यथा घृतं च गव्यानां यथा ब्रह्मा तपस्विनाम्
As ghee is among products of cows, so is Brahmā among ascetics.
पुण्यदानां यथा तोयं शुद्धानां च हुताशनः
As water is among meritorious gifts, so is fire among the pure.
गरुडः पक्षिणां चैव हस्तिनामिन्द्रवाहनम्
Garuḍa is among birds, and Airāvata, Indra’s mount, among elephants.
गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथो जीवो बुद्धिमतां यथा
Citraratha is among the Gandharvas, and life among the intelligent.
स्रोतस्वतां समुद्रश्च यथा पृथ्वी क्षमावताम्
As the ocean is among flowing waters, so is the earth among the patient.
पवित्राणां वैष्णवाश्च वर्णानां प्रणवो यथा
Among the pure, the Vaiṣṇavas; among syllables, praṇava (Om).
विदुषां च यथा वाणी गायत्री छन्दसां यथा
As speech is among the learned, so is Gāyatrī among meters.
यथा पिता ते शैलानां गवां च सुरभिर्यथा
As your father is among mountains, so is Surabhi among cows.
सुखदानां यथा लक्ष्मीर्मनो वै शीघ्रगामिनाम्
As Lakṣmī is among bestowers of happiness, so is the mind among swift-moving things.
शालग्रामश्च मूर्तीनां पर्शूनां विष्णुपञ्जरः
Śālagrāma is among images, and the Viṣṇu-cage among axes.
यथा स्वान्तं चेन्द्रियाणां मन्दाग्निश्च रुजां यथा
As the inner self is among the senses, so is weak digestion among diseases.
महान्विराट् च स्थूलानां सूक्ष्माणां परमाणुकः
The great Virāṭ is among the gross, and the atom among the subtle.
यथा दधीचिर्दातॄणां प्रह्रादश्चैव साधुषु
Just as Dadhichi was foremost among givers, and Prahlada among the virtuous,
नृणां राजा रामचन्द्रो धन्विनां लक्ष्मणो यथा सर्वसारो यथा कृष्णो व्रतानां पुण्यकं यथा
among men, Rama was the greatest king; among archers, Lakshmana; among all that is essential, Krishna; and among vows, that which brings merit.
व्रतं कुरु महाभागे त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम्
O highly fortunate one, undertake the vow that is rare in the three worlds.
व्रताराध्यश्च वै कृष्णः सर्वेषां वाञ्छितप्रदः
Krishna is to be worshipped through vows, and he grants all desired things to everyone.
हरिमन्त्रं गृहीत्वा च हरिसेवां करोति यः
Whoever, having received the mantra of Hari, serves Hari,
उद्धृत्य कोटिपुरुषान्वैकुण्ठं याति निश्चितम्
certainly lifts millions of people and goes to Vaikuntha.
सहोदरान्स्वभृत्यांश्च स्वबन्धून्सहचारिणः
Along with his brothers, servants, relatives, and companions.
' तस्माद्गृहाण गिरिजे हरेर्म्मन्त्रं सुदुर्लभम्
Therefore, O Girija, receive the rare mantra of Hari.
इत्युक्त्वा शंकरो देवो गत्वा गिरिजया सह
Having said this, the god Shankara went together with Girija.
तस्यै ददौ च संप्रीत्या कवचं स्तोत्रसंयुतम्
To her, with great affection, he gave a protective charm along with a hymn.
नारायण उवाच सर्वं व्रतविधानं च संप्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे
Narāyaṇa said: He began to ask about all the procedures for vows.
पार्वत्युवाच हे नाथ करुणासिन्धो दीनबन्धो परात्पर
Pārvatī said: O Lord, ocean of compassion, friend of the distressed, supreme among the supreme,
कानि व्रतोपयुक्तानि द्रव्याणि च फलानि च
What are the substances and fruits associated with vows?
देहि मह्यं विनीतायै नियुक्तं सत्पुरोहितम्
Give me, who am humble, the proper and established priest.
अन्यानि चोपयुक्तानि मयाऽज्ञातानि यानि च
And the other suitable things, which I do not know,
पिता कौमारकाले च सदा पालनकारकः
In childhood, the father is always the protector.
. तातोऽशोकः प्राणतुल्यां दत्त्वा सत्त्वामिने सुताम्
The father, Ashoka, having given his daughter, who was as dear as life, to the best of the good,
सर्वात्मा भगवांस्त्वं च सर्वसाक्षी च सर्ववित्
You, O Lord, are the soul of all, the witness of all, and the knower of all.