स्वधर्मोयं यतो भाव्यो वेश्यानामिह सर्वदा शय्यया त्यज्यते देव न कदाचिद्यथा भवान्
For this is the prescribed duty here for courtesans at all times; the bed must never be abandoned, O Lord, just as you never do.
शय्या ममाप्यशून्येयं तथास्तु मधुसूदन गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं देवदेवस्य कारयेत्
May my bed also never be empty—so be it, O Madhusudana. One should arrange for the sound of singing and musical instruments for the Lord of gods.
एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं वेश्याधर्ममशेषतः पुरुहूतेन यत्प्रोक्तं दानवीषु पुरा मया
All this has been told to you, the entire code of conduct for courtesans, as formerly spoken by Puruhuta and by me among the Dānava women.
तदिदं सांप्रतं सर्वं भवतीष्वपि युज्यते सर्वपापप्रशमनमनंतफलदायकम्
Now, all this applies to you as well; it destroys all sins and bestows endless fruit.
कल्याणिनीनां कथितं तदेतद्दुश्चरं व्रतम् करोति याऽशेषमुदग्रमेतत्कल्याणिनी माधवलोकसंस्था
This difficult vow has been described for virtuous women; she who performs it completely and with zeal becomes a virtuous woman, established among the followers of Mādhava.
सा पूजिता देवगणैरशेषैरानंदकृत्स्थानमुपैति विष्णोः तपोधनः सोप्यभिधाय चैतदनंगदानव्रतमंगनानाम्
She, worshipped by all the hosts of gods, attains a place of joy with Viṣṇu. The sage, having declared this vow for women, bestowing ornaments, too—
स्वस्थानमेष्यंति समस्तमित्थं व्रतं करिष्यंति च देवयोने
They will reach their own abode, all of them, and thus will perform this vow, O divine-born.
ब्रह्मोवाच। भगवन्पुरुषस्येह स्त्रियाश्च वरदायकम्। शोकव्याधिभयं दुःखं न भवेद्येन तद्वद
Brahmā said: O Blessed One, tell me that which grants boons to men and women here, by which there is no grief, disease, fear, or suffering.
शंकर उवाच। श्रावणस्य द्वितीयायां कृष्णायां मधुसूदनः। क्षीरार्णवे सपत्नीकः सदा वसति केशवः
Śaṅkara said: On the second day of the dark fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, Madhusūdana, with his consort, always dwells in the ocean of milk, O Keśava.
तस्यां संपूज्य गोविंदं सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्। गोभूहिरण्यदानादि सप्तकल्पशतानुगम्
By worshipping Govinda on that day, one attains all desires, along with the merit of giving cows, land, and gold for seven hundred aeons.
आवाहनादिकां पूजां पूर्ववत्परिकल्पयेत्। अशून्यशयना नाम द्वितीयासौ प्रकीर्तिता
One should arrange the worship beginning with invocation as before; this is called the vow of 'Aśūnyaśayanā,' the Unsleeping Bed, on the second day.
तस्यां संपूजयेद्विष्णुमेभिर्मंत्रैर्विधानतः। श्रीवत्सधारिन्श्रीकांत श्रीपते श्रीधराव्यय
On that day, one should worship Viṣṇu with these mantras, according to the proper method: 'Bearer of the Śrīvatsa, Beloved of Śrī, Lord of Śrī, Holder of Śrī, the Imperishable.'
गार्हस्थ्यं मा प्रणाशं मे यातु धर्मार्थकामदं। अग्नयो मा प्रणश्यंतु देवताः पुरुषोत्तम
'May my household not perish, may it bring righteousness, wealth, and desire; may the sacred fires not perish, O Supreme Person, may the deities not perish.'
पितरो मा प्रणश्यंतु मम दांपत्यभेदतः। लक्ष्म्या वियुज्यते देवो न कदाचिद्यथा हरिः
'May my ancestors not perish because of discord in my marriage; just as the Lord is never separated from Lakṣmī, so may it be for me, O Hari.'
तथा कलत्रसंबंधो देव मा मे वियुज्यतां। लक्ष्म्या न शून्यं वरद यथा ते शयनं सदा
'Likewise, O Lord, may my connection with my wife never be sundered; O Bestower of boons, may my bed never be empty of Lakṣmī, just as yours always is.'
