भगः सूर्योर्यमश्चैव मित्रो वरुण एव च
Bhaga, Surya, Yama, Mitra, and also Varuna.
त्वष्टा पूषा तथा रुद्रो द्वादशो विष्णुरुच्यते जया च विजया चैव जयंती चापराजिता महाश्वेता महादेवी राज्ञी चैव सुवर्चला
Tvashta, Pusha, likewise Rudra, and the twelfth is called Vishnu; also Jaya and Vijaya, Jayanti and Aparajita, Mahashveta, Mahadevi, Rajni, and Suvarcala.
तथान्यो वापि देवानां समूहस्त त्र तत्र ह
Likewise, any other group of the gods may also be established there.
पुरस्ताद्भासुरस्थाने स्थापनीया विजानता
In the eastern shining place, the knowledgeable one should establish them.
स्थाप्या स्वदक्षिणे पार्श्वे लोकपूज्या समंततः
She who is revered by the world should be established on your right side.
स्थाप्य बुद्धिमती नित्यं श्रीकामैर्वा विवस्वतः स्थाप्याश्च स्वोत्तरे पार्श्वे इत्येता देवशक्तयः
The wise one, ever desired by those who seek prosperity, or the energy of Vivasvat, should be established; and these divine powers should be placed on your left side.
दीपश्चान्नमलंकारो वासः पुष्पाणि मन्त्रतः
A lamp, food, ornaments, garments, and flowers should be offered with mantras.
विधिनानेन सततं सदा योर्चयति भास्करम्
Whoever always worships Bhāskara in this manner, without fail,
अनेन विधिना यस्तु भोजयेद्भास्करं नृप सर्वरोगहरः शान्तो भव मे प्राशनं सदा ।। 1.216.
O king, whoever feeds Bhāskara according to this procedure, is freed from all diseases, attains peace, and always receives my blessing.
इत्थं प्राश्य जपेद्भूमौ देवस्य पुरतो नृप
Having thus offered, one should recite on the ground before the deity, O king.
भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः पश्चान्मधुरं क्षारवर्जितम्
Afterwards, maintaining control of speech, one should eat sweet food, free from salt.
कुर्वाणः सप्तमीमेतां सर्वरोगैः प्रमुच्यते
By performing this Saptamī observance, one is released from all diseases.
कृत्वोपवासं सप्तम्यां विधिवत्पूजयेद्रविम्
Having fasted on Saptamī, one should worship Ravi according to the prescribed rule.
माहेश्वरेण विधिना पूजयेदत्र भास्करम्
Here, one should worship Bhāskara with the procedure prescribed for Maheśvara.
दद्यात्फलानि विप्रेभ्यो मार्तण्डः प्रीयतामिति
One should give fruits to the Brāhmaṇas, saying, 'May Mārtaṇḍa be pleased.'
देवस्य पुरतो दत्त्वा तथा चाम्रफलानि च
Having given before the deity, likewise mango fruits as well,
महातपो महाश्रेष्ठं भास्करस्य विशाम्पते
O lord of men, this is the great austerity, the highest, belonging to Bhāskara.
तथेदं परमं पर्व कथितं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्
Thus, this supreme festival called Brahma has been described.
अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च यत्फलं पृथिवीदाने तत्सर्वं प्राप्नुयान्नरः ।। 1.216.
Whatever fruit is obtained by giving a thousand Aśvamedhas, a hundred Vājapeyas, or the gift of the earth, all that a man attains.
राजसूयसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च
And the fruit of a thousand Rājasūyas and a hundred Vājapeyas,
लेखत्वं ब्राह्मणो गच्छेत्क्षत्रियो विप्रतां व्रजेत्
A Brāhmaṇa attains the status of a writer; a Kṣatriya attains Brāhmaṇahood.
सूतमागध बन्द्याद्या ये चान्ये संकरोद्भवाः
Charioteers, bards, heralds, and others born of mixed castes,
इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां न त्वन्यत्पावनं नृणाम्
For people, nothing else is as purifying as the Itihasas and Puranas.
विधिना राजशार्दूल शृण्वतां यत्फलं किल
O tiger among kings, hear now the fruit that comes to those who listen according to the prescribed method.
शतानीक उवाच भगवन्केन विधिना श्रोतव्यं भारतं नरैः
Śatānīka said: O Blessed One, by what method should men listen to the Mahabharata?
कथं तु वैष्णवा धर्माः शिवधर्मा अशेषतः
And how, in full, should the Vaishnava and Shaiva dharmas be heard?
वाचनीयं कथं चापि वाचको द्विजसत्तम
And how should it be recited, and who should be the reciter, O best of twice-born?
स्वरूपं चास्य मे ब्रूहि खषोल्कस्य महात्मनः
Tell me also the true nature of that great-souled Khaṣolka.
पारणेपारणे पूज्यो वाचकः श्रावकैः कथम् 1.216.
How should the reciter be honored by the listeners at the conclusion and during the recitation?
न च किं कार्यसिद्धं यत्सिद्धं पर्वणि पर्वणि सुमन्तुरुवाच सम्यक्पृष्टोऽस्मि राजेन्द्र इतिहासपुराणयोः
And what, if anything, should be accomplished at each festival? Sumantu said: O king of kings, you have rightly questioned me about the Itihasas and Puranas.