एवमुक्तस्ततः शांतिमगमत्कामरूपधृत्। स जातस्तत्क्षणाद्राजन्ग्रहत्वमगमत्पुनः
Thus addressed, he attained peace, assuming a form at will; at that very moment, O King, he was born as a planet once again.
स कदाचिद्भवांस्तस्य पूजार्घादिकमुत्तमं। दृष्टवान्क्रियमाणं च शूद्रेण त्वं व्यवस्थितः
Once, you saw his excellent worship and offerings being performed by a Śūdra, while you were present there.
तेन त्वं रूपवान्जातो सुरः शत्रुकुलाशनिः। विविधा च रुचिर्जाता यस्मात्तव विदूरगा
Because of that, you were born handsome, a god, a thunderbolt to the enemy clans; and various beautiful qualities arose in you, which are renowned far and wide.
विरोचन इति प्राहुस्तस्मात् त्वां देवदानवाः। शूद्रेण क्रियमाणस्य व्रतस्य तव दर्शनात्
Therefore, the gods and Dānavas call you Virocana, because you witnessed the vow being performed by the Śūdra.
ईदृशी रूपसंपत्तिरिति विस्मितवानहम्। साधुसाध्विति तेनोक्तमहो माहात्म्यमुत्तमं
I was amazed at such beauty and splendor, and when I said, 'Excellent, excellent!' he replied, 'Ah, what great glory!'
पश्यतोपि भवेद्रूपमैश्वर्यं किमु कुर्वतः। यस्माच्च भक्त्या धरणीसुतस्य विनिंद्यमानेन गवादिदानम्
Even by seeing, one attains beauty and prosperity—how much more by performing! And because, with devotion, the gift of cows and other things by the son of the Earth was disparaged—
आलोकितं तेन सुरारिगर्भे संभूतिरेषा तव दैत्य जाता। अथ तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भार्गवस्य महात्मनः
Having seen this, your birth occurred in the womb of the enemy of the gods; thus you were born as a Daitya. Then, having heard these words of the great-souled Bhārgava—
प्रह्लादनंदनो वीरः पुनः पप्रच्छ भार्गवम्। विरोचन उवाच। भगवंस्तद्व्रतं सम्यक्श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्वतः
The heroic son of Prahlāda again questioned Bhārgava. Virocana said: 'O venerable one, I wish to hear in detail about that vow.'
दीयमानं तु यद्दानं मया दृष्टं भवांतरे। माहात्म्यं च विधिं तस्य यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
'The charity I saw being given in that existence—its greatness and procedure—you should properly describe.'
इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विप्रः प्रोवाच सादरं। चतुर्थ्यंगारकदिने यदा भवति दानव
Hearing these words, the Brāhmaṇa spoke with respect: 'O Dānava, when it is the fourth day, the day of Aṅgāraka—'
मृदास्नानं तदा कुर्यात्पद्मरागविभूषितः। अग्निर्मूर्द्धादिवो मंत्रं जपेत्स्नात उदङ्मुखः
'One should then bathe with clay, adorned with a ruby; facing north, having bathed, one should recite the mantra to Agni, lord of the gods.'
शूद्रस्तूष्णीं स्मरन्भौममास्तां भोगविवर्जितः। अथास्तमित आदित्ये गोमयेनानुलेपयेत्
'The Śūdra, remaining silent, should meditate on Bhauma, abstaining from pleasures; and when the sun has set, he should anoint himself with cow dung.'
प्रांगणं पुष्पमालाभिरक्षताद्भिः समंततः। तदभ्यर्च्यालिखेत्पद्मं कुंकुमेनाष्टपत्रकम्
The courtyard should be adorned all around with garlands of flowers; after worshipping there, one should draw an eight-petaled lotus with saffron.
कुंकुमस्याप्यभावेन रक्तचंदनमिष्यते। चत्वारः करकाः कार्याः भक्ष्यभोज्यसमन्विताः
If saffron is not available, red sandalwood is acceptable; four hand-shaped offerings should be prepared, accompanied by food and edibles.
तंडुलै रक्तशालेयैः पद्मरागैश्च संयुताः। चतुःकोणेषु तान्कृत्वा फलानि विविधानि च
Using red rice grains mixed with rubies, place them at the four corners, along with various kinds of fruits.
