नारायण उवाच ख्यातं गौरीव्रतं नाम मार्गे मासि कृतं स्त्रिया
Nārāyaṇa said: The vow known as Gaurī-vrata, performed by a woman in the month of Māgha, is renowned.
पुंसां च धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदं कृष्णभक्तिदम्
For men also, it bestows righteousness, desire, wealth, liberation, and devotion to Kṛṣṇa.
कामदं कामुकानां च फलं कान्तनिमित्तकम्
It grants desires to those who seek them, and its result is for the sake of one's beloved.
प्रातश्च मार्गसंक्रान्त्यां भक्त्या गत्वा सरित्तटम्
In the morning, at the time of the transit of the sun, with devotion, one should go to the riverbank.
देवषट्कं च संपूज्य कृत्वा चावाहनं घटे
Having worshipped the six deities and performed the invocation in a pot,
दुर्गां पंचोपचारैश्च संपूज्य व्रतमारभेत् चन्दनागुरुकस्तूरीकुङ्कुमैश्च सुसंस्कृताम्
One should worship Durgā with the five offerings and begin the vow, adorning her with sandalwood, aguru, musk, and saffron, well prepared.
निर्माय बालुकानां च दुर्गां दशभुजां पराम्
One should fashion from sand the supreme Durgā with ten arms.
तां ध्यात्वाऽऽवाहयेद्देवीं ततो भूत्वा पुटाञ्जलिः
Meditating on her, one should invoke the goddess, then, with joined palms, become attentive.
हे गौरि शंकरार्धाङ्गि यथा त्वं शंकरप्रिया 4.27.
O Gaurī, half of Śaṃkara, just as you are dear to Śaṃkara—
इमं मन्त्रं पठित्वा तु ध्यायेद्देवीं जगत्प्रसूम्
Having recited this mantra, one should meditate on the goddess, the mother of the universe.
शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि मुनीन्द्राणां च दुर्लभम्
Hear, O Nārada, I will tell you what is difficult even for the greatest sages.
शिवां शिवप्रियां शैवां शिववक्षःस्थलस्थिताम्
Śivā, beloved of Śiva, devoted to Śiva, abiding on the chest of Śiva.
नवयौवनसंपन्नां रत्नाभरणभूषिताम् ।। रत्नकङ्कणकेयूररत्ननूपुरभूषिताम्।ा
She was endowed with fresh youth and adorned with jeweled ornaments, decorated with bracelets, armlets, and anklets of gems.
रत्नकुण्डलयुग्मेन गण्डस्थलविराजिताम्
Her cheeks shone with a pair of jeweled earrings.
सिन्दूरतिलकं चारुकस्तूरीबिन्दुना सह
She bore a beautiful vermilion mark on her forehead, along with a spot of fragrant musk.
मणीन्द्रसारसंसक्तरत्नमालासमुज्ज्वलाम्
She was radiant with necklaces of precious gems mingled with the finest jewels.
सुपीनकठिनश्रोणीं बिभ्रतीं च स्तनानताम्
She possessed full, firm hips and uplifted breasts.
ब्रह्मादिभिः स्तूयमानां सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभाम्
She was praised by Brahma and the other gods, her brilliance equal to ten million suns.
मुक्तापङ्क्तिविनिन्द्यैकदन्तराजिविराजिताम् ।। 4.27.
She was adorned with a single-tusked lord of elephants, whose pearl rows put all others to shame.
ध्यात्वैवं मस्तके पुष्पं विन्यस्य च व्रती मुदा
Having meditated thus, the votary joyfully placed a flower upon her head.
दत्त्वा षोडशोपचारान्प्रहृष्टं तत्र नित्यशः
He offered the sixteen forms of worship there each day with delight.
पूर्वोक्तेनैव स्तोत्रेण स्तुत्वा च प्रणमेत्तदा
Then, having praised her with the previously mentioned hymn, he should bow down.
नारद उवाच अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि गौरीव्रतकथां शुभाम्
Nārada said: Now I wish to hear the auspicious story of the Gaurī vow.
व्रतं केन कृतं पूर्वं भूमौ केन प्रकाशितम्
By whom was this vow performed before, and by whom was it revealed on earth?
श्रीनारायण उवाच तया कृतं व्रतमिदं महातीर्थे च पुष्करे
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: This vow was performed by her at the great holy place, Puṣkara.
समाप्तिदिवसे साक्षाद्बभूव जगदम्बिका
On the day of its completion, the Mother of the Universe herself appeared.
शातकुम्भविनिर्माणरथस्था परमेश्वरी
The supreme goddess stood in a chariot made of refined gold.
पार्वत्युवाच तव व्रतेन तुष्टाऽहं तुभ्यं दास्यामि वाञ्छितम्
Pārvatī said: I am pleased by your vow; I will grant you your desired boon.
पार्वतीवचनं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा तां हृष्टमानसाम् 4.27.
Hearing Pārvatī’s words and seeing her, she became filled with joy.
वेदवत्युवाच वरेऽन्यस्मिन्स्पृहा नास्ति दृढां भक्तिं च तत्पदे
Vedavatī said: I have no desire for any other boon; I seek only steadfast devotion at her feet.