अथातः सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि व्रतषष्ठीमनुत्तमाम् रुद्रेणाभिहितां दिव्यां महापातकनाशनम्
Now, therefore, I shall explain the excellent Ṣaṣṭhī vow, divine and declared by Rudra, which destroys great sins.
नक्तमब्दं चरित्वा तु गवा सार्धं कुटुम्बिने हैमं चक्रं त्रिशूलं च दद्याद्विप्राय वाससी
Having observed a fast at night for a year, together with a cow and his family, one should give a golden discus, a trident, and garments to a Brāhmaṇa.
शिवरूपस्ततो ऽस्माभिः शिवलोके स मोदते एतद्देवव्रतं नाम महापातकनाशनम्
Then, taking the form of Śiva, he rejoices in the world of Śiva; this is called the divine vow, destroyer of great sins.
यस्त्वेकभक्तेन समां शिवं हैमवृषान्वितम् धेनुं तिलमयीं दद्यात् स पदं याति शांकरम् एतद्रुद्रव्रतं नाम पापशोकविनाशनम्
Whoever, with single-minded devotion, gives a golden cow with a golden bull and a sesame cow, attains the abode of Śiva; this is called the Rudra vow, destroyer of sin and sorrow.
यस्तु नीलोत्पलं हैमं शर्करापात्रसंयुतम् एकान्तरितनक्ताशी समान्ते वृषसंयुतम् स वैष्णवं पदं याति लीलाव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
Whoever gives a blue lotus made of gold, together with a vessel of sugar, and at the end of the year, after fasting every other night, with a bull, attains the abode of Viṣṇu; this is known as the playful vow.
आषाढादिचतुर्मासम् अभ्यङ्गं वर्जयेन्नरः भोजनोपस्करं दद्यात् स याति भवनं हरेः जने प्रीतिकरं नॄणां प्रीतिव्रतमिहोच्यते
For the four months beginning with Āṣāḍha, a man should avoid anointing the body; he should give utensils for food, and he attains the abode of Hari; this is called the vow of pleasing, which brings joy to people.
वर्जयित्वा मधौ यस्तु दधिक्षीरघृतैक्षवम् दद्याद्वस्त्राणि सूक्ष्माणि रसपात्रैश्च संयुतम्
Whoever, avoiding curds, milk, ghee, and sugarcane during spring, gives fine garments together with vessels for liquids,
सम्पूज्य विप्रमिथुनं गौरी मे प्रीयतामिति एतद्गौरीव्रतं नाम भवानीलोकदायकम्
Having duly worshipped a pair of Brāhmaṇas, saying, 'May Gaurī be pleased with me,' this is called the Gaurī vow, bestower of Bhavānī's world.
पुष्यादौ यस्त्रयोदश्यां कृत्वा नक्तं मधौ पुनः अशोकं काञ्चनं दद्याद् इक्षुयुक्तं दशाङ्गुलम्
Whoever, at the beginning of Puṣya, on the thirteenth day, having fasted at night, and again in spring, gives a golden aśoka tree, ten fingers in length, with sugarcane,
विप्राय वस्त्रसंयुक्तं प्रद्युम्नः प्रीयतामिति कल्पं विष्णुपदे स्थित्वा विशोकः स्यात्पुनर्नरः एतत् कामव्रतं नाम सदा शोकविनाशनम्
To a Brāhmaṇa, together with garments, saying, 'May Pradyumna be pleased,' having performed the rite, standing at Viṣṇu's feet, the man becomes free from sorrow; this is called the Kāma vow, always destroyer of grief.
आषाढादिव्रतं यस्तु वर्जयेन्नखकर्तनम् वार्ताकं च चतुर्मासं मधुसर्पिर्घटान्वितम्
Whoever, during the vow beginning with Āṣāḍha, avoids cutting the nails and brinjal for four months, together with honey and clarified butter,
कार्त्तिक्यां तत्पुनर्हैमं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् स रुद्रलोकमाप्नोति शिवव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
In Kārttikī, he should then offer gold to a Brāhmaṇa; he attains the world of Rudra; this is known as the Śiva vow.
वर्जयेद्यस्तु पुष्पाणि हेमन्तशिशिरावृतू पुष्पत्रयं च फाल्गुन्यां कृत्वा शक्त्या च काञ्चनम्
Whoever avoids flowers during the Hemanta and Śiśira seasons, and on Phālguni gives three kinds of flowers and gold according to his ability,
दद्याद्द्विकालवेलायां प्रीयेतां शिवकेशवौ दत्त्वा परं पदं याति सौम्यव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
He should give them at the two junctions of the day; may Śiva and Keśava be pleased. Having given, he attains the supreme abode; this is known as the gentle vow.
