क्षत्रियैश्च तथा वैश्यैः सत्यशौचपरायणैः
By Kshatriyas and likewise by Vaishyas devoted to truth and purity,
दुष्करं भीष्ममित्याहुर्न शक्यं प्राकृतैर्नरैः 2.4.32.
It is said to be difficult and formidable, not possible for ordinary men.
व्रतं चैतन्महापुण्यं महापातकनाशनम्
And this vow, highly meritorious, destroys great sins.
कार्तिकस्याऽमले पक्षे स्नात्वा सम्यग्विधानतः
In the pure fortnight of Kartika, after bathing properly according to the rules,
प्रातः स्नात्वा विशेषेण मध्याह्ने च तथा व्रती
Bathing in the morning especially, and also at midday, the votary,
यवव्रीहितिलैः सम्यक्पितॄन्संतर्पयेत्क्रमात्
Should duly satisfy the ancestors in order with barley, rice, and sesame.
भीष्मायोदकदानं च अर्घ्यं चैव प्रयत्नतः
And with care, offer water and arghya to Bhishma.
पंचरत्नं विशेषेण दत्त्वा विप्राय यत्नतः
Especially, with effort, give the five gems to a Brahmin.
पञ्चके पूजयित्वा तु कोटिजन्मानि तुष्यति
Having worshipped during the five days, he pleases for ten million births.
यत्किंचिद्ददते मर्त्यः पंचधातुप्रकल्पितम्
Whatever a mortal gives, made from the five metals,
कृत्वा तूदकदानं तु तथाऽर्घ्यस्य च दापनम्
And having performed the gift of water and likewise the offering of arghya,
वैयाघ्रपादगोत्राय सांकृत्य प्रवराय च 2.4.32.
To one of the lineage of Vaiyāghrapāda, and to one of noble ancestry,
वसूनामवताराय शंतनोरात्मजाय च
To the incarnation of the Vasus and the son of Shantanu,
अश्वमेधसमं पुण्यं प्राप्नोत्यत्र न संशयः
He attains merit equal to an Ashvamedha sacrifice—of this there is no doubt.
पंचाऽहमपि कर्तव्यं नियमं च प्रयत्नतः
The five-day observance must also be performed, and the discipline with care.
उत्तरायणहीनाय भीष्माय प्रददौ हरिः
Hari granted to Bhishma, who lacked the northern course.
ततः संपूजयेद्देवं सर्वपापहरं हरिम्
Then one should worship Hari, the remover of all sins.
स्नापयेत जलैर्भक्त्या मधुक्षीरघृतेन च
He should bathe Him with water in devotion, and with honey, milk, and ghee.
चन्दनेन सुगन्धेन कुमकुमेनाऽथ केशवम्
With fragrant sandalwood and saffron, one should worship Keśava.
अर्चयेद्रुचिरैः पुष्पैर्गंधधूपसमन्वितैः
He should offer worship with beautiful flowers, accompanied by incense and fragrant smoke.
दीपकं तु दिवा रात्रौ दद्यात्पंच दिनानि तु
He should offer a lamp both by day and by night, for five days.
एवमभ्यर्चयेद्देवं संस्मृत्य च प्रणम्य च 2.4.32.
In this way, remembering and bowing, one should worship the Lord.
जुहुयाच्च घृताभ्यक्तैस्तिलव्रीहियवादिभिः
He should make offerings in the fire with ghee-anointed sesame, rice, barley, and the like.
उपास्य पश्चिमां संध्यां प्रणम्य गरुडध्वजम्
After worshipping the western twilight, he should bow to the one whose banner bears Garuḍa.
सर्वमेतद्विधानं तु कार्यं पञ्च दिनानि तु
All this procedure should be performed for five days.
प्रथमेऽह्नि हरेः पादौ पूजयेत्कमलैर्व्रती
On the first day, the votary should worship Hari’s feet with lotuses.
ततोऽनुपूजयेच्छीर्षं मालत्या चक्रपाणिनः
Then, he should worship the head of the discus-bearing Lord with jasmine.
अर्चित्वा तं हृषीकेशमेकादश्यां समासतः
Having thus worshipped Hṛṣīkeśa on the eleventh day, in summary,
गोमूत्रं मन्त्रवद्भूमौ द्वादश्यां प्राशयेद्व्रती
On the twelfth day, the votary should ritually drink cow urine on the ground.
संप्राश्य कायशुद्ध्यर्थं लंघयित्वा चतुर्दिनम् भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम्
After drinking it for bodily purification and fasting for four days, he should devoutly feed brāhmaṇas and give them gifts.