बुधाष्टम्यां बुधाषाढे पुण्ये विने तथा
On the eighth day ruled by Mercury, in the Ashadha month of Mercury, and also in holy places,
घृतेन मधुना वापि दध्ना वा तत्फलं शृणु
Whether with ghee, honey, or curd, listen to the result of that.
वसेष्टिष्णुपुरे सार्दं त्रिसत्पपुरुषैर्मृप
He dwells in the city of Vishnu together with three hundred virtuous men, O king.
मोक्षमाप्रोति नृपते पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्
He attains liberation, O king, and rebirth becomes difficult for him.
शिवं संस्त्राप्य दुग्धेन शिवसायुज्यमान्पुयात्
By offering to Shiva with milk, he attains union with Shiva and is purified.
अष्टम्यामिन्दुवारे वा शिवसायुज्यमश्नुते
On the eighth day, or on Monday, he attains union with Shiva.
घृतेन मधुना स्त्राप्य शिवां तत्साम्यतां व्रजेत्
By offering to Shiva with ghee and honey, he attains similarity with Shiva.
स याति तत्तत्सारुप्यं पितृभिः सह सत्पभिः
He attains the corresponding likeness with his ancestors and with the virtuous.
शिवलोके वसेत्कल्पं ससत्पपुरुषैः सह
He dwells in the world of Shiva for a kalpa together with the virtuous.
क्षीरेण वा महाभाग तत्फलं शृणु मद्गिरा
Or with milk, O fortunate one, listen to the result as spoken by me.
कोटि संख्यं समुद्धृकत्य स्वकुलं शिवतां व्रजेत्
Having uplifted his lineage by the count of millions, he leads them to the state of Shiva.
जन्मायुतार्जितैः पापैर्मुक्तो व्रजति तत्पदम्
Freed from sins accumulated over ten thousand births, he attains that state.
स याति विष्णुभवनं कुलकोटिसमन्वितः
He goes to the abode of Vishnu, accompanied by countless generations of his lineage.
संपूज्य पापनिर्मुक्तो वसेद्भिष्णुपुरे युगम्
Having worshipped, freed from sin, he dwells in Vishnu's city for an age.
समभ्यर्च्य महाराज तत्तत्सालोक्यमान्पुयात्
Having duly worshipped, O great king, he attains the respective divine realms.
दत्त्वा धूपे नरो भक्त्या सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
By offering incense with devotion, a man is released from all sins.
दत्त्वा नरः सर्वकामान्मंप्राप्नोति नृपोत्तम
By giving, O best of kings, a man attains all desired things.
स मुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो गङ्गास्नानफलं लभेत्
Freed from all sins, he obtains the fruit of bathing in the Ganges.
दीपं तत्त्वा महाविष्णोः शिवस्यापि फलं शृणु
Hear now the fruit of offering a lamp to great Vishnu, which is also that of Shiva.
तत्तत्सालोक्यमाप्नोति त्रिःभत्पपुरुषान्वितः
He attains the respective divine realms, along with three generations of ancestors.
दत्त्वा तत्तत्पदं याति चत्वारिशत्कुलान्वितः
By giving, he reaches that supreme state, accompanied by forty generations.
स याति विष्णुभवनं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्
He goes to the abode of Vishnu, where return is difficult.
अन्नतोयसमन्दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति
There has never been, nor will there be, a gift equal to food and water.
सर्वदानफलं यस्मादन्नदस्य नृपोत्तम
Because, O best of kings, the fruit of all gifts is found in the giver of food.
न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिरिति शास्त्रेषु निश्चितम्
There is no return for him—this is established in the scriptures.
अन्नदानान्नृपश्रेष्ठ निर्दिष्टं श्रह्मवादिभिः
O best of kings, the giving of food is declared by the teachers of the Veda.
जलदो मुच्यते तेभ्य इत्याह कमलोद्भवः
He who gives water is freed from them—so says the lotus-born one.
तस्मादन्नप्रदो ज्ञेयः प्राणदः पृथिवीपते
Therefore, O lord of the earth, the giver of food should be known as the giver of life.
तस्मादन्नसमं दानं नास्ति भूपाल भूपले
Therefore, O king of kings, there is no gift equal to food.
नपकं ते न पशअयन्ति तस्मादन्नप्रदो वरः
The messengers of Yama do not see him; therefore, the giver of food is supreme.