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.
प्रार्थना चोपचारैस्तु त्रिरात्रनियमः शुचिः । पारणेन तु संपूज्य जलपात्रं समाचरेत्
With prayers and offerings, maintaining purity for three nights, one should complete the worship with the concluding rite, using a vessel of water.
फलपुष्पैस्तथा विद्वन्स्त्रीभिर्बालैर्नरैरपि । गीतवादित्रसहितैर्नदी कुंभ परिप्लुतैः
With fruits and flowers, O wise one, by women, children, and men, accompanied by song and musical instruments, and with river pots filled with water.
जलेजले समास्थाप्य फलपुष्पैः प्रपूजयेत् । धान्यैर्नानाविधैश्चैव जलप्रक्षेपणैरपि
In every body of water, one should establish and worship with fruits and flowers, with various kinds of grains, and by pouring water as well.
हास्यैर्गीतैश्च नृत्यैश्च गृहमागत्य यत्नतः । सप्तधान्यैः पूरितानि वंशपात्राणि पूजयेत्
With laughter, songs, and dances, having come home with care, one should worship bamboo vessels filled with seven kinds of grains.
सप्त वा पंच वा त्रीणि यथाशक्त्या प्रपूरयेत् । त्रिरात्रं च नदीतोयं न पिबेद्धितमुल्लसन्
Seven, or five, or three—one should fill them according to ability; for three nights, one should not drink river water, even if thirsty.
पारणे तु हविष्यान्नं हृतं वा ह्यन्यथा भवेत् । कृते स्नानार्चने चैव नोपयोज्यं नदीजलम्
At the conclusion, one may eat havis-food, or otherwise as appropriate; after bathing and worship, river water should not be used.
शुच्यन्नानि च भोज्यानि दापयत्त्रितयं तथा । सप्तैव वंशपात्राणि सप्त वै मणिकास्तथा
One should give pure foods to eat, and likewise three, or seven bamboo vessels, and also seven gems.
हविष्यान्नं च भुंजीत कट्वम्लमधुवर्जितम् । माषान्नं च शिलापिष्टं यत्नेन परिवर्जयेत्
One should eat havis-food, avoiding pungent, sour, and honey; one should carefully avoid mashed black gram food ground on stone.
एवं वर्षत्रयं कुर्याद्व्रतमेतद्दिवजोत्तम । वर्षत्रये समाप्यैवं तस्योद्यापनमाचरेत्
Thus, O best of the twice-born, one should observe this vow for three years; at the end of three years, one should perform the concluding rite.
कृष्णां गां कृष्णवस्त्रां च तिलान्दद्याच्च नारद । दंपती परिदाप्यैवं सुवर्णं चापि शक्तितः
One should give a black cow, black cloth, and sesame, O Narada; after clothing a couple, also gold according to ability.