एतन्महापातकनाशनं स्यात् परं हितं बालविवर्धनं च शृणोति यश्चैनमनन्यचेतास् तस्यापि सिद्धिं मुनयो वदन्ति
This is the destroyer of great sins, of the highest benefit, and increases children; the sages say that even one who listens to this with undistracted mind attains success.
पुरा रथंतरे कल्पे परिपृष्टो महात्मना मन्दरस्थो महादेवः पिनाकी ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्
Long ago, in the Rāthantara kalpa, the great-souled Brahmā himself questioned Mahādeva, the wielder of Pināka, who was on Mandara.
कथमारोग्यमैश्वर्यम् अनन्तममरेश्वर स्वल्पेन तपसा देव भवेन्मोक्षो ऽथवा नृणाम्
O Lord of Immortals, how can health, endless prosperity, or liberation for men be attained, O God, with little austerity?
किमज्ञातं महादेव त्वत्प्रसादादधोक्षज स्वल्पकेनाथ तपसा महत्फलमिहोच्यताम्
O Mahādeva, what is unknown to you? By your grace, O Adhokṣaja, tell here what great result comes from little austerity.
एवं पृष्टः स विश्वात्मा ब्रह्मणा लोकभावनः उमापतिरुवाचेदं मनसः प्रीतिकारकम्
Thus questioned by Brahmā, the soul of the universe, the creator of the worlds, the husband of Umā spoke these words, pleasing to the mind.
अस्माद्रथंतरात्कल्पात् त्रयोविंशात् पुनर्यदा वाराहो भविता कल्पस् तस्य मन्वन्तरे शुभे
From this Rāthantara kalpa, when the twenty-third has passed, the Varāha kalpa will arise; in its auspicious manvantara—
वैवस्वताख्ये संजाते सप्तमे सप्तलोककृत् द्वापराख्यं युगं तद्वद् अष्टाविंशतिमं जगुः
When the seventh, called Vaivasvata, is born, the maker of the seven worlds, they say, the Dvāpara yuga will be the twenty-eighth.
तस्यान्ते स महादेवो वासुदेवो जनार्दनः भारावतरणार्थाय त्रिधा विष्णुर्भविष्यति
At its end, that great god Vāsudeva, Janārdana, for the purpose of relieving the earth's burden, Viṣṇu will become threefold.
द्वैपायन ऋषिस्तद्वद् रौहिणेयो ऽथ केशवः कंसादिदर्पमथनः केशवः क्लेशनाशनः
Then, the sage Dvaipāyana, Rāma son of Rohiṇī, and Keśava—Keśava, destroyer of the pride of Kaṃsa and others, remover of suffering.
पुरीं द्वारवतीं नाम साम्प्रतं या कुशस्थली दिव्यानुभावसंयुक्ताम् अधिवासाय शार्ङ्गिणः त्वष्टा ममाज्ञया तद्वत् करिष्यति जगत्पतेः
The city called Dvāravatī, now known as Kuśasthalī, endowed with divine qualities, will be the abode of the wielder of Śārṅga; Tvaṣṭā, by my command, will likewise make it for the Lord of the world.
तस्यां कदाचिदासीनः सभायाममितद्युतिः भार्याभिर्वृष्णिभिश्चैव भूभृद्भिर् भूरिदक्षिणैः
Once, he of immeasurable splendor was seated in that assembly, together with his wives, the Vṛṣṇis, and generous kings.
कुरुभिर्देवगन्धर्वैर् अभितः कैटभार्दनः प्रवृत्तासु पुराणीषु धर्मसम्बन्धिनीषु च
Surrounded by the Kurus, gods, and Gandharvas, the slayer of Kaiṭabha listened as ancient stories and those connected with dharma were recited.
कथान्ते भीमसेनेन परिपृष्टः प्रतापवान् त्वया पृष्टस्य धर्मस्य रहस्यस्यास्य भेदकृत्
At the end of the discourse, the mighty Bhīmasena questioned him about the secret aspect of dharma, which you have now asked about, and which reveals its true nature.
भविता स तदा ब्रह्मन् कर्ता चैव वृकोदरः प्रवर्तको ऽस्य धर्मस्य पाण्डुपुत्रो महाबलः
Then, O Brāhmaṇa, he will be the one to accomplish it, and Vṛkodara, the son of Pāṇḍu, great in strength, will be the initiator and performer of this dharma.
यस्य तीक्ष्णो वृको नाम जठरे हव्यवाहनः मया दत्तः स धर्मात्मा तेन चासौ वृकोदरः
To him, I gave the fierce wolf named Vṛka, the fire-god in his belly; thus, he is called Vṛkodara, righteous in soul.
