खखोल्कायेति मन्त्रेण प्रणवाद्येन नारद
With the mantra beginning with praṇava, reciting 'khakholkā', O Nārada,
द्विजान्परे ऽह्नि संभोज्य स्वयं भुञ्जीत बन्धुभिः
On the next day, having fed the Brāhmaṇas, one should eat together with relatives.
सप्तमी शर्कराख्यैषा प्रोक्ता तच्चापि मे शृणु
This seventh, known as the Śarkarā vow, is thus declared; now hear it from me.
निष्पेतुर्भुवि चोत्पन्नाः शालिमुद्गयवेक्षवः
On earth there appeared and arose rice, mung beans, barley, and sugarcane.
इष्टा रवेरतः पुण्या शर्करा हव्यकव्ययोः
Favored by the Sun, the auspicious sugarcane is desired for both offerings to gods and ancestors.
सर्वदुःखोपशमनी पुत्रसंततिवर्धिनी
It removes all suffering and increases the lineage of sons.
कर्तव्यं हि प्रयत्नेन व्रतमे तद्रविप्रियम्
Indeed, this vow, dear to the Sun, must be performed with effort.
ज्येष्ठे तु शुक्लसप्तम्यां जात इन्द्रो रविः स्वयम्
On the bright seventh day of Jyeṣṭha, Indra himself was born as the Sun.
स्वर्गतिं लभते विप्र देवेन्द्रस्य प्रसादतः
A brāhmaṇa attains heaven by the grace of the lord of the gods.
जातस्तं तत्र संप्रार्च्य गन्धपुष्पादिभिः पृथक्
Having been born, one should worship him there separately with scents, flowers, and the like.
श्रावणे शुक्लसप्तम्यामव्यङ्गाख्यं व्रतं शुभम्
In the bright seventh of Śrāvaṇa, the auspicious vow called Avyaṅga is observed.
पूजान्ते प्रीतये देयं व्रतमेतच्छुभावहम्
At the end of the worship, this vow, which brings good fortune, should be given for satisfaction.
अस्यां दानं जपो होमः सर्वं चाक्षय्यतां व्रजेत्
On this day, all gifts, recitations, and offerings become inexhaustible.
सोमस्य तु महेशस्य पूजनं चात्र कीर्तितम्
Here, the worship of Soma and of great Maheśa is also praised.
प्रार्थ्य प्रणम्य विसृजेत्सर्वकामसमृद्धये
Having prayed and bowed, one should offer them up for the fulfillment of all desires.
नालिकेरं च वृन्ताकं नारङ्गं बीजपूरकम्
A coconut, brinjal, orange, and citron fruit—
महादेवस्य पुरतो विन्यस्यापरदोरकम्
Should be placed before Mahādeva, along with another vessel.
संपूज्य परया भक्त्या धारयेद्वामके करे
Having worshipped with supreme devotion, one should hold them in the left hand.
संभोज्य विप्रान्सप्तैव पायसेन विसृज्यस तान्
Having fed exactly seven brāhmaṇas with milk-rice, one should then dismiss them.
फलानि तानि देयानि सप्तस्वपि द्विजेषु च
Those fruits should be given to the seven brāhmaṇas as well.
सायुज्यं लभते विप्र महादेवस्य तद्व्रती
O Brahmin, one who observes this vow attains union with Mahadeva.
तस्यां कृतस्नानपूजो वाचयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान्
Having performed bathing and worship there, and having recited prayers with the foremost twice-born,
त्वामहं दद्मि कल्याणि प्रीयतामर्यमा स्वयम्
O auspicious one, I give you to Aryaman; may Aryaman himself be pleased.
इत्युक्त्वा वेदविदुषे दत्त्वा कृत्वा च दक्षिणाम्
Having spoken thus to the knower of the Vedas, giving and offering the prescribed gift,
पचगव्यं व्रतं चेत्थं विधाय श्वो द्विजोत्तमान्
Thus, having performed the vow of pañcagavya, on the next day with the foremost twice-born,
कृतं ह्येतद्गतं विप्र सुभाष्यं श्रद्धयान्वितः
O Brahmin, this has been accomplished, spoken well, and performed with faith.
अथ कार्तिकशुक्लायां शाकाख्यं सप्तमीव्रतम्
Then, in the bright fortnight of Kartika, the saptamī vow called Śāka is observed.
प्रदद्यात्सप्तविप्रेभ्यः शाकाहारस्ततः स्वयम्
One should give vegetable food to seven Brahmins, and then partake of it oneself.
विसृज्य बन्धुभिः सार्द्धं स्वयं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः
Having distributed it with relatives, one should eat it oneself, observing restraint in speech.
यद्विष्णोर्दक्षिणं नेत्रं तदेव कृतवानिह
That which is the southern eye of Viṣṇu, that indeed has been performed here.