Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.16.47
एवं त्वहरह: कुर्याद्द्वादशाहं पयोव्रतम् ।
हरेराराधनं होममर्हणं द्विजतर्पणम् ॥ ४७ ॥
evaṁ tv ahar ahaḥ kuryād
[evam tv ahar ahah kuryaad]
dvādaśāhaṁ payo-vratam
[dvaadashaaham payo-vratam]
harer ārādhanaṁ homam
[harer aaraadhanam homam]
arhaṇaṁ dvija-tarpaṇam
[arhanam dvija-tarpanam]
Word-for-word
evam
—
in this way
tu
—
indeed
ahaḥ ahaḥ
—
day after day
kuryāt
—
should execute
dvādaśa-aham
—
until twelve days
payaḥ-vratam
—
the observance of the vrata known as payo-vrata
hareḥ ārādhanam
—
worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead
homam
—
by executing a fire sacrifice
arhaṇam
—
worshiping the Deity
dvija-tarpaṇam
—
and satisfying the brāhmaṇas by feeding them.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
evaṁ tv ahar ahaḥ kuryād
evam
in this way
tu
indeed
ahaḥ ahaḥ
day after day
kuryāt
should execute
dvādaśāhaṁ payo-vratam
dvādaśa-aham
until twelve days
payaḥ-vratam
the observance of the vrata known as payo-vrata
harer ārādhanaṁ homam
hareḥ ārādhanam
worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead
homam
by executing a fire sacrifice
arhaṇaṁ dvija-tarpaṇam
arhaṇam
worshiping the Deity
dvija-tarpaṇam
and satisfying the brāhmaṇas by feeding them.
In this way, until twelve days have passed, one should observe this payo-vrata, worshiping the Lord every day, executing the routine duties, performing sacrifices and feeding the brāhmaṇas.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
In this way, for twelve days, one should drink only milk, daily honor the Lord, perform deity worship, perform sacrifices and feed the brāhmaṇas.
Personal Guidance
Until twelve days pass, continue the payo-vrata — daily worship, sacrifices, feeding brāhmaṇas. The discipline is sustained, not occasional. Vows are not performances; they are temporary lives.
Reflection Questions
- Have I ever sustained a vow for twelve full days exactly — without break — and what did it teach me?
- Where am I tempted to call something a 'vow' when it is actually a flexible intention?
My note
Source: vedabase.io