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.
' स्वात्मबोधानुमानेन महात्मनि निवेदितम्
Through the inference of self-realization, it was offered to the Supreme Soul.
इत्युक्त्वा पार्वती प्रीत्या पपात स्वामिनः पदे
Having spoken thus, Pārvatī, with affection, fell at her husband's feet.
श्रीमहादेव उवाच फलानि चैव द्रव्याणि व्रतयोग्यानि यानि च
Śrī Mahādeva said: The fruits, the substances, and whatever is suitable for the vow—
विप्राणां शतकं शुद्धं फलपुष्पोपहारकम्
A hundred pure brāhmaṇas, to be offered fruits and flowers,
दासीनां शतकं लक्षं नियुक्तं च पुरोहितम्
A hundred or a lakh of maidservants, and a priest appointed,
प्रवरं हरिभक्तानां सर्वज्ञं ज्ञानिनां वरम्
The best among devotees of Hari, the foremost among the wise, should be chosen.
देवि शुद्धे च काले च परं नियमपूर्वकम्
O goddess, at a pure time, and with utmost observance of rules,
गात्रं सुनिर्मलं कृत्वा शिरस्संस्कारपूर्वकम्
Having made the body thoroughly clean, and after performing the prescribed head purification,
अरुणोदयवेलायां तल्पादुत्थाय सुव्रती
At the time of dawn, rising from bed, the virtuous one—
आचम्य यत्नपूतो हि हरिस्मरणपूर्वकम्
Having sipped water, purified with care, and preceded by remembrance of Hari,