अतिप्रमुग्धो राजेन्द्रो मोहिनीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
The king, greatly infatuated, spoke to Mohini these words:
तवापमानभीतेन नोक्तं किञ्चिदपि क्वचित्
Out of fear of disrespecting you, nothing was ever said anywhere.
त्वय्यासक्तस्य मे देवि बहवः कार्तिका गताः
O goddess, many Kartika months have passed while I was attached to you.
सो ऽहं कार्तिकमिच्छामि व्रते न पर्य्युपासितुम्
I wish to observe Kartika, but have not been able to practice the vow.
इष्टापूर्तौ वृथा तेषां धर्मो द्रुहिणसंभवे
For them, the merit of sacrifices and charity is in vain, born of falsehood.
ते भांसं कार्तिके त्यक्त्वा गता विष्ण्वालयं शुभे
Those who abandoned Kartika have gone to the abode of Vishnu, O auspicious one.
अवश्यं विष्णुरूपत्वं प्राप्यते साधकेन हि
Certainly, the practitioner attains the form of Vishnu.
हृदयायासकर्तॄणि दीपदानाद्दिवं व्रजेत्
Those who give lamps, though their hearts are weary, go to heaven.
कर्तव्यं भक्तिभावेन सर्वदानाधिकं च तत्
This should be performed with devotion, for it surpasses all other gifts.
कार्तिकेन समं प्रोक्तं दीपदानात्प्रबोधनम्
It is said that awakening through offering lamps is equal to the month of Kartika.
कार्तिकीं च तिथिं कृत्वा विष्णोर्नाभिसरोरुहे
By observing the Kartika date at the lotus navel of Vishnu,
व्रतोपवासनियमैः कार्तिको यस्य गच्छति
Whoever observes Kartika with vows, fasting, and discipline,
तस्मान्मोहिनि मोहं त्वं परित्यज्य ममोपरि
Therefore, O Mohini, abandon delusion and turn toward me.
तव वक्षोजपूजाया विरतो नीरजेक्षमे
Having ceased worship of your breasts, I am able to gaze upon you without desire.
विस्तरेण समाख्याहि माहात्म्यं कार्तिकस्य च
Describe in detail the greatness of Kartika.
विशेषात्कुत्र कथितस्तदादिश महामते
Especially, where has it been spoken of? Tell me, O wise one.
श्रुत्वा कार्त्तिकमाहात्म्यं करिष्ये ऽहं यथेप्सितम्
Having heard the greatness of Kartika, I will perform as I desire.
येन भक्तिर्भवित्री ते प्रकर्तुं हरिपूजनम्
By which devotion will arise in you to worship Hari.
एकान्तरोपवासी वा त्रिरात्रोपोषितो ऽपि वा
Whether one fasts for a single night or even for three nights,
क्षपयित्वा नरो याति स विष्णोः परमं पदम्
After completing this, a person attains the supreme abode of Vishnu.
अस्मिन् नरैर्धरा चैव प्राप्यते द्वीपमालिनी
On this earth, through men, the island garlanded is attained.
मासो ऽयं भक्तिदः प्रोक्तो व्रतदानार्चनादिभिः
This month is declared to grant devotion through vows, gifts, worship, and the like.
प्रबोधिनीं नरः कृत्वा जागरेण समन्विताम्
A man who observes Prabodhini, accompanied by wakefulness,
तस्मिन्दिने वरारोहे मण्डलं यस्तु पश्यति
On that day, O beautiful one, whoever beholds the mandala,
कार्तिके मण्डलं दृष्ट्वा शौकरेः सूकरं शुभे
In Kartika, seeing the mandala of the boar of Shaukara,
त्रिविधस्यापि पापस्य दृष्ट्वा मुक्तिर्भवेन्नृणाम्
By seeing it, liberation from even threefold sin comes to men.
कार्तिके वर्जयेत्तैलं कार्त्तिके वर्जयेन्मधु
In the month of Kartika, one should abstain from oil; in Kartika, one should abstain from honey.
निष्पावान्कार्तिके देवि त्यञ्जेद्विष्णुतत्परः
O Devi, in Kartika, one devoted to Vishnu should renounce split pulses.
प्राप्नोति राजकीं योनिं सकृद्भक्षणसंभवात्
By consuming even once, one attains the birth of a royal animal.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि रौरवे परिपच्यते
For sixty thousand years, one is cooked in the hell called Raurava.