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.
कृत्वा समीपे भर्तारं देवरं च तिलाक्षतैः
Having placed her husband and brother-in-law nearby, she should worship with rice grains marked with sesame.
अर्चयित्वा ह्यर्थितोऽसौ रक्ताशोको युधिष्ठिर
Having worshipped, when entreated, that red Ashoka tree, O Yudhiṣṭhira,
चिरं जीवतु मे वृद्धः श्वशुरः कोशलेश्वरः कौशल्यामपि जीवन्तीं पश्येयमिति मैथिली ।। 4.9.
May my aged father-in-law, the lord of Kosala, live long; and may I, Maithilī, see Kauśalyā alive as well.
ययाचे तं महाभागा द्रुमं सत्योपयाचनम्
That blessed lady earnestly prayed to the tree with truthful words.
एवमन्यापि या नारी पूजयेद्भुवि तं नगम्
In the same way, any other woman who worships that tree on earth,
क्षमाप्य वन्दयेन्मूलं पादपं रक्तपल्लवम्
Having sought forgiveness, she should bow to the root of the tree with red shoots.
महावृक्ष महाशाख मकरध्वजमन्दिर
A great tree with vast branches, the abode of the bannered one with the crocodile emblem.
एवमाभाष्य तं वृक्षं दत्त्वा विप्राय दक्षिणाम्
Having thus spoken, he gave that tree as a gift to the Brahmin, along with a donation.
याः शोकनाशनमशोकतरुं तरुण्यः संपूजयंति कुसुमाक्षतधूपदीपैः
Young women worship that Ashoka tree, which removes sorrow, with flowers, unbroken rice, incense, and lamps.
करवीरव्रतवर्णनम् देवोद्यानभवं हृद्यं करवीरं समर्चयेत
Description of the Karavīra vow. One should worship the delightful Karavīra tree, born in the divine garden.