द्वादशीं ये प्रपन्ना हि नरा नरवरोत्तम
Those men who observe the Dvadashi, O best of men,
स्रग्विणः पीतवस्त्राश्च प्रयान्ति हरिमन्दिरम्
Adorned with garlands and wearing yellow garments, they proceed to the abode of Hari.
पापेन्धनस्य घोरस्य पावकाख्यो महीपते
For the one weighed down by terrible sin, O King, there is a fire called Pavaka.
इच्छद्भिर्विपुलान्योगान्पुत्रपौत्रादिकांस्तथा
Those who desire, through great efforts, sons, grandsons, and the like—
बहुवृजिनसमेतो ऽकामतः कामतो वा व्रजति पदमनन्तं लोकनाथस्य विष्णोः
Whether surrounded by many sins, or free from desire or full of desire, one attains the endless abode of Viṣṇu, the Lord of the worlds.
पप्रच्छुर्मुनयः सूतं व्यासशिष्यं महामतिम्
The sages questioned Sūta, the wise disciple of Vyāsa.
माहात्म्यं कथयामास उपवासविधिं तथा
He began to relate the greatness and also the procedure for fasting.
माहात्म्यं चक्रिणश्चापि सर्वपापौघ शान्तिदम्
He also spoke of the greatness of the wielder of the discus, which brings peace from all heaps of sin.
अष्टादश पुराणानि भवान् जानाति मानद
O bestower of honor, you know the eighteen Purāṇas.
तन्नास्ति यन्न वेत्सि त्वं पुराणेषु स्मृतिष्वपि
There is nothing in the Purāṇas or even in the Smṛtis that you do not know.
अस्माकं संशयः कश्चिद्धृदये संप्रवर्तते
A certain doubt has arisen in our hearts.
तिथेः प्रान्तमुपोष्यं स्यादाहोस्विन्मूलमेव च
Should one fast at the end of the lunar day, or rather at its beginning?
तिथेः प्रान्तं सुराणां हि उपोष्यं प्रीतिवर्द्धनम्
Indeed, fasting at the end of the lunar day increases the joy of the gods.
अतः प्रान्तमुपोष्यं हि तिथेर्दशफलेप्सुभिः
Therefore, those who desire the tenfold fruit should fast at the end of the lunar day.
पूर्वविद्धा न कर्तव्या द्वितीया चाष्टमी तथा
One should not observe the fast on a tithi touched by the previous day, nor on the second or eighth lunar day.
पूर्वविद्धा द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कर्तव्या सप्तमी सदा
O best of twice-born, the seventh lunar day touched by the previous day should always be observed.
पूर्वविद्धानिमांस्त्यक्त्वा नरकं प्रतिपद्यते
Abandoning these tithis touched by the previous day, one attains hell.
एतच्छ्रुतं मया विप्राः कृष्णद्वैपायनात्पुरा
O brāhmaṇas, I have heard this formerly from Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.
पूर्वविद्धा तु मन्तव्या प्रभूता नोदयं विना
A tithi touched by the previous day should be considered as such only when it is abundant, not without the sunrise.
पित्र्ये ऽस्तमनवेलायां स्पर्शे पूर्णा निगद्यते
On the day for ancestors, when the sun has set and there is contact, it is declared to be complete.
प्रत्यहं शोधयेत्प्राज्ञस्तिथिं दैवज्ञचिन्तकात्
Every day, the wise should ascertain the tithi by consulting an astrologer.
चन्द्रार्कचारविज्ञानात्कालं कालविदो विदुः
Those who know time determine it by knowledge of the movements of the moon and sun.
वर्जयन्ति नरास्तज्ज्ञा यामांश्च चतुरो द्विजाः
Those who know avoid it, and the twice-born abstain from the four watches.
न दिवा शुद्धिमाप्नोति तदा रात्रौ विधीयते
One does not attain purity during the day; at that time, it is prescribed at night.
विधिरेष मया ख्यातो नराणामुपवासिनाम्
This rule has been declared by me for those men who observe fasting.
स्नानार्चनक्रिया कार्य्या दानहोमादिसंयुता
Bathing and worship should be performed, accompanied by acts such as giving and offering oblations.
शतयज्ञाधिकं वापि नरः प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम्
A man undoubtedly attains merit greater than a hundred sacrifices.
पितृतर्पणसंयुक्तं न दृष्ट्वा द्वादशीदिनम्
If the day of the twelfth lunar phase is not seen together with offerings to the ancestors,
करोति धर्महरणमस्नातेव सरस्वती
He commits a violation of dharma, just as Sarasvati does not bathe.
उपोष्या द्वादशी पुण्या पूर्वविद्धां विवर्जयेत्
The auspicious twelfth day should be observed by fasting; one should avoid the day affected by the previous phase.