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.
ब्रूयात् सायन्तनीं कृत्वा संध्यामस्तमिते रवौ नमो नारायणायेति त्वामहं शरणं गतः
Having performed the evening twilight worship at sunset, one should say: 'Homage to Nārāyaṇa; I have taken refuge in you.'
एकादश्यां निराहारः समभ्यर्च्य च केशवम् रात्रिं च सकलां स्थित्वा स्नानं च पयसा तथा
On the eleventh day, fasting, having duly worshipped Keśava, and remaining awake the whole night, one should also bathe with milk.
सर्पिषा चापि दहनं हुत्वा ब्राह्मणपुंगवैः सहैव पुण्डरीकाक्ष द्वादश्यां क्षीरभोजनम्
Having offered oblations into the fire with ghee, together with eminent brāhmaṇas, O lotus-eyed one, on the twelfth day one should eat food prepared with milk.
करिष्यामि यतात्माहं निर्विघ्नेनास्तु तच्च मे एवमुक्त्वा स्वपेद्भूमाव् इतिहासकथां पुनः
I will perform this, self-controlled, may it be accomplished without obstacles for me. Having thus spoken, one should sleep on the ground, again listening to stories of ancient times.
श्रुत्वा प्रभाते संजाते नदीं गत्वा विशां पते स्नानं कृत्वा मृदा तद्वत् पाषण्डान् अभिवर्जयेत्
Having heard (the stories), at dawn, O lord of men, one should go to the river, bathe with clay as before, and avoid heretics.
उपास्य संध्यां विधिवत् कृत्वा च पितृतर्पणम् प्रणम्य च हृषीकेशं सप्तलोकैकमीश्वरम्
Having duly worshipped at dawn and performed the offering to the ancestors, and having bowed to Hṛṣīkeśa, the sole lord of the seven worlds,
गृहस्य पुरतो भक्त्या मण्डपं कारयेद्बुधः दशहस्तमथाष्टौ वा करान्कुर्याद्विशां पते
In front of the house, with devotion, the wise one should construct a pavilion, ten cubits or eight cubits in length, O lord of men.
चतुर्हस्तां शुभां कुर्याद् वेदीमरिनिषूदन चतुर्हस्तप्रमाणं च विन्यसेत्तत्र तोरणम्
He should make a beautiful altar four cubits in size, O destroyer of enemies, and set up a gateway there, also measuring four cubits.
आरोप्य कलशं तत्र दिक्पालान्पूजयेत्ततः छिद्रेण जलसम्पूर्णम् अथ कृष्णाजिनस्थितः तस्य धारां च शिरसा धारयेत्सकलां निशाम्
Having placed a water pot there, one should worship the guardians of the directions; then, filling it with water through a hole, and sitting on a black antelope skin, one should let its stream fall on one's head for the whole night.
तथैव विष्णोः शिरसि क्षीरधारां प्रपातयेत् अरत्निमात्रं कुण्डं च कुर्यात्तत्र त्रिमेखलम्
In the same way, one should pour a stream of milk on the head of Viṣṇu, and make a fire-pit there, measuring a span, with three enclosures.