रूपकारणभूताय कर्मणा प्रयतो भवेत्
One should strive through action, which is the cause of beauty—
कथयामि यथाप्रोक्तं वरिष्ठेन महात्मना
I shall tell as it was spoken by the most eminent great soul—
वशिष्ठमृषिमासीनं सप्तर्षिप्रवरं द्विजम्
The sage Vasiṣṭha, foremost among the seven seers, was seated—
तस्यास्तु परिपृच्छन्त्या जगाद मुनिसत्तमः 4.108.
As she was questioning him, the best of sages spoke—
सुरूपता नृणां येन योषितां चोपजायते
By what is beauty born among men and women—
अनभ्यर्च्य तु गोविंदमनाराध्य च केशवम्
Without worshipping Govinda, without adoring Keśava—
तस्मादाराधनीयोऽग्रे विष्णुरेव यशस्विनि
Therefore, O illustrious one, Viṣṇu alone should first be worshipped—
यस्तु वाञ्छति धर्मज्ञे रूपं सर्वांगसुन्दरम्
He who desires, O knower of dharma, beauty that is perfect in every limb—
सुस्नातः प्रयताहारः संपूजयति योऽच्युतम्
He who, having bathed and purified his food, worships Acyuta—
योषिता हि परं रूपमिच्छन्त्या जगतः पतिः
For a woman who desires supreme beauty, the Lord of the universe—
मुने येन विधानेन तन्ममाख्यातुमर्हसि
O sage, by what procedure should this be done? You ought to explain that to me.
यथा कुर्वीत रूपार्थं तन्निशामय तत्त्वतः
How one should act for the sake of beauty—listen to this in truth.
नक्षत्रमेकमेकं वै स्नातः सम्यगुपोषितः
Having bathed properly and fasted, one should worship each constellation, one by one.
मूले पादौ तथा जंघे रोहिण्यामर्चयेच्छुभे 4.108.
At the root, the feet and likewise the shanks should be worshipped during the auspicious Rohini.
फाल्गुनीद्वितये गुह्यं कृत्तिकासु तथा कटिम्
During the two Phalgunis, the secret parts; in Krittikas, likewise, the hips.
अनुराधासूरः पृष्ठं धनिष्ठास्वभिपूजयेत्
During Anuradha and Sura, the back; in Dhanishta, one should worship accordingly.
पुनर्वसावंगुलीश्च आश्लेषासु तथा नखान्
In Punarvasu, the fingers; in Ashlesha, likewise, the nails.
पुष्ये मुखं तथा स्वातौ दशनानभिपूजयेत्
In Pushya, the mouth; in Swati, one should worship the teeth.
मृगोत्तमांगे नयने पूजयेद्भक्तितः शुभे
In Mrigashira, the best part, the eyes, should be worshipped with devotion, O auspicious one.
संपूजनीया विद्वद्भिरार्द्रायां च शिरोरुहाः
By the learned, the hair on the head should be worshipped during Ardra.
वर्जनीयं प्रयत्नेन रूपघ्नं तद्विनिर्दिशेत्
One should carefully avoid that which destroys beauty; let that be indicated.
सोमं नक्षत्रराजानं स्वमन्त्रैरर्चयेद्बुधः
The wise should worship Soma, the king of the constellations, with their own mantras.
नक्षत्रज्ञाय विप्राय दानं दद्याच्च शक्तितः
One should give a gift, according to ability, to a Brahmin who knows the constellations.
उपोष्य वाचोप विशेन्नक्षत्रमपरं पुनः 4.108.
After fasting, one should enter another constellation again by speech.
समाप्ते तु व्रते दद्याच्छक्त्या सोपस्करान्वितम्
At the completion of the vow, one should give, according to ability, with the necessary articles.
ब्राह्मणं ब्राह्मणीं चैव वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः
To a Brahmin and a Brahmin woman, with garments and ornaments.
सप्तधान्यं यथालाभं गां सवत्सां पयस्विनीम्
One should offer seven kinds of grains as available, and a cow with a calf that gives milk.
मंत्रेणानेन विप्राय सुशीलाय निवेदयेत् तथा सुरूपतारोग्य सुखसंपदिहास्तु मे
With this mantra, one should present them to a virtuous Brahmin; thus may I obtain beauty, health, happiness, and prosperity.
यथा न लक्ष्म्या शयनं तव शून्यं जनार्दन
Just as, O Janardana, your couch is never devoid of Lakshmi,
एवं निवेद्य तत्सर्वं प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत्
Having offered all this in this manner, one should bow down and ask forgiveness.