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.
स काञ्चनं तथा ताम्रं सघृतं दीपकं प्रिये
He should also give gold, copper, and a lamp with ghee, O dear one.
एकान्तरोपवासी तु क्षौमवस्त्रं प्रदापयेत्
One who fasts on alternate days should give linen garments.
षड्ररात्राद्युपवासेषु शिबिकां छत्रसंयुताम्
For fasts of six nights or more, one should give a palanquin along with an umbrella.
अजाविकं त्वेकभक्ते फलाहारे सुवर्णकम्
For one meal a day, subsisting on fruits, one should give a goat and gold.
रसानां चैव सर्वेषां त्यागे ऽनुक्तस्य वापि च
Upon renouncing all kinds of juices, or if not specifically mentioned,
यथोक्तस्याप्रदाने तु यथोक्ताकरणे ऽपि वा
If what is prescribed is not given, or if what is prescribed is not done,
वृथा विप्रवचो यस्तु मन्यते मनुजः शुभे
If a person considers the words of a Brahmin to be in vain, O auspicious one,
व्रतवैकल्यमासाद्य कुष्ठी चान्धः प्रजायते
By failing in the observance of a vow, one is born as a leper or blind.
को लङ्घयेत्सुभ्रु वचो हि तेषां श्रेयोभिकामो मनुजस्तु विद्वान्
What wise man, desiring his own good, would disregard the words of those with beautiful brows?
प्रकाशितं तुभ्यमनन्यवाच्यं फलप्रदं माधवतुष्टिहेतुम्
This has been revealed to you, not to be told to others, granting fruit and causing the satisfaction of Mādhava.