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.
यथाप्राप्तं नदीपूरं स्त्रीभिस्तीरजलस्य तु । अथवा तज्जलं कुंभे कृष्णे कृत्वा गृहं नयेत्
As much river water as is available should be brought by women from the riverbank, or that water should be placed in a black pot and taken home.
प्रातःस्नायी तथा नद्यां गत्वा अभ्यर्चयेत्सुधीः । त्रिरात्रस्योपवासस्य यथाशक्तो भवेद्दिवज
One should bathe in the morning in the river, and then, going there, the wise person should worship; during the three-night fast, one should observe as able, O twice-born.
अशक्तश्चैकभक्तेन कुर्याच्चैवाप्युपोषणम् । दीपं दद्यादविछिन्नं प्रातःसायं च पूजनम्
If unable, one should fast with a single meal; a lamp should be offered without interruption, and worship performed morning and evening.
महानदीं समुच्चार्य नाम्ना च वरुणं तथा । जलमूले तु संस्थाप्य केशवं जलशायिनम्
Reciting the name of the great river and also of Varuṇa, at the base of the water, one should install Keśava, who lies upon the waters.
नमो देव्यै च गंगेति गौतमीति नदीति च । सिंधो चैव च कावेरि सरस्वति नमोऽस्तु ते
Salutations to the goddess, to Ganga, to Gautami, to the river, to Sindhu, to Kaveri, and to Sarasvati—homage to you.
तापी पयोष्णी पूर्णेति महेंद्रसुखदेति च । काश्यपी गंडकी चैव सिंधुनद्यै नमोनमः
To Tapi, Payoshni, Purna, Mahendra-sukhada, Kashyapi, Gandaki, and to the Sindhu river—repeated salutations.
वरुणाय नमस्तेऽस्तु जलवासहरिप्रिय । यादोनाथ रसेशान कल्याणं देहि मे सदा
Salutations to Varuna, beloved of Hari who dwells in the waters; Lord of the aquatic beings, Lord of the ocean, always grant me well-being.
गृहाणार्घं मया दत्तं देहि मे वांछितं फलम् । कूष्मांडैर्नालिकेरैश्च फलैः कालोद्भवैः शुभैः
Receive the offering I have given; grant me the desired fruit, with gourds, coconuts, and auspicious fruits produced in season.
नैवेद्यं घृतपक्वं तु सरितः संप्रकल्पयेत् । नमस्ते केशवानंत जलशायिन्नमोऽस्तु ते
One should prepare as offering to the rivers food cooked with ghee; salutations to Keshava, to Ananta, to the one who lies in the waters—homage to you.
परिपालय मामीश गोविंदवरदो भव । एवं पूजा प्रकर्तव्या यथाकालं क्रमेण तु
Protect me, O Lord, be the giver of boons, O Govinda; thus, this worship should be performed in due order at the proper time.