शय्या ममाप्यशून्यास्तु तथैव मधुसूदन। गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषान्देवदेवस्य कारयेत्
'May my bed also never be empty, O Madhusūdana; one should arrange for the sounds of singing and musical instruments for the Lord of gods.'
घंटा भवेदशक्तस्य सर्ववाद्यमयो यतः। एवं संपूज्य गोविंदमश्नीयात्तैलवर्जितम्
A bell is for one who lacks strength, for it contains all instruments in itself; thus, having worshipped Govinda in this way, one should eat food devoid of oil.
नक्तमक्षारलवणं यावत्तु स्याच्चतुष्टयं। ततः प्रभाते संजाते लक्ष्मीपतिसमन्विताम्
At night, one should take food that is unsalted and without alkaline substances, up to four times; then, when morning arrives, accompanied by the Lord of Lakshmi—
दीपान्नभाजनैर्युक्तां शय्यां दद्याद्विलक्षणाम्। पादुकोपानहच्छत्र चामरासन संयुताम्
One should give a special bed adorned with vessels for food and lamps, furnished with footwear, sandals, umbrella, fan, and seat.
अभीष्टोपस्करैर्युक्तां शुक्लपुष्पांबरावृताम्। अव्यंगाय च विप्राय वैष्णवाय कुटुंबिने
It should be equipped with desired articles, covered with white flowers and cloth, and given to a faultless Brahmin, a devotee of Vishnu, who has a family.
दातव्या वेदविदुषे न वंध्यापतये क्वचित्। तत्रोपवेश्य दांपत्यमलंकृत्य विधानतः
It should be given to a knower of the Vedas, never to a man whose wife is barren; having seated the couple there, one should adorn them according to the proper rite.
पत्न्यास्तु भाजनं दद्याद्भक्ष्यभोज्यसमन्वितम्। ब्राह्मणस्यापि सौवर्णीमुपस्करसमन्विताम्
One should give to the wife a vessel filled with food and delicacies, and to the Brahmin also a golden vessel with necessary items.
प्रतिमां देवदेवस्य सोदकुंभां निवेदयेत्। एवं यस्तु पुमान्कुर्यादशून्यशयनं हरेः
One should offer an image of the Lord of gods, together with a water pot; thus, whoever performs the 'Unempty Bed' rite for Hari—
वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो नारायणपरायणः। न तस्य पत्न्या विरहः कदाचिदपि जायते
Free from miserliness, devoted to Narayana, such a man never experiences separation from his wife at any time.
नारी वा विधवा ब्रह्मन्यावच्चंद्रार्कतारकं। न विरूपौ न शोकार्तौ दंपती भवतः क्वचित्
Nor does a woman become a widow, O Brahmin, as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure; the couple never become deformed or afflicted by sorrow.
न पुत्रपशुरत्नानि क्षयं यांति पितामह। सप्तकल्पसहस्राणि सप्तकल्पशतानि च
Their sons, cattle, and jewels never perish, O Ancestor; for seven thousand kalpas and seven hundred kalpas—
कुर्वन्नशून्यशयनं विष्णुलोके महीयते। ब्रह्मोवाच। कथमारोग्यमैश्वर्यं मतिर्धर्मस्थितिस्सदा
By performing the 'Unempty Bed' rite, one is honored in the world of Vishnu. Brahma said: How does health, prosperity, steadfastness of mind, and constancy in dharma always arise?
अव्यंगाथ परे भक्तिर्विष्णौ चापि भवेत्कथम्। ईश्वर उवाच। साधु ब्रह्मंस्त्वया पृष्टमिदानीं कथयामि ते
How does one attain faultlessness, supreme devotion to Vishnu as well? Ishvara said: Well asked, O Brahma! Now I shall tell you.
विरोचनस्य संवादं भार्गवस्य च धीमतः। प्रह्लादस्य सुतं दृष्ट्वा द्विरष्टपरिवत्सरम्
The conversation of Virocana and the wise Bhargava—having seen Prahlada's son for sixteen years—
तस्य रूपमिदं ब्रह्मन्सोहसद्भृगुनंदनः। साधुसाधु महाबाहो विरोचन शिवं तव
This was his form, O Brahman, the illustrious son of Bhrigu; 'Well done, well done, mighty-armed Virocana, may you have auspiciousness!'