इत्यामंत्र्य ततो गच्छेत्स्वगृहं कुरुनन्दन 1.210.
Having thus addressed, then one should go to one's own house, O descendant of Kuru.
कृत्वा च पावकं राजन्ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्ततः
Having kindled the fire, O king, one should then feed the Brahmins.
अपूपान्गुडपूपांश्च पयो दधि तथा नृप
Cakes, jaggery-cakes, milk, and curd, O king—
वर्ज्यानि भरतश्रेष्ठ शृणु त्वं गदतो मम
These are to be avoided, best of the Bharatas; listen as I speak.
सिस्रुकं च तथान्यच्च राजमाषांस्तथैव च
Sisruka, and likewise other things, and also black gram, O king—
दुर्गधं यच्च कटुकमत्यल्पं भास्करस्य तु
That which is hard to digest, pungent, or very little, is not for the Sun.
इत्थं भोज्य द्विजं राजन्प्राशयेदर्कसंपुटम्
Thus, O king, one should serve the twice-born with food placed in a vessel dedicated to the Sun.
गृहीत्वा केतनं यस्तु भजतेऽन्यत्र लोकतः
Whoever, having taken the banner, worships elsewhere among people—
निष्क्रम्य नगराद्राजन्गत्वा पूर्वोत्तरां दिशम्
Leaving the city, O king, and going to the northeast direction—
जातं दृष्ट्वा महाबाहो पूजयित्वा खगोत्तम
Having seen it arisen, O mighty-armed one, and having worshipped the best of birds—
शाखाया अग्रतः पात्रे सुसूक्ष्मे पल्लवाश्रिते 1.210.
At the tip of a branch, in a very fine vessel, supported by fresh leaves—
स्नातः पूज्य विवस्वंतमर्कपुष्पैः खगोत्तम
Having bathed, one should worship Vivasvat with arka flowers, O best of birds.
प्राश्य मंत्रेणार्कपुटं ततो भुंजीत वाग्यतः
Having recited the mantra, one should then eat the arka-puṭa, observing silence.
ॐ अर्कसंपुट भद्रं ते भद्रं तेऽर्कं सदास्तु वै
Om, arka-saṃpuṭa, may there be well-being for you; may there always be well-being for the arka.
इमं मंत्रं जपन्राजन्स्मरन्नर्कं महामते
O king, reciting this mantra and remembering the arka, O wise one,
प्राश्य भुंक्ते च यो राजन्स याति परमां गतिम्
O king, whoever eats after reciting attains the highest state.
अनेन विधिना भक्त्या कर्तव्या सप्तमी सदा
This seventh day should always be observed with devotion according to this procedure.
यश्चेमां सप्तमीं कुर्याद्भास्करं प्रीणयन्नरः
And whoever performs this Saptamī, pleasing Bhāskara, O man,
सुवर्णं रजतं ताम्रं हिरण्यं च तथा क्षयम्
Gold, silver, copper, and wealth likewise are not diminished.
कुष्ठरोगाच्च वै मुक्तो जयस्तोमो महीपतिः
He is freed from leprosy and, O king, gains victory over darkness.
अर्कं चैव समाराध्य ततोऽगुस्तेऽर्कसाम्यताम् 1.210.
And by duly worshipping the arka, one attains equality with the arka after death.
पठतां शृण्वतां राजन्कुर्वतां च विशेषतः
For those who recite, listen, and especially perform this, O king,
श्रुतं मया तु बहुशो न श्रुतं कौथुमिर्यथा
I have heard much, but not as I have heard regarding Kauthumi.
सिद्धिं गतोऽर्कमाराध्य कुष्ठान्मुक्तश्च सुव्रत
Having worshipped the arka, Kauthumi attained success and was freed from leprosy, O virtuous one.
कथमाराधयामास भानुं देवपतिं द्विज
How did he worship Bhānu, the lord of the gods, O twice-born?
अर्कसम्पुटिकावर्णनम् आसीत्पुरा महाविद्वान्ब्राह्मणः स्थानगोत्तमः
Description of the Arka-saṃpuṭikā: Once there was a great scholar, a foremost Brahmin.
स गतः पुत्रसहितो जनकस्याश्रमं द्विजः
He, along with his son, went to the hermitage of Janaka, O twice-born.
क्रोधाविष्टेन वै तत्र हतः कौथुमिना द्विजः
There, overcome by anger, that Brahmin was killed by Kauthumi.
भ्रातृभिश्च महाबाहो तथा शिष्टैश्च कृत्स्नशः
Also by his brothers, O mighty-armed one, and entirely by the disciples.
तीर्थानि स जगामाथ दिव्यान्यायतनानि च
Then he went to the holy places and to the divine shrines.