बहिर्भूय द्रुतं गेहाद्रुदंती च पुनः पुनः । तस्याश्च रोदनं श्रुत्वा चागताहं समीपतः
'She repeatedly ran out of the house, weeping again and again. Hearing her cries, I approached her.'
अपृच्छं सर्ववृत्तांतं कथितो वै यथार्थतः । तया ततो व्रतवरमुपदेशं ददाम्यहम्
'I inquired about the whole matter, and she told me everything truthfully. Then I gave her instruction in a noble vow.'
ममोपदेशतः सा वै चक्रे व्रतवरं मुदा । तस्य प्रसादाद्भो द्वाःस्थे संजाता सुखिता च सा
'By my instruction, she joyfully undertook the noble vow. O doorkeeper, by its grace, she became happy.'
कदाचिद्वैश्यकुलजा पत्या मृत्योर्वशं गता । समानेतुं ततस्तौ तु विहिताखिलघातकौ
'Once, the merchant's daughter was claimed by death through her husband. Then, the two were destined for total destruction.'
किंकरान्प्रेषयामास चंडाद्यान्धर्मराट्प्रभुः । यमाज्ञया समायाता यमदूता भयंकराः
'The lord of Dharma, Yama, sent his fierce servants, Caṇḍa and others. By Yama's command, the terrifying messengers arrived.'
बद्ध्वा तौ चर्मपाशेन लोहमुद्गरपाणयः । उद्यमं चक्रिरे गंतुं यमस्य शरणं प्रति
'Binding them with leather straps and holding iron clubs, they prepared to take them to the refuge of Yama.'
अत्रांतरे च लक्ष्म्यास्ते दूता विष्णुपरायणाः । समानेतुं समायाताः शंखचक्रगदाधराः
'Meanwhile, Lakṣmī's messengers, devoted to Viṣṇu, arrived to bring them back, bearing conch, discus, and mace.'
दृष्ट्वा तथाविधांस्तांश्च यमदूताः पलायिताः । लक्ष्मीदूता महात्मानः स्वप्रकाशादयस्तथा
'Seeing those messengers in such a form, the messengers of Yama fled. The great-souled messengers of Lakṣmī, shining with their own radiance, stood there.'
पाशं छित्त्वा समारोप्य राजहंसयुते रथे । जग्मुर्लक्ष्मीपुरं सर्वे सहसाकाशवर्त्मना
Having cut the noose, they mounted a chariot drawn by royal swans and all proceeded to the city of Lakshmi by the celestial path.
यावद्वारं व्रतवरं कृत्वा वैश्या च सा तदा । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि तस्थतुः कमलापुरे
As long as the excellent vow was performed by that merchant woman at the gate, for that many thousands of aeons they remained in the city of the Lotus.
पुण्यशेषस्य भोगार्थं जातौ राजान्वयेऽधुना । व्रतं च विस्मृतौ द्वाःस्थे राजसंपत्तिगर्वितौ । तस्माच्च तव तस्यापि चोपदेशार्थमागता
For the sake of enjoying the remaining merit, they have now been born in a royal lineage; but, proud of royal wealth, both the doorkeeper and she have forgotten the vow; therefore, I have come to instruct you and her.
द्वाःस्थोवाच- केनैव तु विधानेन वृद्धे व्रतवरं कृतम् । कस्मिन्मासे व्रतं श्रेष्ठं देवता का च पूज्यते
The doorkeeper said: By what procedure, O aged one, was the excellent vow performed? In which month is the vow supreme, and which deity is to be worshipped?
एतन्मे पृच्छतो मातर्यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि । कमलोवाच- कार्त्तिके च व्यतिक्रांते मार्गशीर्षे समागते । तस्मिन्मासे च भो पोष्ये वासरे गुरुसंज्ञके
As I ask this, Mother, you should tell me properly. Kamala said: When Karttika has passed and Margashirsha arrives, in that month, O dear one, on the day called Guru (Thursday)...
ततः पूर्वाह्णसमये सकलैर्व्रतिभिर्वृता । नारायणेन सहितां लक्ष्मीं संपूजयेत्ततः
Then, in the forenoon, surrounded by all the vow-observers, one should worship Lakshmi together with Narayana.
मिष्टैः पायसयुक्तैश्च भुक्तैश्च खंडमिश्रितैः । लक्ष्मीं संतोषयेत्प्रेष्ये ततः संप्रार्थयेदिदम्
With sweet foods, rice pudding, and offerings mixed with sugar, one should satisfy Lakshmi, and then make this request:
त्रैलोक्यपूजिते देवि कमले विष्णुवल्लभे । यथा त्वमचला कृष्णे तथा भव मयि स्थिता
"O goddess worshipped by the three worlds, O Kamala, beloved of Vishnu, as you are steadfast with Krishna, so may you remain with me."
