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.
भद्रोपवासव्रतवर्णनम् तदहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि प्राप्यते केन कर्मणा
Description of the auspicious fasting vow. I wish to know by what action it is obtained.
वरप्रदानाद्देवानामृषीणां सेवनेन वा
Is it by giving boons to the gods, or by serving the sages?
तत्प्रभावाद्भवेन्नूनं राजञ्जातिस्मरो नरः
By the power of that, O King, a man surely becomes one who remembers his past birth.
शुभोदयः पुरा वैश्यो बभूव यमुनातटे
In ancient times, Shubhodaya, a merchant, lived on the bank of the Yamuna.
संजयस्य सुतो जातः स्वर्णष्ठीवीति विश्रुतः
He was born as the son of Sanjaya, and became known as Svarnaṣṭhīvī.
नारदस्य प्रभावेण पुनरु जीव्यतेऽप्यसौ
By the power of Narada, he was revived again.
दस्युभिश्च कथं नीतो मृत्युं वै जीवितः कथम्
How was he taken by robbers to death, and how did he live?
. देवर्षी तस्य मित्रे च सदा नारदपर्वतौ
The divine sage and his friend were always Narada and Parvata.
एकदा संजयगृहं संप्राप्तौ तौ यदृच्छया
Once, by chance, those two arrived at Sanjaya's house.
तेषामथोपविष्टानां पूर्ववृत्तांतभाषिणौ 4.13.
As they were seated, they spoke of past events.