ऋषय ऊचुः - को भवान्न हि जानीमः कस्मात्कारणतां गतः । देवो वा यदि वा चान्यः कथयस्व यथातथम्
The sages said: 'Who are you? We do not know. For what reason have you come? Are you a god or someone else? Tell us truly as it is.'
वागुवाच - यः कर्ता सर्वभूतानां भुवनानां च सर्वशः । विस्मितान्विदुषः प्रेक्ष्य सोऽहं विष्णुः सनातनः
The voice said: 'I am Viṣṇu, the eternal one, the creator of all beings and all worlds; seeing you amazed and inquiring, I have revealed myself.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा देवदेवस्य भाषितं ब्रह्मणः सुताः । अनादिनिधनं देवं स्तोतुं तत्र प्रचक्रमुः
Hearing the words of the god of gods, the sons of Brahmā there began to praise the god who is without beginning or end.
नमो भूतात्मभूताय आत्मने परमात्मने । अच्युताय नमो नित्यमनंताय नमो नमः
'Salutations to the soul of all beings, to the supreme soul; salutations to Acyuta, the eternal, the infinite—again and again, salutations.'
दामोदराय कवये यज्ञेशाय नमो नमः । एवं स्तुतस्तु ऋषिभिस्तुतोष भगवान्हरिः
'Salutations to Dāmodara, the wise, the lord of sacrifice—again and again, salutations.' Thus praised by the sages, the blessed Hari was pleased.
प्रत्युवाच महर्षींस्तानभीष्टं किं ददामि वः । ऋषय ऊचुः यदि तुष्टोऽसि भगवन्नस्माकं हितकाम्यया
He addressed those great sages: 'What boon shall I grant you?' The sages said: 'If you are pleased, O Lord, for the sake of our welfare—'
व्रतं किंचित्समाख्याहि स्वर्गमोक्षफलप्रदम् । धनधान्यप्रदं पुण्यमात्मनस्तुष्टिकारकम्
'Please declare a vow that bestows the fruit of heaven and liberation, that grants wealth and grain, that is meritorious and brings satisfaction to the soul.'
अल्पायासं बहुफलं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । कृतेन येन देवेश विष्णुलोके महीयते
'A vow that is easy to perform, yields great results, and is the best of vows; by which, when performed, O Lord of gods, one is honored in Viṣṇu's world.'
विष्णुरुवाच- फाल्गुने शुक्लपक्षे तु पुष्येण द्वादशी यदि । भवेत्सा च महापुण्या महापातकनाशिनी
Viṣṇu said: If, in the bright fortnight of Phālguna, the twelfth day coincides with Puṣya, that day is supremely auspicious and destroys great sins.
विशेषस्तत्र कर्त्तव्यः शृणुध्वं द्विजसत्तमाः । आमलकीं च संप्राप्य जागरं तत्र कारयेत्
A special observance is to be performed then; listen, O foremost twice-born! Upon reaching the Āmalakī tree, one should keep vigil there.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । एतद्वः कथितं विप्रा व्रतानां व्रतमुत्तमम् । अर्चयित्वाच्युतं तस्यां विष्णुलोकान्न मुच्यते
Freed from all sins, one attains the merit of giving a thousand cows. This, O Brāhmaṇas, is the supreme vow among vows. Worshipping Acyuta there, one is never deprived of Viṣṇu's realm.
ऋषय ऊचुः - व्रतस्यास्य विधिं ब्रूहि परिपूर्णं कथं भवेत् । के मंत्राः के नमस्काराः देवता का प्रकीर्तिता
The sages said: Tell us the complete procedure for this vow—what mantras, what salutations, and which deity is invoked?
कथं दानं कथं स्नानं कश्च पूजाविधिः स्मृतः । अर्घार्चनस्य मंत्रं तु कथयस्व यथातथम्
How is charity given, how is bathing done, and what is the prescribed method of worship? Please explain the mantra for offering and worship, exactly as it is.
विष्णुरुवाच- श्रूयतां यो विधिः सम्यग्व्रतस्यास्य द्विजर्षभाः । एकादश्यां निराहारः स्थित्वा चैव परेऽहनि
Viṣṇu said: Hear the proper procedure for this vow, O best of twice-born! On Ekādaśī, one should fast, and on the following day—
भोक्ष्येऽहं पुंडरीकाक्ष शरणं मे भवाच्युत । इति कृत्वा तु नियमं दंतधावनपूर्वकम्
One should resolve: 'On the next day, I will eat, O lotus-eyed one; be my refuge, O Acyuta.' Having made this vow, preceded by brushing the teeth—
नालपेत्पतितांश्चौरांस्तथा पाषंडिनो नरान् । दुर्वृत्तान्भिन्नमर्यादान्गुरुदारप्रधर्षकान्
One should not converse with fallen people, thieves, heretics, those of evil conduct, violators of boundaries, or those who have violated their teacher's wife.