ईश्वरी कमले देवि शरणं च भवानघे । नानोपहारद्रव्यैश्च लक्ष्मीमाज्ञाप्य तोषयेत्
"O sovereign, O Kamala, O sinless goddess, be my refuge. With various offerings and gifts, one should propitiate Lakshmi."
शास्त्रैश्च पूजयेद्देवीं महोत्सवसमन्विताम् । ततो नैवेद्यशेषांश्च दत्वा ब्राह्मणसत्तमम्
With scriptures, one should worship the goddess, accompanied by a great festival; then, giving the remnants of the offering to an excellent Brahmin...
आत्मानं स्वपतिं पुत्रान्पोष्येऽन्यानपि सेवकान् । द्वितीये तु गुरोर्वारे विशेषं शृणु सुंदरि
...to oneself, one's husband, sons, dependents, and other servants. Now, on the second Thursday, listen, O beautiful one, to the special observance.
चित्रधूलीप्रशस्तैश्च भ्राष्ट्रैर्गोधूमनिर्मितैः । तोषयेत्कमलादेव्याः कुर्य्याद्वै भक्तिभावतः
With pans made of fine rice-flour dust, prepared from wheat flour, one should, with devotion, satisfy the goddess Kamala.
तृतीये खंडसंयुक्तं दध्योदननिवेदनम् । शामाक शालि कासारैश्चतुर्थे पूजयेन्मुदा
On the third Thursday, one should offer curd-rice mixed with sugar; with shāmāka, rice, and kāsāra, on the fourth, one should worship joyfully.
लक्ष्मीदेवीं प्रयत्नेन रत्नदंडकरे ततः । लक्ष्मीदेवी प्रीतये तु ब्राह्मणान्पूजयेद्धनैः
With effort, one should worship the goddess Lakshmi, holding a staff of jewels; for the pleasure of Lakshmi, one should honor Brahmins with wealth.
वस्त्रालंकारभोज्यैश्च फलैर्नानाविधैस्तथा । पोष्योवाच- अत्रैव तिष्ठ भो वृद्धे राज्ञीं सुरतिचंद्रिकाम्
With garments, ornaments, food, and various kinds of fruits as well. The dependent said: Remain here, O aged one, while I inform Queen Suratachandrikā.
विज्ञाप्य त्वां नयिष्यामि मा क्रोधं कुरु सत्तमे । इत्युक्त्वा सा तु चार्वंगी गता राज्ञीसमीपतः
"Having informed you, I will take you; do not be angry, O noble one." Having said this, the beautiful-limbed one went to the queen.
शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय पोष्या ब्रह्मन्समूलतः । आरभ्य सांगपर्यंतं यदूचे कमलालया
With hands joined upon her head, the dependent, along with the Brahmin, recited from beginning to end all that Kamala had said.
तत्सर्वं कथयामास राज्ञीं सुरतिचंद्रिकाम् । द्वारपालीवचः श्रुत्वा राज्ञी सुरतिचंद्रिका
She related all of it to Queen Suratachandrikā; hearing the words of the doorkeeper, Queen Suratachandrikā...
जगाम ब्राह्मणीपार्श्वं सगर्वा प्राह सुंदर । राज्ञ्युवाच- वृद्धे ब्राह्मणि किं वृत्तं चोपदेशार्थमागता
She went to the Brahmin woman with pride and spoke beautifully. The queen said: O aged Brahmin woman, what has happened that you have come here to give advice?
कथयस्व चिरं मह्यं भयं त्यक्त्वा यथासुखम् । ब्राह्मण्युवाच- तवानीतिमहं दृष्ट्वा गंतुमिच्छामि चंचला
Speak to me at length, without fear, as you wish. The Brahmin woman said: Having seen your conduct, I, unsettled, wish to leave.
कथयिष्यामि किं दुष्टे व्रतं परमदुर्लभम् । इंदिरावासरे चाद्य चांडालेन करोषि यत्
I will tell you, O wicked one, about the extremely rare vow. On this day sacred to Indirā, you are performing it with a caṇḍāla.
तद्दृष्टं मयि का दुष्टे तद्गेहे गर्वितेऽधुना । तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणीवाक्यं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचना
O wicked and proud one, I have seen that in your house. Hearing the words of the Brahmin woman, her eyes became red with anger.