चक्र, गदा एवं पद्मधारी रूप का दर्शन हुआ। उनके चरणों में प्रणाम करते हुये नारद जी ने प्रश्न किया - "हे भगवन्! कलियुग में ऐसा कौन-सा व्रत है, जिससे मनुष्य जीवन के समस्त कष्टों से मुक्त होकर पुण्य लाभ प्राप्त करे तथा अन्तकाल में मोक्ष को प्राप्त हो?"

भगवान विष्णु ने कहा - "हे नारद! जो मनुष्य 32 पूर्णिमा तिथियों तक श्रद्धा एवं नियमपूर्वक उपवास करता है, सत्यनारायण कथा का पाठ करता है, चन्द्रमा को अर्घ्य अर्पण करता है तथा ब्राह्मणों को दान करता है, वह समस्त पापों से मुक्त होकर विष्णुलोक को प्राप्त होता है। मैं इस व्रत से सम्बन्धित एक कथा का वर्णन करता हूँ, कृपया ध्यानपूर्वक श्रवण करो -

प्राचीन काल में विदिशा नगरी में धर्मदत्त नामक एक ब्राह्मण निवास करता था। वह घोर निर्धन होते हुये भी अत्यन्त धर्मनिष्ठ एवं भक्ति भाव वाला मनुष्य था। एक समय उसे स्वप्न में भगवान विष्णु ने दर्शन देते हुये कहा – "हे धर्मदत्त! तुम 32 पूर्णिमाओं का व्रत करो। प्रत्येक पूर्णिमा को उपवास करो, सत्यनारायण व्रत कथा का पाठ करो तथा ब्राह्मणों को भोजन कराओ। इससे तुम्हारे जीवन की दरिद्रता दूर होगी तथा अन्ततः तुम्हें मोक्ष प्राप्त होगा।"

धर्मदत्त ने भगवान विष्णु की आज्ञानुसार पूर्णिमा व्रत का पालन किया। प्रत्येक पूर्णिमा को स्नान, पूजन, कथा, अन्नदान, चन्द्रमा को अर्घ्य आदि सहित व्रत किया। 32वीं पूर्णिमा को उन्होंने ब्राह्मण भोज, हवन एवं विशेष पूजन के साथ व्रत का उद्यापन किया। तदुपरान्त उनके जीवन में अद्भुत परिवर्तन आया। इस दिव्य व्रत के प्रभाव से उन्हें धन-सम्पत्ति, यश एवं सन्तानों की प्राप्ति हुयी। अन्त समय में जब उनका भौतिक शरीर छूटा, तब इसी व्रत के पुण्यफल से उन्हें विष्णुलोक की प्राप्ति हुयी।"