ब्राह्मणैर्ब्रह्मचर्येण जपहोमक्रियादिभिः
By Brāhmaṇas through celibacy, recitation, offerings, and other rites.
पराधिः परिहर्तव्यो ब्रह्मचर्येण निष्ठया
Transgression must be avoided with steadfast celibacy.
शाकाहारपरैश्चैव कृष्णार्चनपरैर्नरैः
Also by those devoted to vegetarian food and those dedicated to worshipping Kṛṣṇa.
विधवाभिश्च कर्तव्यं पुत्रपौत्रादिब्रुद्धये
Widows should perform it for the welfare of sons, grandsons, and others.
नित्यं स्नानेन दानेन कार्त्तिकी यावदेव तु
Always with bathing and giving, as long as the Kārttikī lasts.
नद्य निर्झरगर्ते वा समालभ्य च गोमयम्
In a river, waterfall, or pit, and having obtained cow dung.
देवानृषीन्पितॄंश्चैव ततोन्यान्कामचारिणः
The gods, sages, ancestors, and others who act according to desire.
ततोऽनुपूजयेद्देवं सर्वपापहरं हरिम्
Then one should worship Hari, the remover of all sins.
तत्रैव पञ्चगव्येन गंधचंदनवारिणा
There, with pañcagavya and water scented with sandalwood.
कर्पूरोशीर मिश्रेण लेपयेद्गरुडध्वजम् 4.72.
With a mixture of camphor and uśīra, one should anoint the Garuḍa-bannered one.
गुग्गुलुं घृतसंयुक्तं दहेत्कृष्णाय भक्तितः
One should burn guggulu mixed with ghee for Kṛṣṇa with devotion.
नैवेद्यं देवदेवस्य परमान्नं निवेदयेत्
One should offer the supreme food as naivedya to the god of gods.
जुहुयाच्च घृताक्तांश्च तिलव्रीहींस्ततो व्रती
Then the votary should offer sesame and rice grains smeared with ghee.
उपास्य पश्चिमां संध्यां प्रणम्य गरुडध्वजम्
Having worshipped the western twilight, bowing to the Garuḍa-bannered one.
सर्वमेतद्विधानं च कार्यं पंचदिनेषु हि
All this procedure should be performed over five days.
प्रथमेऽह्नि हरेः पादौ पूजयेत्कमलैर्नरः
On the first day, a man should worship the feet of Hari with lotuses.
पूजयेच्च तृतीयेऽह्नि नाभिं भृङ्गरसेन च
On the third day, one should worship the navel with the juice of the black bee flower.
ततोऽनुपूजयेच्छीर्षं मालत्याः कुसुमैर्नवैः
Then, one should next worship the head with fresh jasmine flowers.
अर्चयित्वा हृषीकेशमेकादश्यां समाहितः
Having worshipped Hṛṣīkeśa with concentration on the eleventh day,
गोमूत्रं मंत्रवत्कृत्वा द्वादश्यां प्राशयेद्व्रती 4.72.
The observer of the vow should ritually prepare cow urine and drink it on the twelfth day.
संप्राश्य कायशुद्ध्यर्थं लंघयेत चतुर्दिनम्
After drinking it for bodily purification, one should fast for four days.
भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम्
With devotion, one should feed brāhmaṇas and give them gifts.
ततो नक्तं समश्नीयात्पञ्चगव्यपुरःसरम्
After that, one should eat at night, preceded by the five products of the cow.
सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं प्रख्यातं भीष्मपञ्चकम्
The renowned Bhīṣma-pañcaka is holy and removes all sins.
तद्भीष्मपञ्चकं त्यक्त्वा प्राप्नोत्भ्ययधिकं फलम्
By abandoning the Bhīṣma-pañcaka, one attains a lesser result.
यत्प्राप्नोति महत्पुण्यं तत्कृत्वा भीष्मपंचकम्
By performing the Bhīṣma-pañcaka, one obtains great merit.
ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति त्यक्त्वैकं भीष्मपञ्चकम्
Having completed even one Bhīṣma-pañcaka, one attains the world of Brahmā.
यत्फलं कार्त्तिकेनोक्तं भवेत्तद्भीष्मपञ्चके
Whatever result is declared for Kārtika, that is obtained by the Bhīṣma-pañcaka.
फलं समीहितं प्राप्य कृत्वाभ्यर्च्य जनार्दनम्
Having performed worship of Janārdana, one attains the desired result.
खड्गहस्तातिविकृता सर्वलोकमयी नृप 4.72.
O king, she who is fierce, sword in hand, and pervades all worlds—