तस्यां शत्रुघ्ननाम्नाभूद्राजा रामप्रतिष्ठितः
There, a king named Śatrughna was established by Rāma.
तस्य भार्या कीर्तिमाला नाम्नासीत्प्रथिता भुवि
His wife, renowned on earth, was named Kīrtimālā.
पृष्टः सुखं मुनिश्रेष्ठ कथं समुपजायते
She asked, 'O foremost of sages, how does happiness arise?'
एवमुक्तस्तया ज्ञानी वशिष्ठः कीर्तिमालया
Thus addressed by her, the wise Vasiṣṭha replied to Kīrtimālā.
संकल्पयेन्मासमेकं श्रावणे श्वःप्रभृत्यहम्
One should resolve, 'For one month, beginning tomorrow in the month of Śrāvaṇa, I will—'
स्नानं करिष्ये नियता ब्रह्मचर्यस्थिता सती
'—perform bathing, remaining disciplined and steadfast in celibacy.'
इति संकल्प्य पुरुषो नारी वा ब्राह्मणांतिके
Thus resolving, whether man or woman, in the presence of a Brāhmaṇa—
पुरुषः प्रतिपत्कालाद्दन्तधावनपूर्वकम्
A man, from the first day, after brushing his teeth—
स्नानं कुर्याद्व्रती पार्थ सुगन्धामलकैस्तिलैः 4.11.
Should bathe, O Pārtha, as an observer of the vow, using fragrant and clean emblic myrobalan and sesame oil.
वचयाष्टौ पुनः पिष्ट्वा शिरोरुहविमर्दनम्
After grinding eight (emblic myrobalan) fruits again, one should massage the hair on the head.
तर्पयित्वा तिलापिष्टैः कोकिलां पक्षिरूपिणीम्
Having satisfied the cuckoo, in bird form, with ground sesame paste—
पत्रैर्वा धूपनैवेद्यदीपालक्तकचंदनैः नित्यं तिलव्रती भक्तो मंत्रेणानेन पांडव
Or with leaves, incense, offerings, lamps, lac, and sandalwood— the devotee of the sesame vow should always worship with this mantra, O Pāṇḍava:
तिलसहे तिलसौख्ये तिलवर्णे तिलप्रिये
‘O you who are sustained by sesame, who delight in sesame, who are colored like sesame, who are fond of sesame—’
इत्युच्चार्य ततः पश्चाद्गृहमभ्येत्य संयतः
Having spoken thus, then, remaining self-controlled, one should return home.
मासांते ताम्रपात्र्यां तु कोकिलां तिलपिष्टजाम्
At the end of the month, in a copper vessel, the cuckoo made of ground sesame—
वस्त्रैर्द्धनैर्गुडैर्युक्तां श्रावण्यां कुंडलेऽथ वा व्यासे वा संप्रदातव्या व्रतिभिः शुभकाम्यया
Adorned with cloth, wealth, and molasses, should be given during Śrāvaṇī, in a pot or otherwise, or at Vyāsa’s place, by those observing the vow, desiring auspiciousness.
एवं या कुरुते नारी कोकिलाव्रतमादरात्
Thus, any woman who performs the cuckoo vow with reverence—
निःसापत्न्यं पतिं भव्यं सस्नेहं प्राप्य भूतले
Obtains on earth a husband who is free from co-wives, auspicious, and affectionate.
एतद्व्रतं वशिष्ठेन मुनिना कथितं पुरा 4.11.
This vow was formerly taught by the sage Vasiṣṭha.
तस्याश्च सर्वं संपन्नं वशिष्ठवचनादिह
And by the words of Vasiṣṭha, all her desires are fulfilled here.
एवं यान्यापि कौंतेय कोकिलाव्रतमादरात्
In the same way, O son of Kuntī, any other woman who performs the cuckoo vow with devotion—
ये कोकिलां कलरवां कलकंठपीठां यच्छंति साज्यतिलपिष्टमयीं द्विजेभ्यः
Those who offer to Brāhmaṇas a cuckoo, sweet-voiced, with a lovely black throat, made of clarified butter and ground sesame—
बृहत्तपोव्रतवर्णनम् सुरासुरमुनीनां च दुर्ल्लभं विधिना शृणु
Listen to the description of a great vow of austerity, which is difficult for gods, demons, and sages to obtain, as prescribed.
पर्वण्याश्वयुजस्यांते पायसं घृत संयुतम्
At the end of the fortnight in the month of Ashvayuja, one should prepare rice cooked in milk, mixed with ghee.
आचम्याथ शुचिर्भूत्वा बिल्वजं दंतधावनम्
After sipping water and purifying oneself, one should brush the teeth with a twig from the bilva tree.
अहं देवव्रतमिदं कर्तुमिच्छामि शाश्वतम्
I wish to undertake this divine vow, which is eternal.
इत्येवं नियमं कृत्वा यावद्वर्षाणि षोडश
Having thus made this resolution, one should observe it for sixteen years.
ततो मार्गशिरे मासि प्रतिपद्यपरेऽहनि
Then, in the month of Margashirsha, on the first or the following day,
स्नात्वा देवं समभ्यर्च्य रात्रौ प्रज्वाल्य दीपकान्
After bathing and worshipping the deity, one should light lamps at night.
महादेवरतान्विप्रान्सपत्नीकान्यतव्रतान्
One should invite brahmins devoted to Mahadeva, along with their wives and others who observe vows.