आमंत्र्य स्वगृहं गत्वा महादेवं स्मरन्क्षितौ
After inviting them, one should return home, remembering Mahadeva while on the ground.
भास्करोदयमासाद्य स्नात्वा चादाय दीपकान् 4.12.
When the sun rises, after bathing, one should take up the lamps.
अभ्यंगयित्वा देवेशं कषायैश्च विरूक्षयेत्
One should anoint the Lord of the gods and rub him with cleansing powders.
घृतेन मधुना दध्ना रसेन पयसा पुनः
With ghee, honey, curd, juice, and again with milk.
लेपयेत्सुघनं पश्चात्कर्पूरागरुचंदनैः
Afterwards, one should smear the Lord with fragrant substances, camphor, agaru, and sandalwood.
वस्त्रयुग्मं पताकां च पञ्चवर्णं वितानकम्
One should offer a pair of garments, a banner, and a canopy of five colors.
पश्चान्निवेद्य नैवेद्यं स्तुत्वा स्वभवनं व्रजेत्
After offering the consecrated food and reciting hymns, one should return to one's own house.
व्रतिनश्च तथाचार्यं भोजयेन्मिथुनानि च
One should feed the observers of the vow, the teacher, and couples as well.
एवं विसृज्य तान्सर्वान्सार्द्धं बंधुजनैः स्वयम्
Having thus honored all of them, one should depart together with one's relatives.
एवमेव विधिं कृत्वा प्रारभेताधनो धनी
In this very manner, both the poor and the wealthy should perform the rite.
वित्तहीनो यथा कश्चिच्छ्रद्धया च पुनःपुनः
Just as someone without wealth, yet with faith, again and again—
प्रतिमासमुपोष्यैवं प्रति पत्कार्त्तिकावधौ 4.12.
By fasting each month in this way, up to the time of Karttika—
द्वितीये द्वे पञ्चदश्यां कृत्वा नक्तं नराधिपः
On the fifteenth day of the second month, having observed a night-fasting, the king—
द्वितीयोपवसेच्छुक्ला ततः प्रभृति वत्सरम्
Should fast on the second day of the bright fortnight, thus for a year from then—
उपवासद्वयं कृत्वा तृतीयां प्रारभेत्ततः
Having performed two fasts, then on the third, he should begin—
कृत्वैवं षोडशे वर्षे पूर्णमास्यां समुद्यतः
Having done so, in the sixteenth year, on the full moon, being prepared—
हेमशृंगीं रौप्यखुरां सघंटां कांस्यदोहनाम्
A cow with golden horns, silver hooves, with a bell, and a bronze milking vessel—
शिवभक्तिरतान्विप्रान्विशुद्धांश्चैव षोडश
Sixteen pure Brahmins devoted to the worship of Shiva—
ब्राह्मणांश्च यथाशक्त्या भोजयेदपरानपि
And also other Brahmins, according to his ability, he should feed—
बृहत्तपोव्रतं चैव ब्रह्मघ्नाद्यघशोषणम्
This is a great vow of austerity, a destroyer of sins such as killing a Brahmin—
चतुर्णामपि वर्णानां स्वर्गसोपानवत्स्थितम्
For all four classes, it stands as a stairway to heaven—
धन्यमायुःप्रदं पुण्यं रूपसौभाग्यवर्द्धनम् 4.12.
It brings prosperity, bestows long life, merit, and increases beauty and good fortune—
विधवयापि कर्तव्यं भूयोऽवैधव्यहेतवे
Even a widow should perform it, for the sake of ending widowhood—
उपोष्य प्रतिमासं तु भुंजीत ब्राह्मणैः सह
Fasting each month, she should eat together with Brahmins—
अंते चांते सुवर्णानां प्रारंभविधिनाचरेत्
At the end, she should perform the prescribed rite with gold—
व्रतविघ्ने महाराज जाते दैवात्कथंचन
If, O king, there is an obstacle to the vow, occurring by fate—
अथ शीघ्रतरं कश्चिद्व्रतं कर्तुं समुद्यतः
Or if someone is eager to complete the vow more quickly—
अंते चांते च वर्षाणां प्रारंभविधिना च रेत्
At the end of the years, at the end, he should perform the prescribed rite—
सोऽपि तत्फलमाप्नोति सत्यारंभप्रभावतः भवंति पुत्रसंश्लिष्टाः शिवध्यानानुभावतः
He too attains that result by the power of beginning with truth; through the influence of meditating on Shiva, he is surrounded by sons.
पुण्यं बृहत्तप इदं व्रतमादराद्ये कुर्वंति षोडशसमा निरताः स्वधर्मे
This great vow, performed with devotion for sixteen years by those intent on their own duty, is a vast ascetic merit.