द्विजं गां कांचनं चैव दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वा गृहं व्रजेत्। स्वगेहस्थां ततः पुण्यां प्रतिमां चापि पूजयेत्
Seeing and touching a brāhmaṇa, a cow, or gold, one should return home; then, one should worship a meritorious image kept at home.
भोजनं च ततः पश्चाद्द्विजपूर्वं च कारयेत्। अनेन विधिना सर्वॠषयः सिद्धिमागताः
Afterwards, one should arrange for food, first for the brāhmaṇa; by this procedure, all the sages attained success.
पुलस्त्य उवाच सुहृच्छक्रस्य निहता येन दैत्यास्सहस्रशः
Pulastya said: He by whom the thousands of Daityas, the enemies of the gods, were slain,
सोमसूर्यादयो यस्य तेजसा विगतप्रभाः।। भवंति शतशो येन दानवाश्च पराजिताः
By whose radiance the moon, sun, and others lose their brilliance; by whom hundreds of Dānavas are defeated,
यथेच्छरूपधारी च मानुषोप्यपराजितः।। तस्य भानुमती भार्या सती त्रैलोक्यसुंदरी
Who, assuming any form at will, remains undefeated even as a man—his wife is Bhānumatī, a chaste woman, the most beautiful in the three worlds.
लक्ष्मीसदृशरूपेण निर्जितामरसुंदरी।। राज्ञस्तस्याग्रमहिषी प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसी
With a form like Lakṣmī, surpassing the beauty of the celestial maidens, she is the chief queen of that king, dearer to him than life itself.
दशनारीसहस्राणां मध्ये श्रीरिव राजते।। नृपकोटिसहस्रेण न कदाचित्समुच्यते
Amidst ten thousand women she shines like Śrī herself; among a hundred thousand kings she is never equaled.
कदाचिदास्थानगतः पप्रच्छ स्वपुरोहितम्।। विस्मयेनावृतो नत्वा वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्
Once, while seated in his court, he asked his family priest, bowing with wonder before the eminent sage Vasiṣṭha:
भगवन्केन धर्मेण मम लक्ष्मीरनुत्तमा।। कस्माच्च विपुलं तेजो मच्छरीरे सदोत्तमम्
"Revered one, by what virtue do I possess such an incomparable wife? And why does this supreme radiance always abide in my body?"
वसिष्ठ उवाच तया दत्तश्चतुर्दश्यां पुष्करे लवणाचलः
Vasiṣṭha said: On the fourteenth day, at Puṣkara, she gave Mount Lavana,
हेमवृक्षामरैः सार्द्धं यथावद्विधिपूर्वकं।। शूद्रः सुवर्णकारश्च कर्मकृत्सोऽभवत्तदा
Along with golden trees and gods, properly and according to rule; at that time, a Śūdra goldsmith performed the work.
भृत्यो लीलावतीगेहे तेन हैमा विनिर्मिताः।। तरवो हेमपुष्पाश्च श्रद्धायुक्तेन पार्थिव
A servant in Līlāvatī’s house, he skillfully made golden trees with golden flowers, O king, filled with devotion.
अतिरूपेण संपन्ना घटितास्ते सुशोभनाः।। धर्मकार्यमिति ज्ञात्वा न गृहीतं च वेतनम्
Exceedingly beautiful and well-crafted, those trees were made; knowing it was a righteous act, he did not accept any wage.
उज्ज्वालिताश्च ते पत्न्या सुवर्णमयपादपाः।। लीलावतीगृहे चापि परिचर्या च पार्थिव
Those golden trees were offered by your wife, and in Līlāvatī’s house, service was also performed, O king.
कृता ताभ्यामशाठ्येन द्विजशुश्रूषणादिका।। सा च लीलावती वेश्या कालेन महतानघ
By both of them, without deceit, service to the twice-born and other acts were done; and Līlāvatī, though a courtesan, in time, O sinless one,
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता जगाम शिवमंदिरम्।। योऽसौ सुवर्णकारश्च दरिद्रोप्यतिसत्त्ववान्
Freed from all sin, attained the abode of Śiva; and that goldsmith, though poor, was exceedingly virtuous.
