ज्येष्ठे मंदारकुसुमं बिल्वपत्रं शुचौ स्मृतम्। श्रावणे दधिसंप्राश्यं नभस्ये तु कुशोदकम्
In Jyeshtha, mandara flowers and bilva leaves are considered pure; in Shravana, curd is to be eaten; in Bhadrapada, water with kusa grass.
क्षीरं चाश्वयुजे मासि कार्त्तिके पृषदाज्यकम्। मार्गशीर्षे तु गोमूत्रं पौषे संप्राशयेद्घृतम्
In Ashvina, milk is prescribed; in Kartika, clarified butter from curds; in Margashirsha, cow's urine; in Pausha, ghee is to be consumed.
माघे कृष्णतिलांस्तद्वत्पंचगव्यं च फाल्गुने। ललिता विजया भद्रा भवानी कुमुदा शिवा
In Magha, black sesame seeds likewise; in Phalguna, the five products of the cow; Lalita, Vijaya, Bhadra, Bhavani, Kumuda, Shiva—
वासुदेवी तथा गौरी मंगला कमला सती। उमा च दानकाले तु प्रीयतामिति कीर्त्तयेत्
Vasudevi, Gauri, Mangala, Kamala, Sati, and Uma—at the time of giving, one should recite, 'May she be pleased.'
तस्मिंस्तु द्वादशे मासि द्वादश्यां कृष्णमर्चयेत्। तथा लक्ष्मीं च तत्रैव भर्त्रा सार्धमथार्चयेत्
In that twelfth month, on the twelfth day, one should worship Krishna; likewise, there itself, worship Lakshmi together with her husband.
पौर्णमास्यामतस्तद्वत्सपत्नीकः पितामहः। उपासनीयो विदुषा परत्रा भीतिमिच्छता
On the full moon, likewise, the wise one who desires to be free from fear hereafter should worship the Grandsire along with his consort.
सौभाग्याष्टकं तद्वच्च दातव्यं भूतिमिच्छता। मल्लिकाशोककमलं कदंबोत्पलचंपकम्
The Eight Auspicious Substances should likewise be given by one who desires prosperity: jasmine, ashoka, lotus, kadamba, utpala, and champaka—
कुब्जकं करवीरं च बाणमम्लानपंकजम्। सिंदुवारं च सर्वेषु मासेषु कुसुमं स्मृतम्
Kubjaka, karavira, baṇa, fresh lotus, and sinduvāra—these flowers are considered suitable in all months.
जपाकुसुंभकुसुमं मालती शतपत्रिका। यथालाभं प्रशस्तानि करवीरं च सर्वदा
Hibiscus, safflower, jasmine, and lotus flowers are always commendable as available, as well as oleander.
एवं संवत्सरं यावदुपोष्य विधिवन्नरः। स्त्री च नक्तं कुमारी च शिवमभ्यर्च्य भक्तितः
Thus, for a full year, a man, a woman, or a maiden should observe the fast according to the prescribed method, worshipping Shiva with devotion at night.
व्रतांते शयनं दद्यात्सर्वोपस्करसंयुतम्। उमामहेश्वरौ हैमौ वृषभं च गवा सह
At the conclusion of the vow, one should give a bed furnished with all accessories, along with golden images of Uma and Maheshvara, a bull, and cows.
स्थापयित्वा च शयनं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्। द्वादश्यां वत्सरं त्वेकं महालक्ष्म्या च केशवम्
Having set up the bed, one should present it to a Brahmin on the twelfth day, together with Mahalakshmi and Keshava for one year.
ब्रह्माणं सह सावित्र्या पूजयित्वा नरस्त्विह। सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति मनसा समभीप्सितान्
Here, after worshipping Brahma together with Savitri, a man attains all the desires he longs for in his mind.
अन्यान्यपि यथाशक्ति मिथुनान्यंबरादिभिः। धान्यालङ्कारगोदानैरन्यैश्च धनसञ्चयैः
According to ability, one should also give other pairs with garments and the like, with gifts of grain, ornaments, cows, and other accumulations of wealth.
वित्तशाठयेन रहितः पूजयेद्गतविस्मयः। एवं करोति यः सम्यक्सौभाग्यशयनव्रतम्1.29.
