भूतप्रेतजरूपेण ते जाता ह्यत्र मानवाः । देशे मरुस्थले त्वस्मिन्ममैते मित्रतां गताः
These men have been born here in the forms of ghosts and pretas; in this desert land, they have become my companions.
अक्षयो भगवान्विष्णुः परमात्मा सनातनः । दीयते यत्समुद्दिश्य ह्यक्षयं तत्प्रकीर्तनम्
The blessed Viṣṇu is imperishable, the supreme soul, eternal; whatever is given with him as the aim is declared to be imperishable.
अक्षयेनापि चान्नेन तृप्ता एते पुनः पुनः । प्रेतत्वभावं दौर्बल्यं न विमुंचति कर्हिचित्
Even with imperishable food, these are satisfied again and again; yet they never abandon the state of preta or their weakness.
पूजयित्वाहमन्नैस्त्वामतिथिं समुपस्थितम् । प्रेतभावाद्विनिर्मुक्तो यास्यामि परमां गतिम्
Having worshipped you, the guest who has arrived, with food, I shall be freed from the state of preta and attain the highest state.
मया विहीनाः किंत्वेते वनेऽस्मिन्भृशदारुणे । पीडामनुभविष्यंति दारुणां कर्मयोनिजाम्
But deprived of me, these here in this very dreadful forest will experience severe suffering, born of terrible karmic causes.
एतेषां तु महाभाग ममानुग्रहकाम्यया । प्रत्येकं नामगोत्राणि गृह्णीष्व लिखितानि च
O greatly fortunate one, desiring my favor for these, please take each of their names and lineages, which are written down.
अस्ति कक्षागता चैव तव संपुटिका शुभा । हिमवंतमथासाद्य तत्र त्वं लप्स्यसे निधिम्
There is a blessed casket kept in your compartment; upon reaching the Himalaya, there you will obtain the treasure.
गयाशीर्षं ततो गत्वा श्राद्धं कुरु महामते । इत्याज्ञाप्य स वै प्रेतो वणिजं च यथासुखम्
Then, going to Gayāśīrṣa, perform the śrāddha, O wise one; thus instructed, that preta dismissed the merchant as he wished.
विसर्जयामास तदा स वै प्रायात्समुत्सुकः । समासाद्य गृहं तत्र पश्चात्प्रायाद्धिमालयम्
Then he let him go, and that one departed, eager; having reached his home there, he afterwards went to the Himalayas.
ततो दृष्टं निधिं तत्र गृहीत्वा स समागतः । षष्ठांशं प्रतिगृह्याथ गयाशीर्षं ततोऽभ्यगात्
There he saw the treasure, and having taken it, he returned; accepting a sixth part, he then went to Gayāśīrṣa.
तत्र गत्वा गयायां स श्राद्धं कृत्वा महामतिः । प्रेतानां तु यथोद्दिष्टं श्राद्धं सम्यग्विधानतः
Having gone there, at Gayā he performed the śrāddha, that wise one; for the pretas, as prescribed, he performed the śrāddha properly, according to the rules.
प्रत्येकं नामगोत्राणि गृहीत्वा पिंडमुत्सृजत् । यस्य यस्य भवेच्छ्राद्धं स करोति दिने वणिक्
Taking each of their names and lineages, he offered the piṇḍa; for whomever the śrāddha was intended, the merchant performed it on that day.
स स तस्य तदा स्वप्ने दर्शयत्यात्मनस्तनुम् । ब्रवीति च महाभाग प्रसादाद्भवतोऽनघ
Then, in a dream, each one shows him his own form; and says, 'O greatly fortunate one, by your faultless favor—'
प्रेतभावं मया त्यक्तं प्राप्तोऽस्मि परमां गतिम् । एवं कृत्वा विधानेन गयाशीर्षं महामनाः
'I have abandoned the state of preta and attained the highest state.' Thus, having performed the prescribed rites at Gayāśīrṣa, the great-minded one—
पश्चाज्जगाम स्वगृहं विष्णुं ध्यायन्पुनः पुनः । मासि भाद्रपदे प्राप्ते शुक्लपक्षे तथा सुधीः
Afterwards, he went to his own home, meditating on Viṣṇu again and again; when the month of Bhādrapada arrived, in the bright fortnight, that wise one—
श्रवणद्वादशीयोगे संगमे सरितां पुनः । जगाम स महाबुद्धिः सर्वोपस्करसंयुतः
When the conjunction of Śravaṇa and the twelfth day occurred, at the confluence of the rivers again, that great-minded one went, equipped with all the necessary items.
