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.
मात्स्यं मांसं न भुञ्जीत न कौर्मं नापि हारिणम्
One should not eat fish, meat, turtle, nor deer meat.
कार्तिकः सर्वपापघ्नः किञ्चिद्व्रतधरस्य हि
Kartika destroys all sins, even for one who observes a little of the vow.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन दीक्षां कुर्वीत कार्तिके
Therefore, with all effort, one should undertake the vow in Kartika.
पशुयोनिमवाप्नोति दीक्षया रहितो नरः
A man without initiation attains the birth of an animal.
तीर्थे हि कार्तिकीं कुर्वन्नरो याति हरेः पदम्
Indeed, one who observes Kartika at a sacred place attains the abode of Hari.
प्रातर्दत्वा शुभान्कुंभान्प्रयाति हरिमन्दिरम्
Having given auspicious pots in the morning, one goes to the temple of Hari.
विवाहा यत्र दृश्यन्ते विष्णोर्नाभिसरोरुहे
Where marriages are seen at the lotus navel of Vishnu,
विनोत्तरायणे कालं लग्नशुद्धिं विनापि च
Even without the time of Uttarayana and without purity of the ascendant,
तस्मान्मोहिनि कर्तास्मि कार्तिके व्रतसेवनम्
Therefore, O Mohini, I shall perform the observance of vows in Kartika.
अहो माहात्म्यमतुलं कार्तिकस्य त्वयोरितम्
Ah, the incomparable greatness of Kartika has been narrated by you.