तदलाभे घृतैर्विप्र गृहेभ्यः समिधस्तिलान्
If these are unavailable, O Brahmin, offer ghee, firewood, and sesame seeds from the household.
चन्दनं तालपत्रं च पुष्पमालां तथाक्षतान्
Sandalwood, palm leaves, flower garlands, and unbroken rice grains,
भक्ष्याणि च नवे शूर्पे प्रतिद्रव्यं तु षोडश
And nine kinds of food in a new winnowing basket, sixteen items in all.
क्षीरोदार्णवसंभूता लक्ष्मीश्चन्द्रसहोदरा
Lakshmi, born from the ocean of milk, is the sister of the moon.
चेतस्रः प्रतिमास्तास्तु श्रोत्रियेभ्यः समर्पयेत्
Those four images should be offered to the learned Brahmins.
मिष्टान्नेनाशयित्वा तु विसृजेत्ताः सदक्षिणाः
After feeding them with sweet food, one should dismiss them with proper gifts.
एतद्व्रतं महालक्ष्म्याः कृत्वा विप्र विधानतः
Having performed this vow of Mahalakshmi according to the prescribed method, O Brahmin,
एषाषोकाष्टमी चोक्ता यस्यां पूर्णं रमाव्रतम्
This is called Ashoka Ashtami, on which the full Rama vow is observed.
कृत्वाशोकव्रतं नारी ह्यशोका शोकजन्मनि
A woman who undertakes the Ashoka vow becomes free from sorrow, even in the place where sorrow is born.
आश्विने शुक्लपक्षे तु प्रोक्ता विप्र महाष्टमी
O Brahmin, the great Ashtami is prescribed in the bright fortnight of Ashvina.
उपवासं चैकभक्तं महाष्टम्यां विधाय तु
On the day of the great Ashtami, one should observe a fast or take only one meal.
ऊर्ज्जे कृष्णादिके ऽष्टम्यां करकाख्यं व्रतं स्मृतम्
In the month of Kartika, beginning with the dark half, the vow called Karaka is remembered.
चन्द्रोदयेर्ऽघदानं च विधेयं व्रतिभिः सदा
Those observing the vow should always offer arghya at moonrise.
गोपाष्टमीति संप्रोक्ता कार्तिके धवले दले
In Kartika, on the bright eighth day, it is called Gopashtami.
गवानुगमनं दानं वाञ्छन्सर्वाश्च संपदः
One who desires all prosperity should follow the cows and give gifts.
अनघां चानघां तत्र बहुपुत्रसमन्वितम्
There, one should worship the sinless and pure goddess, accompanied by many sons.
पूजयेद्गन्धपुष्पाद्यैरुपचारैः पृथग्विधैः
One should worship with sandal, flowers, and various kinds of offerings.
व्रतमेतन्नरः कृत्वा नारी वा विधिपूर्वकम्
A man or woman who performs this vow according to the prescribed rules—
पुत्रं सल्लक्षणोपेतं लभते नात्र संशयः
—certainly obtains a son endowed with all good qualities; there is no doubt about this.
उपोष्य जागरं कृत्वा महापापैः प्रमुच्यते
By fasting and keeping vigil, one is freed from great sins.
तत्सर्वं विलयं याति कालभैरवदर्शनात्
All those sins are destroyed at the sight of Kaalabhairava.
पितॄणां तृप्तिदं वर्षं कुलसन्ततिवर्द्धनम्
It gives satisfaction to the ancestors for a year and increases the family line.
भुक्तिमुक्तिमवाप्नोति भक्तिमेकां समाचरन्
By practicing single-minded devotion, one attains both enjoyment and liberation.
भक्तितो वैरिवृन्दघ्नीं सर्वकामप्रदायिनीम्
Through devotion, one obtains the destroyer of all enemies and the fulfiller of all desires.
संततिं त्वव्यवच्छिन्नामिच्छंश्चाप्यपराजयम्
Desiring an unbroken lineage and also victory over adversaries—
तत्र व्रतपरो विप्र सर्वकामसमृद्धये
—there, O Brahmin, one devoted to the vow attains all desired prosperity.
गन्धाद्यैः सम्यगभ्यर्च्य सर्वसिद्धीश्वरो भवेत्
By properly worshipping with fragrances and similar offerings, one becomes master of all attainments.
पूजयेत्सर्ववपक्कानैः सप्तम्यां विधिवत्कृतैः
One should worship with all types of cooked foods, prepared according to proper procedure, on the seventh day.
शीतले त्वं जगद्वात्री शीतलायै नमोनमः
O Śītalā, you are the nourisher of the world; salutations again and again to Śītalā.
मार्जनी कलशोपेतां विस्फोटकविनाशिनीम्
With a broom and a pot, she destroys eruptions.