यज्ञसूत्रं ससिंदूरं दत्वा चार्घं सुशोभनम्। सर्वपापं क्षयं याति सप्तजन्मकृतं च यत्
Giving a sacrificial thread with vermilion and a beautiful offering, all sins are destroyed, including those committed over seven births.
नरकैः पीड्यते तावद्रोगैः पापैश्च दुःखदैः। हविष्यं भोजयेदन्नं शुद्धमातपतंडुलैः
One is tormented by hells, diseases, and sins that bring suffering; let one feed with havisya food, pure rice dried in the sun.
वर्जयेच्च शिलाघृष्टं शृंगबेरं तु शाककम्। कोरदूषकपत्रं च रंभाच्छागीघृतं तथा
One should avoid ginger that has been scraped with stone, as well as leafy vegetables, koradūṣaka leaves, and clarified butter from a she-goat or a plantain-fed goat.
केशकीटादिकं वर्ज्यमुष्णोदस्नानमेव च। अल्पबीजादिकं सर्वं व्रते सूरस्य वर्जयेत्
One must also avoid hair, insects, and the like, as well as bathing in hot water; all foods with small seeds should be excluded during the vow dedicated to the Sun.
अन्यच्च नाचरेत्तत्र धर्मचिंतां विना व्रती। सौरव्रतं महापुण्यं पुराणैरभिनंदितम्
Moreover, the observer of the vow should not perform any act there without reflecting on righteousness; the vow to the Sun is highly meritorious and praised in the ancient scriptures.
वर्षकोटिसहस्राणि वर्षकोटिशतानि च। आदित्यस्य समं भोग्यं लभते दिवि शाश्वतम्
For thousands of millions of years, and hundreds of millions of years, one attains enjoyment in heaven equal to that of the Sun, eternal in the celestial realm.
एवं स्वर्गक्षयादेव राजा भूमौ महाधनी। मर्त्यलोके पुराभ्यासात्करोति भास्करव्रतम्
Thus, when his heavenly merit is exhausted, the king is born on earth as exceedingly wealthy; by the force of previous practice, he observes the vow to the Sun even in the world of mortals.
तथा स्वयं सुखं भोग्यं लभते दिवि शाश्वतम्। आरोग्यं संपदं जन्मी भास्करस्य प्रसादतः
In this way, he himself attains enjoyable happiness in heaven eternally, health, and prosperity in birth, by the grace of the Sun.
रविवारे भवेद्या च सप्तमी माघशुक्लके। महाजयेति विख्याता अन्यत्र विजया स्मृता
When the seventh lunar day falls on a Sunday in the bright half of Māgha, it is renowned as the 'Great Victory'; elsewhere, it is known as 'Victory'.
विजया कोटिलक्षं स्यादनंतं स्यान्महाजया। तत्रैकेन व्रतेनैव मुच्यते जन्मबंधनात्
The merit of 'Victory' is a hundred million times, but 'Great Victory' is infinite; by even a single observance of this vow, one is freed from the bondage of birth.
अश्वरत्नं सुवर्णं च रक्तवस्त्रं च धान्यकम्। ददाति भास्कर प्रीत्या स्वर्ग मर्त्यपतिः क्रमात्
With devotion to the Sun, the lord of mortals gradually gives a horse-jewel, gold, red cloth, and grain, and attains heaven.
एषां भेदं प्रवक्ष्यमि शृणु विप्र यथार्थवत्। उत्तमाभरणैर्युक्तं सद्वाहं यो ददाति ह
I will explain the distinctions among these; listen, O Brāhmaṇa, as they truly are: whoever gives a well-equipped horse with excellent ornaments—
समुद्रैस्सप्तभिर्जुष्टां भूमिमेत्यारिवर्जिताम्। लभेद्भवांतरे मर्त्यमेकेनैकाधिपो भवेत्
—and land surrounded by the seven seas, free from enemies, attains, in another birth as a mortal, sovereignty over all with a single gift.
अश्वहीनं च पत्रांगं वृषभैर्वाप्यलंकृतम्। हेममाषं द्विमाषं वा दक्षिणा विहिता बुधैः
If the horse is lacking, or if it is replaced by a bull or is adorned with leaves, then gold or two measures of gold are prescribed as the proper gift by the wise.
रत्नभांडं महार्थं च हैमैरेव कृतं च यत्। स्वर्णं वा केवलं दत्वा त्रिविष्टपधनेश्वरः
A great treasure of jewels, or anything made entirely of gold, or simply giving gold alone, makes one the lord of wealth in heaven.
रक्तवस्त्रं च धान्यं च शक्तितो यः प्रयच्छति। स्वर्गोर्व्योरीशतामेति न तं लक्ष्मीर्विमुंचति
Whoever gives red cloth and grain according to his ability attains lordship over heaven and earth; prosperity never abandons him.
अरोगी सुप्रसन्नात्मा दस्युजेता प्रतापवान्। यावत्प्रभासते भानुस्तावत्पूज्यतमो हि सः
He becomes healthy, with a cheerful mind, victorious over enemies, and powerful; as long as the Sun shines, he is most worthy of worship.
माघादौ द्वादशींमायां सप्तमीं कारयेत्स तु। इहाभीष्टफलं भुक्त्वा सुरैश्चैव प्रपूज्यते
At the beginning of Māgha, one should perform the vow on the seventh day or on the twelfth day in the month of Māyā; having enjoyed desired fruits here, he is honored by the gods.
