कुक्कुटीमर्कटीव्रतवर्णनम् सोर्चितो वसुदेवेन देवक्या च युधिष्ठिर
Description of the vows of the hen and the monkey. O Yudhishthira, these were observed by Vasudeva and Devaki.
उपविष्टः कथाः पुण्याः कथयित्वा मनोहराः
Seated, having recited auspicious and delightful stories—
कंसे हते मृताः पुत्राः पुत्रा जाताः पुन. पुनः
When Kamsa was slain, the sons who had died were born again and again.
यथा चन्द्रमुखी दीप्तिर्बभूव मृतपुत्रिका त्वमेव देवकि तथा भविष्यसि न संशयः
Just as the radiant one with a moon-like face, the girl who had died, became bright, so too, Devaki, you shall become—of this there is no doubt.
चरितं किं व्रतवरं बहुसंततिकारकम्
What is the conduct, what is the supreme vow that brings forth many offspring?
तस्य राज्ञो महादेवी नाम्ना चन्द्रमुखी पुरा
Of that king, the great queen formerly was named Chandramukhi.
पुरोहितस्य तस्यैव पत्न्यासीन्मानमानिका
That very priest's wife was named Mānamānikā.
अथापि तेपि मित्रिण्यौ स्नानार्थं सरयूजले
Then, those two friends also went to the waters of the Sarayū for bathing.
स्नात्वा तु मंडल चक्रुः स्वपतेर्व्यक्तरूपिणः 4.46.
After bathing, they made a circle for their husband, who had a manifest form.
गन्धपुष्पाक्षतैर्भक्त्या पूजयित्वा यथाविधि
With fragrance, flowers, and unbroken rice, they worshipped with devotion according to the proper method.
ता ऊचुः शङ्करोऽस्माभिः पार्वत्या सह पूजितः
They said, 'We have worshipped Śaṅkara together with Pārvatī.'
धारामयमिदं तावद्यावत्प्राणावधारणम्
This is a stream-like observance, lasting as long as life endures.
तस्यैव समयं तत्र बद्ध्वा दोर्भ्यां तु दोरकैः
There, they made a vow at that very time, binding it with their arms and hands.
कालेन महता यातं तस्या वै तद्व्रत नृप
O king, with the passage of much time, that vow of hers was fulfilled.
मृता कैश्चिदहोरात्रैः सा बभूव प्लवङ्गमी
After some days and nights, she died and was born as a monkey.
तथैव जाते मित्रिण्यौ पूर्वजातिस्मरे तथा
In the same way, the two friends were also born, remembering their previous birth.
तद्दिने तत्र संप्राप्ते पुनः काले न ते मृते
When that day arrived again in due course, they did not die.
राज्ञो जाया बभूवाथ पृध्वीनाथस्य वा पुनः
Then, she became the wife of a king, or again of the lord of the earth.
अग्निमीला द्विजस्याभूद्भार्या भूषणनामिका 4.46.
Agnimīlā, a twice-born, had a wife named Bhūṣaṇā.
जातिस्मरा पद्महस्ता अष्टपुत्रा मृतप्रजा
She was one who remembered her past birth, had lotus-like hands, eight sons, but her children died.
तत्रेश्वरी पुत्रमेकं प्रसूता चैव रोगिणम्
There, Iśvarī gave birth to one son, who was sickly.
ततस्तां भूषणां द्रष्टुमथैषा पुत्रदुःखिता अमुक्ताभरणा नित्यं स्वभावेनैव भूषिता
Then, desiring to see Bhūṣaṇā, she, distressed by her son, always adorned by nature, wore her ornaments unremoved.
तां दृष्ट्वा पुत्रिणीं भव्यां प्रजज्वालेश्वरी रुषा
Seeing that blessed woman with a son, Iśvarī blazed with anger.
चिन्तयामास सा रात्र्यां तस्याः पुत्रवधं प्रति
She pondered that night about killing her son.
कदाचिदाहूय सखीं भूषणां पुरतः स्थिताम्
Once, having summoned her friend Bhūṣaṇā, who was standing before her,
येन ते निहताः पुत्राः पुनर्जीवन्ति नो भयम् शोभसेऽभ्यधिकं भद्रे विद्युत्सौदामिनीव हि
By whom your sons, though slain, are revived and there is no fear; you shine even more, O auspicious one, like a flash of lightning indeed.
स्नात्वा शिवमंडलके लेखयित्वा सहांबिकम्
Having bathed, one should draw a circle of Śiva and Ambikā.
भक्त्या संपूज्य समयं कुर्याद्बद्ध्वा करे गुणम्
With devotion, having worshipped, one should make a vow, binding a thread on the hand.
इत्येवं समयं कृत्वा ततःप्रभृति दोरकम् 4.46.
Thus, having made this vow, from that time onward, the 'doraka' (thread) is used.
मंडकं वेष्टिकां दयाच्छ्वश्रूपक्षे द्विजे तु वा
One should give a maṇḍaka (cake) or a veil, out of kindness, to the mother-in-law or to a Brāhmaṇa.