शय्यां विलक्षणां कृत्वा विरुद्धग्रन्थिवर्जिताम् सोपधानकविश्रामस्वास्तरव्यजनानि च
One should prepare a special bed, free from knots and defects, complete with a pillow, a resting place, a comfortable seat, and a fan.
भाजनोपानहछत्त्रचामरासनदर्पणैः भूषणैरपि संयुक्तां फलवस्त्रानुलेपनैः
It should be furnished with vessels, footwear, umbrella, chowrie, seat, mirror, ornaments, as well as fruits, cloth, and unguents.
तस्यां विधाय तत्पद्मम् अलंकृत्य गुणान्वितम् कपिलां वस्त्रसंयुक्तां सुशीलां च पयस्विनीम्
Upon that, having placed the lotus and adorned it with virtues, one should place a tawny cow, endowed with cloth, of good character, and yielding milk.
रौप्यखुरीं हेमशृङ्गीं सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम् दद्यान्मन्त्रेण पूर्वाह्णे न चैनामभिलङ्घयेत्
One should give a cow with silver hooves, golden horns, a calf, and a bronze milking vessel, in the forenoon with mantras, and should not step over her.
यथैवादित्यशयनम् अशून्यं तव सर्वदा कान्त्या धृत्या श्रिया रत्या तथा मे सन्तु सिद्धयः
Just as your resting place, O Sun, is never empty, always radiant, steadfast, prosperous, and delightful—so may my accomplishments be.
यथा न देवाः श्रेयांसं त्वदन्यमनघं विदुः तथा माम् उद्धराशेषदुःखसंसारसागरात्
As the gods know no one superior to you, O faultless one, in the same way, lift me up from the endless ocean of worldly sorrow.
ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य प्रणिपत्य विसर्जयेत् शय्यागवादि तत्सर्वं द्विजस्य भवनं नयेत्
Then, having circumambulated and bowed, one should dismiss; all that—bed and the rest—should be taken to the Brāhmaṇa’s house.
नैतद्विशीलाय न दाम्भिकाय कुतर्कदुष्टाय विनिन्दकाय प्रकाशनीयं व्रतमिन्दुमौलेर् यश्चापि निन्दामधिकां विधत्ते
This vow of the moon-crested one should not be revealed to the wicked, the hypocrite, the one corrupted by false logic, or the blasphemer; nor to one who speaks excessive slander.
भक्ताय दान्ताय च गुह्यमेतद् आख्येयम् आनन्दकरं शिवस्य इदं महापातकभिन् नराणाम् अप्यक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति
This secret should be told to a devoted and self-controlled person; it brings joy and is of Śiva. Even a single syllable of this, say the knowers of the Veda, destroys great sins in people.
न बन्धुपुत्रेण धनैर्वियुक्तः पत्नीभिरानन्दकरः सुराणाम् नाभ्येति रोगं न च शोकदुःखं या वाथ नारी कुरुते ऽतिभक्त्या
He who is separated from relatives, sons, wealth, or wives, yet brings joy to the gods, does not encounter disease, nor sorrow or suffering; nor does any woman who performs this with great devotion.
इदं वसिष्ठेन पुरार्जुनेन कृतं कुबेरेण पुरंदरेण यत्कीर्तनेनाप्यखिलानि नाशम् आयान्ति पापानि न संशयो ऽस्ति
This was performed by Vasiṣṭha, by the conqueror of cities, by Kubera, and by Indra; by the mere praise of which, all sins are destroyed—of this there is no doubt.
कृष्णाष्टमीमथो वक्ष्ये सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् शान्तिर्मुक्तिश्च भवति जयः पुंसां विशेषतः
Now I will declare the Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī, which destroys all sins; it brings peace, liberation, and especially victory to men.
शंकरं मार्गशिरसि शम्भुं पौषे ऽभिपूजयेत् माघे महेश्वरं देवं महादेवं च फाल्गुने
One should worship Śaṃkara in Mārgaśīrṣa, Śambhu in Pauṣa, Maheśvara in Māgha, and Mahādeva in Phālguna.
स्थाणुं चैत्रे शिवं तद्वद् वैशाखे त्वर्चयेन्नरः ज्येष्ठे पशुपतिं चार्चेद् आषाढे उग्रमर्चयेत्
One should worship Sthāṇu in Caitra, likewise Śiva in Vaiśākha; in Jyeṣṭha, worship Paśupati, and in Āṣāḍha, worship Ugra.
पूजयेच्छ्रावणे शर्वं नभस्ये त्र्यम्बकं तथा हरमाश्वयुजे मासि तथेशानं च कार्त्तिके
One should worship Śarva in Śrāvaṇa, Tryambaka in Nabhasya, Hara in Āśvayuja, and Īśāna in Kārttika.
