दिव्यनारीगणवृतो विमानवरमास्थितः
Surrounded by groups of divine women, he ascends the best celestial vehicle.
इह चागत्य कालांते जातः स च नृपो भवेत्
And, returning here at the end of time, he is born and becomes a king.
श्रीमान्वाग्मी कृती धीमान्पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः
He is prosperous, eloquent, accomplished, wise, and accompanied by sons and grandsons.
ये दुर्ल्लभा भुवि सुरोरगमानवानां कामा ह्यनुत्तमगुणेन युताः सदैव
Those desires which are rare on earth, even among gods, serpents, and celestial beings, are always endowed with unsurpassed qualities.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृ्ष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे आग्नेयीचतुर्दशीव्रतवर्णनं नाम त्रिनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttaraparva, in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira, the description of the Agneyī Caturdaśī vow is concluded in the ninety-third chapter.
सर्वकामप्रदं नृणां स्त्रीणां चैव युधिष्ठिर
O Yudhiṣṭhira, it grants all desires to men and women.
शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां मासि भाद्रपदे शुभे
On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight, in the auspicious month of Bhādrapada.
किं शेषनाग आहोस्विदनंतस्तक्षकः स्मृतः
Is Śeṣa Nāga or Ananta, or is Takṣaka remembered?
परमात्माथ वानंत उताहो ब्रह्म उच्यते
Is it the Supreme Self, or Ananta, or is it Brahma that is spoken of?
आदित्यादिषु वारेषु यः काल उपपद्यते
On the days of the sun and others, whichever time arises.
कलाकाष्ठामुहूर्तादि दिनरात्रिशरीरवान्
He possesses the divisions of time such as kalā, kāṣṭhā, muhūrta, and the forms of day and night.
योऽयं कालो मयाख्यातस्तव धर्मभृतां वर
This time which I have described to you, O best among the upholders of dharma,
दानवानां विनाशाय वसुदेवकुलोद्भवम्
is for the destruction of the Dānavas, and is born in the lineage of Vasudeva.
ब्रह्माणं भास्करं शेषं सर्वव्यापिनमीश्वरम्
He is Brahmā, the sun, Śeṣa, the all-pervading Lord.
प्रत्ययार्थं मयाख्यातं सोऽहं पार्थ न संशयः युधिष्ठिर उवाच अनन्तव्रतमाहात्म्यविधिं वद विदां वर
For the sake of certainty, I have explained this; I am that one, O Pārtha, without doubt. Yudhiṣṭhira said: O best among the wise, tell me the procedure and greatness of the Ananta vow.
किं पुण्यं किं फलं चास्य ह्यनुष्ठानवतां नृणाम्
What merit and what fruit accrue to those who observe it?
एवं समस्तं विस्तार्य ब्रूह्यनंतव्रतं हरे श्रीकृष्ण उवाच आसीत्पुरा कृतयुगे सुमंतो नाम वै द्विजः
Thus, having explained everything in detail, tell me about the Ananta vow, O Hari. Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: In ancient times, in the Kṛta age, there was a brāhmaṇa named Sumanta.
वशिष्ठगोत्रे चोत्पन्नः सुरूपश्च भृगोः सुताम्
He was born in the lineage of Vasiṣṭha, handsome, and married the daughter of Bhṛgu.
तस्याः कालेन संजाता दुहितानंतलक्षणा
In time, a daughter was born to her, possessing the marks of Ananta.
माता च तस्याः कालेन हरदाहेन पीडिता
Her mother, over time, was afflicted by the burning pain of disease.
सुमंतोपि ततोन्यां वै धर्मपुंसः सुतां पुनः
Sumanta then again gave his daughter to a righteous man.
दुःशीलां कर्कशां चंडीं नित्यं कलहकारिणीम्
She was ill-behaved, harsh, fierce, and always quarrelsome.
कुड्यस्तंभतुलाधारदेहलीतोरणादिषु
She worshipped repeatedly at walls, pillars, scales, thresholds, and arches.
स्वस्तिकैः शंखपद्मैश्च अर्चयन्ती पुनःपुनः
With swastikas, conch shapes, and lotuses, she worshipped again and again.
कस्मै देया मया शीला विचार्यैवं सुदुःखितः
To whom should I give her, considering her character, thus distressed?
स्मृत्युक्तशास्त्रविधिना विवाहमकरोत्तदा
He performed the marriage then according to the scriptural injunctions stated in the Smṛti.
किञ्चिदायादिकं देयं जामातुः पारितोषिकम्
A small inheritance should be given as a token of satisfaction to the son-in-law.
कपाटे सुस्थिरं कृत्वा गम्यतामित्युवाच ह
Having firmly secured the door, he said, 'Let him depart.'
कौंडिन्योपि विवाह्यैनां पथि गच्छञ्छनैःशनैः
Kaundinya, too, married her and proceeded along the path, moving slowly.
मध्याह्ने भोज्यवेलायां समुत्तीर्य सरित्तटे
At midday, during the time for a meal, having crossed over to the riverbank,