मार्गशीर्षे शुभे मासि सप्तम्यां नियतव्रतः तामुपोष्याथ कमलं कारयित्वा तु काञ्चनम्
In the auspicious month of Mārgaśīrṣa, on the seventh day, with a regulated vow, after fasting, one should have a golden lotus made.
शर्करासंयुतं दद्याद् ब्राह्मणाय कुटुम्बिने रविं काञ्चनकं कृत्वा पलस्यैकस्य धर्मवित् दद्याद्द्विकालवेलायां भानुर्मे प्रीयतामिति
One should give to a householder Brahmin a golden image of the Sun, together with sugar, weighing one pala, at both the morning and evening times, saying, 'May the Sun be pleased with me.'
भक्त्या तु विप्रान्सम्पूज्य चाष्टम्यां क्षीरभोजनम् दत्त्वा कुर्यात्फलयुतं यावत्स्यात्कृष्णेसप्तमी
Having worshipped the Brahmins with devotion, and on the eighth day giving them a meal with milk, one should continue the vow with fruit until the Kṛṣṇa Saptamī.
तामप्युपोष्य विधिवद् अनेनैव क्रमेण तु तद्वद्धैमफलं दत्त्वा सुवर्णकमलान्वितम्
Observing that as well, in the proper manner and order, one should give a golden fruit adorned with a golden lotus, just as before.
शर्करापात्रसंयुक्तं वस्त्रमाल्यसमन्वितम् संवत्सरं च तेनैव विधिनोभयसप्तमीम्
With a vessel of sugar, together with cloth and garlands, and for a year, in this very manner, one should observe both the seventh days.
उपोष्य दत्त्वा क्रमशः सूर्यमन्त्रमुदीरयेत् भानुरर्को रविर्ब्रह्मा सूर्यः शक्रो हरिः शिवः श्रीमान्विभावसुस्त्वष्टा वरुणः प्रीयतामिति
Having fasted, and having given in order, one should recite the Sun-mantra: 'Bhānu, Arka, Ravi, Brahmā, Sūrya, Śakra, Hari, Śiva, Śrīmān, Vibhāvasu, Tvaṣṭṛ, Varuṇa—may they be pleased.'
प्रतिमासं च सप्तम्याम् एकैकं नाम कीर्तयेत् प्रतिपक्षं फलत्यागम् एतत्कुर्वन्समाचरेत्
On each seventh day of the month, one should recite each name; on each fortnight, one should perform the offering of fruit, doing this regularly.
व्रतान्ते विप्रमिथुनं पूजयेद्वस्त्रभूषणैः शर्कराकलशं दद्याद् धेमपद्मदलान्वितम्
At the end of the vow, one should honor a pair of Brāhmaṇas with cloth and ornaments, and give a sugar pot adorned with golden lotus petals.
यथा न विफलाः कामास् त्वद्भक्तानां सदा रवे तथानन्तफलावाप्तिर् अस्तु मे सप्तजन्मसु
O Sun, just as the desires of your devotees are never fruitless, so may I obtain endless rewards for seven births.
इमामनन्तफलदां यः कुर्यात्फलसप्तमीम् सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा सूर्यलोके महीयते
Whoever performs this sevenfold vow, which grants endless rewards, becomes purified from all sins and is honored in the world of the Sun.
सुरापानादिकं किंचिद् यदत्रामुत्र वा कृतम् तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति यः कुर्यात्फलसप्तमीम्
Whatever sin, such as drinking liquor and the like, is committed here or elsewhere, all that is destroyed by one who performs the sevenfold vow.
कुर्वाणः सप्तमीं चेमां सततं रोगवर्जितः भूतान्भव्यांश्च पुरुषांस् तारयेदेकविंशतिम् यः शृणोति पठेद्वापि सो ऽपि कल्याणभाग्भवेत्
One who always performs this seventh-day vow remains free from disease and delivers twenty-one beings, both past and future; whoever hears or recites this also attains blessedness.
शर्करासप्तमीं वक्ष्ये तद्वत्कल्मषनाशिनीम् आयुरारोग्यमैश्वर्यं ययानन्तं प्रजायते
I will now describe the Sugar Seventh-day vow, which likewise destroys sin; by which endless life, health, and prosperity arise.
माधवस्य सिते पक्षे सप्तम्यां नियतव्रतः प्रातः स्नात्वा तिलैः शुक्लैः शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनः
On the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Mādhava, with firm resolve, having bathed in the morning, one should use white sesame and anoint with white garlands.
