यो गोपदव्रतमिदं कुरुते त्रिरात्रं गा वै प्रपूजयति गोरसपूजनाच्च
Whoever performs this Gopada vow for three nights, worshipping the cows and honoring cow's milk,
हरिकालीव्रतवर्णनम् सर्वधान्यैस्तां विरूढां भूतां हरितशाड्वलाम्
The description of the Harikali vow: With all kinds of grains, that which is grown, living, and covered with green grass—
गन्धैः पुष्पैः फलैर्धूपैर्नैवेद्यैर्मोदकादिभिः
With fragrances, flowers, fruits, incense, offerings, and sweets such as modaka,
घण्टावाद्यादिभिर्गीतैः शुभैर्दिव्यकथानुगैः
With the sounds of bells and musical instruments, with auspicious songs accompanied by divine stories,
सुवासिनीभिः सा नेया मध्ये पुण्यजलाशये
She is to be led by well-adorned women to the center of the sacred water reservoir.
आर्द्रधान्यैः स्थिता कस्मात्पूज्यते स्त्रीजनेन सा
She, standing with moist grains, is worshipped by women for what reason?
आसीद्दक्षस्य दुहिता कालीनाम्नी तु कन्यका
Daksha had a daughter named Kāli, a maiden.
वर्णेनापि च सा कृष्णा नवनीलोत्पलप्रभा
She was dark in complexion, with the radiance of a fresh blue lotus.
विवाहिता विधानेन शंखतूर्यानुनादिना
She was married according to proper rites, with the sound of conches and drums.
निर्वर्तिते विवाहे तु तया सार्धं त्रिलोचनः
When the marriage was completed, the three-eyed one was with her.
अथ देवसमानस्तु कदाचित्स वृषध्वजः 4.20.
Then, once, the bull-bannered god, equal to the gods, was present.
तत्रस्थश्चाह्वयामास नर्मणा त्रिपुरांतकः
There, Tripurāntaka jokingly called out.
एह्येहि त्वमितः कासि कृष्णांजनसमन्विते
Come here, you, who are adorned with black collyrium.
एवमुत्क्षिप्तमनसा देवी संकुद्धमानसा
Thus, with her mind agitated, the goddess became angry.
रुरोद सस्वरं बाला तत्रस्था स्फुरिताधरा
The young girl standing there, lips quivering, cried out aloud.
यस्मान्ममोपमा दत्ता कृष्णवर्णेन शंकर
Because, O Śaṅkara, you compared me to one of dark complexion,
तस्माद्देहमिमं कृष्णं जुहोमि ज्वलितेऽनले
Therefore, I offer this dark body into the blazing fire.
मुमोच हरितच्छायाकांतिं हरितशाद्वले
She released a greenish radiance onto the green grass.
पुनः पर्वतराजस्य गृहे गौरी बभूव सा
Again, in the house of the mountain king, she became Gaurī.
एवं सा हरकालीति गौरीशस्य व्यवस्थिता
Thus, she is established as Hara's Kāli and as Gaurī of the Lord.
हरकर्मसमुत्पन्ने हरकाये हरप्रिये 4.20.
When the rite for Hara is performed, for the body of Hara, beloved of Hara—
इत्थं संपूज्य नैवेद्यं दद्याद्विप्राय पांडव
In this way, after worshipping, one should offer the consecrated food to a Brahmin, O son of Pandu.
अर्चितासि मया भक्त्या गच्छ देवि सुरालयम्
O goddess, you have been worshipped by me with devotion; now go to the abode of the gods.
एवं यः पांडवश्रेष्ठ हरकालीव्रतं चरेत्
In this way, O best of the Pandavas, whoever observes the vow of Hara and Kali—
सा यत्फलमवाप्नोति तच्छृणुष्व नराधिप
The fruit that she obtains, hear that from me, O king of men.
सर्वभोगसमायुक्ता सौ भाग्यबलगर्विता
She is endowed with all enjoyments, blessed with fortune, strength, and pride.
साग्रं वर्षशतं यावद्भोगान्भुक्त्वा महीतले
Having enjoyed pleasures on earth for a full hundred years—
चिरभद्रा महाकालनंदीश्वरविनायकाः
Long-blessed, she is accompanied by Mahakala, Nandi, and Vinayaka.
संपूर्णसूर्यगणसप्तविरूढशस्यां तां वै हिमाद्रितनयां हरकालिकाख्याम्
With the full host of the Sun, with sevenfold abundant crops, she attains that daughter of the Himalaya, known as Harakali.
ललिताव्रतवर्णनम् अथ पृच्छामि भगवन्व्रतं द्वादशमासिकम्
Description of the vow of Lalita. Now, O Lord, I ask about the vow observed for twelve months.