सूर्याय रक्तवस्त्रेण पूर्णवर्तिं घृतैर्युताम्
To the Sun, offer a lamp with a full wick, wrapped in red cloth and filled with ghee.
तद्वि ष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यंति सूरयः
The wise always behold that supreme abode of Vishnu.
पीतवस्त्रेण कृष्णाय श्वेतवस्त्रेण शूलिने 4.130.
To Krishna, offer with yellow cloth; to Shiva, with white cloth.
वर्ति लाक्षारक्तेन दुर्गायै पूर्णवर्ति प्रबोधयेत्
For Durgā, awaken the full lamp with a wick colored by lac dye.
नागेभ्यः कृष्णवस्त्रेण ग्रहेभ्य इषिका युधाम्
To the serpents, use black cloth; for the planets, offer arrows as weapons.
विशेषं शृणु सूर्याय पूर्णवर्तिर्निगद्यते
Hear in detail about the full lamp prescribed for the Sun.
पद्मवर्तिर्विरिंचाय गौर्य्यै सौभाग्यवर्तिका
A lotus-shaped wick for Brahmā, a lamp of good fortune for Gaurī.
नेत्रपट्टेन मधुना घृतेन मधुकुंडके
With a cloth for the eyes, honey, and ghee in a honey vessel.
मंत्रेणानेन राजेन्द्र तन्निशामय वैदिकम्
With this mantra, O king, listen to the Vedic instruction.
अग्रे त्वां काम्यया गिरा तुभ्यं ता गिरसस्तु विश्वाः
Before you, with a wishful word, may all those words be for you.
अग्ने कामाय जेगिरे अग्निप्रियेषु धामसु
O Agni, for desire they have invoked you, in the abodes dear to Agni.
एवमेतेन विधिना यः प्रयच्छति दीपकम्
Whoever offers a lamp in this manner,
यांति ते ब्रह्मसदनं विमानेनार्कवर्चसा 4.130.
They go to the abode of Brahma in a radiant chariot like the sun.
सदीपे तु यथा देशे चक्षूंषि बलवन्ति हि
Wherever there is a lamp, the eyes indeed become strong.
यथैवोर्ध्वं गतिर्नित्यं राजन्दीपशिखासु वै
Just as the flame of a lamp always rises upward, O king,
घृतेन दीपो दातव्यो राजंस्तैलेन वा पुनः
A lamp should be given with ghee, O king, or again with oil.
दीपस्तैलेन कर्तव्यो न तु कर्म विजानता
A lamp should be made with oil, but not by one ignorant of the rite.
यः कुर्यात्कर्मणा तेन स्यादसौ पुष्पितेक्षणः
Whoever performs this act becomes one with blossoming eyes.
पद्मसूत्रोद्भवां वर्तिं गंधतैलेन दीपिताम्
Lighting a wick made from lotus fiber, soaked in fragrant oil,
प्रज्वाल्य देवदेवस्य कर्पूरेण तु दीपकम्
and kindling a lamp for the Lord of gods with camphor,
एतन्मयोक्तं तव दीपदानफलं समग्रं कुरुवंशचन्द्र
I have thus told you the complete fruit of offering lamps, O moon of the Kuru lineage.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Here too, they recount an ancient legend.
आसीच्चित्ररथोनाम विदर्भेषु महीपतिः 4.130.
There was a king named Citraratha among the Vidarbhas.
एकैव कन्या तस्यासील्ललिता नाम नामतः
He had only one daughter, named Lalitā.
तां ददौ काशिराजाय चार्वंगीं चारुधर्मणे
He gave that beautiful and virtuous girl to the king of Kāśī.
तासां मध्येऽग्रमहिषी ललिता साप्यथाभवत्
Among them, Lalitā became the chief queen.
विष्णोरायतने सा तु सहस्रं परिदीपकान्
In the temple of Viṣṇu, she lit a thousand lamps.
तामिस्रमाश्वयुक्पक्षं शुक्लपक्षं च कार्त्तिकम्
During the dark fortnight and the bright fortnight of Kārttika,
तस्मिन्काले तथा नित्यं ब्राह्मणावसथे च सा
At that time, she did so daily in the dwelling of brāhmaṇas,
चतुष्पथेषु रथ्यासु देवतायतनेषु च
at crossroads, in streets, and in temples of the gods,