कथाश्रवणयोग्यत्वसिद्धये गाश्च दापयेत् । समस्तविघ्नहर्तारमादौ गणपतिं यजेत्
To attain fitness for hearing the narration, cows should be given as gifts, and at the outset, Ganapati should be worshipped as the remover of all obstacles.
कलशांश्चापि संस्थाप्य पूजयेत्तत्र दिग्भवान् । वटुकं क्षेत्रपालं च योगिनीर्मातृकास्तथा
After installing water pots, one should worship the guardians of the directions there, as well as the boy-deity, the protector of the field, the Yoginis, and the Mothers.
तुलसीं चापि संपूज्य ग्रहान्विष्णुं च शंकरम् । नवाक्षरेण मनुना पूजयेज्जगदम्बिकाम्
Having worshipped the tulasi plant, the planets, Vishnu, and Shankara, one should worship the World-Mother with the nine-syllabled mantra.
सर्वोपचारैः संपूज्य श्रीभागवतपुस्तकम् । श्रीदेव्या वाङ्मयीं मूर्तिं यथावच्छोभनाक्षरम्
Having worshipped the sacred Bhāgavata book with all offerings, one should properly honor the Goddess's embodiment in words, with beautiful and auspicious letters.
कथाविघ्नोपशांत्यर्थं वृणुयात्तं च वाडवान् । जाप्यो नवार्णमंत्रस्तैः पाठ्यः सप्तशतीस्तवः
To remove obstacles to the narration, one should choose a learned Brahmin; the nine-syllabled mantra should be recited, as well as the Saptaśatī hymn.
प्रदक्षिणनमस्कारान्कृत्वांते स्तुतिमाचरेत् । कात्यायनि महामाये भवानि भुवनेश्वरि
After performing circumambulation and salutations, one should finally recite the hymn: 'O Kātyāyanī, Great Power, Bhavānī, Sovereign of the Worlds.'
संसारसागरे मग्नं मामुद्धर कृपामये । ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाराध्ये प्रसीद जगदंबिके
O Compassionate One, lift me up who am sunk in the ocean of worldly existence; O Mother of the Universe, worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, be gracious.
मनोभिलषितं देवि वरं देहि नमोऽस्तु ते । इति संप्रार्थ्य शृणुयात्कथां नियतमानसः
O Goddess, grant the boon my mind desires; I bow to you. Having thus prayed, one should listen to the story with a steady mind.
वक्तारं चापि संपूज्य व्यासबुद्ध्या तदात्मवान् । माल्यालंकारवस्त्राद्यैः संभूष्य' प्रार्थयेच्च तम्
One should also duly honor the narrator, regarding him as Vyasa, adorning him with garlands, ornaments, cloth, and the like, and then request him.
सर्वशास्त्रेतिहासज्ञ व्यासरूप नमोऽस्तु ते । कथाचंद्रोदयेनांतस्तमःस्तोमं निराकुरु ॥ ३५ तदग्रे तु नवाहान्तं कर्त्तव्या नियमास्तदा । विप्रादीनुपवेश्यादौ संपूज्योपविशेत्स्वयम्
O knower of all scriptures and histories, embodiment of Vyasa, I bow to you. Dispel the dense darkness within by the moonrise of the story. Thereafter, for nine days, the prescribed observances should be performed; first, having seated and honored the Brahmins and others, one should sit down oneself.
श्रोतव्यं सावधानेन चतुर्वर्गफलाप्तये । गृहपुत्रकलत्राप्तघनचिन्तामपास्य च
One should listen attentively to obtain the fruits of the four aims of life, having set aside heavy thoughts of home, children, and spouse.
सूर्योदयं समारभ्य किंचित्सूर्येऽवशेषिते । मुहूर्तमात्रं विश्रम्य मध्याह्ने वाचयेत्सुधीः
Beginning at sunrise and continuing until a little remains of the sun, after resting for just a short while, the wise should have the recitation done at midday.
मलमूत्रजयायैषां लघु भोजनमिष्यते । हविष्यान्नं वरं भोज्यं सकृदेव कथार्थिना
For mastery over bodily urges, light food is recommended; the one desiring the story should eat havis food only once.
अथवा स्यात्फलाहारी पयोभुग्वा घृताशनः । यथा स्यान्न कथाविघ्नस्तथा कार्यं विचक्षणैः
Alternatively, one may subsist on fruits, milk, or clarified butter; the wise should act so that there is no hindrance to the story.
