श्रुत्वा राजा नरेंद्राणां चरितानि महा त्मनाम्
Hearing the deeds of the great-souled kings,
नारदोऽपि नरेंद्रस्य मृतं पुत्रं यमालयात्
Nārada also brought back the king’s dead son from the abode of Yama.
दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वा स पुत्रं तं परितुष्टेन चेतसा
Seeing and touching his son, he became completely satisfied in mind.
किमाश्चर्यं प्रसन्नेन भवता मम नारद
What wonder is there, O Nārada, with your favor toward me?
षण्मासांते पुनरसौ जीवितं सर्वमेव तत्
After six months, however, that life was entirely ended.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं जातिस्मरणकारकम्
All this has been told to you, which causes remembrance of previous births.
दाता क्षमी धनी वाग्मी रूपी स्वैर्भद्रकैर्भवेत्
A giver, patient, wealthy, eloquent, and handsome—one should be with such auspicious qualities.
चत्वारि राजन्भद्राणि चतुष्पादानि तानि वै
O King, there are four auspicious things, and they are fourfold indeed.
मार्गशीर्षे तु प्रथमं द्वितीयं फाल्गुने तथा 4.13.
In Mārgaśīrṣa, the first; the second, likewise, in Phālguna.
फाल्गुनामलपक्षादौ त्रीन्मासांस्तु नराधिप
At the beginning of the dark fortnight of Phālguna, O lord of men, three months (are to be observed).
ज्येष्ठस्य शुक्लपक्षादौ त्रीन्वै मासान्युधिष्ठिर
At the beginning of the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha, O Yudhiṣṭhira, three months (are to be observed).
शुक्ले भाद्रपदस्यादौ त्रीन्मासान्पांडुनंदन
At the beginning of the bright fortnight of Bhādrapada, O son of Pāṇḍu, three months (are to be observed).
शुक्लमार्गशिरस्यादौ त्रीन्मासांस्तु नराधिप
At the beginning of the bright fortnight of Mārgaśīrṣa, O ruler of men, three months are prescribed.
समासेनैव चोक्तानि भद्राण्येतानि भारत
These auspicious observances, O Bhārata, have been briefly stated.
भद्राणां नियमाधानं प्रधाननियमांस्तथा
The establishment of the rules for the auspicious rites, as well as the principal regulations, have thus been given.
श्रीभगवानुवाच शृणु राजन्नवहितो भद्राणां विस्तरं परम्
Śrī Bhagavān said: Listen attentively, O King, to the supreme and detailed explanation of the auspicious rites.
शुक्ले मार्गशिरस्यादौ चत्वारस्तिथयो वराः
In the bright fortnight, at the beginning of Mārgaśīrṣa, four dates are considered excellent.
एकभुक्तासनस्तिष्ठेत्प्रतिपद्यां जितेन्द्रियः
On the first day, one should eat only once, remain seated, and control the senses.
प्रहरत्रये समधिके गते स्नानं समाचरेत् 4.13.
When three watches of the day have passed, one should perform bathing.
अहं ते तु प्रदिश्यामि मंत्राणां विधिमुत्तमम्
I shall instruct you in the supreme method of the mantras.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा ये शुचयोऽमलाः
Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras who are pure and spotless—
या स्त्री भर्त्रा वियुक्तापि स्वाचारैः संयुता शुभा
And any woman, even if separated from her husband, who is endowed with good conduct and auspiciousness—
स्नानं नद्यां तडागे वा वाप्यां कूपे गृहेपि वा
May perform bathing in a river, pond, reservoir, well, or even at home.
मृदं मंत्रेण संगृह्य सर्वांगेषु प्रलेपयेत्
Taking clay with a mantra, one should apply it to all parts of the body.
मयापि वंदिता भक्त्या मामतो विमलं कुरु
With devotion, having praised me, one should say: 'Make me pure, O Immaculate One.'
इति मृन्मंत्रः जलावगाहनं कुर्यात्कुण्डमालिख्य धर्मवित्
This is the clay mantra. One who knows dharma should draw a circle and enter the water.
त्वमादिः सर्वदेवानां जगतां च जगन्मये
You are the origin of all the gods and of all the worlds, O Lord of the universe.
गंगासागरजं तोयं पौष्करं नार्मदं तथा
Water from the Gaṅgā, the ocean, the Puṣkara lake, and the Narmadā river—
इति स्नानमंत्रः एवं स्नात्वा समाप्लुत्य आचम्य तटमास्थितः ।।4.13.
This is the bathing mantra. Having thus bathed, having sprinkled oneself and sipped water, one should stand on the bank.
निवस्य वाससी शुभ्रे शुचिः प्रयतमानसः
Wearing clean and pure garments, with a purified and concentrated mind—