सिंहैर्व्याघ्रैर्वराहैश्च तरक्षैश्चानुजंतुकैः
With lions, tigers, boars, hyenas, and jackals—
गृध्रैरुलूकैर्बहुभिर्मत्कुणैर्डाकिनीग्रहैः
With vultures, owls, many insects, and witches possessing magical powers—
पिशाचैर्यक्षकूष्मांडैः पाशखड्गधनुर्द्धरैः
By flesh-eating spirits, yakṣas, and kūṣmāṇḍas, armed with nooses, swords, and bows,
बृहत्कायैर्नारकीयैः पापिष्ठानां नियामकैः
With large-bodied, hellish beings, controllers of the most sinful,
असिभंगामिषच्छेदरुधिरस्रावकादिभिः
With broken swords, torn flesh, and streams of blood and the like,
स आह किंकरान्सर्वान्धर्मराजो जनार्दन
Then Dharmarāja Janārdana addressed all the attendants,
मुद्गलो नाम कौडिन्ये नगरे भीष्मकात्मजः
There was one named Mudgala, son of Bhīṣmaka, in the city of Kauḍinya,
इत्युक्तास्ते गतास्तस्मादायाताः पुनरेव ते 4.89.
Thus addressed, they departed from there and then returned again.
अस्माभिस्तत्र क्षीणायुर्न देही लक्षितो गतैः
By us, when we went there, the embodied one, whose merits were exhausted, was not seen.
कृता त्रयोदशी यैस्तु नरकार्तिविनाशिनी
By whom the Trayodaśī, which destroys the pain of hell, has been performed,
उज्जयिन्यां प्रयागे वा भैरवे वाथ ये मृताः
Those who have died at Ujjayinī, Prayāga, or at Bhairava,
किं तत्र वद कर्तव्यं पुरुषैस्तव तुष्टिदम्
What, then, should be done there by men to please you? Tell me.
त्रयोदश्यां सौम्यदिने सूर्यांगारकवर्जितः
On the Trayodaśī, on an auspicious day, avoiding the Sun and Mars,
मम नाम्ना द्विजानष्टौ पंच चैव समाह्वयेत्
One should summon eight Brāhmaṇas in my name, and five as well.
अंतर्वासोवृतान्भक्तान्सौपदिष्टदिगुन्मुखान्
Devotees, covered with upper garments, facing the prescribed directions,
स्नापयेद्गन्धकाषायैः सुखोष्णांबुभिरेव च
He should bathe them with fragrant decoctions and pleasantly warm water.
शुचिर्भूत्वा तथाचांतो व्रती भक्तिपरायणः 4.89.
Having become pure, calm, observant of vows, and devoted to worship,
प्राङ्मुखानुपविष्टांश्च त्रयोदश पृथक्पृथक्
He should seat the thirteen, each separately, facing east.
सुव्यञ्जनं सुपक्वान्नं भूयोभूयो निवेदयेत्
He should offer repeatedly well-cooked food, properly seasoned.
प्रस्थमात्रैरथैकैकं ताम्रपात्रसमन्वितैः
Each one with a measure of a prastha, served in copper vessels.
चर्मप्रावरणैः श्रेष्ठैस्तेषां दत्त्वा विसर्जयेत् ब्राह्मणान्वाचकं वापि पंक्तिभेदं न कारयेत्
Having given the best coverings of leather to them, one should dismiss them; neither to Brahmins nor to the reciter should one cause a separation in the line.
ॐ नमः शनैश्चरो मृत्युर्दंडहस्तो विनाशकः
Om, salutations to Shani, the slow-moving one, death, the wielder of the staff, the destroyer.
लोकपालो ह्यतिक्रूरो रौद्रो घोराननः शिवः (स्वाहा)
The guardian of the worlds, exceedingly fierce, wrathful, with a terrible face, auspicious. (Svaha)
इत्युक्त्वा संप्रयच्छेच्च देयं दत्त्वा व्रती पुनः
Having spoken thus, one should offer what is to be given; after giving, the vow-holder again.
एवं यः पुरुषः कश्चित्सकृद्व्रतमिदं चरेत्
Thus, whoever, even once, performs this vow.
अदृष्टो मम मायाभिर्विमानेनार्कमंडलम्
Unseen by my illusions, with a celestial vehicle, to the orb of the sun.
कृतं चीर्णं व्रतं तेन मुद्गलेन ममोदितम् 4.89.
This vow was performed and completed by Mudgala, as declared by me.
इति कालवचः श्रुत्वा तेऽपि दूता गतास्तु मे स्वशरीरं पुनः प्राप्य नीरोगः पुनरुत्थितः
Having heard these words of Time, my messengers also departed; regaining their own bodies, they arose again, free from disease.
त्वां द्रष्टुमागतः प्रोक्तमेतद्वृत्तं मया तव
I have come to see you; this account has been spoken by me to you.
इदं कुरुष्व कौंतेय त्वमप्यत्र महीतले
Do this, O son of Kunti, you also, here on earth.