प्रातःस्नानं ततः कृत्वा देवपूजां तथैव च
After performing the morning bath and likewise the worship of the deity,
अतो देवेति मंत्रेण जुहुयात्तिलपायसम्
With the mantra 'Ato Deva', one should offer sesame-rice pudding into the fire.
होमशेषं समाप्याथ ब्राह्मणान्पूज्य भक्तितः
After completing the remainder of the fire offering, one should worship the brāhmaṇas with devotion.
ततो गां कपिलां तत्र पूजयेद्विधिवद्व्रती 2.4.34.
Then, the observer of the vow should properly worship a tawny cow there.
गुरुं व्रतोपदेष्टारं वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः
The teacher, the instructor of the vow, should be honored with garments and ornaments.
युष्मत्प्रसादाद्देवेशः प्रसन्नोऽस्तु सदा मम
By your grace, O Lord of the gods, may you always be pleased with me.
तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु स्थिरा मे चाऽस्तु संततिः
May all that be destroyed, and may my lineage remain steadfast.
सतां समागमो भूयान्मम जन्मनिजन्मनि
May I have the company of the virtuous in every birth.
प्रतिमां तां गुरोर्दद्यात्सवस्त्रां मुनिपुंगव
One should give that image to the teacher, adorned with garments, O foremost of sages.
द्वादश्यां प्रतिबुद्धोऽसौ त्रयोदश्यां युतः सुरैः
On the twelfth day, he awakens; on the thirteenth, he is joined by the gods.
पूजयेद्देवदेवेशं सौवर्णं गुर्वनुज्ञया
With the teacher's permission, one should worship the Lord of gods in a golden form.
वरान्दत्त्वा यतो विष्णुर्मत्स्यरूपोऽभवत्ततः
Having granted boons, Vishnu then assumed the form of a fish.
कार्तिके मासि कर्तव्यो विधिरेष हि नारद
This rite must be performed in the month of Kartika, O Narada.
यत्फलं तदवाप्नोति व्रतं कृत्वा तु कार्तिके 2.4.34.
By observing the vow in Kartika, one attains its fruit.
विष्णुभक्तिरता ये स्युः कार्तिके व्रतचारिणः
Those devoted to Vishnu, who practice vows in Kartika,
क्व यामोऽद्य भवत्येष यदूर्जव्रतकृन्नरः
Where does one go today, when a man observes the Urja vow?
तस्मात्कार्तिकमासस्य सदृशं नहि विद्यते
Therefore, nothing equals the month of Kartika.
ऊर्जोद्यापनमाहात्म्यं शृणुयाच्छ्रद्धयाऽन्वितः
One should listen with faith to the greatness of the Urja observance.
कथं विमुच्यते जंतुर्दुःखसंसारसागरात्
How does a creature become freed from the ocean of suffering and worldly existence?
ब्रह्मोवाच शृणुयादूर्जमाहात्म्यं नियमेन शुचिः पुमान्
Brahma said: One should listen to the greatness of Urja, being pure and disciplined.
वालखिल्यैः पुरा प्रोक्तं संक्षेपेण शृणुष्व तत्
Hear in brief what was formerly spoken by the Valakhilyas.
वैकुण्ठेशस्तु वैकुण्ठाद्वाराणस्यां कृते युगे
Of Vaikuṇṭheśa, from Vaikuṇṭha, in Varanasi during the Krita age,
रात्र्यां तुर्यांशशेषायां स्नात्वाऽसौ मणिकर्णिके
During the fourth watch of the night, after bathing at Manikarnika,
अतिभक्त्या पूजयितुं शिवया सहितं शिवम्
With utmost devotion, one should worship Shiva together with Parvati.
सहस्रसंख्यां कृत्वादावेकनाम्ना ततः परम्
Having counted a thousand, then he proceeded with the one called Eka.
एकं पद्मं पद्ममध्यान्निलीयाऽऽत्तं हरेण तु
One lotus, hidden within the center of the lotus, was taken by Hari.
इतस्ततस्तेन दृष्टं पद्मं तिष्ठति न क्वचित्
Looking here and there, he saw that the lotus was nowhere to be found.
क्षणं विचार्य स हरिर्न मे नामभ्रमोऽभवत्
After pondering for a moment, Hari thought, 'I have not erred in counting the names.'
सहस्रपद्मसंकल्पः पूजार्थं तु कृतो मया
I undertook the resolve of offering a thousand lotuses for the purpose of worship.
यद्यानेतुं गमिष्यामि भंगः स्यादासनस्य तु 2.4.35.
If I go to fetch it, the seat will be disturbed.