महादेव उवाच- शृणु त्वमिह देवर्षे कथयामि सविस्तरम् । आषाढस्य सिते पक्षे एकादश्यामुपोषितः
Mahādeva said: Listen here, O divine sage, I will tell you in detail: On the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha, having fasted,
चातुर्मास्यव्रतानीह गृह्णीयाद्भक्तिपूर्वकम् । भूमिशय्यासमारूढो योगनिद्रां गते हरौ
One should undertake the Cāturmāsya vows here, with devotion, lying on the ground, when Hari has entered yogic sleep.
नयेत चतुरो मासान्यावद्भवति कार्तिकी । प्रतिष्ठा न प्रवर्त्तंते तथा यज्ञादिकाः क्रियाः
For four months, until the month of Kārtikī arrives, consecrations and sacrificial rites do not proceed.
विवाहव्रतसंबंध अन्यन्माङ्गल्यकर्म च । भूपयानं तथा यात्रा अन्याश्च विविधाः क्रियाः
Marriage, vows, other auspicious ceremonies, royal journeys, expeditions, and various other activities—
प्रसुप्ते च जगन्नाथे अच्युते गरुडध्वजे । व्रतक्रियां चरेद्यस्तु तस्य व्रतफलं शृणु
When the Lord of the universe, Acyuta, the bearer of Garuḍa's banner, is asleep, if someone performs a vow, hear the result of that vow.
अश्वमेधसहस्रैस्तु यत्फलं प्राप्नुयान्नरः । चातुर्मास्यव्रतैश्चीर्णैस्तत्फलं समवाप्नुयात्
The fruit a man attains by performing a thousand horse sacrifices, he attains that same result by observing the four-month vow.
मिथुनस्थे सहस्रांशौ स्वापयेन्मधुसूदनम् । तुलाराशौ गते सूर्ये पुनरुत्थापयेद्धरिम्
When the sun enters the sign of Libra, one should lay Madhusūdana to rest; when the sun moves into Scorpio, one should awaken Hari again.
अधिमासे तु पतिते तदा चैष विधिक्रमः । स्थापयेत्प्रतिमां विष्णोः शंखचक्रगदाधरीम्
If an intercalary month occurs, then this is the prescribed procedure: one should install the image of Viṣṇu holding the conch, discus, and mace.
पीतांबरधरां सौम्यां पर्यंके स्थापयेत्शुचौ । श्वेतवस्त्रसमाच्छन्ने सोपधाने तु नारद
Clad in yellow garments, serene in appearance, the image should be placed on a clean couch, covered with white cloth and provided with a pillow, O Nārada.
इतिहासपुराणज्ञो विष्णुभक्तोऽथवा पुनः । स्नापयित्वा दधिक्षीरमधुलाजघृतस्तथा
A knower of Itihāsa and Purāṇa, or a devotee of Viṣṇu, after bathing the image with curd, milk, honey, grains, and ghee—
समालभ्य शुभैर्गंधैर्धूपैः पुष्पैर्मनोरमैः । पूजितां कुसुमैः शुभ्रैर्मंत्रेणानेन वाडव
Having anointed it with auspicious fragrances, and worshipped it with incense and delightful flowers, and with pure white blossoms, one should honor it with this mantra, O Vāḍava.
सुप्ते त्वयि जगन्नाथे जगत्सुप्तं भवेदिदम् । विबुद्धे त्वयि बुध्येत जगत्सर्वं चराचरम्
When you, Lord of the universe, are asleep, this world too becomes asleep; when you awaken, all the world, both moving and unmoving, awakens.
एवं तां प्रतिमां विष्णोः स्थापयित्वा तु नारद । तस्यैवाग्रे स्वयं वाचा गृह्णीयान्नियमं ततः
Thus, having installed the image of Viṣṇu, O Nārada, one should, in its presence, personally undertake the vow.
स्त्री वा नरो वा तद्भक्तो धर्माधर्मविभागतः । चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्देवस्योत्थापनावधि
Whether woman or man, a devotee of that God, according to the distinction of righteousness and unrighteousness, should undertake the four-month vow until the awakening of the Lord.
गृह्णीयान्नियमानेतान्दंतधावनपूर्वकम् । उपवासं ततः कृत्वा प्रभाते विमले सति
Having accepted these vows, preceded by brushing the teeth, and having fasted, one should, in the pure morning, perform the observance.
