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.
एकः प्रकार उत्पन्नो हृदयेऽस्य मुनीश्वराः
A single method arose in his heart, O best of sages.
नेत्रं मे पद्मसदृशे पद्मार्थे त्वर्पयाम्यहम्
I shall offer my eye, which resembles a lotus, in place of the lotus.
नेत्रमध्यात्तदुत्पाट्य महादेवस्तु पूजितः
Having plucked out his eye from the center, he worshipped Mahadeva.
राज्यं दत्तं त्रिलोक्यास्ते भव त्वं लोकपालकः
The sovereignty of the three worlds was granted; become the protector of the worlds.
अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं यन्मनसेप्सितम्
Choose another boon, auspicious one, whatever your mind desires.
मद्भक्तिं तु समालंब्य ये द्विषंति जनार्दनम्
Those who, relying on my devotion, bear enmity toward Janardana—
विष्णुरुवाच त्रैलोक्यरक्षाकरणं ममादिष्टं महेश्वर
Viṣṇu said: 'O Maheśvara, you have appointed me to protect the three worlds.'
शिव उवाच एतत्सुदर्शनं चक्रं महादैत्यनिकृंतनम्
Śiva said: 'This is the Sudarśana discus, the destroyer of great demons.'
अनेन सर्वदैत्यानां भगवन्कदनं कुरु
With this, O Lord, always strike down the demons.
शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यामरुणाभ्युदयं प्रति ।।2.4.35.
On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight, at the rising of the reddish dawn—