प्रतिपत्क्रमयोगेन विहिता यस्य या तिथिः
On the day prescribed according to the lunar calendar, whatever tithi is assigned to him,
शुक्ला तस्यां प्रकुर्वीत स्नानं नियमतत्परः
On the bright fortnight, one should perform bathing with disciplined devotion.
नारी नरो वा राजेन्द्र संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः
Whether woman or man, O King, having satisfied the ancestors and deities,
पिष्टातकेन विलिखेद्वत्सरं पुरुषाकृतिम्
With flour and sweets, one should fashion for a year a human figure.
दीपैश्चापि सनैवेद्यैः पूजयेद्वत्सरं तदा पूजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्विद्वान्मंत्रैर्वेदोदितैः शुभैः
And with lamps and offerings, one should worship that figure for a year; the learned should worship Brahmins with auspicious mantras from the Vedas.
संवत्सरोऽसि परिवत्सरोसीडा वत्सरोऽभित्सरोऽसि उषसस्ते कल्पंतामहोरात्रास्ते कल्पंतामर्धमासस्ते कल्पतां मासास्ते कल्पतामृतवस्ते कल्पन्तां संवत्सरस्ते कल्पताम्
You are the year, you are the cycle of years, you are the delight, you are the year, you are the approach; may your dawns last, may your days and nights last, may your half-months last, may your months last, may your seasons last, may your years last.
एवमभ्यर्च्य वासोभिः पश्चात्तमभिवेष्टयेत्
Having thus worshipped, one should then wrap it with cloth.
ततस्तं प्रार्थयेत्पश्चात्पुरः स्थित्वा कृतांजलिः 4.8.
After that, standing before it with joined palms, one should make a request.
एवमुक्त्वा यथाशक्ति दद्याद्विप्राय दक्षिणाम्
Having spoken thus, one should give a gift to a Brahmin according to one's ability.
ततः प्रभृत्यनुदिनं तिलकालंकृतं मुखम्
From then on, every day, one should adorn the face with tilaka.
एवं नरो वा नारी वा व्रतमेतत्समाचरेत्
Thus, whether man or woman, one should observe this vow.
भूताः प्रेताः पिशाचाश्च दुर्वारा वैरिणो ग्रहाः
Spirits, ghosts, and demons, fierce enemies and planets,
पूर्वमासीन्महीपालो नाम्ना शत्रुंजयो जयी
Once there was a king named Shatruṃjaya, victorious,
तया व्रतमिदं चैत्रे गृहीतं द्विजसन्निधौ ।। संवत्सरं पूजयित्वा धृत्वा हृदि जनार्दनम्
He undertook this vow in the month of Chaitra in the presence of Brahmins; having worshipped the year and holding Janardana in his heart,
असूयुः क्षेप्तुकामो वा समागच्छति यः पुरः
Whoever, out of envy or intent to harm, comes before,
सपत्नीदर्पापहरा वशीकृतमहीतला
The earth subdued, pride of rivals removed, made obedient,
तावत्करेणाभिभूतो भर्ता पुत्रः सवेदनः
So long as he is overcome by the hand, the husband or son suffers with pain,
धर्मराजपुरं प्राप्तुं सर्वभूतापहारकः 4.8.
To reach the city of Dharma-raja, he takes away all beings.
तस्य द्वारमनुप्राप्ताः प्रवेष्टुं गृहमञ्जसा
They reached his doorway, intending to enter the house directly.
पार्श्वस्थितां चित्रलेखां तिलकालंकृताननाम्
There stood Citralekha at his side, her face adorned with a tilaka.
गतेषु तेषु स नृपः पुत्रेण सह भारत
When they had gone, O Bhārata, that king departed together with his son.
एतद्व्रतं महाभाग कीर्तितं ते महोदयम्
O highly fortunate one, this great vow has been described to you.
एतत्त्रिलोकतिलकालकभूषणं ते ख्यातं व्रतं सकलदुःखहरं परं च
This vow, famed as the ornament of the three worlds and the adornment of the forehead, has been declared to you; it is supreme and removes all sorrows.
अशोकव्रतवर्णनम् अशोकं पूजयेद्वृक्षं प्ररूढशुभपल्लवम्
One should worship the Ashoka tree when it has grown auspicious new shoots.
विरूढैः सप्तधान्यैश्च गुण कैर्मोदकैः शुभैः
With seven kinds of sprouted grains and with excellent sweet cakes, one should offer worship.
पुष्पधूपादिना तद्वत्पूजयेत्तद्दिनेऽनघ
Likewise, on that day, O sinless one, one should worship with flowers, incense, and the like.
पितृभ्रातृपतिश्वश्रूश्वशुराणां तथैव च
In the same way, for the ancestors, brothers, husband, mother-in-law, and father-in-law.
इत्युच्चार्य ततो दद्यादर्घ्यं श्रद्धासमन्वि तम्
Having recited thus, one should then offer arghya with devotion.
दमयन्ती यथा स्वाहा यथा वेदवती सती
Like Damayantī, like Svāhā, and like the virtuous Vedavatī.
वने व्रजंत्या सद्धर्मः सीतया संप्रदर्शितः
The righteous conduct shown by Sītā when she went to the forest is to be followed.