Brahma Vaivarta Purana Chapter 8:1-10

Brahma Vaivarta Purana

Sri Janmastami-vrata-pujopavasa-nirupana

Vows, Worship, and Fasting on Sri Janmastami

Chapter 8: Verse 1-10

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 1.Sri Narada said: Now please tell me of the vow of Janmastami, which is the great vow of vows. Please tell me the result attained by following the ceremony of Jayanti-yoga. 2.O great sage, what sinful reaction does one meet by not following this vow or by eating on that day? What pious result does one attain by fasting on that day? 3.O Lord, please describe the result of following this vow, including the rules governing the day before the fast, and breaking the fast on the following day. 4.Sri Narayana Rsi said: On the saptami (seventh day) and on the day after the fast (the navami or ninth day) one should eat havisya (rice and ghee) only. On the day of Janmastami (the eight day) one should rise at dawn. 5.O brahmana, one should rise early, bathe, perform his morning duties, and be determined to follow the vow and the fast for the pleasure of Lord Krsna. 6.O brahmana, by bathing and worshipping the Lord during the eight day (Janmastami) of the month of Bhadra (August-September) one attains the result of bathing and worshipping the Lord for a manvantara. 7.If on this day one offers only a little water to the pitas, he attains the result of performing sraddha at Gaya for a hundred years. 8.On that day, after bathing and performing his regular duties, a wise person should arrange for a maternity-room, place in it water, fire, and an iron sword, post guards,... 9. ...place many things there, place there an instrument for cutting the umbilical cord, have a midwife there,... 10. ...place there, O Narada, sixteen articles for worshipping the Lord, eight fruits and candies,...