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.
अधर्मस्तु यथा धर्मं कुमन्त्री नृपतिं यथा
Just as unrighteousness overcomes righteousness, as a bad counselor overcomes a king.
यथा हन्त्यनृतं सत्यं वादस्संवादमेव च
Just as falsehood destroys truth, and a quarrel destroys agreement.
यथा रसा महारोगाञ्छ्राद्धं संकेत एव च
Just as poisons destroy great diseases, and a śrāddha performed at a set time.
ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वङ्गनागमः
Killing a Brahmin, drinking liquor, theft, and union with a teacher’s wife—
समवेतानि चैतानि न शामयति पुष्करम्
Even when all these are present together, Puṣkara does not remove them.
प्रभासो न गया देवि न रेवा न सरस्वती
Neither Prabhāsa nor Gayā, O goddess, nor Revā nor Sarasvatī—
न सरांसि नदाश्चान्ये होमदानतपांसि च
Nor other lakes and rivers, nor offerings, gifts, or austerities—
पापसंघविनाशाय मुक्त्वैकं हरिवासरम्
Can destroy the mass of sins, except for the single day of Hari.
एकतः पृथिवीदानमेकतो हरिवासरम्
On one side, the gift of the earth; on the other, the day of Hari.
तस्मिन्वराहवपुषं कृत्वा देवं तु हाटकम्
On that day, one should fashion the god in the form of a boar, made of gold.