संध्यायां च ततो मौनं तद्व्रत तु समाचरेत्
At twilight, he should observe silence and perform that vow.
समाप्ते तु व्रते दद्याद्भोजनं शुक्लतंडुलैः
When the vow is completed, he should give food made with white rice.
देव्यै वितानं घंटां च सितनेत्रं पटान्वितम्
He should offer to the Goddess a canopy, a bell, and a white-eyed cloth.
तथोपदेष्टारमपि भक्त्या संपूजयेद्गुरुम्
He should also worship the teacher who instructed him, with devotion.
अनेन विधिना यस्तु कुर्यात्सारस्वतं व्रतम्
Whoever observes the Sarasvata vow in this manner,
सरस्वत्याः प्रसादेन व्यासवत्तु कविर्भवेत् ब्रह्मलोके वसेत्तावद्यावत्कल्पायुतत्रयम्
by the grace of Sarasvatī, becomes a poet like Vyāsa and dwells in Brahmā's world for three thousand aeons.
सारस्वतं व्रतं यस्तु शृणुयादपि यः पठेत्
Whoever listens to or recites the vow of Sarasvati—
संवत्सरं व्रतवरेण सरस्वतीं ये संपूजयंति जगतो जननीं जनित्रीम् 4.35.
Those who, for a year, worship Sarasvati, the mother and origin of the world, with the supreme vow—
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे सारस्वतव्रतनिरूपणं नाम पंचत्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-fifth chapter named 'The Description of the Sarasvati Vow' in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Yudhishthira, in the Uttara Parva of the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana.
नागपञ्चमीव्रतवर्णनम् पञ्चम्यां किल नागानां भवतीत्युत्सवो महान्
Description of the Nagapanchami Vow: On the fifth day, there is indeed a great festival for the serpents.
वासुकिस्तक्षकश्चैव कालिको माणिभद्रकः एते प्रयच्छंत्यभयं प्राणिनां प्राणजीविनाम्
Vasuki, Takshaka, Kalika, and Manibhadra—these bestow fearlessness upon living beings who possess life.
पञ्चम्यां स्नपयंतीह नागान्क्षी रेण ये नराः
On the fifth day, those people who bathe the serpents here with milk—
शप्ता नागा यदा मात्रा दह्यमाना दिवानिशम्
When the serpents, cursed by their mother, were burning day and night—
कथं वा तस्य शापस्य विनाशोऽ भूज्जनार्दन
How did the destruction of that curse come about, O Janardana?
तं दृष्ट्वा चाब्रवीत्कद्रूर्नागानां जननी स्वसाम्
Seeing that, Kadru, the mother of the serpents, spoke to her sister—
अश्वरत्नमिदं श्वेतं पश्यपश्यामृतोद्भवम्
‘Behold this white, jewel-like horse, born from nectar; look, look!’
कथं त्वं वीक्षसे कृष्णं विनतोवाच तां स्वसाम्
Vinatā said to her sister, ‘How do you see it as black?’
वीक्षेऽहमेकनयना कृष्णबाल समन्वितम्
‘I see it with one eye, endowed with a black tail.’
न चेद्दर्शयसे कद्रु मम दासी भविष्यसि ।। 4.36.
‘If you do not show it thus, Kadru, you shall become my slave.’
एवं ते विपणं कृत्वा गते क्रोधसमन्विते
Having made such a wager, they departed, filled with anger.
आहूय पुत्रान् प्रोवाच बाला भूत्वा हयोत्तमे
Summoning her sons, she said, ‘Become children and go to the best horse.’
प्रोचुस्ते जिह्मबुद्धिं तां नागाः कद्रूं विगृह्य च अशपद्रुषिता कद्रूः पावको वः प्रधक्ष्यति
The serpents, having wicked intent, obeyed Kadru and, being enraged, Kadru cursed them: ‘Agni will burn you.’
गते बहुतिथे काले पांडवो जनमेजयः
After much time had passed, Pandava Janamejaya—
तस्मिन्सत्रे च तिग्मांशुः पावको भक्षयिष्यति
In that sacrifice, the blazing fire will consume you.
मात्रा शप्तस्तदा नागः कर्तव्यं नान्वपद्यत
Then, when cursed by his mother, the serpent did not act as he ought.
वासुकिं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच सांत्वयन्
Seeing Vāsuki distressed, Brahmā spoke to him, offering comfort.
यायावरकुले जातो जरत्कारुरिति द्विजः
A brāhmaṇa named Jaratkāru will be born in the family of wanderers.
भगिनीं च जरत्कारुं तस्य त्वं प्रतिदास्यसि
And you shall give your sister Jaratkāru to him.
स तत्सत्रं प्रवृद्धं वै नागानां भयदं महत् 4.36.
That great sacrificial session, terrifying to the serpents, had grown intense.
तदियं भगिनी नाग रूपौदार्यगुणान्विता
His sister among the serpents was endowed with beauty, generosity, and noble qualities.