Hare Kṛṣṇa dear devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
As Kārttika-māsa nears completion, the sacred observance known as Bhīṣma Pañcaka Vrata approaches — the five final days from Ekādaśī up to Paurṇimā that are said to grant immense spiritual benefit.
I wanted to ask the assembled devotees for clear guidance on a few points:
What is the scriptural basis of Bhīṣma Pañcaka?
What are the recommended practices — fasting methods, mantras, or offerings — according to Hari-bhakti-vilāsa or other texts?
How do householders and working devotees observe it practically while maintaining their daily duties?
Any references from our Gauḍīya ācāryas or personal experiences in observing this vrata will be deeply appreciated. Hari Hari.
Replies
Hare Krishna,
https://iskcondesiretree.com/page/bhisma-panchaka
"Grandfather Bhisma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life."
https://iskcondesiretree.com/page/bhisma-panchaka
The actual day of Bhisma's departure is Bhismastami in February. The Kuruksetra battle started in December previous to it (Gita Jayanti/Moksada ekadasi).
The Bhisma pancaka is the topic of Padma Purana 4.23 (briefly) and 6.124.27-96 (see below, Motilal ed.).
Hari Hari
ys J.
Kartikeya said:
27-28. O lord, tell me about the virtuous vow, best among the vows, viz. Bhismapancaka to be observed in the month of Kartika. Through favour to me and the sages, tell me, O grand-sire, about the manner in which it is observed, and its fruit, O best god.
The lord said:
29-45: O you best among the believers in vows, I shall explain to you the very meritorious vow which lasts for five days. Since Bhisma got it from Visnu, it is called Bhismapancaka. Who, except Visnu, is able to tell the merits of this vow? Listen to the ancient practice. In the bright half of Kartika it was observed by Vasistha, Bhrgu, Garga etc. in the ages like Krta. In the yugas like Treta it was observed by Ambarisa with (offerings of) food etc. and by brahmanas observing celibacy, muttering hymns and performing rites like sacrifices. So also (it was observed) by ksatriyas and vaisyas highly devoted to truth and purity. It is difficult to be observed by those who are void of truth (i.e. are not truthful) and cannot be observed by those of foolish hearts. They say it is difficult to be observed, (that is, it is) 'Bhisma'. It cannot be observed by ordinary men. O best brahmana, he who observes it, has (indeed) observed every (vow). This Bhismapancaka vow gives great merit, destroys great sins. Therefore, men should carefully observe it. Having properly and according to the precept bathed on the Ekadasi in the bright half of Kartika one should take up this vow lasting for five days. The observer of the vow should especially bathe in the morning and at mid-day in a river or a spring, and having obtained cowdung with rice and barley he should in due course gratify his dead ancestors. One of a strong vow, having bathed and observed silence, and having put on washed garments, should carefully offer water and make respectful offering to Bhisma. He should carefully worship Bhisma and give gifts. He should carefully and especially give five jewels to a brahmana. Lord Visnu with Laksmi should also be always worshipped. By means of worshipping (Visnu) during the group of five (days) Visnu is pleased for crores of kalpas. Whatever (image etc.) is made, he should fashion it with five metals. By giving water and making a respectful offering, a man gets the entire fruit of vows (lasting) for a year. One who makes (the offering) with (the recital of) this hymn: 'I am offering this water to Bhisma who has Vaiya-ghrapada gotra and Samkrta pravara' would enjoy salvation. 'I make the respectful offering to Bhisma, the incarnation of the Vasus, the son of Santanu, and a life-long celibate.' This is the hymn of the respectful offering.
46-56. He, who, in this way, finishes the group of five (days), undoubtedly gets religious merit equal to that of a horse sacrifice. For five days he should carefully observe restraint. O son, the practice of a vow is not possible without restraint. Visnu gave (the highest position) to Bhisma who departed in the Uttarayana; he became1....Then he should get Visnu, the
1. This part is unintelligible (Tr.)
destroyer of all sins. Then he should devoutly bathe (the image) with water, honey, milk and ghee; so also with the five products of a cow and water mixed with sandal. Then he should besmear (the image of) Visnu, the Garuda-bannered (god) with fragrant sandal, with saffron, and with camphor mixed with usira (sandal). He should worship (the image) with charming flowers along with black aloewood and incense. He, with devotion, should burn guggulu (a fragrant gum resin) with ghee before (the image of) Krsna. During the five days he should offer light day and night. He should offer excellent food as offering of eatables. Having thus worshipped, remembered and saluted the god, he should mutter one hundred and eight times the hymn Namo Vasudevaya. He should make an offering with sesamum, rice and barley smeared with ghee, with the utterance of the hymn of six syllables, along with the utterance of the exclamation svaha. The observer of the vow, having offered the evening sandhya prayer, having saluted Visnu, having muttered the hymn as before, should sleep on the (bare) ground.
