ततस्तं ब्राह्मणे दद्याद्दत्त्वा मंत्रेण तालकम्
Then, having given the tālaka with a mantra, one should give it to a brāhmaṇa.
दुष्टदौर्भाग्यदुःखेभ्यो मया दत्तं तु तालकम्
This tālaka, given by me, is for the removal of misfortune, poverty, and suffering.
सपुत्रपशुभृत्याय मेऽर्कोयं प्रीयतामिति
May this Sun be pleased with me, along with my sons, cattle, and servants.
विप्रानन्यान्यथाशक्त्या पूजयित्वा गृहं व्रजेत्
Having worshipped the brāhmaṇas and others according to one's ability, one should return home.
अचलासप्तमीस्नानं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्
The bath on the seventh day of the unmoving (Acalā Saptamī) grants all desired results.
इति पठति य इत्थं यः शृणोति प्रसंगात्कलिकलुषहरं वै सप्त मीस्नानमेतत्
Whoever recites or hears this account, the bath on the seventh day surely removes the sins of the Kali age.
बुधाष्टमीव्रतवर्णनम् येन चीर्णेन नरकं नरः पश्यति न क्वचित्
Description of the Budhāṣṭamī vow: By performing it, a person never sees hell anywhere.
पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ इलो राजा बभूव ह
Long ago, at the beginning of the Kṛta Yuga, there was a king named Ila.
जगाम हिमवत्पार्श्वे महादेवेन वारितः
He went to the side of the Himavat, having been turned away by Mahādeva.
स राजा मृगसंगेन प्राविशत्तदुमावने
That king, accompanied by deer, entered that forest of Umā.
सा बभ्राम वने शून्ये पीनोन्नतपयोधरा
She wandered in the empty forest, her breasts full and high.
तां ददर्श बुधः सौम्यां रूपौदार्यगुणान्विताम्
Budha saw her, gentle and endowed with beauty, nobility, and virtues.
दधौ गर्भं तदुदरे इलाया रूपतोषितः
He placed an embryo in her womb, having been pleased with Ilā's form.
चंद्रवंशकरो राजा आद्यः सर्वमहीक्षिताम्
The king, originator of the lunar dynasty, was the first among all rulers of the earth.
सर्वपापप्रशमनी सर्वोपद्रवनाशिनी
She is the remover of all sins, the destroyer of all calamities.
आसीद्राजा विदेहानां मिथिलायां स वैरिभिः 4.54.
There was a king of Videha, in Mithilā, beset by enemies.
ऊर्मिला नाम बभ्राम महीं बालकसंयुता
A woman named Ūrmilā wandered the earth, accompanied by a child.
चकारोदरपूर्त्यर्थं नित्यं कंडनपेषणे
She constantly ground and pounded for the sake of filling her belly.
कारुण्यान्मातृवात्सल्यात्क्षुधासंपीड्यमानयोः
Out of compassion, motherly affection, and being afflicted by hunger,
पुत्रस्तस्या विदेहायां गत्वा स्वपितुरासने
Her son, in Videha, went and sat upon his father's seat.
अन्विष्य धर्मराज्ञो वै सा कन्या मिथिवंशजा
Seeking the king of righteousness, that maiden of the Mithila lineage—
श्यामला नाम चार्वंगी प्रसिद्धा श्रूयते श्रुतौ
She is known as Shyāmalā, beautiful in every limb, renowned in the scriptures.
वहस्व सर्वव्यापारं श्यामले त्वं गृहे मम
O Shyāmalā, bear all the household duties in my home.
किं त्वेते पंजराः सप्त कीलकैरतियंत्रिताः
But what are these seven cages, tightly fastened with bolts?
एवमस्त्विति साप्युक्ता निजं कर्म चकार ह उद्धाटयित्वा प्रथमं ददर्श जननीं स्वकाम्
When she was thus addressed, she performed her own task; opening the first, she saw her own mother.
सा पच्यमाना क्रंदंती भीषणैर्यमकिंकरैः 4.54.
She was being cooked, crying out, tormented by the terrifying servants of Yama.
तथैव तालकं दत्त्वा व्रीडिता सा मनस्विनी
In the same way, having given the talaka, that noble woman became ashamed.
सुधावल्लिप्यमानां तां शिलातल्पेष्टकेन तु क्रकचैः पाट्यते मूर्ध्नि घण्टायुक्तैः करोल्बणैः
She was being smeared with nectar, but on a stone slab, with a brick, her head was being sawed by dreadful hands equipped with bells.
चतुर्थे पञ्जरे स्थाने भीषणैर्दारुणाननैः
In the fourth cage, in that place, with terrifying, fierce-faced beings—
पञ्चमे निहिता भूमौ कण्ठे पादेन पीडिता
In the fifth, she was placed on the ground, pressed at the throat by a foot.