न मूल्यमादाद्वेश्यातः स भवानिह सांप्रतम्।। सप्तद्वीपपतिर्जातः सूर्यायुतसमप्रभः
He did not take payment from the courtesan; now, O lord, he has become the ruler of the seven islands, shining like ten thousand suns.
यया सुवर्णकारस्य तरवो हेमनिर्मिताः।। सम्यगुज्ज्वलिताः पत्न्या सेयं भानुमती तव
By whom the golden trees were properly offered—she, your wife Bhānumatī, was that very woman.
तस्मान्नृलोकेष्वपराजितस्त्वमारोग्यसौभाग्ययुता च लक्ष्मीः।। तस्मात्त्वमप्यत्र विधानपूर्वं धान्याचलादीन्नृपते कुरुष्व
Therefore, among men you are undefeated, endowed with health, good fortune, and Lakṣmī; so you too, O king, should offer mountains of grain and the like, according to rule.
पुलस्त्य उवाच धान्याचलादीन्विधिनास्मरारेर्लोकं गतोसौ सुरपूज्यमानः
Pulastya said: By properly offering mountains of grain and the like, he went to the world of the enemy of Smara, honored by the gods.
पश्येद्यदीमानुपनीयमानान्स्पृशेन्मनुष्यैरिह दीयमानान्।। शृणोति भक्त्याथ मतिं ददाति विकल्मषः सोपि दिवं प्रयाति
Whoever sees these being brought, or touches what is offered here by people, or hears with devotion, or gives their mind to it—even if they are free from sin—they too go to heaven.
दुःस्वप्नप्रशममुपैति पठ्यमानैः शैलेंद्रैर्भवभयभेदनैर्मनुष्यः।। यः कुर्यात्किमु नृपपुंगवेह सम्यक्शांतात्मा सकलगिरींद्रसंप्रदानम्
By reciting these, which remove the fear of worldly existence and are praised by the best of mountains, a person attains relief from bad dreams; what then of one who, with a peaceful mind, gives all the best mountains here completely, O foremost of kings?
भीष्म उवाच विभवध्रुवकारिभूतलेस्मिन्भवभीतेरपि सूदनं च पुंसः
Bhishma said: On this earth, which brings both prosperity and impermanence, what is the destroyer of even the fear of worldly existence for a person?
पुलस्त्य उवाच तव भक्तिमतस्तथापि वक्ष्ये व्रतमिंद्रासुरमानवेषु गुह्यम्
Pulastya said: Because you are devoted, I will tell you the vow, secret among gods, demons, and humans.
पुण्यमाश्वयुजे मासि विशोकद्वादशीव्रतम्।। दशम्यां लघुभुग्विद्वान्प्रारभेत यमेन तु
The auspicious Viśokadvādaśī vow is to be observed in the month of Āśvayuja; on the tenth day, the wise one should begin, eating lightly and with self-control.
उदङ्मुखः प्राङ्मुखो वा दंतधावनपूर्वकम्।। एकादश्यां निराहारः सम्यगभ्यर्च्य केशवम्
Facing north or east, after brushing the teeth, on the eleventh day, one should fast, properly worshiping Keśava.
श्रियं चाभ्यर्च्य विधिवद्भोक्ष्येऽहं चापरेहनि।। एवं नियमकृत्सुप्त्वा प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः
Having duly worshiped Śrī, I will eat on the next day; thus, having observed the discipline, the person should sleep and rise in the morning.
स्नानं सर्वौषधैः कुर्यात्पंचगव्यजलेन तु।। शुभ्रमाल्यांबरधरःपूजयेच्छ्रीशमुत्पलैः
He should bathe with all medicinal herbs and with the five products of the cow; wearing pure garlands and garments, he should worship Śrī with lotuses.
विशोकाय नमः पादौ जंघे च वरदाय वै।। श्रीशाय जानुनी तद्वदूरू च जलशायिने
To Viśoka, obeisance at the feet; to Varada, at the shanks; to Śrīśa, at the knees; likewise, to Jalaśāyin at the thighs.
कंदर्पाय नमो गुह्यं माधवाय नमः कटिं।। दामोदरायेत्युदरं पार्श्वे च विपुलायवै
Obeisance to Kandarpa at the private parts, to Mādhava at the waist; to Dāmodara at the belly, and to Vipula at the sides.