सन्निहत्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे । तुलापुरुषदानेन तत्फलं परिकीर्त्तितम्
When the sun is eclipsed by Rāhu at Kurukṣetra, the fruit of giving a tulāpuruṣa is declared there.
काश्यां दशगुणं प्रोक्तं वेण्यां शतगुणं भवेत् । सहस्रगुणितं प्रोक्तं गंगासागरसंगमे
It is said to be tenfold at Kāśī, a hundredfold at Veṇī, and a thousandfold at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean.
अनंतं चैव विज्ञेयं शूकरे हरिमंदिरे । अन्यत्र ददते लक्षं संविधानेन कार्तिक
It should be understood as infinite at Śūkara in Hari's temple; elsewhere, they give a hundred thousand with proper observance in Kārtika.
इहैवैकेन दत्तेन शूकरे तत्समं भवेत् । शूकरे च तथा वेण्यां गंगासागरसंगमे
By giving just one here at Śūkara, it equals the same; so too at Śūkara, at Veṇī, and at the Gaṅgā-ocean confluence.
सकृदेव नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति । अलर्केण पुरा प्राप्ता सप्तद्वीपा वसुंधरा । शूकरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा चैव षडानन
By bathing just once, a man removes the sin of killing a Brahmin; in ancient times, Alarka obtained the earth of seven continents after hearing the greatness of the Śūkara field, O Six-faced One.
मार्गशीर्षस्य द्वादश्यां शुक्लायां व्रज पुत्रक । कार्त्तिकेय उवाच । भगवन्श्रोतुमिच्छामि व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । विधिं मासोपवासस्य फलं चास्य यथोचितम्
On the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in Mārgasīrṣa, go, my son. Kārttikeya said: 'O Lord, I wish to hear the supreme vow among vows, its procedure, and the proper fruit of fasting for a month.'
यथाविधि नरैः कार्या व्रतचर्या यथा भवेत् । आरभ्यते यथापूर्वं समाप्यं हि यथाविधि
The vow should be observed by men according to the prescribed manner; it should be begun as before and completed as prescribed.
यावत्संख्यं तु कर्त्तव्यं तत्प्रब्रूहि महेश्वर । व्रतमेतत्सुखश्रीदं विस्तरेण ममानघ
Tell me, O Maheśvara, how many times it should be performed; this vow brings happiness and prosperity—explain it to me in detail, O sinless one.
श्रीरुद्र उवाच। पावके साधु सर्वं ते यत्पृष्टं प्रब्रुवेऽनघ । भक्त्या मतिमतां श्रेष्ठ शृणुष्व गदतो मम
Śrī Rudra said: 'O virtuous one, I will tell you everything you have asked, O best of the wise; listen as I speak with devotion.'
सुराणां च यथा विष्णुस्तपतां च यथा रविः । मेरुःशिखरिणां यद्वद्वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम्
As Viṣṇu is among the gods, as the sun is among ascetics, as Meru is among mountains, and as Garuḍa is among birds,
तीर्थानां तु यथा गंगा प्रजानां तु यथा वणिक् । श्रेष्ठं सर्वव्रतानां तु तद्वन्मासोपवासनम्
As Gaṅgā is among holy places, as the merchant is among people, so is fasting for a month the best among all vows.
सर्वव्रतेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थेषु चैव हि । सर्वदानोद्भवं चैव लभेन्मासोपवासकृत्
Whatever merit is gained from all vows, from all holy places, and from all acts of giving, is obtained by one who fasts for a month.
अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैर्विविधैर्भूरिदक्षिणैः । न तत्पुण्यमवाप्नोति यन्मासपरिलंघनात्
Not even by various sacrifices like Agniṣṭoma with abundant gifts does one attain the merit that comes from observing the month-long vow.
तेन जप्तं हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं स्वधा । यः करोति विधानेन नरो मासमुपोषणम्
Whatever is recited, offered, given, or austerity performed, and whatever svadhā is done, all this is accomplished by one who observes the month-long vow according to the rules.
उद्दिश्य वैष्णवं यज्ञं मामभ्यर्च्य जनार्दनम् । गुरोराज्ञां ततो लब्ध्वा कुर्यान्मासोपवासनम्
Having worshipped me, Janārdana, with a Vaiṣṇava sacrifice, and having received the guru's command, one should undertake the month-long fast.
