तत एकोनपञ्चाशन् मरुतः कश्यपाद्दितिः जनयामास धर्मज्ञान् सर्वानमरवल्लभान्
Then Diti, knowing righteousness, gave birth to forty-nine Maruts from Kaśyapa, all beloved of the immortals.
दितेः पुत्राः कथं जाता मरुतो देववल्लभाः देवैर्जग्मुश्च सापत्नैः कस्मात्ते सख्यमुत्तमम्
How were the sons of Diti, the Maruts, beloved of the gods, born? And how did they, though rivals of the gods, come to form the highest friendship with them?
पुरा देवासुरे युद्धे हृतेषु हरिणा सुरैः पुत्रपौत्रेषु शोकार्ता गत्वा भूलोकमुत्तमम्
Long ago, in the battle between the gods and the demons, when Hari had taken away the gods along with their sons and grandsons, they were afflicted by grief and went to the highest earthly realm.
स्यमन्तपञ्चके क्षेत्रे सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभे भर्तुर् आराधनपरा तप उग्रं चचार ह
In the sacred field of Syamantapanchaka, on the auspicious bank of the Sarasvati, devoted to worship of her husband, she undertook severe austerities.
तदा दितिर् दैत्यमाता ऋषिरूपेण सुव्रता फलाहारा तपस् तेपे कृच्छ्रं चान्द्रायणादिकम्
Then Diti, mother of the demons, steadfast in vows and in the form of a sage, sustained herself on fruits and performed rigorous penances such as Chandrayana.
यावद्वर्षशतं साग्रं जराशोकसमाकुला ततः सा तपसा तप्ता वसिष्ठादीनपृच्छत
For more than a hundred years, troubled by old age and sorrow, she endured; then, scorched by austerity, she questioned Vasiṣṭha and others.
कथयन्तु भवन्तो मे पुत्रशोकविनाशनम् व्रतं सौभाग्यफलदम् इहलोके परत्र च
Tell me, O revered ones, a vow that destroys grief for sons and brings the fruit of good fortune in this world and the next.
ऊचुर् वसिष्ठप्रमुखा मदनद्वादशीव्रतम् यस्याः प्रभावादभवत् सुतशोकविवर्जिता
Vasiṣṭha and the others replied: 'The Madana-Dvādaśī vow, by whose power one becomes free from sorrow for sons.'
श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सूत मदनद्वादशीव्रतम् सुतानेकोनपञ्चाशद् येन लेभे दितिः पुनः
We wish to hear, O Sūta, about the Madana-Dvādaśī vow, by which Diti regained forty-nine sons.
यद्वसिष्ठादिभिः पूर्वं दितेः कथितमुत्तमम् विस्तरेण तदेवेदं मत्सकाशान्निबोधत
What was formerly told by Vasiṣṭha and others to Diti, the excellent vow, hear that in detail from me now.
चैत्रे मासि सिते पक्षे द्वादश्यां नियतव्रतः स्थापयेदव्रणं कुम्भं सिततण्डुलपूरितम्
In the month of Caitra, on the bright fortnight, on the twelfth day, one who observes the vow should place a spotless pot filled with white rice.
नानाफलयुतं तद्वद् इक्षुदण्डसमन्वितम् सितवस्त्रयुगच्छन्नं सितचन्दनचर्चितम्
That pot should be adorned with various fruits, a sugarcane stalk, covered with a pair of white cloths, and smeared with white sandalwood.
नानाभक्ष्यसमोपेतं सहिरण्यं तु शक्तितः ताम्रपात्रं गुडोपेतं तस्योपरि निवेशयेत्
It should be accompanied by various foods and, according to one's ability, gold; a copper vessel filled with jaggery should be placed on top.
तस्मादुपरि कामं तु कदलीदलसंस्थितम् कुर्याच्छर्करयोपेतां रतिं तस्य च वामतः
Above that, one should place a banana leaf, and to its left, an image of Rati made of sugar, as desired.
गन्धं धूपं ततो दद्याद् गीतं वाद्यं च कारयेत् तदभावे कथां कुर्यात् कामकेशवयोर्नरः
Then one should offer fragrance and incense, arrange music and singing; if these are lacking, one should recite stories of Kama and Keshava.
