मोहाद्वापि मदाद्वापि यः परस्त्रीं समाश्रयेत् तस्यापि निष्कृतिं देव वद सर्वकृपाकर
Whether out of delusion or pride, whoever approaches another’s wife—O Lord, source of all compassion—tell me the expiation for him.
भगवन्पुरुषस्येह स्त्रियाश्च विरहादिकम् शोकव्याधिभयं दुःखं न भवेद्येन तद्वद
O Lord, tell me what should be done so that, for a man or a woman here, there is no grief, disease, fear, or suffering from separation.
श्रावणस्य द्वितीयायां कृष्णायां मधुसूदनः क्षीरार्णवे सपत्नीकः सदा वसति केशवः
On the dark fortnight’s second day of Śrāvaṇa, O Madhusūdana, Keśava always resides in the ocean of milk with his consort.
तस्यां सम्पूज्य गोविन्दं सर्वान्कामान्समश्नुते गोभूहिरण्यदानादि सप्तकल्पशतानुगम्
By worshipping Govinda on that day, one attains all desires, along with the merit of giving cows, land, and gold for seven hundred aeons.
अशून्यशयनं नाम द्वितीया संप्रकीर्तिता तस्यां सम्पूजयेद्विष्णुम् एभिर्मन्त्रैर्विधानतः
This second day is called Aśūnyaśayana; on that day, Viṣṇu should be worshipped properly with these mantras.
श्रीवत्सधारिञ्छ्रीकान्त श्रीधामञ्छ्रीपते ऽव्यय गार्हस्थ्यं मा प्रणाशं मे यातु धर्मार्थकामदम्
O bearer of Śrīvatsa, beloved of Lakṣmī, holder of fortune, imperishable Lord, do not let my household life perish; may it grant me righteousness, wealth, and desire.
अग्नयो मा प्रणश्यन्तु देवताः पुरुषोत्तम पितरो मा प्रणश्यन्तु मास्तु दाम्पत्यभेदनम्
O Supreme Person, may the fires not be extinguished, may the deities not perish, may the ancestors not be lost, and may there be no discord between husband and wife.
लक्ष्म्या वियुज्यते देव न कदाचिद्यथा भवान् तथा कलत्रसम्बन्धो देव मा मे वियुज्यताम्
Just as you, O Lord, are never separated from Lakshmi, so too, O God, may the bond with my wife never be severed.
लक्ष्म्या न शून्यो वरद शय्यां त्वं शयनं गतः शय्या ममाप्यशून्यास्तु तथैव मधुसूदन
O Giver of boons, when you go to your bed, it is never devoid of Lakshmi; in the same way, O Madhusudana, may my bed also never be empty.
गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं देवदेवस्य कीर्तयेत् घण्टा भवेदशक्तस्य सर्ववाद्यमयी यतः
One should praise the Lord of gods with the sound of singing and instruments; for one who is unable, a bell serves as all instruments.
एवं सम्पूज्य गोविन्दम् अश्नीयात्तैलवर्जितम् नक्तमक्षारलवणं यावत्तत्स्याच्चतुष्टयम्
Thus, having worshipped Govinda, one should eat food free from oil, at night, without grains or salt, as long as those four things remain.
ततः प्रभाते संजाते लक्ष्मीपतिसमन्विताम् दीपान्नभाजनैर्युक्तां शय्यां दद्याद्विलक्षणाम्
Then, when morning comes, one should offer a special bed adorned with lamps and vessels of food, accompanied by the Lord of Lakshmi.
पादुकोपानहच्छत्त्रचामरासनसंयुताम् अभीष्टोपस्करैर्युक्तां शुक्लपुष्पाम्बरावृताम्
It should be furnished with footstool, sandals, umbrella, fan, and seat, equipped with desired items, and covered with white flowers and cloth.
सोपधानकविश्रामां फलैर्नानाविधैर्युताम् तथाभरणधान्यैश्च यथाशक्त्या समन्विताम्
With a pillow for resting, adorned with various kinds of fruits, and also with ornaments and grains, according to one's ability.
अव्यङ्गाङ्गाय विप्राय वैष्णवाय कुटुम्बिने दातव्या वेदविदुषे भावेनापतिताय च
It should be given to a Brahmin who is free from defects, a devotee of Vishnu, a householder, learned in the Vedas, and of good character.
तत्रोपविश्य दाम्पत्यम् अलंकृत्य विधानतः पत्न्यास्तु भाजनं दद्याद् भक्ष्यभोज्यसमन्वितम्
There, having seated him, and having properly adorned the couple, one should give the wife a vessel filled with food and delicacies.
