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,
पुलिनेषु नदीनां च कूपमूलेषु पांडव
on the banks of rivers and at the roots of wells, O Pāṇḍava.
ललिते वद भद्रं ते ललितं वचनं तथा
O Lalitā, speak auspiciously; speak words that are gentle.
भवत्याः सुमहान्यत्नो दीपप्रज्वालने यथा 4.130.
Your effort in lighting lamps is truly great.
मन्यामहे त्वयावश्यं दीपदानफलं श्रुतम् ललितोवाच नाहं मत्सरिणी भद्रा न च रागादिदूषिता
We believe you have surely heard the fruit of offering lamps. Lalitā said: I am not envious, O gentle one, nor tainted by passion or the like.
एकपत्याश्रिताः साध्व्यो भवत्यो मम मानदाः
These virtuous women, devoted to one husband, honor me.
मयैतद्दीपदानस्य यथेष्टं भुज्यते फलम्
By me, the fruit of offering lamps is enjoyed as desired.
उमादेवीति मद्रेषु देविका सा सरिद्वरा श्रुता किं भवतीभिः सा देविका पापनाशिनी
She is known among mothers as Umādevī, Devikā, and the best of rivers. Have you heard of her? That Devikā destroys sin.
तस्यां स्नात्वा सकृन्नद्यां गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात् हरिणा नृसिंहवपुषा यत्र स्नानं कृतं पुरा
By bathing even once in that river, one attains the favor of Gaṇapati, where Hari once bathed in the form of Narasiṃha.
सौवीरराजस्य पुरा मैत्रेयोभूत्पुरोहितः
Long ago, Maitreya became the priest of the king of Sauvīra.
अहन्यहनि शुश्रूषां पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः
Day after day, he served with flowers, incense, and ointments.