श्रुत्वाष्टमी बुधस्यापि माहात्म्यं भोजनं त्यजेत्
Upon hearing the greatness of the eighth lunar day belonging to Budha, one should abstain from eating.
तथा भुक्त्वा बुधस्याग्रे आचम्य च पुनःपुनः
Likewise, after eating in front of Budha, one should rinse the mouth again and again.
साक्षतं सहिरण्यं च जातरूपमयं शुभम्
With gold and silver, and auspicious objects made of gold, directly present.
पीतवस्त्रैः समाच्छन्नं बुधं सोमात्मजाकृतिम्
Budha, in the form of the son of Soma, should be covered with yellow garments.
ॐ बुधाय नमः ॐ दुर्बुद्धिनाशनाय नमः ॐ ताराजाताय नमः ॐ सर्वसौख्यप्रदाय नमः अष्टमी तु यदा पूर्णा तदा राजर्षिसत्तम
Om, salutations to Budha. Om, salutations to the destroyer of evil intellect. Om, salutations to the one born of Tara. Om, salutations to the giver of all happiness. When the eighth lunar day is complete, O best of royal sages,
वस्त्रालंकरणैः सर्वैर्भूषणैर्विविधैरपि मन्त्रेणानेन कौंतेय दद्यादेवं समाचरन् ।। 4.54.
With all kinds of garments, ornaments, and various jewels, O son of Kunti, one should give, performing thus with this mantra.
बुधोऽयं प्रतिगृह्णातु द्रव्यस्थोऽयं बुधः स्वयम्
Let Budha accept this; Budha himself is present in the substance.
(इति दानमंत्र ।) बुधः सौम्यस्तारकेयो राजपुत्र इलापतिः
Budha is gentle, born of Tara, prince, lord of Ila.
( इति प्रतिग्रहणमंत्रः ।) सौख्यं च सौमनस्यं च करोतु शशिनंदनः
May the son of the moon grant happiness and peace of mind.
इत्युच्चार्य गृहीत्वा तु दद्यान्मंत्रपुरःसरम्
Having spoken thus and taken it, one should give, preceded by the mantra.
धनधान्यसमायुक्तः. पुत्रपौत्रप्रवर्द्धनः
He becomes endowed with wealth and grain, and his sons and grandsons flourish.
ततः सुतीर्थे मरणं ध्यात्वा नारायणं विभुम्
Then, at the holy place, meditating on death, one should contemplate Narayana, the Lord.
वसते यावदासृष्टेः पुनराभूतसंप्लवम्
He dwells as long as the creation lasts, until the next dissolution arises.
एषैवं च मयाख्याता गुह्या पार्थ बुधाष्टमी
Thus, O Partha, I have described to you the secret Budha Ashtami.
यश्चाष्टमीं बुधयुतां समवाप्य भक्त्या सम्पूजयेद्विधुसुतं कनपृष्ठसं स्थम्
Whoever, having attained the eighth lunar day associated with Budha, worships the son of the moon with devotion, established at the tip of the golden rod,
जन्माष्टमीवर्णनम् कस्मिन्काले समुत्पन्नं किं पुण्यं को विधिः स्मृतः
Description of Janmashtami: At what time did it arise, what merit does it bring, and what rite is remembered?
देवकी मां परिष्वज्य कृत्वोत्संगे रुरोद ह
Devakī embraced me, holding me close in her lap, and wept.
तत्रैव रंगवाढेन मंचारूढजनोत्सवे
There, amid the festivities with the stage and the gathering of people seated on platforms,
स्वजनैर्बंधुभिः स्निग्धैः सस्त्रीभिः समावृते
Surrounded by affectionate relatives and their wives,
समाकृष्य परिष्वज्य पुत्रपुत्रेत्युवाच ह
Drawing me near and embracing me, she called out, 'My son, my child.'
बलभद्रं च मां चैव परिष्वज्य मुदा पुनः
With joy, she again embraced both Balabhadra and me.
यदुभाभ्यां सुपु त्राभ्यां समुद्भूतः समागमः
A reunion arose between the two noble sons of the Yadu clan.
प्रणिपत्य जनाः सर्वे बभूवुस्ते प्रहर्षिताः
All the people bowed down and were filled with delight.
प्रसादः क्रियतां नाथ लोकस्यास्य प्रसादतः
Let there be grace, O Lord, for this world through your favor.
तद्दिने देहि वैकुंठं कुर्मस्तेत्र नमोनमः 4.55.
On that day, grant Vaikuṇṭha; we bow here with reverence.
एवमुक्ते जनौघेन वसुदेवोऽतिविस्मितः एवमस्त्विति लोकानां कथयस्व यथा तथा
When these words were spoken by the multitude, Vasudeva was greatly astonished. 'So be it,' he said; tell the people as it is.
ततश्च पितुरादेशात्तथा जन्माष्टमीव्रतम्
Then, by the command of my father, the Janmāṣṭamī vow was observed.
पौरजना जन्मदिनं वर्षेवर्षे ममोदितम् क्षत्रिया वैश्यजातीयाः शूद्रा येन्येऽपि धार्मिकाः
The townspeople celebrated my birthday each year—Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, Śūdras, and even those who are righteous.
सिंहराशिगते सूर्ये गगने जलदाकुले वृषराशिस्थिते चन्द्रे नक्षत्रे रोहिणीयुते
When the sun enters the sign of Leo in the sky filled with clouds, and the moon is in Taurus with the star Rohiṇī,
वसुदेवेन देवक्यामहं जातो जनाः स्वयम्
I was born to Vasudeva and Devakī; the people themselves know this.