सर्ववाञ्छितसिद्धीनां बीजं जन्मनि जन्मनि
In every birth, this is the seed of the attainment of all desired accomplishments.
पुत्रस्ते भविता साध्वीत्युक्त्वा स विरराम ह
"A virtuous son will be born to you," saying this, he became silent.
नारायण उवाच पुनः पप्रच्छ कान्तं सा दिव्यां व्रतकथां शुभाम्
Nārāyaṇa said: Again, she asked her beloved about that divine and auspicious vow-story.
श्रीपार्वत्युवाच अधिकां तत्कथां ब्रूहि व्रतं केन प्रकाशितम्
Śrī Pārvatī said: Tell me more of that story—by whom was this vow revealed?
अथ पुण्यकव्रतकथा शतरूपा मनोः पत्नी पुत्रदुःखेन दुःखिता
Now, the story of the meritorious vow: Śatarūpā, wife of Manu, was distressed by the sorrow of her children.
शतरूपोवाच तन्मे ब्रूहि जगद्धातः सृष्टिकारणकारण
Śatarūpā said: Tell me this, O Sustainer of the Universe, cause and origin of creation.
तज्जन्म निष्फलं ब्रह्मन्नैश्वर्य्यं धनमेव च
O Brahman, birth, lordship, and wealth are all fruitless without a son.
तपोदानोद्भवं पुण्यं जन्मांतरसुखावहम्
The merit that arises from asceticism and charity brings happiness in future births.
पुत्री पुत्रमुखं दृष्ट्वा चाश्वमेधशतोद्भवम्
A daughter, upon seeing the face of a son, obtains the fruit of a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices.
पुत्रोत्पत्तेरुपायं वै वद मां तापसंयुताम्
Tell me the means for obtaining a son, for I am afflicted by ascetic suffering.
अपुत्रिणो मुखं द्रष्टुं विद्वान्नोत्सहते ऽशिवम्
A learned person without a son cannot bear to look upon his own face, which is inauspicious.
अथवा गरलं भुक्त्वा प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्
Otherwise, I will consume poison or enter the fire.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा साक्षाद्ब्रह्मणोऽग्रे रुरोद ह
Having spoken thus, she wept openly before Brahmā.
ब्रह्मोवाच सर्वैश्वर्य्यादिबीजं च सर्ववाञ्छाप्रदं शुभम्
Brahmā said: This vow is the seed of all prosperity and grants every desired wish.
माघशुक्लत्रयोदश्यां व्रतमेतत्सुपुण्यकम्
This most auspicious vow is to be performed on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in Māgha.
संवत्सरं च कर्तव्यं सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम्
It should be observed for a year and destroys all obstacles.
व्रतं च काण्वशाखोक्तं सर्ववाञ्छितसिद्धिदम्
This vow, as taught in the Kāṇva branch, grants the fulfillment of all desires.
ब्रह्मणश्च वचः श्रुत्वा सा कृत्वा व्रतमुत्तमम्
Having heard Brahmā's words, she performed that excellent vow.
व्रतं कृत्वा देवहूतिर्लेभे सिद्धेश्वरं सुतम्
Having performed the vow, Devahūti obtained a son, a lord of spiritual powers.
अरुन्धतीदं कृत्वा तु लेभे शक्तिसुतं शुभा
Arundhatī, having performed this, obtained the auspicious son of Śakti.
अदितिश्च व्रतं कृत्वा लेभे वामनकं सुतम्
Aditi, having observed the vow, obtained Vāmana as her son.
उत्तानपादपत्नीदं कृत्वा लेभे ध्रुवं सुतम्
By performing this vow, the wife of Uttānapāda obtained Dhruva as her son.
सूर्य्यपत्नी मनुं लेभे कृत्वेदं व्रतमुत्तमम्
The wife of the Sun, having performed this excellent vow, obtained Manu.
लेभे चांगिरसः पत्नी कृत्वेदं व्रतमुत्तमम्
And the wife of Aṅgiras, having performed this excellent vow, obtained a son.
भृगोर्भार्य्या व्रतं कृत्वा लेभे दैत्यगुरुं सुतम्
The wife of Bhṛgu, having observed the vow, obtained the preceptor of the Daityas as her son.
इत्येवं कथितं देवि व्रतानां व्रतमुत्तमम्
Thus, O goddess, the supreme vow among vows has been described.
साध्यं राजेन्द्रपत्नीनां देवीनां च सुखावहम्
It is attainable for the wives of kings and goddesses, and brings happiness.
व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेण स्वयं गोपाङ्गनेश्वरः
By the power of this vow, the Lord of the cowherd maidens himself—
इत्युक्त्वा शंकरस्तत्र विरराम च नारद
Having spoken thus, Śaṅkara there became silent, O Nārada.
इति श्रीबह्मवैवर्त्ते महापुराणे तृतीये गणपतिखण्डे नारदनारायणसंवादे पुण्यकव्रतकथनं नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Brahmavaivarta Mahāpurāṇa, in the third section, in the Gaṇapati-khaṇḍa, in the dialogue between Nārada and Nārāyaṇa, the fifth chapter named 'The Description of the Meritorious Vow' [is concluded].