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ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ सुतवर्य महाप्राज्ञ शृणु संध्यातपो महत् ॥ यच्छ्रुत्वा नश्यते पापसमूहस्तत्क्षणाद्ध्रुवम् ॥ १ ॥
Brahmā said: O best of my sons, O intelligent one, listen to the description of the great penance of Sandhyā on hearing which sins are quelled instantly.
english translation
उपविश्य तपोभावं वसिष्ठे स्वगृहं गते ॥ संध्यापि तपसो भावं ज्ञात्वा मोदमवाप ह ॥ २ ॥
When Vasiṣṭha went back to his abode after instructing her in the rites of penance, Sandhyā was greatly pleased on learning the procedure of penance.
english translation
ततस्सानंदमनसो वेषं कृत्वा तु यादृशम् ॥ तपश्चर्तुं समारेभे बृहल्लोहिततीरगा ॥ ३ ॥
On the bank of the lake Bṛhallohita she began to perform penance after she had put on the dress of a person of blissful mind.
english translation
यथोक्तं तु वशिष्ठेन मंत्रं तपसि साधनम् ॥ मंत्रेण तेन सद्भक्त्या पूजयामास शंकरम् ॥४॥
She worshipped Śiva with the mantra taught by Vasiṣṭha as the adjunct of penance in the manner explained by him.
english translation
एकान्तमनसस्तस्याः कुर्वंत्या सुमहत्तपः ॥ शंभौ विन्यस्तचित्ताया गतमेकं चतुर्युगम् ॥ ५ ॥
A period of four Yugas elapsed during which she continued her great penance with mind fixed and duly concentrated on Śiva.
english translation