Text 26] The Payo-vrata Process of Worship 235
TRANSLATION
In the bright fortnight of the month of Phalguna [February and
March], for twelve days ending with Dvadasi, one should observe
the vow of subsisting only on milk and should worship the lotus-
eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead with all devotion.
PURPORT
Worshiping the Supreme Lord Visnu with devotion means following
arcana-marga.
Sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam padda-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyar
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
One should install the Deity of Lord Visnu or Krsna and worship Him
nicely by dressing Him, decorating Him with flower garlands, and offer-
ing Him all kinds of fruits, flowers and cooked food, nicely prepared
with ghee, sugar and grains. One should also offer a flame, incense and
so on, while ringing a bell, as prescribed. This is called worship of the
Lord. Here it is recommended that one observe the vow of subsisting
only by drinking milk. This is called payo-vrata. As we generally per-
form devotional service on Ekadasi by not eating grains, it is generally
recommended that on Dvadasi one not consume anything but milk.
Payo-vrata and arcana devotional service to the Supreme Lord should be
performed with a pure devotional attitude (bhaktya). Without bhakti,
one cannot worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bhaktya mam
abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. If one wants to know the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and be directly connected with Him, knowing
what He wants to eat and how He is satisfied, one must take to the process
of bhakti. As recommended here also, bhaktyaé paramaydanvitah: one
should be surcharged with unalloyed devotional service.
TEXT 26
° 4
fardtareat aarfrca ararq ante factorat |
ae waa tale aerate REI