ब्राह्मणस्यापि सौवर्णीम् उपस्करसमन्विताम् प्रतिमां देवदेवस्य सोदकुम्भां निवेदयेत्
To the Brahmin, one should offer a golden image of the Lord of gods, furnished with necessary items and accompanied by a water pot.
एवं यस्तु पुमान्कुर्याद् अशून्यशयनं हरेः वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो नारायणपरायणः
In this way, whoever performs the Aśūnyaśayana rite for Hari, free from miserliness and devoted to Nārāyaṇa,
न तस्य पत्न्या विरहः कदाचिदपि जायते नारी वा विधवा ब्रह्मन् यावच्चन्द्रार्कतारकम् न विरूपौ न शोकार्तौ दम्पती भवतः क्वचित्
He will never be separated from his wife, O Brahman, nor will any woman become a widow as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure; the couple will never be deformed or afflicted by sorrow.
न पुत्रपशुरत्नानि क्षयं यान्ति पितामह सप्त कल्पसहस्राणि सप्त कल्पशतानि च कुर्वन्नशून्यशयनं विष्णुलोके महीयते
His sons, cattle, and jewels will not perish, O ancestor; for seven thousand kalpas and seven hundred kalpas, one who performs the Aśūnyaśayana rite is honored in the world of Vishnu.
शृणु चान्यद्भविष्यं यद् रूपसम्पद्विधायकम् भविष्यति युगे तस्मिन् द्वापरान्ते पितामह पिप्पलादस्य संवादो युधिष्ठिरपुरःसरैः
Now hear another future event that bestows beauty and prosperity: at the end of the Dvāpara age, there will be a conversation between Pippalāda and the leaders with Yudhishthira at their head.
वसन्तं नैमिषारण्ये पिप्पलादं महामुनिम् अभिगम्य तदा चैनं प्रश्नमेकं करिष्यति युधिष्ठिरो धर्मपुत्रो धर्मयुक्तस्तपोधनम्
While residing in the Naimisha forest, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, endowed with righteousness, will approach the great sage Pippalāda and ask him a question.
कथमारोग्यमैश्वर्यं मतिर्धर्मे गतिस्तथा अव्यङ्गता शिवे भक्तिर् वैष्णवो वा भवेत्कथम्
How does one attain health, prosperity, a mind fixed in righteousness, progress, freedom from defects, devotion to Shiva, or devotion to Vishnu?
तस्योत्तरमिदं ब्रह्मन् पिप्पलादस्य धीमतः शृणुष्व यद्वक्ष्यति वै धर्मपुत्राय धार्मिकः
Hear now, O Brahman, the answer of the wise Pippalāda, which he will speak to the righteous son of Dharma.
साधु पृष्टं त्वया भद्र इदानीं कथयामि ते अङ्गारव्रतम् इत्येतत् स वक्ष्यति महीपतेः
Well asked by you, O fortunate one; now I shall tell you. This is called the Aṅgāra vow, and he will speak of it, O king.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीमम् इतिहासं पुरातनम् विरोचनस्य संवादं भार्गवस्य च धीमतः
Here too, they recite this ancient tale: the conversation between Virocana and the wise Bhārgava.
प्रह्लादस्य सुतं दृष्ट्वा द्विरष्टपरिवत्सरम् रूपेणाप्रतिमं कान्त्या सो ऽहसद्भृगुनन्दनः
Seeing Prahlāda’s son, after sixteen years, unmatched in form and radiance, the descendant of Bhṛgu laughed.
साधु साधु महाबाहो विरोचन शिवं तव तत्तथा हसितं तस्य पप्रच्छ सुरसूदनः
"Excellent, excellent, mighty-armed Virocana! Blessings to you!" Thus, as he laughed, the slayer of gods questioned him.
ब्रह्मन्किमर्थमेतत्ते हास्यमाकस्मिकं कृतम् साधुसाध्विति मामेवम् उक्तवांस्त्वं वदस्व मे
"O Brāhmaṇa, why did you laugh so suddenly, saying 'excellent, excellent' to me? Tell me the reason for this."
तमेवंवादिनं शुक्र उवाच वदतां वरः विस्मयाद्व्रतमाहात्म्याद् धास्यमेतत्कृतं मया
To him who spoke thus, Śukra, foremost of speakers, replied: "Out of wonder at the greatness of the vow, I laughed."