दद्यान्नानाविधं द्रव्यं नैवेद्यं सुमनोहरम्
One should give various kinds of substances as offerings, delightful to the mind.
नवतिं च सहस्राणि हुत्वाऽऽज्येन तिलेन च
Having performed ninety thousand oblations with clarified butter and sesame—
गन्धपुष्पार्चितान्भक्त्या दद्यान्नवतिलड्डुकान्
Having worshipped with fragrance and flowers, one should give ninety sesame balls with devotion.
एवंविधं व्रतं कृत्वा दद्याद्विप्राय दक्षिणाम्
Having performed such a vow, one should give a gift to a Brahmin.
वृषेन्द्राणां सहस्रं च स्वर्णशृङ्गसमन्वितम्
One should give a thousand excellent bulls adorned with golden horns.
विशिष्टसंततिकरं पतिसौभाग्यवर्द्धनम्
This bestows distinguished progeny and increases the good fortune of the husband.
दासतुल्यो भवेत्पुत्रो भर्ता च स्ववचस्करः 4.16.
The son becomes like a servant, and the husband acts according to her word.
भवेद्व्रतप्रभावेण प्राप्तज्ञानहरिस्स्मृतिः
By the power of the vow, one attains knowledge and the removal of forgetfulness.
सर्वेषां च व्रतानां च श्रेष्ठं शृणु वदामि ते
Hear from me now the best of all vows.
तया कृतं प्रथमतः कृत्वाऽगस्त्यं पुरोहितम्
It was first performed by her, having made Agastya the officiating priest.
पुरोहितं पुलस्त्यं च कृत्वा श्रुत्युक्त्या मुने
O sage, Pulastya was appointed as the officiating priest, according to the injunctions of the Vedas.
रतिश्चकार तद्भक्त्या गौतमस्तत्पुरोहितः
Out of devotion, Rati performed the rites, with Gautama as her priest.
महासंभृतसंभारा वसिष्ठस्तत्पुरोहितः
With abundant and splendid offerings, Vasiṣṭha served as the officiating priest.
महासम्भृतसम्भारस्तत्पुरोधा बृहस्पतिः
With great and plentiful arrangements, Bṛhaspati was the chief priest.
अतिसंभृतसंभारो मरीचिस्तत्पुरोहितः पुटाञ्जलियुता देवी भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरा
With exceedingly abundant offerings, Marīci was the priest; the goddess, her hands joined in reverence, bowed her neck in devotion.
पार्वत्युवाच
Pārvatī said:
आवयोरिष्टदेवस्य व्रतानां च परं व्रतम् 4.16.
Of all the vows for our chosen deity, this is the supreme vow.
इष्टं दत्तं श्रुतेः पाठं तीर्थं पृथ्व्याः प्रदक्षिणम्
Offering worship, giving gifts, reciting the Vedas, and circumambulating the earth's sacred places—
बहिरभ्यंतरे यस्य हरिस्मृतिरनुक्षणम्
For one whose remembrance of Hari is constant, both outwardly and inwardly—
तस्य पादाब्जरजसा सद्यः पूता वसुन्धरा
By the dust of his lotus feet, the earth is instantly purified.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च धर्मश्च शेषस्त्वं च गणेश्वरः
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Dharma, Śeṣa, and you, O lord of the Gaṇas—
यश्च यं सन्ततं ध्यायेत्स तमाप्नोति निश्चितम्
Whoever constantly meditates upon any one of these, certainly attains that very one.
कृष्णस्य स्मरणाद्ध्यानात्तपसा तस्य सेवया
By remembering, meditating upon, performing austerities for, and serving Kṛṣṇa—
प्रलब्धं लीलया सर्वं पूर्णं मन्मानसं तदा
All is obtained by his play; then my mind becomes completely fulfilled.
पिता हिमाद्रिः कृष्णांशो मम किं दुर्लभं प्रभो प्रहस्योवाच मधुरं पुलकांकितविग्रहः
My father is Himālaya, and I am a portion of Kṛṣṇa—O Lord, what could be unattainable for me? Smiling sweetly, his body thrilled with delight, he spoke.
सर्वसम्पत्स्वरूपा त्वमनन्तशक्ति रूपिणी 4.16.
You are the embodiment of all prosperity, the form of infinite power.
न लक्ष्मीर्यद्गृहे तस्य जीवनान्मरणं वरम्
In whose house Lakṣmī does not dwell, for him, death is preferable to life.
संहारे सृष्टिकाले च त्वत्प्रसादाद्वयं क्षमाः
At the time of dissolution and creation, by your grace alone, we are able to endure.
त्वद्विहीना अशक्ताश्च त्वया च वयमीश्वराः
Without you, we are powerless, and with you, we are lords, O Lord.
गृहीत्वाऽऽज्ञामीश्वरस्य व्रतं कुरु पतिव्रते
Having received the command of the Lord, undertake the vow, O devoted wife.