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.
वस्त्रालंकारवाद्यैश्च तोषयेदच्युतं नरः । संस्नापयेद्धरिं भक्त्या तीर्थचंदनवारिभिः
With garments, ornaments, and musical instruments, one should please Acyuta; one should bathe Hari with devotion, using sacred sandalwood water.
चंदनेनानुलिप्तांगं धूपपुष्पैरलंकृतम् । वस्त्रदानादिभिश्चैव भोजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान्
Having anointed the limbs with sandalwood, adorned with incense and flowers, after giving garments and other gifts, one should feed the foremost Brahmins.
दद्याच्च दक्षिणां तेभ्यः प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत् । एवं मासोपवासाद्धि कृत्वाभ्यर्च्य जनार्दनम्
One should give them a donation, bowing down and asking forgiveness; thus, having worshipped Janārdana after the month-long fast,
भोजयित्वा द्विजांश्चैव विष्णुलोके महीयते । एवं मासोपवासांते कृत्वा विप्रान्त्रयोदश
And having fed the Brahmins, one is honored in the realm of Viṣṇu; thus, at the end of the month-long fast, having honored thirteen Brahmins.
निर्यापयेत्ततस्तान्वै विधिना येन तच्छृणु । कारयेद्वैष्णवं यज्ञमेकादश्यामुपोषितः
Then, listen to the proper method by which he should conduct them forth; having fasted on the eleventh day, he should perform a Vaiṣṇava sacrifice.
पूजयित्वा तु देवेशमाचार्यानुज्ञया हरिम् । अर्चयित्वा यथाशक्त्या ह्यभिवाद्य गुरुं तथा
Having worshipped the Lord of the gods, Hari, with the permission of the teacher, and having offered worship to the best of his ability, he should also bow to the guru.
ततोनुभोजयेद्विप्रान्नमस्कारपुरःसरम् । विशुद्धकुलचारित्र विष्णुपूजनतत्परान्
Then, with reverence, he should feed the brāhmaṇas who are of pure lineage and conduct, devoted to the worship of Viṣṇu.
पूजयित्वा तथा सर्वान्भोजयित्वा त्रयोदश । तांबूलवस्त्रयुग्मानि भोजनाच्छादनानि च
Having worshipped all of them in this way and fed thirteen, he should give betel, pairs of garments, food, and coverings.
योगपट्टानि सूत्राणि ब्रह्मसूत्राणि चैव हि । दद्याच्चैव द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः पूजयित्वा प्रणम्य च
He should also give yoga-belts, sacred threads, and brahma-threads to the foremost twice-born, after worshipping and bowing to them.
ततोनुपूजयेच्छक्त्या शय्यां स्तरणसंस्कृताम् । साच्छादनां शुभां श्रेष्ठां सोपधानामलंकृताम्
Then, according to his ability, he should further honor them with a bed, well-prepared with bedding, auspicious, excellent, complete with pillows and adorned.