यत्पुण्यं परमं प्रोक्तं सततं यज्ञयाजिनाम् तत्पुण्यं लभते विप्र सहस्राब्दस्य जीविभिः
The supreme merit always declared for those who perform sacrifices—that merit is obtained, O Brahmin, by those who live a thousand years.
सर्वसौख्यप्रदं तादृक्पुण्यव्रतमिहोच्यते
Such a meritorious vow is here said to grant all happiness.
चतुर्दश्यां शुचिः स्नात्वा दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् पौर्णमास्यां तथा कृत्वा चंद्रपूजां च कारयेत् ।। 2.8.3.
On the fourteenth day, having purified oneself by bathing and brushing the teeth, and likewise on the full moon day, one should perform worship of the Moon.
पूर्वं च मातरः पूज्या गौर्यादिकक्रमेण च
First, the Mothers should be worshipped, in order beginning with Gauri.
प्रयतैः प्रतिमा कार्या चंद्रमंडलसन्निभा निजवित्तानुमानेन तदर्धेन तदर्द्धिकम्
With effort, an image resembling the lunar disc should be made, according to one's means, or with half or a quarter of those means.
ततः श्रद्धानुमानाद्वा कार्या वित्तानुमानतः
Then, according to one's faith or means, it should be made based on one's resources.
चंद्रपूजां ततः कुर्यादागमोक्तविधानतः
After that, one should perform Moon worship according to the prescribed ritual of the scriptures.
सोममंत्रेण होमस्तु कार्यो वित्तानुमानतः
A fire offering should be performed with the Soma mantra, according to one's means.
सोमोत्पत्तिं सोमसूक्तं पाठयेच्च प्रयत्नतः
With care, one should recite the hymn of Soma's origin and the Soma Sūkta.
चंद्रन्यासं कलान्यासं कारयेन्मंडले जलम्
One should perform the placement of the Moon and its phases in the mandala with water.
चंद्रबिंबनिभं कार्य्यं मंडलं शुभतंडुलैः
A mandala resembling the Moon's orb should be made with auspicious rice grains.
चतुरस्रेषु संपूर्णान्कलशान्स्थापयेद्बहिः
At the four corners, full pots should be placed outside.
चंद्राय विधवे नित्यं नमः कुमुदबंधवे ।। 2.8.3.
Salutations always to the Moon, the widower, the friend of the water-lily.
सुधांशवे च सोमाय ओषधीशाय वै नमः
Salutations to the nectar-rayed one, to Soma, to the lord of plants.
नमो नक्षत्रनाथाय शर्वरीपतये नमः
Salutations to the lord of the stars, salutations to the master of the night.
एवं षोडशभिश्चंद्रः स्तोतव्यो नामभिः क्रमात्
Thus, the Moon should be praised with sixteen names in order.
ततो वै प्रयतो दद्याद्विधिवन्मंत्रपूर्वकम्
Then, with devotion, one should give offerings according to the ritual, preceded by mantras.
नमस्ते मासमासांते जायमान पुनःपुनः
Salutations to you, who is born again and again at the end of each month.
एवं संपूज्य विधिवच्छशिनं प्रणतो भवेत्
Thus, having worshipped the Moon properly, one should bow in reverence.
सवस्त्राच्छादनाः शांत्यै दातव्यास्ते द्विजन्मने
Clothing and coverings should be given to the twice-born for the sake of peace.
ऋत्विजां मनसस्तुष्टिः कार्या वित्तानुमानतः
The satisfaction of the priests' minds should be ensured by estimating their wealth.
पूजनीयौ प्रयत्नेन वस्त्रैश्च द्विजदंपती
The twice-born couple must be honored with effort and with garments.
प्रतिमाश्च प्रदातव्या द्विजेभ्यो धेनुपूर्विकाः दातव्यं चंद्रसुप्रीत्यै हर्षादेवं द्विजन्मने ।। 2.8.3.
Images, preceded by a cow, should be given to the Brahmins; and gifts should be made to the twice-born for the delight of the moon, with joy.
उपवासविधानेन दिनशेषं नयेत्सुधीः बांधवैः सह भुञ्जीत नियमं च विसर्ज्जयेत्
The wise should spend the remainder of the day in fasting; he may eat with relatives and then relinquish the observance.
एवं च कुरुते चंद्रसहस्रं व्रतमुत्तमम् व्रतेनानेन शुद्धात्मा चंद्रलोकं व्रजेन्नरः
Thus, one performs the excellent vow of a thousand moons; by this vow, the pure-hearted man attains the world of the moon.
यादृशश्च भवेद्विप्र प्रियो नारायणस्य च
O Brahmin, as dear as one is to Narayana, so shall he be.
देवो धर्महरिर्न्नाम कलिकल्मषनाशकः
The god named Dharma-Hari destroys the impurities of the Kali age.
वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञः स्वकर्मपरिनिष्ठितः
He knows the essence of the Vedas and their branches, and is accomplished in his own duties.
आगत्य च चकारोच्चैर्यात्रां तत्रादरेण सः
Having arrived, he performed a grand procession there with reverence.
विधाय स्वभुजावूर्ध्वौ विप्रोऽवोचन्मुदान्वितः
Raising both his arms, the Brahmin joyfully spoke.