वैष्णवानि यथोक्तानि कृत्वा सर्वव्रतानि तु । द्वादश्यादीनि पुण्यानि ततो मासमुपावसेत्
Having performed all the Vaiṣṇava vows as prescribed, and the auspicious twelfth and other days, then one should fast for a month.
अतिकृच्छ्रं च पाराकं कृत्वा चांद्रायणं ततः । मासोपवासं कुर्वीत गुरोर्विप्राज्ञया ततः
After undertaking the severe pārāka and the cāndrāyaṇa penance, one should then observe a month-long fast, as instructed by the guru or a learned Brahmin.
आश्विनस्यामले पक्षे एकादश्यामुपोषितः । व्रतमेनं तु गृह्णीयाद्यावत्त्रिंशद्दिनानि तु
On the pure fortnight of Āśvina, having fasted on the eleventh day, one should take up this vow for thirty days.
वासुदेवं समभ्यर्च्य कार्तिकं सकलं नरः । मासं चोपवसेद्यस्तु स मुक्तिफलभाग्भवेत्
Having worshipped Vāsudeva throughout the entire month of Kārtika, whoever observes the fast for the month becomes a recipient of the fruit of liberation.
अच्युतस्यालये भक्त्या त्रिकालं कुमुदैः शुभैः । मालतींदीवर्रैबुध्नैः कमलैश्च सुगंधिभिः
In the abode of Acyuta, with devotion, three times daily, using auspicious kumuda flowers, mālatī, nīlotpala, and fragrant lotuses,
कुसुमोशीरकर्पूरैर्विलिप्य वरचंदनैः । नैवेद्यापूपदीपाद्यैरर्चयेच्च जनार्दनम्
Having anointed with flowers, uśīra, camphor, and excellent sandalwood, one should worship Janārdana with offerings of food, water, lamps, and so forth.
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा पूजयेद्गरुडध्वजम् । कुर्वन्नरः स्त्री विधवा बृहद्भक्तिर्जितेंद्रियः
With mind, action, and speech, one should worship the bearer of the Garuḍa banner; whether man, woman, or widow, with great devotion and controlled senses.
नाम्नामेव तथालापं विष्णोः कुर्यादहर्निशम् । भक्त्या विष्णोः स्तुतिर्वाच्या मिथ्यालापविवर्जिता
One should utter the names and praises of Viṣṇu day and night, reciting hymns to Viṣṇu with devotion, free from false speech.
सर्वसत्वदयायुक्तः शांतवृत्तिरहिंसकः । सुप्तो बाह्यासनस्थो वा वासुदेवं प्रकीर्तयेत्
Endowed with compassion for all beings, peaceful in conduct, nonviolent, whether lying down or seated externally, one should glorify Vāsudeva.
स्मृत्यालोकनगंधादि स्वादनं परिकीर्त्तनम् । अन्नस्य वर्जयेद्वासं ग्रासानां संप्रमोक्षणम्
One should avoid the enjoyment of food by remembering, seeing, smelling, tasting, or describing it, and refrain from releasing morsels of food.
गात्राभ्यंगं शिरोभ्यंगं तांबूलं सविलेपनम् । व्रतस्थो वर्जयेत्सर्वं यच्चान्यच्च निराकृतम्
During the vow, one should abstain from body massage, head massage, betel with ointments, and all else that is prohibited.
न व्रतस्थः स्पृशेत्किंचिद्विकर्मस्थं न चालयेत् । देवतायतने तिष्ठन्न गृहस्थश्चरेत्ध्रुवम्
One observing the vow should not touch anything impure nor disturb it; while staying in the temple of the deity, a householder should remain steadfast.
कृत्वा मासोपवासं तु यथोक्तविधिना नरः । नारी वा विधवा साध्वी वासुदेवं समर्चयेत्
Having performed the month-long fast according to the prescribed method, whether man, woman, or virtuous widow, one should worship Vāsudeva.
अन्यूनाधिकमेवं तु व्रतं त्रिंशद्दिनैरिदम् । कृत्वा मासोपवासं तु संयतात्मा जितेंद्रियः
Thus, whether less or more, this vow is to be observed for thirty days; having completed the month-long fast, with controlled mind and senses.
ततोऽर्चयेदेव पुण्यं द्वादश्यां गरुडध्वजम् । पूजयेत्पुष्पमालाभिर्गंधधूपविलेपनैः
Then, on the auspicious twelfth day, one should worship the bearer of the Garuḍa banner, offering garlands of flowers, fragrant substances, incense, and ointments.