Free from miserliness and without astonishment, one should worship; whoever performs the vow of the Auspicious Bed in this manner, properly—
सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति पदं वा नित्यमश्नुते। फलस्यैकस्य च त्यागमेतत्कुर्वन्समाचरेत्
He attains all desires or enjoys an eternal state; performing this, he should also renounce the fruit of a single act.
यशः कीर्तिमवाप्नोति प्रतिमासं नराधिप। सौभाग्यारोग्यरूपैश्च वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः
He attains fame and renown each month, O king, as well as good fortune, health, beauty, garments, ornaments, and jewels.
न वियुक्तो भवेद्राजन्सौभाग्यशयनप्रदः। यस्तु द्वादशवर्षाणि सौभाग्यशयनव्रतम्
He is never deprived, O king, who bestows the Auspicious Bed; and whoever observes the vow of the Auspicious Bed for twelve years—
करोति सप्त चाष्टौ वा ब्रह्मलोके महीयते। पूज्यमानो वसेत्सम्यक्यावत्कल्पायुतं नरः
Whether for seven or eight years, is honored in the world of Brahma; he dwells there, worshipped, for as many as ten thousand aeons.
विष्णोर्लोकमथासाद्य शिवलोकगतस्तथा। नारी वा कुरुते या तु कुमारी वा नरेश्वर
Having attained the world of Vishnu, and likewise having gone to the world of Shiva, whether a woman or a maiden performs it, O king—
सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति देव्यनुग्रहलालिता। शृणुयादपि यश्चैव प्रदद्यादथवा मतिम्
She too obtains that fruit, cherished by the grace of the goddess; and whoever hears or gives his mind to this—
सोपि विद्याधरो भूत्वा स्वर्गलोके चिरं वसेत्। इदमिह मदनेन पूर्वसृष्टं शतधनुषा च कृतं नरेण तद्वत्
He too, becoming a Vidyadhara, dwells long in heaven; this was formerly established here by Madana and accomplished by Shatadhanu, and likewise by men.
कृतमथ पवनेन नंदिना च किमु जननाथमहाद्भुतं न वा स्यात्
And if it was performed by Pavana and Nandina, then what wonder is there, O lord of men, if it is not a great marvel?
भीष्म उवाच। यज्ञपवर्तमासाद्य विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। पदानि चेह दत्तानि किमर्थं पदपद्धतिः
Bhishma said: Having reached the sacrificial ground, the mighty Vishnu placed his steps here; for what purpose was this arrangement of steps made?
कृता वै देवदेवेन तन्मे वद महामते। कतमो दानवस्तेन विष्णुना दमितोत्र वै
Indeed, it was done by the god of gods—tell me this, O wise one; which demon was subdued here by Vishnu?
कृत्वा वै पदविन्यासं तन्मे शंस महामुने। स्वर्लोके वसतिर्विष्णोर्वैकुंठेऽस्य महात्मनः
Having made the arrangement of steps, tell me, O great sage, about Vishnu's residence in heaven, in Vaikuntha, the abode of the great soul.
स कथं मानुषे लोके पदन्यासं चकार ह। देवलोकेषु वै देव देवाः सेंद्रपुरोगमाः
How did he set foot in the world of men? In the worlds of the gods, indeed, the gods with Indra at their head—
तपसा महता ब्रह्मन्भक्ता ये सततं प्रभुम्। श्रीवराहस्य वसतिर्महर्ल्लोके प्रकीर्तिता
O Brahman, those who are ever devoted to the Lord through great austerity— it is said that the abode of Śrī Varāha is in Maharloka.
नृसिंहस्य तथा प्रोक्ता जनलोके महात्मनः। त्रिविक्रमस्य वसतिस्तपोलोके प्रकीर्तिता
Likewise, it is declared that the abode of the great-souled Nṛsiṃha is in Janaloka, and that of Trivikrama is renowned in Tapoloka.
लोकानेतान्परित्यज्य कथं भूमौ पदद्वयम्। क्षेत्रे पैतामहे चास्मिन्पुष्करे यज्ञपर्वते
Abandoning these worlds, how did he place two feet upon the earth, in this ancestral field, at Puṣkara, on the mountain of sacrifice?