कदाचिदर्धरात्रे तु सुप्ता भर्त्रा सहैव सा
Once, at midnight, she was sleeping together with her husband.
तेन दोषेण सा बाला अजायोनौ ह्यजायत
Because of that fault, the young woman was born in the womb of a goat.
पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव गृहीतं कृत्तिकाव्रतम् 4.103.
By that previous practice, she undertook the Krittika vow.
परक्षेत्रेण गच्छंती अजा सस्यावमर्द्दनी
Going to another field, the she-goat, destroyer of crops, wandered.
दृष्टात्रिणा महाभागा पूर्वजातिस्मरेण सा
She, most fortunate, was seen by Atri, recalling her previous birth.
मोक्षिता बदरीबद्धा चरंती कृत्तिकाव्रतम्
Freed from bondage at Badari, she wandered, observing the vow of Krittika.
संप्राप्य बदरीपत्रं पीत्वा पुष्करिणी पयः तस्यै योगं ततो दत्त्वा जगामात्रिस्तपोवनम्
Having obtained a leaf from Badari and drunk the water of the lotus pond, he then bestowed yoga upon her and Atri went to the hermitage.
सापि योगेश्वरी भूत्वा निंदित्वा जन्म चात्मनः ऋषेर्बभूव दुहिता ह्यहल्यागर्भसुन्दरी
She, becoming a mistress of yoga, reproached her own birth and became the sage's daughter, beautiful from Ahalya's womb.
योगलक्ष्मीति नाम्ना सा कन्या गुणगणैर्युता तपोधनाय दांताय नित्यं सहचरी बभौ
That maiden, named Yogalakshmi, endowed with many virtues, shone as the constant companion of the ascetic, self-controlled, and wealthy in austerity.
ब्राह्मलक्ष्म्या दीप्यमाना साक्षाद्वेदस्मृतिर्यथा
Radiant with Brahma's prosperity, she was like the very embodiment of Veda and Smriti.
गौरी राज्ञी तथा लक्ष्मीर्गायत्री चोत्तमा सती
Gauri, the queen, as well as Lakshmi and Gayatri, the supreme and virtuous one.
पितृदेवमनुष्याणां नित्यं शुश्रूषणे रता
Always devoted to serving fathers, gods, and humans.
भक्त्या भिक्षां प्रयच्छंती ब्राह्मणानामनिंदिता 4.103.
With devotion, she gave alms to Brahmins, never censured.
योगलक्ष्मि महाभागे वर्तंते कति कृत्तिकाः षड्वर्तंते महायोगिन्नेका परवशे स्थिता
O Yogalakshmi, most fortunate, how many Krittikas are there? Six exist, O great yogini; one remains under another's control.
तच्छ्रुत्वास्यै भगवता सकारुण्येन चेतसा
Hearing this, the Blessed One responded to her with a compassionate heart.
इह भुक्त्वा चिरं भोगान्पुत्रपौत्रश्रिया वृता
Here, having long enjoyed pleasures, surrounded by sons, grandsons, and prosperity.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कीदृशं तद्व्रतं कृष्ण मंत्रश्चापि जनार्दन
Yudhishthira said: What is that vow, Krishna, and what is the mantra, O Janardana?
यदा स्यात्सोमवारेण सा महाकार्तिकी स्मृता
When it occurs on a Monday, that great Kartika is remembered.
ईदृशी बहुभिर्वर्षैर्बहुपुण्यैश्च लभ्यते
Such is attained after many years and much merit.
अन्यापि कार्तिकी पार्थ समुपोष्य विधानतः
Another Kartika, O Partha, may also be observed according to the prescribed method.
कार्त्तिके शुक्लपक्षस्य पूर्णमास्यां दिनोदये
In Kartika, on the full moon day at sunrise.
उपवासस्य वा शक्त्या ततः स्नात्वा जलाशये
By one's ability, fasting, then bathing in a water reservoir.
शालग्रामे कुशावर्ते मूलस्थाने सकुन्तले 4.103.
In Śālagrāma, Kuśāvarta, at the root place, and in Sakuntala.
पुरे वा नगरे वापि ग्रामे घोषेऽथ पत्तने देवर्षिपितृपूजां च कृत्वा होमं युधिष्ठिर
Whether in a city, town, village, settlement, or port, after worshipping the gods, sages, and ancestors, perform the oblation, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
ततोऽस्तसमये प्राप्ते पात्रं गव्यस्य सर्पिषः षट्प्रमाणं यथा व्योम्नि कृत्तिकाशकटं न्यसेत्
Then, when the time of sunset arrives, place a vessel of cow's ghee, measuring six units, in the sky in the form of the Kṛttikā cart.
षट्कृत्तिकानां बिंबानि स्वर्णरौप्यमयानि च ।। रत्नगर्भाणि कुर्याच्च स्वशक्त्या पाण्डुनन्दन
Make six images of the Kṛttikās from gold, silver, and gems, according to your ability, O son of Pāṇḍu.
प्रथमा स्वर्णनिष्पन्ना द्वितीया रौप्यकीकृता
The first is made of gold, the second is fashioned from silver.
पञ्चमी कणिकान्यूना षष्ठी पिष्टमयी कृता
The fifth is slightly less in size, and the sixth is made of flour.
रत्नगर्भाः कुंकुमाक्ताः पृष्ठतः स्तबकान्विताः मंत्रेणानेन राजेन्द्र द्विजाय प्रतिपादयेत्
Let them be gem-encrusted, smeared with saffron, adorned with clusters at the back; with this mantra, O king, offer them to a twice-born.
ॐ सप्तर्षिदारा ह्यनलस्य वल्लभा या ब्रह्मणा रक्षितयेति युक्ताः
Om: The wives of the Seven Sages, beloved of Agni, protected by Brahma, are united.