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.
ललाटं वामनायेति रामायेति भ्रुवौ नमः । सर्वात्मने तु तच्छीर्षं नम इत्यभिपूजयेत्
To Vāmana at the forehead, to Rāma at the brows, obeisance; and to the all-pervading soul at the head, one should worship with the word 'obeisance.'
इति पूजामंत्रः । ततो देवाधिदेवाय अर्घं चैव प्रदापयेत् । फलेन चैव शुभ्रेण भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा
Thus is the worship mantra. Then, one should offer arghya to the god of gods, with a pure fruit and a mind endowed with devotion.
ततो जागरणं कुर्याद्भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा । नृत्यैर्गीतैश्च वादित्रैर्द्धर्माख्यानैः स्तवैरपि
Then, one should keep vigil with a mind full of devotion, with dances, songs, musical instruments, recitations of dharma, and hymns.
वैष्णवैश्च तथाख्यानैः क्षपयेत्सर्वशर्वरीम् । प्रदक्षिणां ततः कुर्याद्धात्र्या वै विष्णुनामभिः
And with Vaiṣṇava stories, one should pass the entire night; then one should perform circumambulation of the vessel, reciting the names of Viṣṇu.
अष्टाधिकं शतं चैव अष्टाविंशतिरेव वा । ततः प्रभाते समये कृत्वा नीराजनं हरेः
One should circumambulate either one hundred and eight times or twenty-eight times; then, at dawn, perform the waving of lights for Hari.
ब्राह्मणं पूजयित्वा तु सर्वं तस्मै निवेदयेत् । जामदग्न्य घटे तत्र वस्त्रयुग्ममुपानहौ
After worshipping a brāhmaṇa, one should offer everything to him: in the Jāmadagnya vessel, a pair of garments and sandals.
जामदग्न्यस्वरूपेण प्रीयतां मम केशवः । ततश्चामलकीं स्पृष्ट्वा कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणाम्
May Keśava be pleased with me in the form of Jāmadagnya; then, touching the āmalakī fruit, one should perform circumambulation.
स्नानं कृत्वा विधानेन ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्ततः । ततश्च स्वयमश्नीयात्कुटुंबेन समावृतः
After bathing according to the rule, one should then feed the brāhmaṇas; and afterwards, one should eat oneself, together with one's family.
एवं कृतेन यत्पुण्यं तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते । सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम्
I shall tell you all the merit obtained by performing thus: the merit gained at all sacred waters and the fruit of all gifts.
सर्वयज्ञाधिकं चैव लभते नात्र संशयः । एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम्
One certainly attains that which surpasses all sacrifices; all this, the supreme vow among vows, has been declared to you.