अपराह्णे ततः स्नानं विधिना कारयेद्बुधः । नद्यां तडागे कूपे वा गृहे वा नियतात्मवान्
In the afternoon, the wise should bathe according to the prescribed method—whether in a river, pond, well, or at home, with self-control.
मृत्तिकालंभनं पूर्वं ततः स्नानं च कारयेत् । अश्वक्रांते रथक्रांते विष्णुक्रांते वसुंधरे
First, one should take up clay, then perform the bath, saying: 'O earth, trodden by horses, chariots, and Viṣṇu—'
मृत्तिके हर मे पापं यन्मया दुष्कृतं कृतम्
'O clay, remove my sin, whatever misdeed I have committed.'
इति मृत्तिकामंत्रः । त्वमंबु सर्वभूतानां जीवनं तनुरक्षकम् । स्वेदजोद्भिज्जजातीनां रसानां पतये नमः
This is the clay mantra: 'You are water, the life of all beings, the protector of bodies. Salutations to you, lord of the juices of those born from sweat and from eggs.'
स्नातोऽहं सर्वतीर्थेषु ह्रदप्रस्रवणेषु च । नदीषु देवखातेषु इदं स्नानं तु मे भवेत्
'I am bathed in all sacred waters, in lakes and springs, in rivers and divine ponds; let this bath be mine.'
इति स्नानमंत्रः । जामदग्न्यं मुनिं चैव कारयित्वा हिरण्मयम् । माषकस्य सुवर्णस्य तदर्द्धार्द्धेन वा पुनः
This is the bathing mantra: After making a golden image of the sage Jāmadagnya, using a measure of gold or half that, or again—
गृहमागत्य पूजायाः पूजाहोमं तु कारयेत् । ततश्चामलकीं गच्छेत्सर्वोपस्करसंयुतः
Returning home, one should perform worship and homa for the pūjā. Then, equipped with all necessary items, one should proceed to the Āmalakī tree.
आमलकीं ततो गत्वा परिशोध्य समंततः । स्थापयेत्सततं कुंभमव्रणं मंत्रपूर्वकम्
Having reached the Āmalakī tree, one should thoroughly cleanse the surroundings, and then place a flawless pot, preceded by mantra recitation.
पंचरत्नसमोपेतं दिव्यगंधाधिवासितम् । छत्रोपानद्युगोपेतं सितचंदनचर्चितम्
The pot should be adorned with five gems, infused with divine fragrance, equipped with umbrella and pair of sandals, and smeared with white sandal paste.
स्रग्दामलंबितग्रीवं सर्वधूपविधूपितम् । दीपमालाकुलं कुर्यात्सर्वतः सुमनोहरम्
With a garland hanging from its neck, suffused with all kinds of incense, one should arrange rows of lamps all around, making it exceedingly beautiful.
तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रं दिव्यलाजैः प्रपूरितम् । पात्रोपरि न्यसेद्देवं जामदग्न्यं महाप्रभम्
Upon that, one should place a vessel filled with divine roasted grains; upon the vessel, one should place the illustrious deity Jāmadagnya.
विशोकाय नमः पादौ जानुनी विश्वरूपिणे । उग्राय च ततोऽप्यूरू कटी दामोदराय च
To Viśoka, obeisance at the feet; to Viśvarūpin at the knees; then to Ugra at the thighs, and to Dāmodara at the hips.
उदरं पद्मनाभाय उरः श्रीवत्सधारिणे । चक्रिणे वामबाहुं च दक्षिणं गदिने नमः 6.45.
To Padmanābha at the belly, to the bearer of Śrīvatsa at the chest; to the wielder of the discus at the left arm, and to the wielder of the mace at the right arm, obeisance.
वैकुंठाय नमः कंठमास्यं यज्ञमुखाय वै । नासां विशोकनिधये वासुदेवाय चाक्षिणी
To Vaikuṇṭha, obeisance at the neck; to Yajñamukha at the mouth; to the treasure of freedom from sorrow at the nose; and to Vāsudeva at the eyes.