कामनाम्ना हरेरर्चां स्नापयेद्गन्धवारिणा शुक्लपुष्पाक्षततिलैर् अर्चयेन्मधुसूदनम्
Worship Hari by the name of Kama, bathe him with scented water, and offer white flowers, rice grains, and sesame seeds to Madhusudana.
कामाय पादौ सम्पूज्य जङ्घे सौभाग्यदाय च ऊरू स्मरायेति पुनर् मन्मथायेति वै कटिम्
For Kama, worship the feet; for the giver of good fortune, the thighs; for Smara, again for Manmatha, the hips.
स्वच्छोदरायेत्युदरम् अनङ्गायेत्युरो हरेः मुखं पद्ममुखायेति बाहू पञ्चशराय वै
For the one with a pure belly, the abdomen; for Ananga, the chest of Hari; for the lotus-faced, the face; for the five-arrowed, the arms.
नमः सर्वात्मने मौलिम् अर्चयेदिति केशवम् ततः प्रभाते तं कुम्भं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्
Salutations to the all-pervading one; worship the head as Keshava. Then, in the morning, offer that pot to a Brahmin.
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या स्वयं च लवणादृते भुक्त्या तु दक्षिणां दद्याद् इमं मन्त्रमुदीरयेत्
One should feed Brahmins with devotion, and oneself eat without salt; then give the prescribed donation, reciting this mantra.
प्रीयताम् अत्र भगवान् कामरूपी जनार्दनः हृदये सर्वभूतानां य आनन्दो ऽभिधीयते
May the blessed Lord Janardana, who assumes any form at will, be pleased here, he who is called the joy within the hearts of all beings.
अनेन विधिना सर्वं मासि मासि व्रतं चरेत् उपवासी त्रयोदश्याम् अर्चयेद्विष्णुमव्ययम्
By this method, one should observe the vow every month; on the thirteenth day, fasting, one should worship the imperishable Vishnu.
फलमेकं च संप्राश्य द्वादश्यां भूतले स्वपेत् ततस्त्रयोदशे मासि धृतधेनुसमन्विताम्
On the twelfth day, after eating a single fruit, one should sleep upon the ground; then, on the thirteenth day of the month, accompanied by a cow.
शय्यां दद्यादनङ्गाय सर्वोपस्करसंयुताम् काञ्चनं कामदेवं च शुक्लां गां च पयस्विनीम्
One should give a bed to the bodiless one, furnished with all accessories, along with a golden image of Kamadeva and a white milking cow.
वासोभिर् द्विजदाम्पत्यं पूज्यं शक्त्या विभूषणैः शय्यागन्धादिकं दद्यात् प्रीयताम् इत्युदीरयेत्
With garments and ornaments, one should honor a Brahmin couple according to one's ability; one should give the bed, fragrance, and other items, saying, 'May he be pleased.'
होमः शुक्लतिलैः कार्यः कामनामानि कीर्तयेत् गव्येन हविषा तद्वत् पायसेन च धर्मवित्
The fire offering should be performed with white sesame seeds, reciting names of desire; likewise, with ghee from cow's milk and rice pudding, as prescribed by the knower of dharma.
विप्रेभ्यो भोजनं दद्याद् वित्तशाठ्यं विवर्जयेत् इक्षुदण्डानथो दद्यात् पुष्पमालाश् च शक्तितः
One should give food to Brahmins, avoiding miserliness; also, according to ability, give sugarcane sticks and garlands of flowers.
यः कुर्याद् विधिनानेन मदनद्वादशीमिमाम् स सर्वपापनिर्मुक्तः प्राप्नोति हरिसाम्यताम्
Whoever performs this Madana-Dvādaśī vow according to the prescribed method becomes free from all sins and attains equality with Hari.
इहलोके वरान् पुत्रान् सौभाग्यफलम् अश्नुते यः स्मरः संस्मृतो विष्णुर् आनन्दात्मा महेश्वरः
In this world, he enjoys excellent sons and the fruit of good fortune; Smara, when remembered, is Vishnu, the essence of joy, the great Lord.
सुखार्थी कामरूपेण स्मरेदङ्गजमीश्वरम् एतच्छ्रुत्वा चकारासौ दितिः सर्वमशेषतः
One seeking happiness should remember the Lord of Angaja in the form of desire; hearing this, Diti performed all these acts completely.