गावो वृषांश्च महिषान्महिषीर्घटकोत्कटान्
Cows, bulls, buffaloes, buffalo cows, and strong calves,
नमस्कारं ततः कुर्यान्मन्त्रेणानेन सुव्रत तले तव सुखेनाश्वा गजा गावश्च संतु मे
Then, O virtuous one, he should offer salutations with this mantra: 'May horses, elephants, and cows be with me happily under your protection.'
मार्गपालीतले पुत्र यांति गावो महावृषाः
O son, cows and great bulls proceed under the protection of the path-guardian.
मार्गपाली समुल्लंघ्य नीरुजः सुखिनो हि ते
Having crossed the path-guardian, they are indeed healthy and happy.
पूजां कुर्यात्ततः साक्षाद्भूमौ मंडलके कृते
Afterwards, he should perform worship directly on the ground, having drawn a circle.
सर्वाभरणसंपूर्णं विंध्यावलिसमन्वितम् 2.4.10.
It should be adorned with all kinds of ornaments and accompanied by a row of mountain-like decorations.
संपूर्णं कृष्टवदनं किरीटोत्कटकुण्डलम्
It should have a complete, ploughed face, with a prominent crown and earrings.
गृहस्य मध्ये शालायां विशालायां ततोऽर्चयेत्
Then, in the middle of the house, in a spacious hall, he should worship.
कमलैः कुमुदैः पुष्पैः कह्लारै रक्तकोत्पलैः
With lotuses, water lilies, flowers, kahlaras, and red water lilies,
मद्यमांससुरालेह्यचोष्यभक्ष्योपहारकैः पूजां करिष्यते यो वै सौख्यं स्यात्तस्य वत्सरम्
Whoever performs worship with offerings of wine, meat, liquor, sweets, things to suck and eat, will have happiness for a year.
बलिराज नमतुभ्यं विरोचनसुत प्रभो
King Bali, salutations to you, O lord, son of Virocana.
एवं पूजाविधानेन रात्रौ जागरणं ततः
Thus, after the worship ritual, there should be a vigil at night.
लोकश्चापि गृहस्यांते सपर्यां शुक्लतंदुलैः
And people, at the end of the house, should perform worship with white rice grains.
बलिमुद्दिश्य वै तत्र कार्यं सर्व च सुव्रत
All this should be done, O virtuous one, for the sake of Bali.
यदत्र दीयते दानं स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु
Whatever gift is given here, whether small or great,
रात्रौ ये न करिष्यंति तव पूजां बले नराः 2.4.10.
Those men who do not perform your worship at night, O Bali,
विष्णुना च स्वयं वत्स तुष्टेन बलये पुनः
By Vishnu himself, O child, being pleased, Bali is again worshipped.
एकमेवमहोरात्रं वर्षेवर्षे च कार्तिके
On a single day and night in each year, in the month of Kartika,
यः करोति नृपो राज्ये तस्य व्याधिभयं कुतः
The king who performs this in his realm—how can he have fear of disease?
नीरुजश्च जनाः सर्वे सर्वोपद्रववर्जिताः
All people are free from illness and untouched by any calamity.
कौमुदी क्रियते यस्माद्भावं कर्तुं महीतले हर्षदुःखादिभावेन तस्य वर्षं प्रयाति हि
Because the festival of Kaumudi is celebrated to create a state on earth, with joy, sorrow, and other feelings, that year passes for him.
रुदिते रोदितं वर्षं प्रहृष्टे तु प्रहर्षितम्
If one weeps, the year is spent in sorrow; if one rejoices, it is spent in happiness.
वैष्णवी दानवी चेयं तिथिः प्रोक्ता च कार्तिके
This day in Kartika is declared both Vaishnava and Daitya.
दीपोत्सवं जनितसर्वजनप्रमोदं कुर्वंति ये शुभतया वलिराजपूजाम्
Those who, with auspiciousness, perform the festival of lamps and the worship of King Bali, bringing delight to all people,
बलिपूजां विधायैवं पश्चाद्गोक्रीडनं चरेत्
After performing the worship of Bali in this way, one should then engage in the play with cows.
गवां क्रीडादिने यत्र रात्रौ दृश्येत चन्द्रमाः 2.4.10.
On the day of the cows' play, when the moon is seen at night,
प्रतिपद्दर्शसंयोगे क्रीडनं तु गवां मतम्
The play of cows is prescribed at the conjunction of the first lunar day and the sighting of the moon.
अलंकार्यास्तदा गावो गोग्रासादिभिरर्चिताः आनीय च ततः पश्चात्कुर्यान्नीराजनाविधिम्
Then the cows should be adorned, honored with fodder and the like, brought forth, and afterwards the rite of waving lights should be performed.
अथ चेत्प्रतिपत्स्वल्पा नारी नीराजनं चरेत्
If, on the first day, a woman is few in number, she should perform the waving of lights.
एवं नीराजनं कृत्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
By performing the waving of lights in this manner, one is freed from all sins.