एवमुक्तो गतो विष्णुर्ब्रह्मणः सद उत्तम्। गतायामथ सावित्र्यां गायत्री वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed, Viṣṇu, the best of beings, departed from Brahmā; and when Sāvitrī had gone, Gāyatrī spoke these words.
शृण्वन्तु वाक्यमृषयो मदीयं भर्तृसन्निधौ। यदिदं वच्म्यहं तुष्टा वरदानाय चोद्यता
Let the sages hear my words in the presence of my husband; what I now say, being pleased, and ready to grant a boon.
ब्रह्माणं पूजयिष्यंति नरा भक्तिसमन्विताः। तेषां वस्त्रं धनंधान्यं दाराःसौख्यं धनानि च
Men endowed with devotion who worship Brahmā will obtain garments, wealth, grain, wives, happiness, and riches.
अविच्छिन्नं तथा सौख्यं गृहे वै पुत्रपौत्रकम्। भुक्त्वासौ सुचिरं कालमंते मोक्षं गमिष्यति
Likewise, uninterrupted happiness in the home, with sons and grandsons; having enjoyed this for a long time, in the end, they will attain liberation.
"पुलस्त्य उवाच। ब्रह्माणं च प्रतिष्ठाप्य सर्वयत्नैर्विधानतः। यत्पुण्यफलमाप्नोति तदेकाग्रमनाः शृणु
"Pulastya said: Having established Brahmā with all efforts and according to the rules, hear with focused mind the merit that is obtained.
सर्वयज्ञ तपो दान तीर्थ वेदेषु यत्फलम्। तत्फलं कोटिगुणितं लभेतैतत्प्रतिष्ठया
Whatever merit arises from all sacrifices, austerities, gifts, holy places, and the Vedas, that fruit is obtained a crore-fold by this establishment.
पौर्णमास्युपवासं तु कृत्वा भक्त्या नराधिप। अनेन विधिना यस्तु विरिञ्चिं पूजयेन्नरः
Having observed the fast of the full moon with devotion, O king, whoever worships Brahmā by this method—
प्रतिपदि महाबाहो स याति ब्रह्मणः पदम्। विरिञ्चिं वासुदेवं तु ऋत्विग्भिश्च विशेषतः
On the first day, O mighty-armed one, he attains the abode of Brahmā; and especially, along with the priests, he worships Brahmā and Vāsudeva.
कार्तिके मासि देवस्य रथयात्रा प्रकीर्तिता। यांकृत्वावामानवाभक्त्यासंयान्तिब्रह्मलोकताम्
In the month of Kārtika, the festival of the deity's chariot is proclaimed; those who perform it with devotion, even if they are human, reach the world of Brahmā.
कार्तिके मासि राजेंद्र पौर्णमास्यां चतुर्मुखम्। मार्गेण ब्रह्मणा सार्द्धं सावित्र्या च परंतप
In the month of Kārtika, O king, on the full moon, the four-faced one, together with Brahmā and Sāvitrī, O scorcher of foes, follows the path.
भ्रामयेन्नगरं सर्वं नानावाद्यसमन्वितः। स्नपयेद्भ्रमयित्वा तु सलोकं नगरं नृप
He should take the deity throughout the entire city, accompanied by various musical instruments; after leading the procession, O king, he should bathe the deity along with all the people of the city.
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वाग्रे शाण्डिलेयं प्रपूज्य च। आरोपयेद्रथे देवं पुण्यवादित्रनिःस्वनैः
After first feeding the Brahmins and honoring the descendant of Śāṇḍilya, he should place the deity on the chariot with auspicious sounds of sacred instruments.
रथाग्रे शाण्डिलीपुत्रं पूजयित्वा विधानतः। ब्राह्मणान्वाचयित्वातु कृत्वा पुण्याहमङ्गलम्
Having worshipped the son of Śāṇḍilya at the front of the chariot according to the prescribed manner, and after inviting the Brahmins, he should perform the auspicious rites and ceremonies.
देवमारोपयित्वा च रथे कुर्यात्प्रजागरं। नानाविधैः प्रेक्षणिकैर्ब्रह्मघौषैश्च पुष्कलैः
After placing the deity on the chariot, he should keep vigil through the night, with various performances and abundant recitations of Brahma hymns.
कृत्वा प्रजागरं देवं प्रभाते ब्राह्मणान्नृप। भोजयित्वा यथाशक्ति भक्ष्यभोज्यैरनेकशः
Having kept vigil, O king, in the morning he should feed the Brahmins as much as he is able, with many kinds of food and delicacies.
