Bhagavata Purana

तदग्रे नियमः पश्चात् कर्तव्यः श्रेयसे मुदा । सप्तरात्रं यथाशक्त्या धारणीयः स एव हि

After this, a vow should be undertaken joyfully for one's own welfare, and it must be observed for seven nights, according to one's capacity.

वरणं पंचविप्राणां कथाभङ्‌गनिवृत्तये । कर्तव्यं तैः हरेर्जाप्यं द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया

A selection of five Brahmins should be made to prevent interruption of the narration, and they should recite the twelve-syllable mantra of Hari.

ब्राह्मणान् वैष्णवान् चान्यान् तथा कीर्तनकारिणः । नत्वा संपूज्य दत्ताज्ञः स्वयं आसनमाविशेत्

Having bowed to and honored Brahmins, Vaiṣṇavas, and others who perform kīrtana, and having given them instructions, one should then take one's own seat.

लोकवित्तधनागार पुत्रचिन्तां व्युदस्य च । कथाचित्तः शुद्धमतिः स लभेत्फलमुत्तमम्

Casting aside concerns for wealth, possessions, home, and children, with the mind absorbed in the narrative and pure in intent, one attains the highest result.

आसूर्योदयमारभ्य सार्धत्रिप्रहरान्तकम् । वाचनीया कथा सम्यक् धीरकण्ठं सुधीमता

Beginning at sunrise and continuing for three and a half watches of the day, the narration should be recited properly, with a steady voice by a wise person.

कथाविरामः कर्तव्यो मध्याह्ने घटिकाद्वयं । तत्कथामनु कार्यं वै कीर्तनं वैष्णवैस्तदा

A pause in the narration should be made at midday for two ghaṭikās, and after the narrative, kīrtana should be performed by the Vaiṣṇavas at that time.

मलमूत्रजयार्थं हि लघ्वाहारः सुखावहः । हविष्यान्नेन कर्तव्यो हि, एकवारं कथार्थिना

For mastery over bodily functions, a light meal that brings comfort should be taken; the seeker of the narrative should eat havis food only once.

उपोष्य सप्तरात्रं वै शक्तिश्चेत् श्रुणुयात् तदा । घृतपानं पयःपानं कृत्वा वै श्रृणुयात् सुखम्

If able, one should fast for seven nights and then listen; or, after drinking ghee or milk, one may listen comfortably.

फलाहारेण वा भाव्यं एकभुक्तेन वा पुनः । सुखसाध्यं भवेद् यत्तु कर्तव्यं श्रवणाय तत्

Alternatively, one may subsist on fruit or eat only once; whatever is easily accomplished should be done for the purpose of listening.

भोजनं तु वरं मन्ये कथाश्रवणकारकम् । नोपवासो वरः प्रोक्तः कथाविघ्नकरो यदि

I consider eating to be preferable for those listening to the narrative; fasting is not recommended if it causes interruption to the narration.

सप्ताहव्रतिनां पुंसां नियमान् श्रुणु नारद । विष्णुदीक्षाविहीनानां नाधिकारः कथाश्रवे

Hear, O Nārada, the rules for those undertaking the seven-day vow; those without initiation into Viṣṇu have no eligibility to listen to the narrative.

ब्रह्मचर्यमधः सुप्तिः पत्रावल्यां च भोजनम् । कथासमाप्तौ भुक्तिं च कुर्यात् नित्यं कथाव्रती

Observing celibacy, sleeping on the ground, eating from leaves, and partaking of food only after the narrative is completed—these should be practiced daily by one observing the vow.

द्विदलं मधु तैलं च गरिष्ठान्नं तथैव च । भावदुष्टं पर्युषितं जह्यात् नित्यं कथाव्रती

One observing the vow should always avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale.

कामं क्रोधं मदं मानं मत्सरं लोभमेव च । दम्भ मोहं तथा द्वेषं दूरयेच्च कथाव्रती

One observing the vow should keep far away desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred.

वेदवैष्णवविप्राणां गुरुगोव्रतिनां तथा । स्त्रीराजमहतां निन्दां वर्जयेत् यः कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should avoid speaking ill of Vedic scholars, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas, teachers, cows, those observing vows, women, kings, and great souls.

