साष्टांगं प्रणतो भूत्वा प्रार्थयेत्परमेश्वरम्
Having bowed down with eightfold prostration, one should pray to the Supreme Lord.
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चाद्यथाशक्त्या च दक्षिणाम् आमर्दकीफलं वक्तुं ब्रह्मा चाऽपि न पार्यते
Afterwards, one should feed brāhmaṇas and give gifts according to one's ability; even Brahmā is unable to describe the merit of the Āmardakī fruit.
एकार्णवे पुरा जाते नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे 2.4.12.
Long ago, when only the one ocean existed and all movable and immovable beings were destroyed,
तत्र देवाधिदेवेशः परमात्मा सनातनः
There, the Lord of lords, the supreme soul, the eternal one,
ततोऽस्य ब्रह्म जपतो निरगाच्छ्वसितं पुरः
From him, as he recited the brahma-mantra, a breath emerged before him.
प्रेमाश्रुभरनिर्भिन्नो भूमौ बिंदुः पपात सः
Overflowing with tears of love, a drop fell from him onto the earth.
शाखाप्रशाखाबहुलः फलभारेण पीडितः
It became a tree with many branches and sub-branches, weighed down with fruit.
ब्रह्मा तमसृजत्पूर्वं तत्पश्चाच्चाऽसृजत्प्रजाः
Brahmā first created that tree, and then he created living beings.
असृजद्भगवान्देवो मानुषांश्च तथामलान्
The blessed Lord also created pure human beings.
तां दृष्ट्वा ते महाभागाः परमं विस्मयं गताः
Seeing that tree, those highly fortunate ones were filled with supreme wonder.
एवं चिंतयतां तेषां वागुवाचाऽशरीरिणी
As they were thinking thus, a bodiless voice spoke.
अस्य वै स्मरणादेव लभेद्गोदानजं फलम्
Merely by remembering this, one obtains the merit of giving a cow.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेव्या आमर्दकी सदा 2.4.12.
Therefore, with every effort, the āmalakī tree should always be served.
तस्या मूले स्थितो विष्णुस्तदूर्ध्वं च पितामहः
At its root stands Viṣṇu, and above that, the Grandfather (Brahmā).
शाखासु सवितारश्च प्रशाखासु च देवताः
In its branches is the Sun, and in the smaller branches are the deities.
प्रजानां पतयः सर्वे फलेष्वेवं व्यवस्थिताः
All the lords of beings are established in its fruits in this way.
अतः सा पूजनीया च सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये नमस्कृत्वा जगन्नाथं पप्रच्छातीव विस्मितः
Therefore, it is to be worshipped for the attainment of all desires and aims; having bowed to the Lord of the universe, he asked, greatly astonished.
तथा धात्रीवनं मासे कार्तिके श्रीहरिप्रियम्
In the month of Kārtika, the dhātrī grove is dear to Śrī Hari.
कार्तिके मासि यः कुर्यात्तस्य पापं विनश्यति
Whoever performs (worship) in the month of Kārtika, his sin is destroyed.
तीर्थानि मुनयो देवा यज्ञाः सर्वेऽपि कार्तिके
In Kārtika, all the holy places, sages, gods, and sacrifices are present.
यत्किंचित्कुरुते पुण्यं धात्रीछायासु मानवः
Whatever meritorious act a person performs in the shade of the dhātrī tree,
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Here they recount an ancient legend as an example.
अयोध्यानगरे कश्चिद्वैश्यश्चासीद्विजोत्तम 2.4.12.
In the city of Ayodhyā, O best of the twice-born, there was a certain merchant.
भिक्षया चोदराग्निं स शमयामास नारद
By alms, he appeased the fire of his hunger, O Nārada.
भिक्षाप्तचणकान्गृह्य धात्रीछायामगात्किल
Having obtained chickpeas as alms, he went to the shade of the dhātrī tree, it is said.
केचिदुर्वरितास्तेपु चणकास्तत्र नारद
Some of those chickpeas were unripe, O Nārada.
तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन राजाऽऽसीद्धनिकः क्षितौ
By the power of that merit, he became a wealthy king on earth.
धात्रीवने मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये यः शृणोति स पापेभ्यो मुच्यते द्विजसूनुवत्
O best of sages, whoever listens to this in the dhātrī grove for the attainment of all desires and aims is freed from sins, like the son of a twice-born.
नारद उवाच कोऽभूद्द्विजसुतो ब्रह्मन्किं पापं कृतवान्पुरा
Nārada said: Who was the son of a twice-born, O Brahman? What sin did he commit before?
देवशर्मेति विख्यातो वेदवेदांगपारगः
He was renowned as Devaśarman, accomplished in the Vedas and their auxiliaries.