गंधमाल्यादिकं सर्वं तथैव विनिवेशयेत्। सुवर्णशृंगां कपिलामथार्च्य रौप्यैः खुरैः कांस्यदोहां सवस्त्राम्
All kinds of fragrant substances, garlands, and the like should be arranged in the same way; then, after worshipping a tawny cow with golden horns, silver hooves, and a bronze milking vessel, adorned with cloth—
धुरंधरं रक्तखुरं च सौम्यं धान्यानि सप्तांबरसंयुतानि। अंगुष्ठमात्रं पुरुषं तथैव सौवर्णमप्यायतबाहुदंडम् 1.24.
A strong, red-hoofed, gentle ox, along with seven kinds of grains wrapped in cloth, and a golden figure of a man the size of a thumb, with long arms, should likewise be prepared.
चतुर्भुजं हेममयं च ताम्रपात्रे गुडस्योपरि सर्पियुक्तम्। सामस्वरज्ञाय जितेंद्रियाय वाग्रूपशीलान्वयसंयुताय
A four-armed figure made of gold should be placed in a copper vessel, on top of jaggery mixed with ghee, for one who knows the Sāma melodies, has conquered the senses, and is endowed with eloquence, beauty, and good conduct.
दातव्यमेतत्सकलं द्विजाय कुटुम्बिने नैव तु दंभयुक्ते। भूमिपुत्र महाभाग स्वेदोद्भव पिनाकिनः
All this should be given to a twice-born householder, but never to one who is deceitful; O noble son of the earth, this is the sweat-born offering of Pinākin.
रूपार्थी त्वां प्रपन्नोहं गृहाणार्घ्यं नमोऽस्तु ते। मंत्रेणानेन दत्वार्घ्यं रक्तचंदनवारिणा
Desiring beauty, I have taken refuge in you; accept this arghya—homage to you. Having offered arghya with this mantra and water mixed with red sandalwood—
ततोर्चयेद्विप्रवरं रक्तमाल्यांबरादिभिः। दद्यात्तेनैव मंत्रेण भौमं गोमिथुनान्वितम्
Then one should worship the excellent Brāhmaṇa with red garlands, garments, and the like; with the same mantra, one should give land along with a pair of cows.
शय्यां च शक्तिमान्दद्यात्सर्वोपस्करसंयुताम्। यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्य दयितं गृहे
One should also give a bed, furnished with all necessary items; whatever is most desired in the world, and whatever is dear to him at home—
तत्तद्गुणवते देयं दत्तस्याक्षयमिच्छता। ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा विसृज्य द्विजसत्तमम्
All those things should be given to one who possesses those qualities, by one who wishes for inexhaustible merit from the gift. Then, after circumambulating, one should respectfully dismiss the best of Brāhmaṇas.
नक्तं क्षीराशनं कुर्यादेवं चांगारकाष्टकम्। चतुरो वाथ वातस्य यत्पुण्यं तद्वदामि ते
One should observe a night fast, taking only milk as food, and perform the ritual with eight pieces of charcoal; now I will tell you the merit gained from this.
रूपसौभाग्यसंपन्नः पुमान्जन्मनि जन्मनि। विष्णौ वाथ शिवे भक्तः सप्तद्वीपाधिपो भवेत्
A man endowed with beauty, good fortune, and prosperity is born life after life; he becomes a devotee of Viṣṇu or Śiva, and the lord of the seven continents.
सप्तकल्पसहस्राणि रुद्रलोके महीयते। तस्मात्वमपि दैत्येंद्र व्रतमेतत्समाचर
For seven thousand aeons, he is honored in the world of Rudra; therefore, O lord of the Daityas, you too should observe this vow.
इत्येवमुक्तो भुगुनंदनेन चकार सर्वं व्रतमेव दैत्यः। त्वं चापि राजन्कुरु सर्वमेतद्यतोक्षयं वेदविदो वदंति
Thus addressed by Bhṛgu's descendant, the Daitya performed the entire vow; and you too, O king, should do all this, for the knowers of the Veda declare it to be inexhaustible.
शृणोति यश्चैनमनन्यचेतास्तस्यापि सर्वं भगवान्विधत्ते
Whoever listens to this with undistracted mind, for him also the Lord bestows everything.
भीष्म उवाच। उपवासेष्वशक्तस्य तदेव फलमिच्छतः। अनभ्यासेन रोगाद्वा किमिष्टं व्रतमुच्यताम्
Bhīṣma said: For one who is unable to fast but desires the same result, or due to lack of practice or illness—what vow is prescribed?
पुलस्त्य उवाच। उपवासेष्वशक्तानां नक्तं भोजनमिष्यते। यस्मिन्व्रते तदप्यत्र श्रूयतां वै व्रतं महत्
Pulastya said: For those unable to fast, eating only at night is prescribed; listen now to the great vow in which this is included.