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.
कार्त्तिक्यां दीपकस्तत्र प्रदत्तस्तेन चैकदा
Once, during Kārttikā, he offered a lamp there.
देवतायतनेऽवात्सं तत्राहमपि मूषिका
I too dwelled in the temple of the deity there, as a mouse.
गृहीताथ मया वर्तिर्वृकदंशो ररास च 4.130.
Then I took the wick, and a wolf bit and dragged it.
वक्त्रप्रांतेन पश्यंत्या स दीपः प्रेरितो मया
Seeing with the side of my face, that lamp was set in motion by me.
मृताहं च पुनर्जाता वैदर्भे राजकन्यका
I died and was reborn as the royal daughter in Vidarbha.
एष प्रभावो दीपस्य कार्त्तिके मासि शोभनः
This is the splendid power of the lamp in the month of Kārttika.
असंकल्पितमध्यस्य प्रेरणं यन्मया कृतम्
The act of setting the lamp in motion by me was done without intention.
एतस्मात्कार णाद्दीपानहमेतानहर्निशम्
For this reason, I offer these lamps day and night.
एवमुक्त्वा सपत्नीः सा दीपदानपरायणा
Having spoken thus, she, along with her co-wives, became devoted to giving lamps.
ततः कालेन महता सह राज्ञा महात्मना
After a long time, together with the great-souled king,