कथाश्रवणनिष्ठानां वक्ष्यामि नियमं द्विजाः । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां मध्ये ये भेददर्शिनः
I will now declare the discipline for those devoted to hearing the story, O twice-born; those who perceive divisions among Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara—
देवीभक्तिविहीना ये पाखण्डा हिंसकाः खलाः । विप्रद्रुहो नास्तिका ये न ते योग्याः कथाश्रवे
Those who lack devotion to the Goddess, who are heretics, violent, or wicked, those who are hostile to Brahmins or atheists, are not fit to hear the story.
ब्रह्मस्वहरणे लुब्धाः परदारधनेषु च । देवस्वहरणे तेषां नाधिकारः कथाश्रवे
Those greedy for Brahminical wealth, for others' wives or property, or for divine wealth, have no right to hear the story.
ब्रह्मचारी च भूशायी सत्यवक्ता जितेन्द्रियः । कथासमाप्तौ भुंजीत पत्रावल्यां यतात्मवान्
A celibate, one who sleeps on the ground, speaks the truth, and controls his senses, should eat at the conclusion of the story, with self-restraint, from a leaf plate.
वृंतांकं च कलिन्दं च तैलं च द्विदलं मधु । दग्धमन्नं पर्युषितं भावदुष्टं त्यजेद्व्रती
One observing the vow should avoid eggplant, bottle gourd, oil, split pulses, honey, burnt food, stale food, and food prepared with ill intent.
आमिषं च मसूरान्नमुदक्या दृष्टमेव च । रसोनं मूलकं हिंगुं पलांडुं गृञ्जनं तथा
He should not eat meat, lentils, food seen by a menstruating woman, garlic, radish, asafoetida, onion, or coriander.
कूष्मांडनलिकाशाकं न भुंजीत कथाव्रती । कामं क्रोधं मदं लोभं दंभं मानं च वर्जयेत्
One observing the vow of the story should not eat pumpkin, leafy greens, and the like; he should also renounce desire, anger, pride, greed, hypocrisy, and arrogance.
विप्रध्रुक्पतितव्रात्यश्वपाकयवनांत्यजैः । उदक्यया वेदबाह्यैर्न वदेद्यः कथाव्रती
One observing the vow of the story should not converse with those who are haters of Brahmins, outcastes, dog-eaters, Yavanas, Chandalas, menstruating women, or those outside the Vedas.
वेदगोगुरुविप्राणां स्त्रीराज्ञां महतां तथा । देवानां देवभक्तानां न निंदां शृणुयादपि
He should not even listen to slander of the Vedas, cows, teachers, Brahmins, women, kings, the great, gods, or devotees of the gods.
विनयं चार्जवं शौचं दयां च मितभाषणम् । उदारं मानसं चैव कुर्याद्यस्तु कथाव्रती
One observing the vow of the story should practice humility, straightforwardness, purity, compassion, measured speech, and a noble mind.
वंध्या वा काकवंध्या वा दुर्भगा वा मृतार्भका । दरिद्रश्चानपत्यश्च भक्त्येमां शृणुयात्कथाम्
Whether barren, or having only one child, or unfortunate, or whose child has died, or poor and without offspring—if any of these listens to this story with devotion,
वंध्या वा काकवंध्या वा दुर्भगा वा मृतार्भका । पतद्गर्भांगना या च ताभिः श्राव्या तथा कथा
Whether barren, or having only one child, or unfortunate, or whose child has died, or a woman whose pregnancy has ended prematurely—this story should be heard by them as well.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश्च यो वांछति विना श्रमम् । भगवत्या भागवतं श्रोतव्यं तेन यत्नतः
Whoever desires dharma, wealth, pleasure, or liberation without effort should diligently listen to the Bhāgavata of the Goddess.
कथादिनानि चैतानि नययज्ञैः समानि हि । तेषु दत्तं हुतं जप्तमनन्तफलदं भवेत्
The days spent in hearing this story are equal to days spent in ritual sacrifices; whatever is given, offered, or recited during them yields infinite rewards.
एवं व्रतं नवाहं तु कृत्वोद्यापनमाचरेत् । महाष्टमीव्रतं यद्वत्तथा कार्यं फलेप्सुभिः
Thus, one should observe this vow for nine days and then perform its conclusion, just as is done in the great aṣṭamī vow, by those desiring its fruits.
निष्कामाः श्रवणेनैव पूता मुक्तिं व्रजन्ति हि । भोगमोक्षप्रदा नॄणां यतो भगवती परा
Even those without desire become purified and attain liberation simply by hearing; for the supreme Goddess grants both enjoyment and liberation to people.