इत्थं योर्ऽचयते भक्त्या वर्षे वर्षे द्रुमत्रयम्
Thus, whoever worships these three trees with devotion each year,
शुचिशुक्लत्रयोदश्यामेकभक्तं समाचरेत्
should observe the vow on the pure thirteenth day of the bright fortnight, eating only once.
हैम्यौ रौप्यौ च मृन्मप्यौ यथाशक्त्या विधाय च
One should prepare golden, silver, or clay images according to one's ability.
स्थापयित्वा प्रतिष्ठाप्य दैवमन्त्रेण नारद
Having established and consecrated them with divine mantras, O Nārada,
तृतीयदिवसे प्रातः स्नात्वा संपूज्य तौ पुनः
on the third day, after bathing in the morning, one should again worship those two.
वर्षे वर्षे ततः पश्चाद्विधेयं वर्षपञ्चकम्
Thereafter, this should be performed every year for five years.
इत्थं नरो वा नारी वा कृत्वा व्रतमिदं शुभम्
Thus, whether a man or a woman, having performed this auspicious vow,
नभः शुक्लत्रयोदश्यां रतिकामव्रतं शुभम्
on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Nabhaḥ, the auspicious Ratikāma vow is to be observed.
कृतोपवासा कन्यैव नारी वा द्विजसत्तम
Having completed the observance, whether a maiden or a married woman, O best of twice-born,
रतिकामौ प्रविन्यस्य गन्धाद्यैः सम्यगर्चयेत्
Desiring union, having set aside perfumes and the like, she should properly worship.
सतकृत्य भोज्य प्रतिमे दद्यात्ताभ्यां सदक्षिणे
She should offer food to them a hundred times, always with due honor and gifts.
धेनुयुग्मान्विते देये व्रतसंपूर्तिहेतवे
A pair of cows should be given for the completion of the vow.
लक्ष्मीनारायणं कृत्वा सौवर्णं वापि राजतम्
Having fashioned Lakshmi and Narayana of gold or even of silver,
पीठे विन्यस्य वस्त्राढ्यं गन्धाद्यैः परिपूजयेत्
She should place them on a seat, adorn them with garments, and worship them with perfumes and the like.
एवं दिनत्रयं कृत्वा व्रतान्ते मासमर्च्य च
Having done this for three days, at the end of the vow, she should worship for a month.
पञ्चगावः समुत्पन्ना मथ्यमाने महोदधौ
Five cows arose when the great ocean was churned.
प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य ततो दद्याद्विप्राय मन्त्रतः
Having circumambulated them, she should then give them to a Brahmin with mantras.
गावो मे पार्श्वतः संतु गवां मध्ये वसाम्यहम्
"May cows be beside me; may I dwell among cows."
लक्ष्मीनारायणं तस्मै सत्कृत्य प्रतिपादयेत्
She should respectfully present Lakshmi-Narayana to him.
कृत्वा यत्फलमाप्नोति गोत्रिरात्रव्रताच्च तत्
The fruit obtained by performing this, and by the vow of cow-giving at night, is that.
हैमं ह्यशोकं निर्माय पूजयित्वा विधानतः
Having fashioned an Ashoka tree of gold and worshipped it according to rule,
अष्टोत्तरशतं विप्र मन्त्रेणानेन सादरम्
With this mantra, she should worship a hundred and eight times with devotion.
लोकोपकारकरणस्तत्प्रसीद शिवप्रिय
"O bestower of benefit to the world, be pleased, O beloved of Shiva."
समभ्यर्च्य विधानेन द्विजं संभोज्य दापयेत्
Having duly worshipped, she should feed a Brahmin and make him give (the gift).
पुत्रपौत्रादि सहिता भर्तुश्च स्यात्सुवल्लभा
She will be greatly beloved by her husband, together with sons, grandsons, and others.
प्रदोषे तैलदीपं तु प्रज्वाल्याभ्यर्च्य यत्नतः
In the evening, she should carefully light an oil lamp and worship.
एवं कृते तु विप्रेन्द्र यमपीडा न जायते
O foremost of Brahmins, when this is done, there is no torment from Yama.
पुनः स्नात्वा प्रदोषे तु वाग्यतः सुसमाहितः
Then, having bathed again at dusk, with restrained speech and a focused mind,
प्रदीपयेच्छिवं वापि द्वात्रिंशद्दीपमालया
one should offer light to Shiva, or arrange thirty-two rows of lamps.
फलैर्नानाविधैश्चैव नैवेद्यैरपि नारद
And, O Nārada, with various kinds of fruits and offerings of food,