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.
गोमहिष्यादि यत्किंचित्तत्सर्वं कर्षयेन्नृप। तेन वस्त्रादिभिः सर्वैस्तोरणंबाह्यतो न्यसेत्
Whatever is from cows, buffaloes, etc., O king, all should be collected; with those cloths and other items, one should place a garland at the entrance.
******* ब्राह्मणानां तथा भोज्यं कुर्यात्कुरुकुलोद्वह। तिस्रो ह्येताः पुरा प्रोक्तास्तिथयः कुरुनन्दन
One should also prepare food for the Brahmins, O best of the Kurus; these three guest days were declared in ancient times, O joy of the Kurus.
कार्तिकाश्वयुजे मासि चैत्रेमासि तथा नृप। स्नानं दानं शतगुणं कार्त्तिके या तिथिर्नृप
In the months of Kārtika, Āśvayuja, and Caitra, O king, bathing and giving gifts are a hundred times more fruitful on the Kārtika day, O king.
बलिराज्ञस्तु शुभदा पशूनां हितकारिणी। "गायत्र्युवाच। यदुक्तं तु तया वाक्यं सावित्र्या कमलोद्भवं
The day of King Bali brings auspiciousness and benefits for animals; Gayatri said: What was spoken by Savitri to you, O lotus-born.
न तु ते ब्राह्मणाः पूजां करिष्यन्ति कदाचन। मदीयं तु वचःश्रुत्वा ये करिष्यन्ति चार्चनं
Those Brahmins will never perform worship; but those who hear my words and perform the ritual.
इह भुक्त्वा तु भोगांस्ते परत्र मोक्षभागिनः। एतां ज्ञात्वा परां दृष्टिं वरं तुष्टः प्रयच्छति
After enjoying pleasures here, they will attain liberation hereafter; knowing this highest vision, the satisfied one grants a boon.
शक्राहं ते वरं दास्ये संग्रामे शत्रुनिग्रहे। तदा ब्रह्मा मोचयिता गत्वा शत्रुनिकेतनम्
Indra said: I will grant you a boon in battle for the defeat of enemies; then Brahma will free you after you go to the enemy's abode.
स्वपुरं लप्स्यसे नष्टं शत्रुनाशात्परां मुदं। अकंटकं महद्राज्यं त्रैलोक्ये ते भविष्यति
You will regain your lost city after destroying the enemy, and you will have supreme joy; your great kingdom in the three worlds will be without thorns.
मर्त्यलोके यदा विष्णो अवतारं करिष्यसि। भ्रात्रा सह परं दुःखं स्वभार्याहरणादिजं
When you incarnate as Vishnu in the mortal world, together with your brother you will suffer greatly due to the abduction of your wife.
हत्वा शत्रुं पुनर्भार्यां लप्स्यसे सुरसन्निधौ। गृहीत्वातां पुनाराज्यं कृत्वा स्वर्गंगमिष्यसि
After slaying the enemy, you will regain your wife in the presence of the gods; taking her, you will again rule and then ascend to heaven.
एकादशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां च पुनर्दिवं। ख्यातिस्ते विपुला लोके अनुरागं जनैस्सह
For eleven thousand years, you will again dwell in heaven; your fame will be vast in the world, along with the affection of the people.
सान्तानिकानाम तेषां लोका स्थास्यन्ति भाविताः। त्वया ते तारिता देव रामरूपेण मानवाः
Their worlds, called Sāntānika, will remain established; by you, O god, men will be delivered in the form of Rāma.
गायत्री तु तदा रुद्रंवरदा प्रत्यभाषत। पतितेपिच ते लिंगे पूजां कुर्वंति ये नराः
Then Gāyatrī spoke to Rudra, the granter of boons: 'Even when your liṅga has fallen, those men who worship it—
ते पूताः पुण्यकर्माणः स्वर्गलोकस्य भागिनः। न तां गतिं चाग्निहोत्रे न क्रतौ हुतपावके
—they are purified, performers of virtuous deeds, and become partakers in the world of heaven; that state is not attained by Agnihotra or by sacrifice into the sacrificial fire.
यां गतिं मनुजा यांति तव लिंगस्य पूजनात्। गंगातीरे सदा लिंगं बिल्बपत्रेण ये तव
The state which men attain by worshipping your liṅga, that state is not reached otherwise; those who always worship your liṅga on the bank of the Gaṅgā with bilva leaves—
पूजयिष्यंति सुप्राता रुद्रलोकस्य भागिनः। प्राप्यापि शर्वभक्तत्वमग्ने त्वं भव पावनः
—those who worship in the early morning become partakers in Rudra's world; and having attained devotion to Śarva, O Agni, you become pure.
त्वयि प्रीते सुराः सर्वे प्रीता वै नात्र संशयः। त्वन्मुखेन हविर्देवैः प्रीताः प्रीते त्वयिध्रुवम्
When you are pleased, all the gods are indeed pleased—there is no doubt of this; through you, the gods are satisfied by the offering, and when you are pleased, they are surely pleased.
भुञ्जते नात्र सन्देहो वेदोक्तं वचनं यथा। गायत्री ब्राह्मणांस्तांश्च सर्वांश्चैवाब्रवीदिदं
They partake of the oblation—there is no doubt—just as the Vedic statement declares; Gāyatrī spoke this to the brāhmaṇas and to all of them.
युष्माकं प्रीणनं कृत्वा सर्वतीर्थेषु मानवाः। पदं सर्वे गमिष्यंति वैराजाख्यं न संशयः
Having pleased you, O brāhmaṇas, men at all holy places will all attain the realm called Vairāja—of this there is no doubt.
अन्नप्रकारान्विविधान्दत्वा दानान्यनेकशः। श्राद्धेषु प्रीणनं कृत्वा देवदेवा भवन्ति ते
By giving various kinds of food and many gifts, and by pleasing you at śrāddha rites, they become like the gods of gods.