नीलस्कन्धं वृषं गां च दत्त्वा भक्त्या यथाविधि ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान्
He should give a blue-necked bull and a cow with devotion as prescribed, and after feeding Brahmins learned in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas,
यक्षलोकमनुप्राप्य यक्षराजो भवेन्नरः ततश्चाश्वयुजे मासि कृत्वैवं नक्तभोजनम्
A man attains the world of the Yakṣas and becomes king of the Yakṣas; then, in the month of Āśvayuja, having observed night-fasting in this way,
सघृतं शङ्करं पूज्य पौर्णमास्यां च पूर्ववत् ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च शिवभक्तान् सदा शुचीन्
He should worship Śaṅkara with ghee on the full moon as before, and after feeding Brahmins who are always pure and devoted to Śiva,
वृषभं नीलवर्णाभम् उरोदेशसमुन्नतम् गां च दत्त्वा यथान्यायम् ऐशानं लोकमाप्नुयात्
By giving a bull of blue hue, with an elevated chest, and a cow as is proper, he attains the world of Īśāna.
कार्तिके च तथा मासे कृत्वा वै नक्तभोजनम् क्षीरौदनेन साज्येन सम्पूज्य च भवं प्रभुम्
In the month of Kārtika, one should take food only at night, and, having worshipped the Lord with rice cooked in milk and clarified butter,
पौर्णमास्यां च विधिवत् स्नाप्य दत्त्वा चरुं पुनः ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च यथाविभवविस्तरम्
on the full moon, according to proper procedure, one should bathe the deity, offer a cooked oblation again, and feed the Brahmins as generously as one is able.
दत्त्वा गोमिथुनं चैव कापिलं पूर्ववद् द्विजाः सूर्यसायुज्यमाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Having given a pair of Kapila cows as before to the Brahmins, one attains union with the Sun; of this there should be no doubt.
मार्गशीर्षे च मासे ऽपि कृत्वैवं नक्तभोजनम् यवान्नेन यथान्यायम् आज्यक्षीरादिभिः समम्
Likewise, in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, one should take food only at night, using barley as appropriate, together with clarified butter, milk, and the like.
पौर्णमास्यां च पूर्वोक्तं कृत्वा शर्वाय शंभवे ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च दरिद्रान्वेदपारगान्
On the full moon, performing the previously described rites for Śarva and Śambhu, and after feeding Brahmins and poor Veda-knowers,
दत्त्वा गोमिथुनं चैव पाण्डुरं विधिपूर्वकम् सोमलोकमनुप्राप्य सोमेन सह मोदते
and giving a pair of white cows according to rule, one attains the world of Soma and rejoices there together with Soma.
अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यं क्षमा दया त्रिःस्नानं चाग्निहोत्रं च भूशय्या नक्तभोजनम्
Nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, forbearance, compassion, bathing thrice daily, fire offerings, sleeping on the ground, and eating only at night—
पक्षयोरुपवासं च चतुर्दश्यष्टमीषु च
as well as fasting on the two lunar fortnights and on the fourteenth and eighth days—
इत्येतदखिलं प्रोक्तं प्रतिमासं शिवव्रतम्
all this has been stated as the monthly vow of Śiva.
कुर्याद्वर्षं क्रमेणैव व्युत्क्रमेणापि वा द्विजाः स याति शिवसायुज्यं ज्ञानयोगमवाप्नुयात्
A Brahmin who performs this for a year, either in sequence or alternately, attains union with Śiva and obtains knowledge and yoga.
उमामहेश्वरं वक्ष्ये व्रतमीश्वरभाषितम् नरनार्यादिजन्तूनां हिताय मुनिसत्तमाः
I shall now describe the vow of Umā and Maheśvara, as spoken by the Lord, for the welfare of men, women, and all beings, O best of sages.
पौर्णमास्याममावास्यां चतुर्दश्यष्टमीषु च नक्तमब्दं प्रकुर्वीत हविष्यं पूजयेद्भवम्
On the full moon, new moon, and on the fourteenth and eighth days, one should observe nightly fasting for a year and worship Bhava with consecrated food.