पूजयित्वा जनं धीर मंत्रेण विधिवन्नृप। आज्येन तु महाबाहो पयसा पायसेन च
After worshipping the people with proper mantras, O wise king, he should offer ghee, milk, and rice pudding.
ब्राह्मणान्वाचयित्वा तु स्वस्त्या तु विधिवन्नृप। कृत्वा पुण्याहशब्दं च तद्रथं भ्रामयेत्पुरे
After inviting the Brahmins with auspicious rites, O king, and proclaiming the sacred words, he should lead the chariot through the city.
विप्रैश्चतुर्वेदविद्भिर्भ्रामयेद्ब्रह्मणो रथम्। बह्वृवृचाथर्वणैर्वीरछन्दोगाध्वर्युभिस्तथा
He should have Brahmā's chariot drawn by Brahmins who know the four Vedas: those versed in the Rig, Atharva, Sāma, and Yajur Vedas.
भ्रामयेद्देवदेवस्य सुरश्रेष्ठस्य तं रथं। प्रदक्षिणं पुरं सर्वं मार्गेण सुसमेन तु
He should have the chariot of the god of gods, the foremost of the gods, drawn in a clockwise circuit throughout the city, following the proper path.
न वोढव्यो रथो वीर रूद्रेण हितमिच्छता। न चारोहेद्रथं प्राज्ञो मुक्त्वैकं भोजकं नृपः
The chariot should not be drawn by one seeking the favor of Rudra; nor should a wise person ascend the chariot, except for a single attendant, O king.
ब्रह्मणो दक्षिणे पार्श्वे गायत्रीं स्थापयेन्नृप। भोजकं वामपार्श्वे तुपुरतःपंङ्कजं न्येसेत्
On the right side of Brahmā, O king, he should place the image of Gāyatrī; on the left side, the attendant, and in front, a lotus.
एवं तूर्यनिनादैस्तु शङ्ख शब्दैश्च पुष्कलैः। भ्रामयित्वा रथं वीर पुरं सर्वं प्रदक्षिणम्
Thus, with the sounds of musical instruments and abundant conch blasts, O hero, he should lead the chariot in a clockwise circuit throughout the city.
स्वस्थाने स्थापयेद्देवं दत्वा नीराजनं बुधः। यएवं कुरुते यात्रां यो वा भक्त्यापिपश्यति
He should place the deity in its proper place, after offering the ceremonial waving of lights; whoever performs this procession, or even witnesses it with devotion—
रथं वा कर्षयेद्यस्तु स गच्छेद्ब्रह्मणः पदं। *कार्तिके मास्यमावास्यां यश्च दीपप्रदीपनं
Whoever draws the chariot attains the abode of Brahmā; and whoever, on the new moon of Kārtika, kindles lamps—
शालायां ब्रह्मणः कुर्यात्स गच्छेत्परमं पदम्। गन्धपुष्पैर्नवैर्वस्त्रैरात्मानं पूजयेत्तु यः
Whoever worships himself in the hall of Brahma with fragrant flowers, new garments, and offerings, attains the supreme abode.
तस्यां प्रतिपदायां तु स गच्छेद्ब्रह्मणः पदम्। महापुण्यातिथिरियं *-बलिराज्यप्रवर्तिनी
On that first day, he reaches the abode of Brahma; this is a great, auspicious guest day, established by King Bali.
ब्रह्मणः सुप्रिया नित्यं बालेयी परिकीर्तिता। ब्रह्माणं पूजयेद्योऽस्यामात्मानं च विशेषतः
This day, called Bāleyī, is always especially dear to Brahma; whoever worships Brahma and himself on this day is praised.
स याति परमं स्थानं विष्णोरमिततेजसः। चैत्रे मासि महाबाहो पुण्या प्रतिपदां वरा
He attains the supreme place of Vishnu, of immeasurable brilliance; in the month of Caitra, O mighty one, the first day is most auspicious.
तस्यां यः श्वपचं स्पृष्ट्वा स्नानं कुर्यान्नरोत्तमः। न तस्य दुरितं किंचिन्नाधयो व्याधयो नृप
On that day, O best of men, whoever touches a Śvapaca and then bathes, has no sin, no distress, and no disease, O king.
भवन्ति कुरुशार्दूल तस्मात्स्नानं समाचरेत्। दिव्यं नीराजनंतद्धि सर्वरोगविनाशनं
Therefore, O tiger among Kurus, one should bathe; that divine ritual of waving lights destroys all diseases.