षष्ठिव्रतं भारत पुण्यमेतत्तवोदितं विश्वजनीनमद्य। श्रोतुं यदीच्छा तवराजराज शृणु द्विजातेः करणीयमेतत्
O Bhārata, this meritorious Ṣaṣṭhī vow has been declared to you, universal and fruitful; if you wish to hear, O king of kings, listen to what must be done by the twice-born.
नैर्मल्यं भावशुद्धिश्चविनास्नानं न विद्यते। तस्मान्मनोविशुद्ध्यर्थं स्नानमादौ विधीयते
Purity and purity of mind do not exist without bathing; therefore, for purification of the mind, bathing is prescribed at the beginning.
अनुद्धृतैरुद्धृतैर्वा जलैः स्नानं समाचरेत्। तीर्थं प्रकल्पयेद्विद्वान्मूलमंत्रेण मंत्रवित्
One should bathe with water, whether drawn or undrawn; the learned should establish the sacred place with the root mantra, knowing the mantra.
नमो नारायणायेति मूलमंत्र उदाहृतः। सदर्भपाणिर्विधिना आचांतः प्रयतः शुचिः
The root mantra is stated as 'Salutations to Nārāyaṇa'; holding darbha grass in hand, one should perform ācamana with proper procedure, being attentive and pure.
चतुर्हस्तसमायुक्तं चतुरश्रं समंततः। प्रकल्प्यावाहयेद्गंगामेभिर्मंत्रैर्विचक्षणः
One should prepare a square area, measuring four hands on each side; the wise should invoke Gaṅgā with these mantras.
विष्णोः पादप्रसूतासि वैष्णवी विष्णुदेवता। त्राहि नस्त्वेनसस्तस्मादाजन्ममरणांतिकात्
You are born from the feet of Viṣṇu, O Vaiṣṇavī, O deity of Viṣṇu; protect us from sin, from birth until the end of death.
तिस्रः कोट्योर्धकोटी च तीर्थानां वायुरब्रवीत्। दिवि भुव्यंतरिक्षे च तानि ते संति जाह्नवि
There are thirty million and more sacred places, said Vāyu; in heaven, on earth, and in the atmosphere, those are yours, O Jāhnavī.
नंदिनीत्येव ते नाम देवेषु नलिनीति च। दक्षा पृथ्वी च सुभगा विश्वकाया शिवासिता
Your names among the gods are Nandinī and Nalini; Dakṣā, Pṛthvī, Subhagā, Viśvakāyā, and Śivāsitā.
विद्याधरी सुप्रसन्ना तथा लोकप्रसादिनी। क्षेमा च जाह्नवी चैव शांता शांतिप्रदायिनी
Vidyādharī, ever gracious, and Lokaprasādinī; Kṣemā, Jāhnavī, Śāntā, and Śāntipradāyinī.
एतानि पुण्यनामानि स्नानकाले प्रकीर्त्तयेत्। भवेत्सन्निहिता तत्र गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी१५० 1.20.
One should recite these auspicious names at the time of bathing; then Gaṅgā, the traverser of three paths, becomes present there.
सप्तवाराभिजप्तेन करसंपुटयोजितम्। मूर्ध्नि कुर्याज्जलं भूयस्त्रिचतुःपंचसप्तधा
After reciting seven times with joined palms, one should pour water on the head repeatedly, three, four, five, or seven times.
स्नानं कुर्यान्मृदातद्वदामंत्र्य तु विधानतः। अश्वक्रांते रथक्रांते विष्णुक्रांते वसुंधरे
One should bathe with earth, as prescribed, reciting the mantra: 'O earth, traversed by horse, traversed by chariot, traversed by Viṣṇu, O Vasundharā.'
मृत्तिके हर मे पापं यन्मया दुष्कृतं कृतम्। उद्धृतासि वराहेण कृष्णेन शतबाहुना
O earth, remove my sin, whatever evil I have committed; you were lifted by the boar, Kṛṣṇa, with a hundred arms.
नमस्ते सर्वलोकानां प्रभवोरणि सुव्रते। एवं स्नात्वा ततः पश्चादाचम्य तु विधानतः
Salutations to you, O origin of all worlds, O virtuous one; thus, after bathing, one should perform ācamana according to the procedure.
उत्थाय वाससी शुभ्रे शुद्धे तु परिधाय वै। ततस्तु तर्पणं कुर्यात्त्रैलोक्याप्यायनाय वै
Rising up, one should put on clean, pure garments; then, indeed, one should perform the offering for the nourishment of the three worlds.
