ब्रह्मक्रियाया लोपेन बहुवर्षकृतेन च। यात्रां चेमां सकृत्कृत्वा वेदसंस्कारमाप्नुयात्
Even if one has neglected the rites of Brahma for many years, by performing this pilgrimage just once, one attains the sanctification of the Vedas.
किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन इदमस्तीह शंकर। अप्राप्यं प्राप्यते तेन पापं चापि विनश्यति
Why speak at length about this, O Śaṃkara? Here, that which is unattainable is attained, and sin is also destroyed.
सर्वयज्ञफलैस्तुल्यं सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम्। सर्वेषां चैव वेदानां समाप्तिस्तेन वै कृता
It bestows the fruit equal to all sacrifices and all holy places; by this, the completion of all the Vedas is indeed accomplished.
यैः कृत्वा पुष्करे संध्यां सावित्री समुपासिता। स्वपत्नीहस्तदत्तेन पौष्करेण जलेन तु
Those who, having performed the twilight worship at Puṣkara, worship Sāvitrī with water offered by their own wife’s hand in a Puṣkara vessel—
भृंगारेण वरेणैव मृण्मयेनापि शंकर। आनीय तज्जलं पुण्यं संध्योपास्तिर्दिनक्षये
Whether with a vessel of iron, copper, or even clay, O Śaṃkara, bringing that holy water, the twilight worship at the end of the day—
समाधिना समाधेया सप्राणायामपूर्विका। तस्यां कृतायां यत्पुण्यं तच्छृणुष्व हराद्य मे
Should be performed with concentration, preceded by proper breath control; hear from me, O Hara, the merit gained by performing it thus.
तेन द्वादशवर्षाणि भवेत्संध्या सुवंदिता। अश्वमेधफलं स्नाने दाने दशगुणं तथा
By that, the twilight worship is considered as performed for twelve years; in bathing and giving, the merit is ten times that of an Aśvamedha sacrifice.
उपवासेप्यनंतं च स्वयं प्रोक्तं मयानघ। सावित्र्याः पुरतो यस्तु दंपत्योर्भोजनं ददेत्
Even in fasting, the merit is endless, as I myself have declared, O sinless one; and whoever gives food to a couple in front of Sāvitrī—
तेनाहं भोजितस्तत्र भवामीह न संशयः। द्वितीयं भोजयेद्यस्तु भोजितस्तेन केशवः
By that, I am fed there—of this there is no doubt; and whoever feeds a second couple, Keśava is fed by him.
लक्ष्मीसहायो वरदो वरांस्तस्य प्रयच्छति। उमासहायस्तार्तीये भोजितोसि न संशयः
Accompanied by Lakṣmī, the bestower of boons grants him his wishes; and if a third is fed, accompanied by Umā, you are fed—there is no doubt.
अथवा या कुमारीणां भक्त्या दद्याच्च भोजनम्। तस्याः कुले भवेद्वंध्या न कदाचिच्च दुर्भगा
Or, if one gives food with devotion to maidens, in her lineage there will never be a barren woman nor an unfortunate one.
न कन्या जननी क्वापि न भर्तुर्या न वल्लभा। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सावित्र्यग्रे तु भोजनम्
There will never be a daughter who is motherless, nor one who is not dear to her husband; therefore, with all effort, food should be given before Sāvitrī.
पारत्रमैहिकं वापि कामयद्भिर्नरैः सदा। दातव्यं सर्वदा भीष्म कटुतैलविवर्जितम्
By those who desire either worldly or otherworldly rewards, food should always be given, O Bhīṣma, avoiding pungent oil.
न चाम्लं न च वै क्षारं स्त्रीणां भोज्यं कदाचन। भक्ष्यं पंचप्रकारं च रसैः सर्वैस्सुसंस्कृतम्
Women should never be served food that is sour or alkaline; it should be of five kinds, well-prepared with all flavors.
घृतपूर्यः सुपक्वाश्च बहुक्षीरसमन्विताः। शिखरिणी तथा पेया दधिक्षीरसमन्विता
It should be rich with ghee, well-cooked, and abundant in milk; likewise, śikhariṇī and beverages mixed with curd and milk.