उमामहेशप्रतिमां हेम्ना कृत्वा सुशोभनाम् राजतीं वाथ वर्षान्ते प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथाविधि
One should make a beautiful image of Umā and Maheśa from gold, or from silver, and at the end of the year install it according to the prescribed rite.
ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च दत्त्वा शक्त्या च दक्षिणाम् रथाद्यैर्वापि देवेशं नीत्वा रुद्रालयं प्रति
After feeding Brahmins and giving gifts according to one's ability, one should take the Lord to the temple of Rudra, perhaps with a chariot and other honors.
सर्वातिशयसंयुक्तैश् छत्रचामरभूषणैः निवेदयेद्व्रतं चैव शिवाय परमेष्ठिने
With all manner of splendid umbrellas, fans, and ornaments, one should present the vow to Śiva, the Supreme Lord.
स याति शिवसायुज्यं नारी देव्या यदि प्रभो अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नियता ब्रह्मचारिणी
Such a person attains union with Śiva; if a woman, with Devī, O Lord. On the eighth and fourteenth days, she should be disciplined and celibate.
वर्षमेकं न भुञ्जति कन्या वा विधवापि वा वर्षान्ते प्रतिमां कृत्वा पूर्वोक्तविधिना ततः
For one year, a maiden or even a widow does not eat; at the year's end, she should make an image as previously described.
प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथान्यायं दत्त्वा रुद्रालये पुनः ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च भवान्या सह मोदते
Having installed it properly in the temple of Rudra and again feeding Brahmins, she rejoices together with Bhavānī.
या नार्येवं चरेदब्दं कृष्णामेकां चतुर्दशीम् वर्षान्ते प्रतिमां कृत्वा येन केनापि वा द्विजाः
Any woman who observes this practice for a year, keeping the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight alone, and at the year's end makes an image by whatever means, O twice-born ones,
पूर्वोक्तमखिलं कृत्वा भवान्या सह मोदते अमावास्यां निराहारा भवेदब्दं सुयन्त्रिता
Having performed all that was previously described, she rejoices together with Bhavānī; on the new moon, she should remain fasting for a year, well-disciplined.
शूलं च विधिना कृत्वा वर्षान्ते विनिवेदयेत् स्नाप्येशानं यजेद्भक्त्या सहस्रैः कमलैः सितैः
She should make a trident according to the prescribed method and offer it at the year's end; after bathing the Lord, she should worship him with devotion using a thousand white lotuses.
राजतं कमलं चैव जांबूनदसुकर्णिकम् दत्त्वा भवाय विप्रेभ्यः प्रदद्याद् दक्षिणाम् अपि
She should give a silver lotus and a golden earring to Bhavā and to the Brāhmaṇas, and also offer a proper donation.
कामतो ऽपि कृतं पापं भ्रूणहत्यादिकं च यत् तत्सर्वं शूलदानेन भिन्द्यान्नारी न संशयः
Whatever sin has been committed, even intentionally, including the killing of a fetus, all of it is destroyed by the gift of the trident; there is no doubt for a woman.
सायुज्यं चैवमाप्नोति भवान्या द्विजसत्तमाः कुर्याद्यद्वा नरः सो ऽपि रुद्रसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्
In this way, she attains union with Bhavānī, O best of twice-born; if a man performs it, he too attains union with Rudra.
पौर्णमास्याममावास्यां वर्षमेकमतन्द्रिता उपवासरता नारी नरो ऽपि द्विजसत्तमाः
On the full moon and new moon, for one year, without negligence, a woman devoted to fasting, or a man, O best of twice-born,
नियोगादेव तत्कार्यं भर्तॄणां द्विजसत्तमाः जपं दानं तपः सर्वम् अस्वतन्त्रा यतः स्त्रियः
This should be done only by the instruction of husbands, O best of twice-born, for women are not independent in all acts of recitation, giving, and austerity.