Brahma Vaivarta Purana Chapter 8:51-60

Brahma Vaivarta Purana

Sri Janmastami-vrata-pujopavasa-nirupana

Vows, Worship, and Fasting on Sri Janmastami

Chapter 8: Verse 51-60

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 51.Because it brings victory (jaya) and piety, this day is called Jayanti. A wise person should fast, follow the Janmastami vow, and keep an all-night vigil on this day. 52.This is the most auspicious of all times. The demigods Brahma and knowers of the Vedas say this. 53.One who fasts, follows the Janmastami vow, and keeps an all-night vigil on this day becomes freed from the sins of ten million births. Of this there is no doubt. 54.One should not celebrate Janmastami on an astami mixed with the saptami. Even if the star Rohini (is conjoined with the moon) this astami is not considered Janmastami. 55.Lord Krsna, the son of Devaki, was born on an astami unmixed with the saptami, an astami when the star Rohini was conjoined with the moon. When this most auspicious moment, an astami when the moon is conjoined with Rohini, is passed, a person who has followed the Janmastami vow should break his fast. 56.When the tithi of Janmastami is over, one should remember Lord Krsna, worship the devas and asuras, and break his fast. Breaking the fast in this way is very purifying and destroys all sins. 57.Breaking the fast in this way, an essential part of the fast, brings purification and the attainment of other results. The breaking of the fast should be performed during daytime. 58.Otherwise, if the fast is not broken during the daytime, the results of fasting, following the Janmastami vow, and breaking the fast are all destroyed. 59.One should not break the fast at night. The only exception is the Rohini-vrata, when the fast may be broken at night, but not at midnight. 60.In the morning one should worship the brahmanas and demigods and then break the fast. All the saintly persons agree this is the best time to break the fast. Only in the Rohini-vrata is it not the best time.