चत्वारः सागरास्ते च कथिता राजसत्तम
These four are said to be the oceans, O best of kings.
योगेश्वरमंगनिधिं विरक्तं पीतवाससम्
The master of yoga, the treasure of gems, detached, clad in yellow garments—
कृत्वा तु वैष्णवं योगं यजेद्योगेश्वरं हरिम्
Having established Vaishnava yoga, one should worship Hari, the Lord of Yoga.
एवं कृत्वा प्रभाते तु ब्राह्मणान्पञ्च भोजयेत्
Having done so, in the morning, feed five Brahmins.
योगेश्वरं च सौवर्णं दापयेत्प्रयतः शुचिः
With devotion and purity, one should have an image of the Lord of Yoga made of gold.
वेदवेदांगविदुषे सहस्रगुणितं भवेत्
For one who knows the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas, the merit is a thousand times greater.
विधानं तस्य पंचैव दत्त्वा कोटिगुणोत्तरम्
By performing its prescribed rite five times, the result becomes ten million times greater.
पञ्चदत्त्वा विधानेन द्वादश्यां विष्णुमर्च्य च दीनानाथादिकान्सर्वान्पूजयेच्छक्तितो नृप
Having performed it five times according to the rule, on the twelfth day one should worship Viṣṇu and, to the best of one's ability, honor all the poor, the destitute, and others, O king.
धरणीव्रतमेतत्तु पुरा कृत्वा प्रजापतिः
This is the Dharaṇī vow, which Prajāpati performed in ancient times.
युवनाश्वो हि राजर्षिरनेन विधिना पुरा 4.83.
Likewise, King Yuvanāśva, the royal sage, performed this rite in former times.
तथा हैहयदायादः कृतवीर्यो नराधिपः
So too did Kṛtavīrya, the king and heir of the Haihayas.
शकुंतलाप्येवमेव व्रतं चीर्त्वा नरोत्तमम्
Śakuntalā also performed this supreme vow in the same way.
तथा पुराणराजानो वेदोक्ताश्चक्रवर्तिनः
Likewise, the ancient kings and the universal emperors mentioned in the Vedas performed it.
धरण्या अपि पाताले मग्नयाचरितं पुरा
Even when the earth was submerged in the netherworld, this vow was performed in ancient times.
समाप्तेऽस्मिंस्तदा देवी हरिणा क्रोडरूपिणा
When it was completed, the goddess was then lifted up by Hari in the form of a boar.
धरणीव्रतमेतत्ते कथितं पांडुनन्दन सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुसायुज्यमाव्रजेत्
O son of Pāṇḍu, this Dharaṇī vow has thus been described; one who performs it is freed from all sins and attains union with Viṣṇu.
चीर्णं रसातलतले गतया धरण्या तेन प्रसिद्धिमगमद्धरणीव्रतेति
When the earth, having gone to the depths of the netherworld, performed this vow, it became renowned as the Dharaṇī vow.
विशोकद्वादशीव्रतवर्णनम् विभवोद्भवकारि भूतलेऽस्मिन्भवति विभो भयसूदनं च पुंसाम्
Description of the Viśoka Dvādaśī vow: O Lord, you who bring forth prosperity on earth and remove the fears of men.
तव भक्तिमतस्तथापि वक्ष्ये व्रतमिन्द्रासुरदानवेषु गुह्यम्
Yet, for your devoted follower, I will declare the vow, secret among gods, demons, and Dānavas.
पुण्यमाश्वयुजे मासि विशोकद्वादशीव्रतम्
The auspicious Viśoka Dvādaśī vow is observed in the month of Āśvayuja.
उदङ्मुखः प्राङ्मुखो वा दंतधावनपूर्वकम्
Facing north or east, after cleaning the teeth, one should proceed.
विधिवत्त्वां समभ्यर्च्य भोक्ष्यामि अपरेऽहनि
Having worshipped you properly according to the rule, I will eat on the following day.
स्नानं सर्वौषधैः कुर्यात्पञ्चगव्यजलेन तु
One should perform the bathing with all medicinal substances, and indeed with the water of the five products of the cow.
विशोकाय नमः पादौ जंघे च वरदाय वै
Salutation to Viśoka at the feet, and to Varada at the shanks.
कंदर्पाय नमो गुह्ये माधवाय नमः कटिम्
Salutation to Kandarpa at the private parts, and to Mādhava at the hips.
नाभिं च पद्मनाभाय हृदयं मन्मथाय वै
Salutation to Padmanābha at the navel, and to Manmatha at the heart.
चक्रिणे नाम बाहुं च दक्षिणं गदिने नमः 4.84.
Salutation to the bearer of the discus at the right arm, and to the wielder of the mace.
नासामशोकनिधये वासुदेवाय चाक्षिणी
Salutation to the treasure of freedom from sorrow at the nose, and to Vāsudeva at the eyes.
नमः सर्वात्मने तद्वच्छिर इत्यभिपूजयेत्
Salutation to the all-pervading Self; likewise, one should worship the head.
ततस्तस्याग्रतो भव्यं स्थंडिलं कारयेन्मृदा
Then, in front of him, one should fashion a sacred platform of clay.