आजन्ममरणाद्यैश्च कृतमेतद्व्रतोत्तमम् । यथोक्तविधिना सम्यक्ते मान्या भवतामपि
This supreme vow, performed from birth to death according to the prescribed method, is to be honored by you as well.
एकादश्यां यतश्चाहं भवद्भिः प्रतिबोधितः । अतश्चैषा तिथिर्मान्या सदैव प्रीतिदा मम
Because I was awakened by you all on the eleventh day, therefore this lunar day is always dear to me and worthy of honor.
व्रतद्वयं सम्यगिदं नरैः कृतं कृष्णस्य सान्निध्यदमस्ति नान्यत् । दानानि तीर्थानि तपांसि यज्ञाः स्वर्लोकदानेन सदा सुरोत्तमाः
These two vows, when properly performed by men, bring the presence of Kṛṣṇa; there is nothing else. Gifts, pilgrimages, austerities, and sacrifices always grant heaven, O best of gods.
इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्र संहितायां कार्तिकमाहात्म्ये श्रीकृष्णसत्यभामासंवादे शंखासुरवधउद्यमोनाम नवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of fifty-five thousand verses, in the greatness of Kārtika, in the dialogue of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā, this is the ninetieth chapter named 'The Uplifting of the Slaying of Śaṅkhāsura.'
नारद उवाच। अथोर्जव्रतिनः सम्यगुद्यापनविधिं नृप । तच्छृणुष्व मयाख्यातं किं विधानं समासतः
Nārada said: Now, O King, listen as I explain the proper method of concluding the Ūrja vow; hear from me what the procedure is, in summary.
ऊर्ज्जशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां कुर्यादुद्यापनं व्रती । व्रतसंपूर्णतार्थाय विष्णुप्रीत्यर्थमेव च
On the bright fourteenth day of Ūrja, the observer of the vow should perform the conclusion ceremony, for the completion of the vow and for the pleasure of Viṣṇu.
तुलस्या उपरिष्टात्तु कुर्यान्मंडपिकां शुभाम् । सुतोरणां चतुर्द्वारां पुष्पचामरशोभिताम्
Above the tulasī plant, one should construct an auspicious pavilion, adorned with festoons, four gates, and decorated with flowers and yak-tail fans.
द्वारेषु द्वारपालांश्च पूजयेन्मृन्मयान्पृथक् । पुण्यशीलं सुशीलं च जयं विजयमेव च
At the gates, one should worship the doorkeepers, each made of clay separately: Puṇyaśīla, Suśīla, Jaya, and Vijaya.
तुलसीमूलदेशे च सर्वतोभद्रमालिखेत् । चतुर्भिर्वर्णकैः सम्यक्शोभाढ्यं समलंकृतम्
At the base of the tulasī plant, one should draw a protective diagram on all sides, beautifully adorned with four colors.
तस्योपरिष्टात्सपिधानं पंचरत्नसमन्वितम् । महाफलेन संयुक्तं कुंभं तत्र निधाय च
Above that, one should place a covered pot, adorned with five jewels and joined with a great fruit.
पूजयेत्तत्र देवेशं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् । कौशेयपीतवसनं युक्तं जलधिकन्यया
There, one should worship the Lord of gods, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, dressed in yellow silk, together with the daughter of the ocean.
इंद्रादिलोकपालांश्च पूजयेन्मंडले व्रती । द्वादश्यां प्रतिबुद्धः स त्रयोदश्यां यतः सुरैः
The observer of the vow should also worship the guardians of the worlds, beginning with Indra, in a circle; on the twelfth day, awakened by the gods, he...
दृष्टोऽर्चितश्चतुर्दश्यां तस्मात्पूज्यस्तथाधिकम् । तस्यामुपवसेद्भक्त्या शांतः प्रयतमानसः
He who is seen and worshipped on the fourteenth day should therefore be honored even more; on that day, one should fast with devotion, being peaceful and with concentrated mind.
पूजयेद्देवदेवेशं सौवर्णं गुर्वनुज्ञया । उपचारैः षोडशभिर्नानाभक्ष्यसमन्वितैः
With the guru’s permission, one should worship the Lord of gods, made of gold, with sixteen offerings accompanied by various kinds of food.
रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्याद्गीतवाद्यादि मंगलैः । गीतं कुर्वंति ये भक्त्या जागरे चक्रपाणिनः
At night, one should keep vigil with auspicious singing and instrumental music; those who sing with devotion during the vigil for the wielder of the discus—
जन्मांतरशतोद्भूतैस्ते मुक्ताः पापसंचयैः । जागरे वासरे विष्णोर्गीतं नृत्यं च कुर्वताम्
Are freed from the heaps of sins accumulated over hundreds of births; for those who sing and dance for Viṣṇu during the night vigil—
गोसहस्रं च ददतां तत्फलं समुदाहृतम् । गीतनृत्यादिकं कुर्वन्दर्शयेत्कौतुकानि च
The reward is said to be equal to giving a thousand cows; performing singing, dancing, and other such acts, one should also display festive amusements.
पुरतो वासुदेवस्य रात्रौ यो हरिजागरे । पठन्विष्णुचरित्राणि यो रंजयति वैष्णवान्
Whoever, in front of Vāsudeva, during the night of Hari’s vigil, recites the stories of Viṣṇu and delights the Vaiṣṇavas—
मुखेन कुरुते वाद्यं स्वेच्छालापांश्च दर्शयन् । भावैरेतैर्नरो यस्तु कुरुते हरिजागरम्
Who plays instruments with his mouth and shows spontaneous speech—whichever man performs the night vigil for Hari with these feelings—
दिनेदिने तस्य पुण्यं तीर्थकोटिसमं स्मृतम् । ततस्तु पौर्णिमास्यां वै सपत्नीकान्द्विजोत्तमान्
His merit each day is considered equal to that of ten million pilgrimages; then, on the full moon day, together with his wife, he should invite excellent Brāhmaṇas.
त्रिंशन्मिताननेकान्वा स्वशक्त्या वा निमंत्रयेत् । वरान्दत्त्वा यतो विष्णुर्मत्स्यरूपी अभूत्तदा
He should invite thirty or more, or as many as he is able; for it was then, after granting boons, that Viṣṇu became the Fish-incarnation.
तस्यां दत्तं हुतं जप्तं तदक्षयफलं स्मृतम् । अतस्तान्भोजयेद्विप्रान्पायसान्नादिना व्रती
Whatever is given, offered into the fire, or recited on that day is said to yield imperishable results; therefore, the vow-observer should feed the Brāhmaṇas with milk-rice and other foods.
अतो देवा इति द्वाभ्यां जुहुयात्तिलपायसम् । प्रीत्यर्थं देवदेवस्य देवानां च पृथक्पृथक्
Then, with two ladles, he should offer sesame-milk-rice for the pleasure of the Lord of gods, and separately for the other gods.
दक्षिणां च यथाशक्ति प्रदद्यात्प्रणमेच्च तान् । पुनर्देवं समभ्यर्च्य देवांश्च तुलसीं तथा
He should give gifts according to his ability and bow to them; then, having worshipped the Lord again, the gods, and also the tulasī plant—
ततो गां कपिलां तत्र पूजयेद्विधिवद्व्रती । गुरुं व्रतोपदेष्टारं वस्त्रालंकरणादिभिः
After that, the vow-observer should properly worship a tawny cow there, as well as the guru who has instructed him in the vow, with garments, ornaments, and the like.
सपत्नीकं समभ्यर्च्य गां च तस्मै प्रदापयेत् । युष्मत्प्रसादाद्देवेशः प्रसन्नो मे भवेत्तदा
Having worshipped him together with his wife, he should give him the cow; ‘By your favor, O Lord of gods, may the Lord be pleased with me then.’
व्रतादस्माच्च यत्पापं सप्तजन्मकृतं मया । तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु स्थिरा मे चास्तु संततिः
‘Whatever sin I have committed in seven births by this vow, may all that be destroyed, and may my lineage be stable.’
मनोरथाश्च सफलाः संतु नित्यं ममार्चनात् । देहांते वैष्णवं स्थानं प्राप्नुयामतिदुर्लभम्
‘May my wishes always be fulfilled through my worship; at the end of my body, may I attain the exceedingly rare abode of Viṣṇu.’
इति क्षमाप्यतान्विप्रान्प्रसाद्य च विसर्जयेत् । तामर्चां गुरवे दद्याद्रत्नयुक्तां तदा व्रती
Having thus honored and satisfied the Brāhmaṇas, he should dismiss them; then the vow-observer should give that worship, adorned with jewels, to the guru.
तदा सुहृद्गुरुयुतः स्वयं भुंजति भक्तिमान् । कार्त्तिके वाथ तपसि विधिरेवंविधः स्मृतः
Then, accompanied by friends and the guru, the devotee himself partakes of the food; such is the prescribed procedure in Kārttika or during austerities.