नित्यं कर्म चरित्वा तु विष्णोरग्रे जितात्मवान् । तेषां फलानि वक्ष्यामि तत्कर्तॄणां पृथक्पृथक्
Having performed daily duties with self-control before Viṣṇu, I shall now declare the fruits for those who perform them, each separately.
मधुरत्वं लभेद्विद्वान्पुरुषो गुडवर्जनात् । तथैव संततिं दीर्घां तैलस्य वर्जनाद्यतः
By abstaining from jaggery, a learned person attains sweetness; likewise, by abstaining from oil, he attains a long lineage.
घृतस्य वर्जनाद्विप्र सुंदरांगः प्रजायते । कटुतैलपरित्यागी शत्रुनाशमवाप्नुयात्
By abstaining from ghee, O brāhmaṇa, one is born with a beautiful body; by giving up pungent oil, one attains the destruction of enemies.
सुगंधतैलत्यागेन सौभाग्यमतुलं लभेत् । पुष्पभोगपरित्यागी स्वर्गे विद्याधरो भवेत्
By renouncing fragrant oils, one attains incomparable good fortune; by giving up the enjoyment of flowers, one becomes a Vidyādhara in heaven.
योगाभ्यासी नरो यस्तु स ब्रह्मपदमाप्नुयात् । कट्वम्लमधुरक्षारतीक्ष्णकाषाय षड्रसान्
A man who practices yoga attains the state of Brahman; by renouncing the six tastes—bitter, sour, sweet, salty, pungent, and astringent—
वर्जयेद्यस्तु वैरूप्यं दौर्गंध्यं नाप्नुयान्नरः । तांबूलवर्जनाद्भोगी रक्तकंठस्तु जायते
But if a man abstains from betel, he does not acquire deformity or foul odor; by giving up betel, he becomes a serpent with a red throat.
घृतत्यागाच्च लावण्यं सदा स्निग्धतनुर्भवेत् । फलत्यागाच्च विपेंद्र बहुपुत्रश्च जायते
By renouncing ghee, one always attains beauty and a smooth body; by giving up fruits, O best of kings, one is born with many sons.
पलाशपत्राशनकृद्रूपवान्भोगवान्भवेत् । दीप्तिमान्दीप्तिकरणः साक्षाद्द्रव्यपतिर्भवेत्
He who eats palāśa leaves becomes handsome and prosperous; he becomes radiant, a source of radiance, and directly the lord of wealth.
दधिदुग्धपरित्यागी गोलोकं लभते नरः । मौनव्रती भवेद्यस्तु तस्याज्ञाऽस्खलिता भवेत्
A man who gives up curd and milk attains Goloka; and he who observes the vow of silence, his command becomes unerring.
इंद्रासनमवाप्नोति स्थालीपाकस्य वर्जनात् । एवमादि परित्यागाद्धर्मस्थो धर्मनंदनः
By abstaining from food cooked in a pot, one attains Indra’s throne; thus, by such renunciations and others, the righteous one delights in dharma.
नमोनारायणायेति जप्त्वा शतगुणं फलम् । एक एव स वै स्वर्गे विद्याधरपतिर्भवेत्
By reciting 'Salutations to Nārāyaṇa,' one attains a hundredfold reward; he alone becomes the lord of the Vidyādharas in heaven.
पुष्करस्नानमात्रेण गंगायाः स्नानजं फलम्
By merely bathing in Puṣkara, one obtains the merit of bathing in the Gaṅgā.
भूमौ भुंक्ते सदा यस्तु स पृथिव्यधिपो भवेत् । विष्णोश्चैव गृहे कुर्यादुपलेपनमार्जनम्
He who always eats on the ground becomes the lord of the earth; and he who sweeps and smears the house of Viṣṇu—
कल्पस्थायी भवेद्विद्वन्वैकुंठे नात्र संशयः । प्रदक्षिणं च यः कुर्याच्छतमष्टोत्तरं नरः
—O wise one, he remains in Vaikuṇṭha for an age, without doubt; and whoever performs one hundred and eight circumambulations—
हंसयुक्तविमानेन दिव्येन सह गच्छति । गीतवाद्यकरो विष्णोर्गांधर्वं लोकमाप्नुयात्
—he goes in a divine chariot yoked with swans; making music and song for Viṣṇu, he attains the Gandharva world.