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.
पापबुद्धिं परित्यज्य ब्रह्मचर्येण धीमता
Abandoning sinful intent, the wise one should observe celibacy.
शाकाहारेण मुन्यन्नैः कृष्णार्चनपरो नरः 2.4.32.
Living on vegetables and ascetic food, devoted to worshipping Kṛṣṇa, a man should act thus.
एवं सम्यक्समाप्यं स्याद्यथोक्तं फलमाप्नुयात्
Thus, having completed it properly, he attains the result as stated.
मद्यपो यः पिबेन्मद्यं जन्मनो मरणांऽतिकम्
He who drinks liquor, from birth until death,
स्त्रीभिर्वा भर्तृवाक्येन कर्तव्यं धर्मवर्धनम्
Women too, by their husband’s command, should perform this, which increases righteousness.
अयोध्यायां पुरा कश्चिदतिथिर्नाम वै नृपः भुक्त्वेह निखिलान्भोगानंते विष्णुपुरं ययौ
Once, in Ayodhyā, there was a king named Atithi; having enjoyed all pleasures here, he went at the end to Viṣṇu’s city.
इत्थं कुर्याद्व्रतं नित्यं पञ्चकं भीष्मसंज्ञितम् पयोमूलफलाऽऽहारैर्हविष्यैर्व्रततत्परः
Thus, one should always observe the vow called Bhishma Panchaka, devoted to the vow, subsisting on milk, roots, fruits, or havisya food.
पौर्णमासीदिने प्राप्ते पूजां कृत्वा तु पूर्ववत्
When the full moon day arrives, one should perform worship as before.
यद्भीष्मपञ्चकमिति प्रथितं पृथिव्यामेकादशीप्रभृति पंचदशीनिरुद्धम्
That which is renowned on earth as Bhishma Panchaka begins with Ekadashi and is completed on the fifteenth day.
मुक्तिदं तत्त्वबुद्धीनां शृणुष्व सुरसत्तम
O best of the gods, listen to the means of liberation for those who possess true understanding.
तावद्गर्जति सेनानीर्गंगा भागीरथी क्षितौ
So long does the commander of the army, Ganga Bhagirathi, roar upon the earth.
तावद्गर्जंति तीर्थानि आसमुद्रसरांसि वै
So long do the holy places and all the lakes up to the ocean resound.
अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च
A thousand horse sacrifices and hundreds of Rajasuya sacrifices,
दुर्लभं चैव दुष्प्राप्यं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
That which is rare and difficult to attain in the three worlds, among all beings moving and unmoving,
ऐश्वर्यं संततिं ज्ञानं राज्यं च सुखसंपदः
Sovereignty, progeny, knowledge, kingdom, and happiness with prosperity—
मेरुमंदरतुल्यानि पापान्युपार्जितानि च
Sins accumulated as great as Mount Meru and Mandara,
उपवासं प्रबोधिन्यां यः करोति स्वभावतः
Whoever naturally observes the fast on Prabodhini,
पूर्वजन्मसहस्रेषु पापं यत्समुपार्जितम्
The sin accumulated over thousands of previous births,
शृणु षण्मुख वक्ष्यामि जागरस्य च लक्षणम् 2.4.33.
Listen, O six-faced one, I will describe the characteristics of the night vigil.
फलमर्घ्यं च श्रद्धा च दानमिंद्रियसंयमम्
Offering of fruits, arghya, faith, charity, and restraint of the senses—