कृष्णाष्टमीषु सर्वासु शक्तः सम्पूजयेद्द्विजान् गोभूहिरण्यवासोभिः शिवभक्तानुपोषितः
On all Kṛṣṇāṣṭamīs, one who is able should worship Brāhmaṇas with cows, land, gold, and garments, having fasted as a devotee of Śiva.
गोमूत्रघृतगोक्षीरतिलान् यवकुशोदकम् गोशृङ्गोदशिरीषार्कबिल्वपत्त्रदधीनि च पञ्चगव्यं च संप्राश्य शंकरं पूजयेन्निशि
Having consumed the five products of the cow—urine, ghee, milk, sesame, barley, kusa-water, cow horn, cow dung, sirisha, arka, bilva leaves, and curd—one should worship Shankara at night.
अश्वत्थं च वटं चैवो-दुम्बरं प्लक्षमेव च पलाशं जम्बुवृक्षं च विदुः षष्ठं महर्षयः
The great sages know these six trees: asvattha, vata, udumbara, plaksha, palasha, and jambu.
मार्गशीर्षाषाढमासाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यामितिक्रमात् एकैकं दन्तपवनं वृक्षेष्वेतेषु भक्षयेत्
In the months of Margashirsha and Ashadha, one should, every other month, eat a single dantapavana leaf from each of these trees.
देवाय दद्यादर्घ्यं च कृष्णां गां कृष्णवाससम् दद्यात्समाप्ते दध्यन्नं वितानध्वजचामरम्
One should offer arghya to the deity, a black cow with black garments, and at the conclusion, curd-rice, a canopy, a banner, and a fan.
द्विजानामुदकुम्भांश्च पञ्चरत्नसमन्वितान् गावः कृष्णाः सुवर्णं च वासांसि विविधानि च अशक्तस्तु पुनर्दद्याद् गामेकामपि शक्तितः
To the twice-born, one should give water pots adorned with five jewels, black cows, gold, and various garments; but if unable, one should at least give a single cow according to one's means.
न वित्तशाठ्यं कुर्वीत कुर्वन्दोषमवाप्नुयात् कृष्णाष्टमीमुपोष्यैव सप्तकल्पशतत्रयम् पुमान्सम्पूजितो देवैः शिवलोके महीयते
One should not act with deceit regarding wealth; doing so incurs fault. Having observed Krishna Ashtami and the seven hundred and three kalpas, a man, worshipped by the gods, is honored in Shiva's realm.
दीर्घायुरारोग्यकुलाभिवृद्धियुक्तः पुमान्भूपकुलायुतः स्यात् मुहुर्मुहुर्जन्मनि येन सम्यग् व्रतं समाचक्ष्व तदिन्दुमौले
A man endowed with long life, health, and the growth of his lineage, accompanied by a royal family, is born again and again; tell me in detail, O moon-crested one, the vow by which this is accomplished.
त्वया पृष्टमिदं सम्यग् उक्तं चाक्षय्यकारकम् रहस्यं तव वक्ष्यामि यत्पुराणविदो विदुः
You have rightly asked this, which bestows inexhaustible merit; I shall tell you the secret known to those versed in the Puranas.
रोहिणीचन्द्रशयनं नाम व्रतमिहोत्तमम् तस्मिन्नारायणस्यार्चाम् अर्चयद् इन्दुनामभिः
Here is the excellent vow called Rohini-Chandra-Shayana; in it, one should worship Narayana with names of the moon.
यदा सोमदिने शुक्ला भवेत्पञ्चदशी क्वचित् अथवा ब्रह्मनक्षत्रं पौर्णमास्यां प्रजायते
When, on a Monday, the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight occurs, or when the full moon falls on a Brahman or Kshatra nakshatra, O Brahman,
तदा स्नानं नरः कुर्यात् पञ्चगव्येन सर्षपैः आप्यायस्वेति तु जपेद् विद्वानष्टशतं पुनः
Then, a man should bathe with pancagavya and mustard seeds; the wise should recite 'Apyayasva' eight hundred times again.
शूद्रो ऽपि परया भक्त्या पाषण्डालापवर्जितः सोमाय वरदायाथ विष्णवे च नमो नमः
Even a Shudra, with supreme devotion and avoiding heretical speech, should repeatedly offer salutations to Soma, the bestower of boons, and to Vishnu.
कृतजप्यः स्वभवनम् आगत्य मधुसूदनम् पूजयेत्फलपुष्पैश्च सोमनामानि कीर्तयन्
Having completed his recitation, returning to his own house, he should worship Madhusudana with fruits and flowers, chanting the names of Soma.
सोमाय शान्ताय नमो ऽस्तु पादाव् अनन्तधाम्नेति च जानुजङ्घे ऊरुद्वयं चापि जलोदराय सम्पूजयेन्मेढ्रमनन्तबाहवे
He should bow to Soma, the peaceful one, and worship his feet as the abode of infinity, his knees and shanks, his two thighs as Jalodara, and his loins as Anantabahava.