पतिर्माता पिता वित्तं जीवितं च गुरुर्गतिः
The husband is mother, father, wealth, life, teacher, and refuge.
विष्णोः पदं वित्तशरीरलुब्धा प्रयाति यामीं च कुयोनिपीडाम्
One greedy for wealth and body does not attain Viṣṇu's abode but goes to Yama's realm and the torment of evil births.
सन्ध्यावली नाम भृशं तामुवाच ह सादरम्
Then Sandhyāvalī, with great respect, spoke to her thus:
कथं दृष्टा मया त्वं च यास्यन्ती कुत्सितां गतिम्
How is it that I have seen you, who are about to go to a wretched state?
तन्मे वद विशालाङ्गे त्वां दृष्ट्वा दुःखिता ह्यहम्
Tell me this, O wide-hipped one; seeing you, I am indeed distressed.
शरीरं तव संवीक्ष्य तया मे जायते हृदि
Looking upon your body, this feeling arises in my heart.
तथापि नैव मुच्येयं सद्यः कुत्सितयोनितः
Yet, I cannot be freed at once from this vile birth.
तन्निर्दिशामि सुमहद्गतिदं त्वं निशामय
Therefore, I will indicate to you a means of attaining a most excellent state; listen.
यस्मिन् क्रोशन्ति पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च
In which all sins, even the killing of a Brāhmaṇa and the like, are destroyed,
दुर्ल्लभं चोषसि स्नानं दुर्लभं कृष्णसेवनम्
Where bathing is difficult to obtain, and service to Kṛṣṇa is rare.
देवैस्तेजः परिक्षिप्तं माघमासे स्वकं जले
In the month of Māgha, the brilliance of the gods is contained within their own waters.
नेदृशी संगरे शूरैर्गतिः प्राप्येत सौख्यदा
Such a path, granting happiness, cannot be attained by heroes even in battle.
सरित्तडागवापीषु स्नाने सत्तममीरितम्
Bathing in rivers, ponds, and reservoirs is declared to be of the highest merit.
न सौख्यैर्लभ्यते पुण्यं दुःखैरेवाप्यते तु तत्
Merit is not gained through comforts; it is indeed obtained only through hardships.
होमार्थं सेवनं वह्नेर्न च शीतादिहानये
Serving the fire for the sake of sacrifice is not for the removal of cold and the like.
आच्छादिते घनैर्व्योम्नि ह्युद्गमिष्यन्तमर्थयेत्
When the sky is covered with clouds, one should strive to bathe at sunrise.
वायुना ताडितं रात्रौ स्नाने गङ्गासमं विदुः
Bathing at night when struck by the wind is regarded as equal to bathing in the Ganges.
तन्नास्ति पातकं यत्तु माघस्नानं न शोधयेत्
There is no sin greater than failing to purify oneself by bathing in Māgha.
जीवता भुज्यते दुःखं मृतेन बहुलं सुखम्
While living, one experiences suffering; after death, there is abundant happiness.
अहन्यहनि दातव्यास्तिलाः शर्करयान्विताः
Every day, sesame seeds mixed with sugar should be given as gifts.
यावकैश्चैव होतव्या गव्यसर्पिः समन्वितैः
Offerings should also be made with barley combined with cow’s ghee.
सूर्यो मे प्रीयतां देवो विष्णुमूर्तिर्निरञ्जनः
May the sun, the spotless god in the form of Viṣṇu, be pleased with me.
त्रिंशच्च मोदका देयास्तिलान्नाः शर्करामयाः
Thirty sweet cakes made of sesame and sugar should be given.
तांबूलादीनि भोग्यानि भक्त्यादकद्याद्विधानवित्
Betel and other enjoyable things should be offered with devotion, by one who knows the proper method.
स्नायादावाह्य तीर्थानि गङ्गादीन्य कर्मण्डलात्
One should invoke the sacred waters, such as the Ganges, from the water vessel before bathing.
त्वत्तेजसा हतं चास्तु तत्तु पापं सहस्रधा
By your radiance, may that sin be destroyed a thousandfold.
परिपूर्णं कुरुष्वेदं माघस्नानं ममाच्युत
O Acyuta, make this Māgha bath of mine complete.
तीर्थस्नानादियात्स्वर्गं माघस्नानात्परं पदम्
By bathing at a sacred place, one attains heaven; by bathing in Māgha, the supreme state is reached.
रविवारेण संयुक्ता महापातकनाशिनी
Joined with Sunday, it destroys great sins.
विनिर्दहति पापानि कुनृपो विषयं यथा
It burns away sins, just as a wicked king devastates his realm.