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—
ब्राह्मणाय प्रदातव्या कृष्णो मे प्रीयतामिति
—should be given to a brāhmaṇa, saying, 'May Kṛṣṇa be pleased with me.'
अन्येषामपि दातव्यं यत्कृत्वा वसु वांछितम्
One should also give to others, having performed this, whatever wealth is desired.
शांतचेता निराबाधः परं पदमवाप्नुयात्
With a peaceful mind, free from obstacles, one attains the supreme state.
ऽ अष्टषष्ठैकनयनः शंकुकर्णो महास्वनः
He has sixty-eight eyes, conch-shaped ears, and a mighty voice.
चिंतनीयो महादेवो यस्य रूपं न विद्यते
One should contemplate the great Lord, whose form is not known.
तदेव ते समाख्यातं दुष्करं भीष्मपंचकम्
This, indeed, has been described to you as the difficult Bhishma Panchaka.
यस्तस्मिंस्तोषयेद्भक्त्या तस्मै मुक्तिप्रदोऽच्युतः
Whoever pleases Him there with devotion, to that person the imperishable One grants liberation.
प्राप्नोति वैष्णवं स्थानं सत्कृत्वा भीष्मपञ्चकम्
By properly observing the Bhishma Panchaka, one attains the Vaishnava abode.
मुच्यते पातकात्सम्यक्कृत्वैकं भीष्मपञ्चकम्
One is freed from sin by rightly performing even a single Bhishma Panchaka.
अथास्मिंस्तोषितो विष्णुर्नृणां मुक्तिप्रदो भवेत् 4.72.
Then, when thus pleased, Vishnu becomes the giver of liberation to people.