मतिमान्मानशीलश्च नागायुतबलो महान् भविष्यत्यजरः श्रीमान् कन्दर्प इव रूपवान्
He will be wise, dignified, and possess the strength of a host of serpents; he will be great, ageless, glorious, and handsome like Kandarpa.
धार्मिकस्याप्यशक्तस्य तीव्राग्नित्वादुपोषणे इदं व्रतमशेषाणां व्रतानामधिकं यतः
Even for the righteous who lack power, due to the intensity of its austerity, this vow surpasses all other vows.
कथयिष्यति विश्वात्मा वासुदेवो जगद्गुरुः अशेषयज्ञफलदम् अशेषाघविनाशनम्
Vāsudeva, the soul of the universe and teacher of the world, will explain this, which bestows the fruit of all sacrifices and destroys all sins.
अशेषदुष्टशमनम् अशेषसुरपूजितम् पवित्राणां पवित्रं च मङ्गलानां च मङ्गलम् भविष्यं च भविष्याणां पुराणानां पुरातनम्
It removes all wickedness, is worshipped by all the gods, is the purest of the pure, the most auspicious of the auspicious, and is the ancient among all ancient things to come.
यद्यष्टमीचतुर्दश्योर् द्वादशीष्वथ भारत अन्येष्वपि दिनर्क्षेषु न शक्तस्त्वम् उपोषितुम्
O Bhārata, if you are unable to fast on the eighth, fourteenth, or twelfth lunar days, or on other auspicious days,
ततः पुण्यां तिथिमिमां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् उपोष्य विधिनानेन गच्छ विष्णोः परं पदम्
Then, by observing this sacred day, which destroys all sins, according to the prescribed method, you will attain Viṣṇu’s supreme abode.
माघमासस्य दशमी यदा शुक्ला भवेत्तदा घृतेनाभ्यञ्जनं कृत्वा तिलैः स्नानं समाचरेत्
When the tenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Māgha arrives, one should anoint oneself with ghee and bathe with sesame seeds.
तथैव विष्णुमभ्यर्च्य नभो नारायणेति च कृष्णाय पादौ सम्पूज्य शिरः सर्वात्मने नमः
In the same way, worship Viṣṇu, uttering 'Nārāyaṇa' in the sky; worship Kṛṣṇa’s feet, bow the head to the soul of all.
वैकुण्ठायेति वैकुण्ठम् उरः श्रीवत्सधारिणे शङ्खिने चक्रिणे तद्वद् गदिने वरदाय वै सर्वे नारायणस्यैवं संपूज्या बाहवः क्रमात्
Saying 'Vaikuṇṭha,' worship the chest of Vaikuṇṭha, the bearer of the Śrīvatsa mark; likewise, worship the conch, discus, mace, and the boon-giver, and in this way, worship each of Nārāyaṇa’s arms in order.
दामोदरायेत्युदरं मेढ्रं पञ्चशराय वै ऊरू सौभाग्यनाथाय जानुनी भूतधारिणे
Saying 'Dāmodara,' worship the belly; the loins as belonging to the five-arrowed one; the thighs as belonging to the lord of fortune; the knees as the supporter of beings.
नमो नीलाय वै जङ्घे पादौ विश्वसृजे नमः नमो देव्यै नमः शान्त्यै नमो लक्ष्म्यै नमः श्रियै
Homage to the dark one, to the shanks; to the feet, creator of the universe; homage to the goddess, to peace, to Lakṣmī, to prosperity.
नमः पुष्ट्यै नमस्तुष्ट्यै धृष्ट्यै हृष्ट्यै नमो नमः नमो विहंगनाथाय वायुवेगाय पक्षिणे विषप्रमाथिने नित्यं गरुडं चाभिपूजयेत्
Homage to nourishment, to contentment, to boldness, to delight, again and again; homage to the lord of birds, swift as the wind, the king of birds, destroyer of poison—one should always worship Garuḍa.
एवं सम्पूज्य गोविन्दम् उमापतिविनायकौ गन्धैर्माल्यैस्तथा धूपैर् भक्ष्यैर्नानाविधैरपि
Thus, having worshipped Govinda, Umāpati, and Vināyaka with scents, garlands, incense, and various kinds of offerings,
गव्येन पयसा सिद्धां कृसरामथ वाग्यतः सर्पिषा सह भुक्त्वा च गत्वा शतपदं बुधः
After eating kṛsara prepared with cow's milk, or otherwise, with clarified butter, the wise one should walk a hundred steps.
नैयग्रोधं दन्तकाष्ठम् अथवा खादिरं बुधः गृहीत्वा धावयेद्दन्तान् आचान्तः प्रागुदङ्मुखः
The wise one, having taken a stick of nyagrodha, dantakāṣṭha, or khadira, should clean his teeth, having rinsed his mouth, facing east or north.