फाल्गुन्यादितृतीयायां लवणं यस्तु वर्जयेत् समाप्ते शयनं दद्याद् गृहं चोपस्करान्वितम्
Whoever, on the third day from Phālguni onwards, avoids salt, and at the end gives a bed and a house furnished with utensils,
सम्पूज्य विप्रमिथुनं भवानी प्रीयतामिति गौरीलोके वसेत्कल्पं सौभाग्यव्रतमुच्यते
Having duly worshipped a pair of Brāhmaṇas, saying, 'May Bhavānī be pleased,' he dwells in Gaurī's world for an age; this is called the vow of good fortune.
संध्यामौनं ततः कृत्वा समान्ते घृतकुम्भकम् वस्त्रयुग्मं तिलान्घण्टां ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्
Then, having observed the vow of silence at twilight, at the conclusion one should offer to a Brahmin a pot of ghee, a pair of garments, sesame seeds, and a bell.
सारस्वतं पदं याति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् एतत्सारस्वतं नाम रूपविद्याप्रदायकम्
He attains the Sarasvata state, which is difficult to regain through rebirth; this is called the Sarasvata vow, bestowing knowledge of forms and learning.
लक्ष्मीमभ्यर्च्य पञ्चम्याम् उपवासी भवेन्नरः समान्ते हेमकमलं दद्याद्धेनुसमन्वितम्
Having worshipped Lakshmi on the fifth day, a man should fast, and at the conclusion, he should give a golden lotus together with a cow.
स वैष्णवं पदं याति लक्ष्मीवाञ्जन्मजन्मनि एतत् सम्पद्व्रतं नाम सदा पापविनाशनम्
He attains the Vaishnava state, endowed with prosperity in every birth; this is called the vow of prosperity, always destroying sins.
कृत्वोपलेपनं शम्भोर् अग्रतः केशवस्य च यावदब्दं पुनर्दद्याद् धेनुं जलघटान्विताम्
Having performed anointment before Shiva and Keshava, one should, every year, again give a cow accompanied by a water pot.
जन्मायुतं स राजा स्यात् ततः शिवपुरं व्रजेत् एतद् आयुर्व्रतं नाम सर्वकामप्रदायकम्
He becomes a king for ten thousand births, and then attains the city of Shiva; this is called the vow of longevity, granting all desires.
अश्वत्थं भास्करं गङ्गां प्रणम्यैकत्र वाग्यतः एकभक्तं नरः कुर्याद् अब्दमेकं विमत्सरः
Having bowed to the Ashvattha tree, the Sun, and the Ganga together, with controlled speech, a man should take one meal a day for a year, free from envy.
व्रतान्ते विप्रमिथुनं पूज्यं धेनुत्रयान्वितम् वृक्षं हिरण्मयं दद्यात् सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् एतत् कीर्तिव्रतं नाम भूतिकीर्तिफलप्रदम्
At the end of the vow, he should worship a pair of Brahmins with three cows, and give a golden tree; he obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. This is called the vow of fame, bestowing prosperity and renown.
घृतेन स्नपनं कुर्याच् छम्भोर् वा केशवस्य च अक्षताभिः सुपुष्पाभिः कृत्वा गोमयमण्डलम्
One should bathe Shiva or Keshava with ghee, and, having made a circle of cow dung with unbroken rice and fine flowers,
तिलधेनुसमोपेतं समान्ते हेमपङ्कजम् शुद्धमष्टाङ्गुलं दद्याच् छिवलोके महीयते सामगाय ततश्चैतत् सामव्रतमिहोच्यते
At the conclusion, one should give a pure golden lotus, eight fingers in size, together with a sesame-cow; he is honored in the world of Shiva as a singer of Sama. Therefore, this is called the Sama vow here.
नवम्यामेकभक्तं तु कृत्वा कन्याश्च शक्तितः भोजयित्वासनं दद्याद् धैमकञ्चुकवाससी
On the ninth day, having taken one meal, and having fed maidens according to ability, one should give them seats and garments of golden brocade.
हैमं सिंहं च विप्राय दत्त्वा शिवपदं व्रजेत् जन्मार्बुदं सुरूपः स्याच् छत्रुभिश्चापराजितः एतद्वीरव्रतं नाम नारीणां च सुखप्रदम्
Having given a golden lion to a Brahmin, one attains the state of Shiva, is handsome for a hundred million births, and unconquered by enemies. This is called the hero's vow, also granting happiness to women.
यावत्समा भवेद्यस्तु पञ्चदश्यां पयोव्रतः समान्ते श्राद्धकृद्दद्यात् पञ्च गास्तु पयस्विनीः
Whoever observes the milk vow on the fifteenth day for as many years as possible, at the end should perform a śrāddha and give five milking cows.
वासांसि च पिशङ्गानि जलकुम्भयुतानि च स याति वैष्णवं लोकं पितॄणां तारयेच्छतम् कल्पान्ते राजराजः स्यात् पितृव्रतम् इदं स्मृतम्
And garments of tawny color, along with water pots; he attains the Vaishnava world and delivers a hundred ancestors. At the end of the age, he becomes a king of kings; this is known as the ancestor's vow.