आह्लादकारिणी पुंसां स्त्रीणां चातीव वल्लभा। धनधान्यां जनोपेतं नारीणां च शताकुलम्
It should bring delight to men and be especially dear to women; the household will be full of wealth and grain, and the women will be surrounded by hundreds.
पूपकं शष्कुलं तस्यां जायते नात्र संशयः। न ज्वरो न च संतापो न दुःखं न वियोगिता
Cakes and śaṣkula are produced there—of this there is no doubt; there will be no fever, no distress, no sorrow, nor separation.
असौ तारयते स्वानां कुलानामेकविंशतिं। बंधुभिश्च सुतैश्चैव दासीदासैरनंतकैः
She delivers twenty-one generations of her own family, along with relatives, sons, and countless maidservants and servants.
पूरितं च कुलं तस्याः पूरिकां या प्रदास्यति। एधते च चिरं कालं पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितम्
The family of the woman who offers pūrikā cakes becomes full, and for a long time it flourishes, endowed with sons and grandsons.
कुलं च सकलं तस्य शष्कुलं यः प्रयच्छति। पुत्रिण्यो वै दुहितरो बंधुभिः सहितं कुलम्
Whoever gives śaṣkula cakes to an entire family, that family, along with daughters and female relatives, is blessed.
शिखरिणीप्रदात्रीणां युवतीनां न संशयः। मोदते तु कुलं तस्याः सर्वसिद्धिप्रपूरितम्
There is no doubt that the family of young women who give śikhariṇī cakes rejoices, filled with all attainments.
मोदकानां प्रदानेन एवमाह प्रजापतिः। एतदेव तु गौरीणां भोजनं हर शस्यते
Thus Prajāpati has said regarding the giving of modaka sweets: this alone is praised as the food of Gaurī.
सुभगा पुत्रिणी साध्वी धनऋद्धिसमन्विता। सहस्रभोजिनी शंभो जन्मजन्म भविष्यति
She becomes fortunate, a mother of sons, virtuous, endowed with wealth and prosperity, and in every birth she will feed thousands together with Śambhu.
पूपानि चैव पुण्यानि कृतानि मधुराणि च। द्राक्षारसप्रधानं च गुडखंडसमन्वितम्
And also the auspicious cakes, sweet and well-made, with grape juice as the main ingredient and mixed with pieces of jaggery,
शारदेन तु धान्येन कृत्वा खंडं विमिश्रितत्। स्त्रीणां चैव तु पेयानि भक्ष्याणि च द्विजन्मनाम्
Prepared with autumnal grain, mixing in pieces, these are to be drunk and eaten by women and twice-born men.
इह चाविकवासांसि वर्षायोग्यानि सर्वशः। यानियानि च पेयानि तानि योग्यानि दापयेत्
Here, all woolen garments suitable for the rainy season, and whatever drinks are appropriate, should be given as gifts.
प्रतिपूज्य विधानेन वसुदानैः सकंचुकैः। कुंकुमेनानुलिप्तांग्यः स्रग्दामभिरलंकृताः
After honoring them properly with gifts of wealth and garments, with bodies anointed with saffron and adorned with garlands,
दत्वा तूपानहावङ्घ्र्योर्नारिकेलं करे तथा। अक्ष्णोश्चैवांजनं दत्वा सिंदूरं चैव मस्तके
Having given sandals for the feet, a coconut in the hand, collyrium for the eyes, and vermilion for the forehead,
गुडं फलानि हृद्यानि वांछितानि मृदूनि च। हस्ते दत्वा सपात्राणि प्रणिपत्य विसर्जयेत्
Giving jaggery, delightful fruits, and whatever soft things are desired, placing them in their hands with vessels, one should bow and then dismiss them.
स्वयं भुंजीत वै पश्चात्सबंधुर्बालकैः सह। अथवा नैव संपत्तिस्तीर्थे दानं च भाजनम्1.34.
Afterwards, one should eat oneself together with relatives and children; or, if there is no prosperity, giving at a sacred place is also suitable.