Chapter 90

Vishnu Smriti 90

On the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight of Mārgaśīrṣa, when it is conjoined with the Mṛgaśiras constellation, he shall have one prastha of powdered salt with a golden navel given to a Brāhmaṇa at moonrise. // Vi_90.1 //

By this act, he is born endowed with beauty and good fortune. // Vi_90.2 //

If the full moon of Pauṣa (पौष) is conjoined with the Puṣya constellation, on that day, having anointed his body with a paste of white mustard seeds, having been bathed with a pot full of cow's clarified butter, having bathed with all herbs, all perfumes, and all seeds, having bathed the blessed Vāsudeva with clarified butter, having worshipped him with perfumes, flowers, incense, lamps, food offerings, and the like, having offered oblations into the fire with Vaiṣṇava (वैष्णव), Śākra (शाक्र), and Bārhaspatya (बार्हस्पत्य) mantras, he shall have Brāhmaṇas recite a prayer for well-being with clarified butter and gold. // Vi_90.3 //

He shall give a pair of garments to the performer of the rite. // Vi_90.4 //

By this act, he prospers. // Vi_90.5 //

If the full moon of Māgha (माघ) is conjoined with the Maghā constellation, on that day, having performed a śrāddha (श्राद्ध) with sesame seeds, he becomes pure. // Vi_90.6 //

If the full moon of Phālguna (फाल्गुन) is conjoined with the Phalgunī constellation, on that day, by presenting a well-prepared and well-spread bed to a Brāhmaṇa, he obtains a wife who is pleasing, beautiful, and wealthy. // Vi_90.7 //

A woman also obtains such a husband. // Vi_90.8 //

If the full moon of Caitra (चैत्र) is conjoined with the Citrā constellation, on that day, by the gift of a colorful garment, he obtains good fortune. // Vi_90.9 //

If the full moon of Vaiśākha (वैशाख) is conjoined with the Viśākhā constellation, on that day, having satisfied seven Brāhmaṇas with sesame seeds mixed with honey, and having pleased the King of Dharma, he is purified from his sins. // Vi_90.10 //

If the full moon of Jyaiṣṭha (ज्यैष्ठ) is conjoined with the Jyeṣṭhā constellation, on that day, by the gift of an umbrella and shoes, he obtains lordship over cows. // Vi_90.11 //

On the full moon of Āṣāḍha (आषाढ), conjoined with the Āṣāḍhā constellation, by the gift of food and drink, he obtains that same thing as imperishable. // Vi_90.12 //

On the full moon of Śrāvaṇa (श्रावण), conjoined with the Śravaṇa constellation, by giving a water-cow with food, covered with a pair of garments, he attains heaven. // Vi_90.13 //

On the full moon of Prauṣṭhapada (प्रौष्ठपद), conjoined with the Proṣṭhapadā constellation, by the gift of a cow, he is freed from all sins. // Vi_90.14 //

On the full moon of Āśvayuja (आश्वयुज), when the moon is in the Aśvinī constellation, by giving a vessel full of clarified butter with gold to a Brāhmaṇa, he becomes one with a blazing fire. // Vi_90.15 //

If the full moon of Kārttika (कार्तिक) is conjoined with the Kṛttikā constellation, on that day, by giving a white bull, or one of another color, at moonrise, accompanied by all kinds of grain, gems, and perfumes, in the midst of lamps, to a Brāhmaṇa, he does not see fear in the wilderness. // Vi_90.16 //

On the third day of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha (वैशाख), having fasted and worshipped the blessed Vāsudeva with unhusked rice grains, and having offered them into the fire and given them as a gift, he is purified from all sins. // Vi_90.17 //

And whatever he gives on that day, that attains imperishability. // Vi_90.18 //

On the twelfth day of the dark fortnight after the full moon of Pauṣa (पौष), having fasted, having bathed with sesame seeds, having given a sesame-water offering, having worshipped Vāsudeva with sesame seeds, and having offered them into the fire, given them as a gift, and eaten them, he is purified from his sins. // Vi_90.19 //

On the twelfth day of the dark fortnight after the full moon of Māgha (माघ), having fasted and reached the Śravaṇa constellation, he shall place two lamps with large wicks before the blessed Vāsudeva. // Vi_90.20 //

On the right side, with a complete garment dyed with safflower, he shall give a tulā (तुला) of clarified butter plus an eighth part. // Vi_90.21 //

On the left side, one with sesame oil, plus an eighth part, with a complete white garment. // Vi_90.22 //

Having done this, in whatever nation, country, or family he is born, there he becomes illustrious. // Vi_90.23 //

By giving clarified butter to Brāhmaṇas every day for the entire month of Āśvina (आश्विन), and having pleased the Aśvins, he becomes endowed with beauty. // Vi_90.24 //

In that same month, by feeding Brāhmaṇas with milk products every day, he becomes endowed with sovereignty. // Vi_90.25 //

Every month, when the moon is in the Revatī (रेवती) constellation, by feeding Brāhmaṇas with rice-pudding mixed with honey and clarified butter as a supreme food offering for the pleasure of Revatī, and having pleased Revatī, he becomes endowed with beauty. // Vi_90.26 //

In the month of Māgha (माघ), by offering sesame seeds into the fire every day and by feeding Brāhmaṇas with boiled grain (kulmāṣa (कुल्माष)) with clarified butter, he becomes one with a blazing fire. // Vi_90.27 //

By bathing in a river on every fourteenth day and worshipping the King of Dharma, he is purified from all sins. // Vi_90.28 //

If one should desire abundant pleasures, equal to those of the sun and moon, / He should be a daily morning bather for the two months of Māgha (माघ) and Phālguna (फाल्गुन). || Vi_90.29 ||