रजस्वला अन्त्यज म्लेच्छ पतित व्रात्यकैस्तथा । द्विजद्विड् वेदबाह्यैश्च न वदेत् यः कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should not converse with women in their period, outcastes, foreigners, the fallen, those outside the Vedic fold, haters of twice-born, or those opposed to the Vedas.

सत्यं शौचं दयां मौनं आर्जवं विनयं तथा । उदारमानसं तद्वत् एवं कुर्यात् कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should practice truthfulness, purity, compassion, silence, simplicity, humility, and generosity of mind.

दरिद्रश्च क्षयी रोगी निर्भाग्यः पापकर्मवान् । अनपत्यो मोक्षकामः श्रुणुयाच्च कथामिमाम्

The poor, the wasting, the sick, the unfortunate, those engaged in sinful acts, the childless, and those desiring liberation should listen to this story.

अपुष्पा काकवन्ध्या च वन्ध्या या च मृतार्भका । स्रवत् गर्भा च या नारी तया श्राव्या प्रयत्‍नतः

A woman who does not conceive, whose children die, who is barren, who has lost her child, or who suffers miscarriage should carefully hear this story.

एतेषु विधिना श्रावे तदक्षयतरं भवेत् । अत्युत्तमा कथा दिव्या कोटियज्ञफलप्रदा

When this story is heard according to the prescribed method by such persons, it yields inexhaustible merit; this divine, most excellent story bestows the fruit of millions of sacrifices.

एवं कृत्वा व्रतविधिं उद्यापनं अथाचरेत् । जन्माष्टमी व्रतमिव कर्तव्यं फलकांक्षिभिः

Having thus performed the vow, one should then complete its conclusion, just as those desiring results perform the Janmāṣṭamī vow.

अकिंचनेषु भक्तेषु प्रायो नोद्यापनाग्रहः । श्रवणेनैव पूतास्ते निष्कामा वैष्णवा यतः

For those who are destitute but devoted, there is generally no insistence on the concluding rite; for they are purified simply by hearing, being desireless Vaiṣṇavas.

एवं नगाहयज्ञेऽस्मिन् समाप्ते श्रोतृभिस्तदा । पुस्तकस्य च वक्तुश्च पूजा कार्यातिभक्तितः

When this sacrifice of narrating the story is completed, the book and the speaker should be worshipped with great devotion by the listeners.

प्रसादतुलसीमाला श्रोतृभ्यश्चाथ दीयताम् । मृदंगतालललितं कर्तव्यं कीर्तनं ततः

Then, garlands of sacred basil should be given to the listeners, and melodious kīrtana with mṛdaṅga and cymbals should be performed.

जयशब्दं नमःशब्दं शंखशब्दं च कारयेत् । विप्रेभ्यो याचकेभ्यश्च वित्तं अन्नं च दीयताम्

One should arrange for shouts of victory, words of reverence, and the sound of conch shells; wealth and food should be given to brāhmaṇas and beggars.

विरक्तश्चेत् भवेत् श्रोता गीता वाद्या परेऽहनि । गृहस्थश्चेत् तदा होमः कर्तव्यः कर्मशान्तये

If the listener is detached, singing and instrumental music should be performed on the next day; if a householder, then a fire sacrifice should be done for the purification of actions.

प्रतिश्लोकं तु जुहुयात् विधिना दशमस्य च । पायसं मधु सर्पिश्च तिलान् आदिकसंयुतम्

For each verse, one should offer, according to the proper method, sweet rice, honey, ghee, and sesame mixed with other ingredients, especially for the Tenth Canto.

अथवा हवनं कुर्याद् गायत्र्या सुसमाहितः । तन्मयत्वात् पुराणस्य परमस्य च तत्त्वतः

Alternatively, one may perform the fire offering with the Gāyatrī mantra, with full concentration, because the Purāṇa is of the same essence as the Supreme.

होमाशक्तौ बुधो हौम्यं दद्यात् तत्फल सिद्धये । नानाच्छिद्रनिरोधार्थं न्यूनताधिकतानयोः

If unable to perform the fire offering, a wise person should give the materials for it to others for the attainment of its result, to remove various obstacles and deficiencies or excesses.