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,
चतुर्दश्यामर्चयन्तं भक्त्या देवं पृथक्पृथक्
On the fourteenth day, worshipping the deity with devotion, each separately,
नार्यः किमेतन्मे ब्रूत किंनाम व्रतमीदृशम्
The women asked, 'What is this? Tell me, what is the name of this vow?'
साब्रवीदहमप्येवं करिष्ये व्रतमुत्तमम्
She replied, 'I too will perform this excellent vow.'
अर्द्धं विप्राय दातव्यमर्द्धमात्मनि भोजनम्
Half should be given to the Brahmin, and half kept for one's own meal.
कर्तव्यं तु सरित्तीरे कथां श्रुत्वा हरेरिमाम्
It should be performed on the riverbank, after hearing this story of Hari.
धूपैः पुष्पैः सनैवेद्यैः पीतालक्तैश्चतुःशतैः
With incense, flowers, offerings, and four hundred yellow threads,
चतुर्दशग्रंथियुतं वामे स्त्री दक्षिणे पुमान्
With a fourteen-knotted thread: the woman ties it on the left, the man on the right.
अनंत संसारमहासमुद्रे मग्नान्समभ्युद्धर वासुदेव
O Vāsudeva, rescue those who are immersed in the endless great ocean of worldly existence.
अनेन दोरकं बद्ध्वा भोक्तव्यं स्वस्थमानसैः
Having tied this thread, one should eat with a peaceful mind.
भुक्त्वा चांते व्रजेद्वेश्म हीदं प्रोक्तं व्रतं तव
After eating, one should return home; this is the vow prescribed for you.