ब्रह्माणं तर्पयेत्पूर्वं विष्णुं रुद्रं प्रजापतीन्। देवायक्षास्तथा नागा गंधर्वाप्सरसां गणाः
First, one should satisfy Brahmā, then Viṣṇu, Rudra, the progenitors, the gods, the yakṣas, the nāgas, and the hosts of gandharvas and apsarases.
क्रूरास्सर्पाः सुपर्णाश्च तरवो जंभकादयः। विद्याधरा जलधरास्तथैवाकाशगामिनः
The fierce serpents, the suparṇas, the trees, the jambhaka spirits and others, the vidyādharas, the cloud-dwellers, and those who move in the sky.
निराधाराश्च ये जीवा पापधर्मरताश्च ये। तेषामाप्यायनायैतद्दीयते सलिलं मया
And those beings who are without support, and those who delight in sinful conduct—this water is given by me for their satisfaction as well.
कृतोपवीतो देवेभ्यो निवीती च भवेत्ततः। मनुष्यांस्तर्पयेद्भक्त्या ऋषिपुत्रानृषींस्तथा
Having performed the upavīta for the gods, and then nivīta, one should devoutly satisfy humans, the sons of the sages, and also the non-sages.
सनकश्च सनंदश्च तृतीयश्च सनातनः। कपिलश्चासुरिश्चैव वोढुः पंचशिखस्तथा
Sanaka, Sananda, and the third, Sanātana, Kapila, Asuri, Voḍhu, and also Pañcaśikha.
सर्वे ते तृप्तिमायांतु मद्दत्तेनांबुना सदा। मरीचिमत्र्यंगिरसौ पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुम्
May all these always be satisfied by the water I have offered: Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu.
प्रचेतसं वसिष्ठं च भृगुं नारदमेव च। देवब्रह्मऋषीन्सर्वांस्तर्पयेत्साक्षतोदकैः
Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and also Nārada; all the divine sages and brahmarṣis should be satisfied with pure water.
अपसव्यं ततः कृत्वा सव्यं जानु च भूतले। अग्निष्वात्तांस्तथा सौम्यान्हविष्मंतस्तथोष्मपान्
Then, having made the sacred thread apasavya and placing the right knee on the ground, one should satisfy the Agniṣvāttas, the Saumyas, the Haviṣmats, and the Uṣmapās.
सुकालिनो बर्हिषदस्तथा चैवाज्यपान्पुनः। संतर्पयेत्पितॄन्भक्त्या सतिलोदकचंदनैः
Those who receive at the proper time, the Barhiṣads, and again those who drink clarified butter—one should satisfy the ancestors with devotion, using water mixed with sesame and sandalwood.
सदर्भपाणिर्विधिना पितॄंन्स्वांस्तर्पयेतत्तः। पित्रादीन्नामगोत्रेण तथा मातामहानपि
With darbha grass in hand, according to the rite, one should then satisfy one's own ancestors, naming them by their lineage, as well as the maternal grandfathers.
संतर्प्य विधिवद्भक्त्या इमं मंत्रमुदीरयेत्। यो बांधवा बांधवा ये येन्यजन्मनि बांधवाः
Having properly and devoutly satisfied them, one should recite this mantra: 'Those who are relatives, and those who were relatives in previous births—'
ते तृप्तिमखिलायां तु येप्यस्मत्तोयकांक्षिणः। आचम्य विधिना सम्यगालिखेत्पद्ममग्रतः
'May all those who desire water from me attain complete satisfaction.' Then, having performed proper purification, one should draw a lotus in front.
साक्षताद्भिस्सपुष्पाभिः सतिलारुणचंदनैः। अर्घ्यं दद्यात्प्रयत्नेन सूर्यनामानुकीर्तनैः
With real flowers, sesame, red sandalwood, one should carefully offer arghya, reciting the names of the Sun.
नमस्ते विश्वरूपाय नमस्ते विष्णुरूपिणे। सर्वदेवनमस्तेस्तु प्रसीद मम भास्कर
Salutation to the One of universal form, salutation to the One who is Viṣṇu in form; salutation to all the gods—be gracious to me, O Sun.
दिवाकर नमस्तेस्तु प्रभाकर नमोस्तु ते। एवं सूर्यं नमस्कृत्य त्रिः कृत्वा च प्रदक्षिणम्
Salutation to you, O Divākara; salutation to you, O Prabhākara. Thus, having saluted the Sun and circumambulated three times—