अथो दीपविधिं वक्ष्ये कार्तवीर्यप्रियङ्करम्
Now I shall explain the procedure for the lamp, which brings delight to Kārtavīrya.
माघफाल्गुनयोर्मासोर्दीपारंभं समाचरेत्
One should begin the lighting of the lamp during the months of Māgha and Phālguna.
हस्तोत्तराश्विरौद्रेयपुष्यवैष्णववायुभे
On the days of Hasta, Uttara, Aśvini, Raudra, Puṣya, Vaiṣṇava, and Vāyu nakṣatras,
चरमे च व्यतीपाते धृतौ वृद्धौ सुकर्मणि
At the end, during Vyatīpāta, Dhṛti, Vṛddhi, and on auspicious occasions,
करणे विष्टिरहिते ग्रहणे ऽर्द्धोदयादिषु
When the Karaṇa is free from Viṣṭi, during eclipses, and at the rising of Arddhodayā and others,
कार्तिके शुक्लसप्तम्यां निशीथे ऽतीव शोभनः
In the month of Kārtika, on the seventh day of the bright fortnight, at midnight, it is especially auspicious.
अत्यावश्यककार्येषु मासादीनां न शोधनम्
For extremely urgent matters, there is no purification regarding the months and other factors.
प्रातः स्नात्वा शुद्धभूमौ लिप्तायां गोमयोदकैः
In the morning, after bathing, on purified ground smeared with cow dung and water,
षट्कोणं रचयेद्भूमौ रक्तचन्दनतण्डुलैः
One should draw a hexagon on the ground with red sandalwood and rice grains.
नवार्णैर्वेष्टयेत्तञ्च त्रिकोणं तद्बहिः पुनः
One should encircle it with nine kinds of grains, and outside that, again draw a triangle.
स्वर्णजं रजतोत्थं वा ताम्रजं तदभावतः
A vessel made of gold, or silver, or copper if those are not available,
शान्तये मुद्गचूर्णोत्थं संधौ गोधूमचूर्णजम्
For peace, a vessel made of mung flour; at the junction, one made of wheat flour.
आज्ये ऽयुतपले पात्रं पलपञ्चशता स्मृतम्
A vessel holding ten thousand palas of clarified butter is prescribed.
त्रिसाहस्री घृतपले शर्करापलभाजनम्
A vessel for sugar should hold three thousand palas of ghee.
शते ऽक्षिचरसंश्यातमेवमन्यत्र कल्पयेत्
In a vessel holding one hundred palas, one should place the juice of the akṣa fruit; similarly for other substances.
एवं पात्रं प्रतिष्ठाप्य वर्तीः सूत्रोत्थिताः क्षिपेत्
Having thus established the vessel, one should place the wicks made from cotton threads.
तिथिमानादासहस्रं तन्तुसंख्या विनिर्मिता
A thousand threads are constructed according to the count of tithis.
सहस्रपलसंख्यादिदशांशं कार्यगौरवात्
From the count of a thousand palas, a tenth part is taken for the weight required for the task.
तदर्द्धां वा तदर्द्धां वा सूक्ष्माग्रां स्थूलमूलिकाम्
Either half of that, or half again, with a fine tip and a thick base.
पात्रदक्षिणदिग्देशे मुक्त्वां गुलचतुष्टयम्
Having placed four balls of gulā in the southern direction of the vessel.
दीपं प्रज्वालयेत्तत्र गणेशस्मृतिपूर्वकम्
One should light the lamp there, preceded by remembrance of Ganesha.
तण्डुलाष्टदले वापि विधिवत्स्थापयेद्धूटम्
Or, on an eight-petaled rice arrangement, one should properly place the dhūṭa.
जलाक्षतान्समादाय दीपं संकल्पयेत्ततः
Taking water and akṣatā, then one should consecrate the lamp.
प्रणवः पाशमाये च शिखा कार्ताक्षराणि च
The syllable praṇava, the noose, māyā, the śikhā, and the kartā letters.
बाहवे इति वर्णान्ते सहस्रपदमुच्चरेत्
At the end of the syllable 'bāhave', one should utter the thousand-petaled mantra.
आत्रेयायानुसूयान्ते गर्भरत्नाय तत्परम्
At the end of 'Ātreya', 'Anusūyā', and 'garbharatna', that supreme mantra.
दीपं गृहाण अमुकं रक्ष रक्ष पदं पुनः
Take the lamp, recite 'amukaṃ', and again utter 'protect, protect' and the mantra.
शत्रून् जहिद्वयं माया तारः स्वं बीजमात्मभूः
Destroy the enemies, dispel the two māyās, utter the syllable 'tāra', your own seed, and 'ātmabhūḥ'.
भिमुखेनामुकं रक्ष अमुकान्ते वरप्रद
Facing the lamp, recite 'amukaṃ', and at the end of 'amuka', utter 'granting boons'.
वेदादिकामचामुण्डाः स्वाहा तु पूसबिन्दुकौ
The Vedas, desires, and Cāmuṇḍā; 'svāhā' and the syllables 'pūsa' and 'bindu'.