57-69. All this should be done for five days. Listen to the speciality of and that which is superior in this vow. On the first day the observer of the vow should worship Visnu's feet with lotuses. On the second (day) he should worship his knees with bilva-leaves. Then, with his mind directed to him, he should devoutly worship the head of the Disc-holder, the god of gods, with jasmine flowers on the full-moon day of Kartika. Having succinctly worshipped Visnu on the Ekadasi, he, after having eaten cowdung, should duly observe fast on the Ekadasi day. The observer of the vow should drink cow's urine on the Dvadasi, milk on the Trayodasi and curd on the Caturdasi with (the recital of) the hymn. Having eaten (and drunk these) for the purification of his body and having fasted for four days, he should, after bathing, worship Visnu according to the sacred precept. Giving up sinful thoughts the intelligent one, observing celibacy, should devoutly feed brahmanas, and give presents to them. The man, avoiding liquor and flesh, so also sinful coitus, subsisting on vegetables and sages' foods, should be deeply engaged in worshipping Krsna. Then having first (sipped) the five products of the cow, he should eat at night. He would obtain the fruit of the vow thus duly concluded. (Even) a drunkard who would drink liquor from birth to death obtains the highest position by observing this Bhisma-vow. By the words (i.e. order) of a brahmana, women should observe it, which enhances religious merit. Widows also should observe it for salvation, and an increase in their happiness. O Kartikeya, men observe the Kartika (vow) by bathing everyday and (giving) gifts for abundance of (the fulfilment of) all desires and for (obtaining) religious merit. O child, greatly engrossed in meditation upon Visnu, they should also perform the Vaisvadeva sacrifice (in honour of all deities), which gives health and sons and destroys great sins.
70-78. O Kartikeya, with all efforts he should observe the Kartika (vow) at holy places. The conclusion of all the vows (observed) during the year is observed in Kartika. An image of Sin should be fashioned. It should have fearful clothes and should be very fierce. It should have a sword in its hand; it should have come out (i.e. should be prominent); it should have iron fangs and be dreadful. Covered with a black piece of cloth it should be put on a prastha (i.e. a particular measure) of sesamum seeds. Its wreath should be made of red flowers; its golden earrings should be bright. Having, with great devotion, worshipped it with (the utterance of) the names of Dharmaraja, he taking a handful of flowers, should recite this hymn: 'Due to the grace of your feet may the sin committed in another (i.e. previous) existence or in this, perish.' Having duly worshipped that golden image, and having, according to his capacity honoured the brahmanas, expounders of the Vedas, he should, to please Krsna, god of gods, of unimpaired acts, give it to a brahmana (saying) 'May Dharma be pleased with me.' According to his capacity he should give presents to the reader (of the next). Saying, 'May Krsna be pleased with me', he should give gold and cows also. Having done his deeds, and being detached, he should be controlled. According to his capacity he should give excellent gifts to others also.
79-83. (Such) a man, of a tranquil mind, and guiltless, would obtain the highest position. He should reflect upon Mahadeva who is dark green like the petal of a blue lotus, who has four fangs and four arms, who has eight feet, and one eye,
who is spike-eared and has a rough voice, who is cold, who has two tongues, whose eyes are red, who has a lion-like thin cover. He has no form. Bhisma, being on the bed of arrows told this to me. This vow known as Bhismapancaka on the earth, is confined to five days beginning with Ekadasi. There is no prohibition for him who is intent on taking food. Due to that vow Visnu gives an auspicious fruit.
Suta said:
84-88. This has more religious merit than all (other) vows. It is difficult to be done on the earth. This secret, the collection of the essences of the sacred texts, is told by me. It is a secret of the gods. It is a great secret. It at once gives salvation even to those who are engaged in illicit intercourse. It would free one from both the sins of selling one's daughter or one's sister. This sacred text leading to salvation should not be revealed to other people. A man hearing it at once goes to salvation. It should be carefully preserved. This auspicious (vow) is not to be told to them who give it up. This is the truth and the (only) truth,. O Kartikeya. Thus all the fruit that Kartika has is told.
Sri Visnu said:
89-96. The god of gods told it to his son for his welfare. Hearing those words of his father, Kartikeya was full of joy. All those, with the palms of their hands joined, said to the god, the life of the world: "We are blessed by hearing the fruit due to Kartika. Nothing else is to be heard. I have obtained the fruit of my existence." That man who, having heard (this description of) the greatness (of the vow), would honour the reader (of it) with (the grant of a piece of) land, gold, garments, is equal to Visnu, since when the reader is honoured, Visnu is worshipped. Like that he should always give to the reader if he desires the auspicious religious texts, Purana, or Vedic texts, etc. to be fruitful. One who desires religious merit should give the book to the reader only. Those who give the Puranic texts, enjoy inexhaustible fruits. He who would devoutly read this, or would retain it after having heard it, is freed from all sins, and goes to Visnu's heaven. There is no doubt that merely by listening to the (account of this) importance, he gets wealth, grains, fame, sons, (long) life, and good health.