इत्याचार्यं समापृच्छ्य तथेत्युक्तश्च तेन वै
Having thus taken leave of the teacher, and receiving his assent,
नक्तं समाचरेत्पोष्यैः सार्धं सुप्रीतमानसः
He should perform the night observance together with his dependents, with a mind full of joy.
अभ्यर्च्य गंधमाल्याद्यैर्द्वादशापि कुमारिकाः
After worshipping with fragrance, garlands, and the like, all twelve maidens,
कार्यं मनोरथावाप्त्यै सर्वैरेतद्व्रतं शुभम्
This auspicious vow should be performed by all for the attainment of their desires.
तारिणीं दुःखसंसारसागरस्य पतिव्रताम्
The devoted wife becomes the savior from the ocean of worldly suffering.
कुमारी पतिमाप्नोति स्वाढ्यं सर्वगुणाधिकम्
A maiden obtains a husband endowed with all virtues and prosperity.
दुर्भगा सुभगास्याच्च धनाढ्या स्याद्दरिद्रिणी
The unfortunate becomes fortunate, and the poor woman becomes wealthy.
गुर्विणी च शुभं पुत्रं लभते सुचिरायुषम् 4.2.80.
And the pregnant woman obtains an auspicious son with long life.
कामी कामानवाप्नोति मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाप्नुयात्
The one who desires pleasures attains pleasures; the seeker of liberation attains liberation.
यो यो मनोरथो यस्य स तं तं विंदते ध्रुवम्
Whatever wish anyone has, he surely obtains that very thing.
पुनः पप्रच्छ विश्वेशं प्रबद्धकरसंपुटा
Again she questioned the Lord of the Universe, her hands joined in respectful salutation.
अन्यत्र ये व्रतं चैतत्करिष्यंति सदाशिव
Elsewhere, those who perform this vow, O Sadashiva,
वाराणस्यां समर्च्या त्वं विश्वे प्रत्यक्षरूपिणी
In Varanasi, you are to be worshipped, O universal one, in your manifest form.
आशा विघ्नजिता सार्धं सर्वाशापूर्तिकारिणा
With Vighnajit and the fulfiller of all desires together,
क्षिप्रमागमयित्वा च नत्वा दूरंगतानपि
Having quickly brought even those who are far away and bowed to them,
अन्यत्र व्रतिभिर्विश्वे कांचनीप्रतिमा तव
Elsewhere, by the vow-performers, O universal one, a golden image of you
आचार्याय व्रती दद्याद् व्रतांते प्रतिमा द्वयम् 4.2.80.
At the end of the vow, the votary should give two images to the teacher.
ततः पुलोमजा देवि श्रुत्वैतद्व्रतमुत्तमम्
Then, O goddess, Puloma's daughter, having heard of this supreme vow,
अरुंधत्या वसिष्ठोपि लब्धोऽत्रिऽनसूयया
Vasishtha was obtained by Arundhati, and Atri by Anasuya.
सुनीतेदुर्भर्गत्वं च पुनरस्माद्व्रताद्गतम्
Suniti too attained freedom from misfortune again through this vow.
किं बहूक्तेन सुश्रोणि कृतंयेन व्रतं त्विदम्
Why speak at length, O lovely-hipped one? Whoever has performed this vow,
श्रुत्वा धीमान्कथां पुण्यां पुनस्तद्गतमानसः
Having heard this sacred story, the wise one, with mind again absorbed in it,
स्कंद देव्यै समाख्यातं तदाख्याहि कृपां कुरु
O Skanda, tell the goddess what has been related; show your compassion.
आकर्णय महाप्राज्ञ यथा देवेन भाषितम्
Listen, O greatly wise one, to what was spoken by the god.
वृत्रं निहत्य वृत्रारिर्ब्रह्महत्यामवाप्तवान्
Having slain Vritra, the enemy of Vritra incurred the sin of killing a Brahmin.
अपानुनुत्सुस्तद्याहि काशीं विश्वेशपालिताम्
To remove that, he went to Kashi, protected by the Lord of All.
नान्यत्किंचित्क्वचिद्दृष्टं ब्रह्महत्यामहौषधम्
Nowhere has any remedy for the sin of killing a Brahmin been seen.
भैरवस्यापिहस्ताग्रादपतद्वैधसं शिरः
Even from Bhairava’s very hand, the severed head of the Brahmin fell.
सीमानमपि संप्राप्य शक्रानंदवनस्य हि
Having reached even the boundary of Indra’s pleasure-grove,
अन्येषामपि पापानां महापापजुषामपि
For other sins as well, even for those who have committed great sins,