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.
एवमुच्चार्य विप्राय प्रदेयाः कृत्तिका नृप
Having uttered thus, O king, the Kṛttikās should be given to the Brahmin.
धर्मदाः कामकाः संतु इमा नक्षत्रमातरः
May these mothers of the stars be givers of righteousness and fulfillers of desires.
अनेन विधिना दत्त्वा दृष्ट्वा चैवांबरे स्थिताः निवर्त्य च कथार्थं तु शृणुयात्फलमाप्नुयात् ।। 4.103.
By giving according to this method, and seeing them placed in the sky, then ceasing the narration, one should listen and obtain the result.
विमानेनार्कवर्णेन गत्वा नक्षत्रमंडलम्
Traveling in a celestial vehicle of the color of the sun, one reaches the realm of the stars.
दिव्यनारीगणवृतः सुखं भुंक्ते ह्यनामयम्
Surrounded by groups of divine women, one enjoys happiness free from disease.
पारिजातकमंदारपुष्पभारोपशोभितः
Adorned with the radiance of pārijāta and mandāra flowers.
ताराः ' कृत्वा व्रतांते वा गत्वा स्वर्गं सभर्तृका
Having performed the vow, or having gone to heaven with her husband, the stars.
यश्चैतच्कृणुयात्पार्थ भक्तियुक्तः समाधिना
Whoever, O Pārtha, performs this with devotion and concentration.
सौवर्णरौप्यमणिगोनवनीतसिद्धाः षट् कृत्तिकाः कणिकपिष्टमयीश्च कृत्वा
Having made six Kṛttikās from gold, silver, gems, and clarified butter, as well as from flour.
पूर्णमनोरथव्रतवर्णनम् पाखंडान्पतितांश्चैव तथैवान्त्यावसायिनः
The description of the vow that fulfills all desires; likewise, those fallen into heresy and those of the lowest occupations.