स्थण्डिले पद्ममालिख्य कुङ्कुमेन सकर्णिकम् तस्मिन्नमः सवित्रे तु गन्धधूपौ निवेदयेत्
On a clean spot, drawing a lotus with a center using saffron, one should offer fragrance and incense there to Savitṛ, with reverence.
स्थापयेदुदकुम्भं च शर्करापात्रसंयुतम् शुक्लवस्त्रैरलंकृत्य शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनैः सुवर्णेन समायुक्तं मन्त्रेणानेन पूजयेत्
One should place a water pot together with a vessel of sugar, adorn it with white cloths and white garlands, and worship it with gold, using this mantra.
विश्ववेदमयो यस्माद् वेदवादीति पठ्यसे सर्वस्यामृतमेव त्वम् अतः शान्तिं प्रयच्छ मे
Since you are composed of all the Vedas, you are called Vedavādi; you are the nectar of all—therefore, grant me peace.
पञ्चगव्यं ततः पीत्वा स्वपेत्तत्पार्श्वतः क्षितौ सौरसूक्तं स्मरन्नास्ते पुराणश्रवणेन च
Then, having drunk pañcagavya, one should sleep on the ground beside it, remembering the hymn to the Sun and listening to the Purāṇas.
अहोरात्रे गते पश्चाद् अष्टम्यां कृतनैत्यकः तत्सर्वं विदुषे तद्वद् ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्
After a day and night have passed, on the eighth day, having performed the daily rites, one should give all that to a learned Brāhmaṇa in the same way.
भोजयेच्छक्तितो विप्राञ् छर्कराघृतपायसैः भुञ्जीतातैललवणं स्वयमप्यथ वाग्यतः
One should feed Brāhmaṇas as able with sugar, ghee, and rice pudding; oneself should eat food without oil and salt, remaining self-controlled.
अनेन विधिना सर्वं मासि मासि समाचरेत् संवत्सरान्ते शयनं शर्कराकलशान्वितम्
In this manner, one should perform the entire rite every month; at the end of the year, one should offer a bed with a sugar pot.
सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्तं तथैकां गां पयस्विनीम् गृहं च शक्तिमान्दद्यात् समस्तोपस्करान्वितम्
Together with all necessary items, and also a single milking cow, one who is able should give a house furnished with all equipment.
सहस्रेणाथ निष्काणां कृत्वा दद्याच्छतेन वा दशभिर्वाथ निष्केण तदर्धेनापि शक्तितः
One should give, according to ability, a thousand gold coins, or a hundred, or ten, or even one, or half of one.
सुवर्णाश्वः प्रदातव्यः पूर्ववन्मन्त्रवादनम् न वित्तशाठ्यं कुर्वीत कुर्वन्दोषं समश्नुते
A horse of gold should be given, as before, with recitation of mantras; one should not act with deceit regarding wealth, for acting thus brings fault.
अमृतं पिबतो वक्त्रात् सूर्यस्यामृतबिन्दवः निपेतुर्ये धरण्यां तु शालिमुद्गेक्षवः स्मृताः
From the mouth of the one drinking nectar, drops of the sun's nectar fell upon the earth; these are remembered as rice and barley.
शर्करा तु परा तस्माद् इक्षुसारो ऽमृतात्मवान् इष्टा रवेरतः पुण्या शर्करा हव्यकव्ययोः
Sugar is supreme; therefore, the essence of sugarcane possesses the nature of nectar. Sugar, coming from the sun, is auspicious and fit for offerings to ancestors and gods.
शर्करासप्तमी चेयं वाजिमेधफलप्रदा सर्वदुष्टप्रशमनी पुत्रपौत्रप्रवर्धिनी
This is the Sugar Seventh, which grants the fruit of the horse sacrifice, dispels all evils, and increases sons and grandsons.
यः कुर्यात्परया भक्त्या स वै सद्गतिमाप्नुयात् कल्पमेकं वसेत्स्वर्गे ततो याति परं पदम्
Whoever performs it with supreme devotion attains a good destiny, dwells in heaven for an age, and then reaches the highest state.
इदमनघं शृणोति यः स्मरेद्वा परिपठतीह दिवाकरस्य लोके मतिमपि च ददाति सो ऽपि देवैर् अमरवधूजनमालयाभिपूज्यः
Whoever hears, remembers, or recites this faultless account here, receives wisdom in the realm of the sun, and is honored by the gods and celestial maidens.
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि तद्वत्कमलसप्तमीम् यस्याः संकीर्तनादेव तुष्यतीह दिवाकरः
Next, I will explain the Lotus Seventh, by whose mere mention the sun is pleased here.