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.
वर्षान्ते सर्वगन्धाढ्यां प्रतिमां संनिवेदयेत् सा भवान्याश् च सायुज्यं सारूप्यं चापि सुव्रता
At the year's end, she should offer an image adorned with all fragrances; such a woman of good vows attains union and resemblance with Bhavānī.
लभते नात्र संदेहः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् कार्तिक्यां वा तु या नारी एकभक्तेन वर्तते
She obtains this without doubt; truly, truly I speak. Or, in the month of Kārtika, a woman who observes with single-minded devotion,
क्षमाहिंसादिनियमैः संयुक्ता ब्रह्मचारिणी दद्यात्कृष्णतिलानां च भारमेकम् अतन्द्रिता
Endowed with vows of forgiveness and nonviolence, practicing celibacy, she should give one measure of black sesame seeds, without negligence.
सघृतं सगुडं चैव ओदनं परमेष्ठिने दत्त्वा च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश् च यथा विभवविस्तरम्
She should offer rice cooked with ghee and sugar to the Supreme Lord, and also to the Brāhmaṇas, according to her means and capacity.
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्याम् उपवासरता च सा भवान्या मोदते सार्धं सारूप्यं प्राप्य सुव्रता
On the eighth and fourteenth days, devoted to fasting, she rejoices with Bhavānī, attaining resemblance, being steadfast in her vows.
क्षमा सत्यं दया दानं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः सर्वव्रतेष्वयं धर्मः सामान्यो रुद्रपूजनम्
Forgiveness, truth, compassion, charity, purity, and control of the senses—this is the general dharma in all vows, and worship of Rudra.
समासाद्वः प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रतिमासमनुक्रमात् मार्गशीर्षकमासादिकार्त्तिकान्तं यथाक्रमम्
Having assembled, I will declare to you, in order, the sequence of images, from the month of Mārgaśīrṣa up to the end of Kārtika, as is proper.
व्रतं सुविपुलं पुण्यं नन्दिना परिभाषितम् मार्गशीर्षकमासे ऽथ वृषं पूर्णाङ्गमुत्तमम्
The great and holy vow described by Nandin is in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa; then, the excellent full-bodied bull should be offered.
अलंकृत्य यथान्यायं शिवाय विनिवेदयेत् सा च सार्धं भवान्या वै मोदते नात्र संशयः
Having adorned it properly, she should offer it to Śiva; she then rejoices together with Bhavānī, there is no doubt in this.
पुष्यमासे तु वै शूलं प्रतिष्ठाप्य निवेदयेत् पूर्वोक्तमखिलं कृत्वा भवान्या सह मोदते
In the month of Puṣya, she should establish and offer a trident; having performed all that was previously described, she rejoices together with Bhavānī.