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.
पूर्णता येन भवतगि व्रतानां पृथिवीपते
By which, O king of the earth, the fullness of vows is attained.
नक्तव्रती षड्रसेन ब्राह्मणं भोजयेत्प्रिये
O beloved, the one observing the night vow should feed a Brahmin with six tastes.
अमांसाशीभवेद्यस्त्तु गां प्रदद्यात्सदक्षिणाम्
He who eats no meat should give a cow with proper gift.
फलानां नियमे सुभ्रु फलदानं समाचरेत्
O beautiful-browed one, in the regulation of fruits, one should perform the giving of fruits.
धान्यानां नियमे शालींस्तत्तद्धान्यमथापि वा
In the regulation of grains, one should offer rice or other such grains.
पत्रभोजी नरोदद्याद्भाजनं घृतसंयुतम्
A person eating from leaves should give a vessel mixed with ghee.
दंपत्योर्भोजनं कार्यमुभयोः शयनान्वितम्
Food should be provided for a married couple, along with a bed for both.
प्रातः स्नाने हयं दद्यान्निःस्नेहे घृतसक्तुकान्
At the morning bath, one should give a horse, and cakes made with ghee but without oil.
उपानहौ प्रदद्यात्तु पादत्राणविवर्जने
If lacking foot coverings, one should give sandals.
आमिषस्य परित्यागे सवत्सां कपिलां ददेत्
Upon renouncing meat, one should give a tawny cow with its calf.