वृन्ताकव्रतविधिवर्णनम् संवत्सरं च षण्मासांस्त्रीन्मासान्वा न भक्षयेत् दर्भपाणिर्गंधोदकेनावाहयेत् कालमावाहयामि चित्रगुप्तमावाहयामि मृत्युमावाहयामि ततोग्निमुपसमाधाय तिलाज्ये जुहुयात् कालाय स्वाहा चित्रगुप्ताय स्वाहा मृत्यवे स्वाहा अग्निर्मूर्धेत्याहुतीस्त्वष्टशतं हुत्वा स्विष्टकृतिं कृत्वा प्रायश्चित्तं हुत्वा ब्राह्मणः स्वयमेव करोति अथ सौवर्णं वृंताकं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् कर्णवेष्टांगुलीयके च्छत्रोपानहौ कृष्णयुगं कृष्णकंबलं च दद्यात् पौंडरीकाश्वमेधफलमवाप्नोति सप्तजन्मांतरं यावद्यमलोकं न पश्यतीत्याह भगवान्बौधायनः कृत्वा व्रतं वत्सरमासमेकं याम्यं न पश्यति पुरं पुरुषः कदाचित्
For one year, or six months, or three months, one should abstain from eating; holding darbha grass in hand, with scented water, one should invoke: 'I invoke Time, I invoke Citragupta, I invoke Death.' Then, having established the fire, one should offer oblations of sesame and ghee, saying: 'To Time, svaha; to Citragupta, svaha; to Death, svaha.' Offering the oblation with the mantra 'Agni is the head,' one should make eight hundred offerings, perform the sviṣṭakṛt, and complete the expiatory rite, which the Brahmin himself performs. Then, a golden eggplant should be presented to a Brahmin, along with earrings, finger rings, an umbrella, footwear, black pair of garments, and a black blanket. One attains the fruit of a Pundarika Ashvamedha sacrifice. For seven lifetimes, one does not see the realm of Yama, so says the venerable Baudhāyana. By performing this vow for a year or even a month, a person never sees the city of Yama.
ग्रहनक्षत्रव्रतवर्णनम् येन लक्ष्मीनिर्वृतिस्तु पुष्टिश्चैवोपजायते
By this, O Pandava, prosperity and nourishment are obtained.
सर्वे ग्रहाः सदा सौम्या जायंते येन पांडव
All the planets always become auspicious through this, O Pandava.
नक्तोक्तविधिना सर्वं कुर्यात्पूजां तथा रवेः
One should perform all the worship of the Sun according to the rules prescribed for night observances.
ततस्तु सप्तमे प्राप्ते कुर्याद्ब्राह्मणवाचनम्
Then, when the seventh day arrives, one should have the Brahmin recite the texts.
ताम्रपात्रे स्थापयित्वा रक्तपुष्पैः प्रपूज्य च
Placing it in a copper vessel and worshipping with red flowers,
घृतेन स्नपनं कृत्वा लड्डुकान्विनिवेद्य च
After bathing it with ghee and offering sweet balls,
आदिदेव नमस्तुभ्यं सप्तसप्ते दिवाकर
O primeval god, I bow to you, O sevenfold Sun, O illuminator.
कृतेनानेन राजेन्द्र भवेदारोग्यमुत्तमम्
By this act, O king, supreme health is attained.
अविसंवादिनी चेयं शान्तिपुष्टिप्रदा नृणाम्
This is unfailing and grants peace and nourishment to people.
सप्तमे च ततः प्राप्ते दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणभोजनम् 4.113.
And then, when the seventh day arrives, having given food to Brahmins,
पात्रे कृत्वा सोमराजं श्वेतवस्त्रावगुंठितम्
Placing the king Soma in a vessel, covered with a white cloth,
दध्यन्नशिखरं दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्
Offering a peak of curd-rice, one should present it to a Brahmin.
श्रीमहादेवजावल्ली पुष्पगोक्षीरपांडुर
O great goddess born of Mahadeva, white as flowers, milk, and the moon,
एवं कृते महाराज सोमस्तुष्टिप्रदो भवेत्
When this is done, O great king, Soma becomes the bestower of satisfaction.
स्वात्यामंगारकं गृह्य क्षपयेन्नक्तभोजनः
On the day of Svati, one should take Mars and observe the fast by eating only at night.
रक्तवस्त्रयुगच्छन्नं कुंकुमेनानुलेपनम्
Covered with a pair of red garments, and anointed with saffron,
मंत्रेणानेन तं दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय कुटुंबिने अमंगलं निहत्याशु सर्वदा यच्छ मंगलम्
With this mantra, one should give it to a householder Brahmin: 'Having quickly destroyed inauspiciousness, always grant auspiciousness.'
विशाखासु बुधं गृह्य सप्त नक्तान्यथाचरेत्
In the Viśākhā constellation, after taking hold of Mercury, one should observe seven nights accordingly.
बुधः सद्बुद्धिजननो बोधदः सर्वदा नृणाम् 4.113.
Mercury is the originator of noble intellect and always bestows awakening to people.
अनुराधास्वथाचार्यं देवानां पूज्य भक्तितः
In the Anurādhā constellation, the teacher of the gods should be worshipped with devotion.
हैमं हेममये पात्रे स्थापयित्वा बृहस्पतिम्
Having placed Bṛhaspati in a golden vessel,
पादुकाच्छत्रसहितं सदंडं सकमण्डलुम्
Along with sandals, umbrella, staff, and water-pot,
खण्डखाद्योपहारैश्च द्विजाय प्रतिपादयेत् अगाधबुद्धिगांभीर्य देवाचार्य नमोऽस्तु ते
One should offer to the twice-born with pieces of food and gifts; O teacher of the gods, whose intellect is unfathomable and profound, salutations to you.
शुक्रं ज्येष्ठासु संगृह्य क्षपयेन्नक्तभोजनैः
Having taken hold of Venus in the Jyeṣṭhā constellation, one should fast at night.
सप्तमे त्वथ संप्राप्ते सौवर्णं कारयेच्छुभम्
Then, upon the seventh day, one should make an auspicious golden image.
संपूज्य परया भक्त्या श्वेतवस्त्रविलेपनैः
After worshipping with supreme devotion, using white cloth and ointments,
दद्यादनेन मंत्रेण ब्राह्मणाय विचक्षणः
One who is wise should give it to a brāhmaṇa with this mantra.
हत्वा ग्रहकृतान्दोषानायुरारोग्यदो भव
Having destroyed the faults caused by the planets, may you grant longevity and health.
तस्मिन्दिने पूजनीयं ग्रहत्रितयमादरात् 4.113.
On that day, the three planets should be worshipped with reverence.