प्रत्यक्षरूपसंपन्ना दर्शनीयतरा शुभा
She was endowed with a manifest form, exceedingly beautiful and auspicious.
शब्दगद्गदसंभाषा मत्तमातंगगामिनी
Her speech was indistinct, like the sound of an intoxicated elephant walking.
सा कदाचिद्गता स्नातुं गंगायां चाश्रमे मुनेः
Once, she went to bathe in the Ganga at the sage’s hermitage.
भोजयंती मुनीनां तु पत्नीर्नानान्नभोजनैः
She served the wives of the sages with various kinds of food.
पूज्यं भगवति ब्रूहि किमेतद्व्रतमुच्यते
O revered one, tell me, what is this vow called?
अरुन्धत्युवाच जयश्रिये शृणुष्व त्वं नाम्ना श्रावणिकाव्रतम्
Arundhati said: Listen, O Jayashri, to the vow named Shravanikā.
गूढं बह्मर्षिसर्वस्वं सुपतिव्रतकं शुभम्
It is secret, the essence of all great sages, supremely auspicious for devoted wives.
एवमुक्ता जयश्रीस्तु भोज्ये तस्मिन्यदृच्छया
Thus addressed, Jayashri, by chance, partook of the food there.
भुक्त्वाचम्य जगामाथ स्वपुरं परमेश्वरम् 4.95.
Having eaten and rinsed her mouth, she then went to her own city, to the Supreme Lord.
ततस्तु समये पूर्णे म्रियमाणा महासती
Then, when the time was fulfilled, the great and virtuous lady was dying.
फेनं लालाविलाद्वक्त्रादुद्गिरंती मुहुर्मुहुः
Again and again, she was expelling foam mixed with saliva from her mouth.
ततः षोडशके प्राप्ते दिने स्वयमरुंधती नहुषाय समाचख्यौ यदुक्तं श्रावणी व्रते
Then, when the sixteenth day arrived, Arundhati herself told Nahusha what had been prescribed in the Shravani vow.
तच्छुत्वा नहुषो राजा द्रुतं भोज्यं प्रचक्रमे
Hearing this, King Nahusha promptly began the offering of food.
दत्वा च करकानष्टौ तामुद्दिश्य जयश्रियम्
And, having given her eight pots, he dedicated to her the glory of victory.
जगाम शक्रलोकं सा विमानेनार्कवर्चसा
She went to the world of Indra in a radiant chariot shining like the sun.
द्रव्यप्राप्तिश्च भक्तिश्च दानकाले प्रशस्यते
The acquisition of wealth and devotion are both praised at the time of giving.
भुक्त्वा यज्ञे चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां वा युधिष्ठिर
Having eaten during the sacrifice on the fourteenth or the eighth day, O Yudhishthira,
आमंत्रयेद्दशैकैका नारीर्गौरीस्वरूपिणीः
He should invite ten women, each embodying the form of Gauri.
द्वादश ब्राह्मणांस्तत्र वेदवेदांगपारगान् 4.95.
And twelve Brahmins there, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
सर्वं दद्याद्विधानेन पादक्षालनपूर्वकम्
He should give everything according to the proper rite, after washing their feet.
ग्रीवासूत्रकसिंदूरकुंकुमेन च भूषयेत्
He should adorn them with necklaces, sacred threads, vermilion, and saffron.
अच्छिद्रा जलपूर्णास्तु सुवृत्ताः सूत्रवेष्टिताः
Let the pots be unbroken, filled with water, well-shaped, and wrapped with thread.
चंदनेन समालब्धाः सहिरण्याः पृथक्पृथक्
Anointed with sandalwood, and with gold, each one separately.
स्थित्वा मण्डलके मध्ये यजमानः स्वयं तदा तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु पितृदेवर्षिणां नृणाम्
Then, standing in the center of the circle, the sacrificer himself should wish that all this may remove the misfortunes of ancestors, gods, seers, and men.
इमा मे समयं स्वर्णं तारयस्व भवार्णवात् एवमस्त्विति ता ब्रूयुः स्त्रियः सर्वा युधिष्ठिर
"O ladies, deliver me across the ocean of worldly existence with this gold of mine." Let all the women reply, "So be it," O Yudhishthira.
ततो ब्राह्मणमाहूय यजमान इदं वदेत्
Then, having called the Brahmin, the sacrificer should say this:
उत्तीर्य श्रावणं मासं समुत्तारय सांप्रतम्
"Having crossed the month of Shravana, now deliver me completely."
उपोष्य शिरसो देव्याः समुत्तीर्य रुहद्रुमान् ततो गच्छ महादेवं श्रवणे श्रवणोत्तमे
Having fasted for the goddess on the head, and having crossed the fig trees, then go to Mahadeva in the excellent Shravana.
इति वर्धनिकोत्तारणमन्त्रः 4.95.
Thus ends the mantra for the Vardhanika Uttarana.
तां वर्द्धनिकामेकान्ते विप्राय प्रतिपादयेत्
That Vardhanika should be given in solitude to a Brahmin.