अर्काङ्गसप्तमी व्रतं कृत्वा च विधिवद्बुधः। पापात्पूत इहाभीष्टं संप्राप्य मुक्तिमाप्नुयात्
Having properly observed the Sun's seventh-day vow, the wise man is purified from sin, attains his desired goal here, and ultimately obtains liberation.
लक्षणं च प्रवक्ष्यामि मासि मासि च यो विधिः। व्रतस्यास्य प्रसादाच्च सुराणामर्चितो दिवि
I will now explain the characteristics and the monthly procedure; by the grace of this vow, one is worshipped among the gods in heaven.
शुक्लपक्षे रविदिने प्रवृत्ते चोत्तरायणे। पुंनामधेयनक्षत्रे गृह्णीयात्सप्तमीव्रतम्
On a day of the waxing fortnight, when the sun is in the northern course, and the lunar mansion is named after a male, one should undertake the Saptamī vow.
हस्तो मैत्रं तथा पुष्यः श्रवो मृग पुनर्वसु। पुंनामधेय नक्षत्राण्येतान्याहुर्मनीषिणः
Hastā, Maitra, Puṣya, Śrava, Mṛga, and Punarvasu—these are the lunar mansions named after males, as declared by the wise.
पंचम्यामेकभक्तं तु षष्ठ्यां नक्तं प्रकीर्तितम्। सप्तम्यामुपवासं च अष्टम्यां पारणं भवेत्
On the fifth day, one meal is prescribed; on the sixth, eating at night is mentioned; on the seventh, fasting is observed; and on the eighth, the breaking of the fast should be performed.
अर्काग्रं शुचिगोमयं सुमरिचं तोयं फलं चाश्नुते । मूलं नक्तमुपोषणं च विधिवत्कृत्वैकभक्तं तथा। क्षीरं वाप्यशनं घृताक्तमिति च प्रोक्ताः क्रमेणामुना। कृत्वा वासरसप्तमीं दिनकृतः प्राप्नोत्यभीष्टं फलं
One should consume the tip of the arka plant, clean cow dung, sumac, water, and fruit; the root, eating at night, fasting according to the rule, and one meal likewise; milk or food mixed with ghee, as stated in order; having performed the Saptamī vow during the day, one attains the desired result.
अर्काग्रं ग्रामात्पूर्वोत्तरदिग्गतार्कविटपस्य शाखाग्रस्थितं। विशिष्टं सूक्ष्मपत्रद्वयं सतोयं दन्तैरस्पृष्टं पातव्यं। शुचिगोमयं भूमावपतितं मद्याङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां पलमात्रं दन्तैरस्पृष्टं सतोयं पातव्यम्। सुमरिचमव्रणमपुरातनं स्थूलमवशुष्कमेकं दन्तैरस्पृष्टं सतोयं पातव्यम्। तोयं ब्रह्मपित्रङ्गुलीमूलप्रसरं पातव्यम्फलं खर्जूरनारिकेलानामन्यतमं दंतैरस्पृष्टं पातव्यं घृताक्तमिति चाहारं मयूरडिंभपरिमाणं। घृतमपि तत्परिमाणम्
The tip of the arka branch should be taken from the east or northeast of the village, from the branch facing the sun, distinguished by two fine leaves, with water, and not touched by the teeth, it should be swallowed; clean cow dung fallen on the ground, measured by the thumb, not touched by the teeth, with water, should be swallowed; sumac, unblemished, old, large, and not dried, one piece, not touched by the teeth, with water, should be swallowed; water from the root of the thumb of a Brahmin or father should be drunk; fruit, either date or coconut, any one, not touched by the teeth, should be swallowed; food mixed with ghee, in the measure of a peacock's egg, and ghee in the same measure.
आत्मनो द्विगुणां छायां यदा कुर्वीत भास्करः। तदा नक्तं विजानीयान्न नक्तं निशिभोजनं
When the sun casts a shadow twice one's own height, then one should recognize the time for eating at night; eating at night is not eating during the night.
प्रथमं पूजयेद्देवं फलपुष्पादिमंत्रकैः। अन्नदानं ततः कुर्याद्विध्युक्तपरिमाणकं
First, one should worship the deity with fruits, flowers, and appropriate mantras; then, one should give food in the prescribed measure.
ततो ध्यानम्-। सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णं सर्वाभरणभूषितं। द्विभुजं रक्तवर्णं च रक्तपंकजधृत्करं
Then, meditation: One should contemplate the deity as possessing all auspicious marks, adorned with all ornaments, two-armed, red in color, and holding a red lotus in the hand.
तेजोबिंबं बहुजलमध्यस्थं सपरिच्छदं। पद्मासनगतं देवं रक्तगंधानुलेपनं
Radiant like a disc, seated amidst much water, with attendants, seated on a lotus throne, and anointed with red fragrance.
आदित्यं चिंतयेद्देवं पूजाकाले विशेषतः। अथ मंत्रश्चायं-। भास्कराय विद्महे सहस्ररश्मये धीमहि तन्नः सूर्यः प्रचोदयात्
One should meditate on the deity Āditya especially at the time of worship. The mantra is: 'We contemplate Bhāskara, the thousand-rayed; may that Sun inspire us.'