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.
तदोपवासो हि कथं कर्तव्यो मानवैर्वद
How then should fasting be performed by men? Tell me.
द्वितीये ऽह्नि यदा न स्यात्स्वल्पाप्येकादशी तिथिः
On the second day, if even a little of the eleventh lunar phase does not occur,
यदा न प्राप्यते विप्रा द्वादश्यां पूर्वसम्भवम्
When, O Brahmins, the previous conjunction is not attained on the twelfth day,
बह्वा गमविरोधेषु ब्राह्मणेषु विवादिषु
When there are many conflicting opinions among Brahmins and disputes arise,
एकादश्यां तु विद्धायां संप्राप्ते श्रवणे तथा
When the eleventh day is affected and the Śravaṇa constellation is present,
एष वो निर्णयः प्रोक्तो मया शास्त्रविनिर्णयात्
This decision has been spoken to you by me, based on the determination of scripture.
युगादीनां वदविधिं सौते सम्यग्यथातथम्
O Saute, I will properly declare to you the rule for the beginning of the yugas, as it truly is.
द्वे शुक्ले द्वे तथा कृष्णे युगाद्याः कवयो विदुः
The poets know that at the beginning of the yugas there are two bright and two dark fortnights.
अयनं दिनभागाढ्यं संक्रमः षोडशः पलः
The solstice is rich in portions of days; the transition is sixteen palas.
मध्यकाले तु विषुवे त्वक्षया परिकीर्तिता
At the equinox, in the middle period, the decrease is spoken of.