संगमे सरितां स्नात्वा द्वादशीं तामुपोषितः । तत्र स्नात्वापि दत्त्वा तु पूजयित्वा जनार्दनम्
Having bathed at the confluence of rivers and observed the fast on that Dvādaśī, there, after bathing, he gave gifts and worshipped Janārdana.
अनंतरं ब्राह्मणस्य ह्युपहारांस्तदा ददौ । शास्त्रोक्तेनापि विधिना ह्येकचित्तरतोऽपि सः
Immediately after, he offered gifts to a brāhmaṇa according to the prescribed injunctions, with a mind intent on the rite.
निवर्त्तयामास तदा वणिजो बुद्धिमान्स वै । वर्षेवर्षे तु संप्राप्ते मासि भाद्रपदे तथा
Then that wise merchant made it his resolve to do so every year, when the month of Bhādrapada arrived.
श्रवणद्वादशीयोगे संगमे सरितां पुनः । एवं वै कृतवान्सर्वं विष्णुमुद्दिश्य सत्वरम्
When the conjunction of Śravaṇa and Dvādaśī occurred, he again went to the confluence of rivers; thus he performed all these acts quickly, dedicated to Viṣṇu.
कालेन चातिमहता पंचत्वं समुपागतः । अवाप परमं स्थानं दुर्लभं सर्वमानवैः
In due course, after a long time, he reached death and attained the supreme state, which is difficult for all humans to obtain.
क्रीडतेऽद्यापि वैकुंठे विष्णुदूतैः स सेवितः । एवं कुरु त्वं भो ब्रह्मन्श्रवणद्वादशीव्रतम्
He now sports in Vaikuṇṭha, served by Viṣṇu's attendants; therefore, O brāhmaṇa, you too should observe the Śravaṇa-Dvādaśī vow in this way.
सर्वसौभाग्यदं चैव इह लोके परत्र च । सुबुद्धिजननं चैव सर्वपापहरं परम्
This vow bestows all good fortune, both in this world and the next; it generates true understanding and is supreme in removing all sins.
श्रवणद्वादशीयोगे यः कुर्याद्व्रतमीदृशम् । व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेन विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति
Whoever performs such a vow at the conjunction of Śravaṇa and Dvādaśī, by the power of this vow, goes to Viṣṇu's world.
नारद उवाच- देवदेव जगन्नाथ भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायक । कथयस्व सुरश्रेष्ठ येन दुःखं न पश्यति
Nārada said: O God of gods, Lord of the universe, bestower of enjoyment and liberation, tell me, O best of the gods, that by which one does not see suffering.
महेश उवाच- शृणु वाडव वक्ष्यामि त्रिरात्रं सरितः शुभम् । येन चीर्णेन नरको मानवानां न जायते
Maheśa said: Listen, O wise one, I will tell you about the auspicious three-night observance at the river, by performing which, hell is not born for humans.
आयुरारोग्यमतुलं सौभाग्यं सुखसंपदम् । संतानं चाक्षयं प्राप्य स्वर्गलोके महीयते
By this, one attains incomparable longevity, health, good fortune, happiness, and wealth, and unending progeny, and is honored in heaven.
आषाढमासि संप्राप्ते नदीपूरेण संयुता । सततं तोयसंस्थाने पुराणे सा च विश्रुता
When the month of Āṣāḍha arrives, and the river is full, always situated in water, it is renowned from ancient times.
वर्षर्तौ घनसंपूर्णे कर्तव्या सा व्रतेन वा । तोयोघैः परिपूर्णा सा सकलैः स्यान्नदी यदा
In the rainy season, when the clouds are full, this should be performed as a vow; when the river is filled with streams of water on all sides.
व्रतं त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य तदा कार्यं प्रयत्नतः । कृतं प्रतिपदा छंदः दर्शनं तु दिनत्रयम्
A vow for three nights should then be undertaken with effort; the first day is called Pratipad, and the observance lasts for three days.