माघस्यामलपक्षे तु पञ्चम्यां लघुभुङ्नरः विप्रान्संपूज्य विधिवन्मंदारं प्राशयेन्निशि
On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Māgha, a man should eat lightly, and at night, after duly honoring the brāhmaṇas, he should partake of maṃdāra.
ततः प्रभाते चोत्थाय कृतस्नानः पुनर्द्विजान्
Then, rising at dawn and having bathed, he should again honor the brāhmaṇas.
सौवर्णं पुरुषं तद्वत्पद्महस्तं सुशोभनम्
He should worship a golden figure, likewise holding a lotus in its hand, beautiful in form.
पूज्य मंदारकुसुमैर्भास्करायेति पूर्वतः
He should worship Bhāskara in the east with maṃdāra flowers.
दक्षिणे तद्वदर्काय तथार्यम्णे च नैर्ऋते
In the south, in the same way, he should worship Arka, and in the southwest, Aryaman.
पूष्णे ह्युत्तरतः पूज्य आनंदायेत्यतः परम्
In the north, he should worship Pūṣan, and then Ānanda.
शुक्लवस्त्रैः समावेष्ट्य भक्ष्यैर्माल्यफलादिभिः भुंजीतातैललवणं वाग्यतः प्राङ्मुखो गृही
Wrapping himself in white garments, with offerings of food, garlands, fruits, and the like, the householder should eat food without oil or salt, observing silence, facing east.
अनेन विधिना सर्वं सप्तम्यां मासिमासि च
In this manner, on each seventh day of the month, everything should be performed.
एतदेव व्रतांते तु निधाय कलशोपरि 4.40.
At the conclusion of the vow, this is to be placed upon the pot.
नमो मंदारनाथाय मंदारभवनाय च
Salutations to the Lord of Mandara, and to the Dweller in Mandara.
अनेन विधिना यस्तु कुर्यान्मंदारकं व्रतम्
Whoever performs the Mandaraka vow in this manner,
इमामघौघपटलध्वांतसद्वर्तिदीपिकाम्
This lamp, which stands as a light in the darkness of accumulated sin,
मंदारषष्ठीं विख्यातामीप्सितार्थफलप्रदाम्
The renowned Mandara Shashthi, bestower of desired aims and fruits,
षष्ठीमुपोष्य तिलपङ्कजकर्णिकायां संपूज्य भास्करमहो सुरवृक्षपुष्पैः
Having observed the Shashthi fast, worshipping the Sun in the center of a sesame-lotus with flowers of the celestial tree,
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे मंदारषष्ठीव्रतनिरूपणनाम चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana, in the Uttara Parva, in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Yudhishthira, the fortieth chapter named 'Description of the Mandara Shashthi Vow' is concluded.
ललिताषष्ठीव्रतवर्णनम् योषित्सुवेषा सुभगा सर्वलोकमनोहरा
Description of the Lalita Shashthi vow: A woman, beautifully adorned, charming to all the worlds,
प्रातः स्नानं महानद्यां कृत्वा संगृह्य वालुकाम्
In the morning, after bathing in a great river, she should collect sand.
सोपवासा प्रयत्नेन देवीं तत्र प्रपूजयेत्
With fasting and care, she should worship the goddess there.
तत्र संस्थाप्य तां देवीं पुष्पैः संपूजयेन्नवैः
There, having established the goddess, she should worship her with nine kinds of flowers.
मंत्रेणानेन कुसुमैश्चंपकस्य सुशोभनैः नीलोत्पलं केतकीं च संगृह्य तगरं तथा
With this mantra and with beautiful champaka flowers, gathering blue lotuses, ketaki, and also tagara,
एकैकस्य त्वष्टशतमष्टाविंशतिरेव वा
Of each, either eight hundred or twenty-eight should be offered.
गंगाद्वारे कुशावर्ते बिल्वके नीलपर्वते
At the gateway of the Ganga, at Kushavarta, at Bilvaka, or at Nilaparvata,
ललिते ललिते देवि सौख्यसौभाग्यदायिनि एवमभ्यर्च्य विधिना नैवेद्यं पुरतो न्यसेत्
O Lalita, O Lalita, O goddess, bestower of happiness and good fortune, thus worshipping according to the rite, one should place the offering before her.
कूष्मांडैः कर्कटीवृंतैः कर्कोटैः कारवेल्लकैः
With gourds, bitter melons, bottle gourds, and spiny gourds,
सार्द्धं सगुडकैर्धूपैः सोहालककरंबकैः 4.41.
Along with jaggery, incense, and also with ohālaka and karambaka fruits,
एवमभ्यर्च्य विधिवद्रात्रौ जागरणं ततः सखीभिः सहिता साध्वी तां रात्रीं प्रशमन्नयेत्
Thus, having worshipped properly, at night one should keep vigil; together with her friends, the virtuous woman should pass the night in peace.
न च सम्मीलयेन्नेत्रे नारी यामचतुष्टयम्
A woman should not close her eyes during the four night-watches.
एवं जागरणं कृत्वा सप्तम्यां सरितं नयेत्
Having thus remained awake, on the seventh day she should go to the river.
तच्च दद्याद्द्विजेंद्राय नैवद्यादि नरोत्तम देवान्पितॄन्मनुष्यांश्च पूजयित्वा सुवासिनीम्
That offering should be given to a foremost Brahmin, along with food and other items, O best of men, after worshipping the gods, ancestors, humans, and a married woman.
कुमारिका भोजनीया ब्राह्मणा दशपंच च ललिता प्रीतियुक्ताऽस्तु इत्युक्त्वा तान्विसर्जयेत्
A maiden and fifteen Brahmins should be fed; having said, 'Let it be with delight and affection,' she should dismiss them.