व्रतैस्तु विविधैर्वीर तपोभिर्वा सुदुष्करैः
O hero, through various vows or through austerities that are difficult to perform,
तीर्थाभिषेचनैर्वापि दानहोमार्चनैस्तथा मोक्षार्थी पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ यथाह भगवान्रविः
or by bathing at sacred places, or by acts of charity, offerings, and worship likewise, the seeker of liberation, O best of kings, as spoken by the blessed Sun,
कृत्वादित्यदिने नक्तं भक्त्या संपूजयेद्रविम् सूर्यलोके च नियतं तस्य वासो न संशयः
having observed a fast on the day of the Sun, one should worship Ravi with devotion; in the world of the Sun, his residence is assured, without doubt.
यस्तु पूजयते भक्त्या सप्तम्यां भास्करं नरः
Whoever worships Bhāskara with devotion on the seventh lunar day,
नांधो न कुष्ठी न क्लीबो न व्यंगो न च निर्धनः
is not blind, not afflicted by leprosy, not impotent, not deformed, nor destitute.
विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां धनार्थी धनमाप्नुयात्
The seeker of knowledge attains knowledge; the seeker of wealth obtains wealth.
लोभात्प्रमादान्मोहाच्च व्रतभंगो यदा भवेत्
If the vow is broken due to greed, negligence, or delusion,
प्रायश्चित्तमिदं कृत्वा पुनरेव व्रती भवेत् 1.208.
having performed this atonement, one becomes a votary again.
अभ्यर्च्य सूर्यसप्तम्यां माल्यधूपादिभिर्नरः
Having worshipped the Sun on the seventh day with garlands, incense, and the like,
सप्तम्यां विप्रमुख्येभ्यो हिरण्यं यः प्रयच्छति
whoever gives gold to foremost Brahmins on the seventh day,
इतीदं कीर्तितं वीर सप्तमीव्रतमुत्तमम्
Thus, O hero, this excellent vow of the seventh day has been proclaimed.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराणे ब्राह्मे पर्वणि सप्तमीकल्पे सौरधर्मे सूर्यारुणसंवादे सप्तसप्तमीव्रतवर्णनं नामाष्टाधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana, in the Brahma section, in the Saptami ordinance, in the solar dharma, in the dialogue between Surya and Aruna, the description of the vow of the seven Saptamis is the two hundred and eighth chapter.
सप्तमीव्रतवर्णनम् अथवा यावकाहारः शीर्णपर्णाशनोऽपि वा
Or, subsisting on barley, or eating dried leaves,
क्षीराशी चैकभक्तो वा भिक्षाहारोथ वा पुनः
or taking milk, or eating only once, or living on alms again,
पुष्पोपहारैर्विविधैः पद्मसौगन्धिकोत्पलैः
with offerings of various flowers, lotuses, fragrant water-lilies,
कृष्णगंधपायसाद्यैर्विचित्रैः सुविभूषणैः
with black sandalwood, sweet rice, and other diverse, splendid decorations,
स तत्फलमवाप्नोति क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः ५ विमानवरमारूढः सूर्यलोके महीयते
He attains that fruit through sacrifices with abundant gifts; ascending the best celestial vehicle, he is honored in the world of the Sun.
एवं भक्त्या विवस्वंतं प्रतिमासं समाहितः
Thus, with devotion, one should worship Vivasvant every month with concentration.
चैत्रिके मासि विष्णुश्च माधवे ह्यर्यमेति वै
In the month of Caitra, Viṣṇu is worshipped; in Mādhava, Aryaman is honored.
पर्जन्यः श्रावणे मासि नभस्ये वरुणस्तथा
In the month of Śrāvaṇa, Parjanya is venerated; in Nabhasya, Varuṇa likewise.
मार्गशीर्षेपि मित्रस्तु कीर्तितः सततं बुधैः
In Mārgaśīrṣa, Mitra is continuously praised by the wise.
माघे भगेति विज्ञेयस्त्वष्टा चैवाथ फाल्गुने
In Māgha, Bhag is to be known; and in Phālguna, Tvaṣṭṛ as well.
धूपार्चनविधिमिमं सप्तम्यां सुसमाहितः
With full concentration, one should perform this incense-offering ritual on the seventh day.
ततस्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथागुह्यतमं विभोः
Thus, everything has been explained, as it pertains to the most secret of the Lord.
न च पापकृते देयं न देयं नास्तिकाय वा
It should not be given to one who commits evil, nor to an atheist.
य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं सप्तमीव्रतमुत्तमम्
Whoever listens to this supreme vow of the seventh day regularly,
इह लोके सुखं प्राप्य सूर्यलोके महीयते
Obtains happiness in this world and is honored in the realm of the Sun.
सूर्यपूजावर्णनम् विस्तरात्ते पुनर्वच्मि शृणु चैकमना विभो
I will again describe in detail the worship of the Sun; listen with focused mind, O Lord.
फाल्गुनामलपक्षस्य षष्ठ्यां च समुपोषितः
On the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Phālguna, having fasted,
अर्कपुष्पैर्महाबाहो गुग्गुलेन सुगंधिना
With arka flowers, O mighty-armed one, and fragrant guggul incense,