Let us hear of the wondrous merit that arises from the simple act of offering a lamp. Those who give a lamp are blessed with radiance; they gain inexhaustible wealth, knowledge, and supreme happiness. By gifting a lamp, one attains good fortune, pure and boundless learning, excellent health, and the highest prosperity—there can be no doubt of this. Such a giver is rewarded with a fortunate spouse adorned with all auspicious marks, and their lineage flourishes with sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, remaining unbroken through generations. According to one's station: a Brahmin attains supreme knowledge, a Kshatriya the highest sovereignty, a Vaishya all wealth and cattle, and a Shudra happiness. For a maiden, the lamp’s offering brings a husband with all auspicious marks, the greatest longevity, and many sons and grandsons. A young woman who gives a lamp never experiences widowhood nor suffers separation, protected by the lamp’s grace. The offering of lamps wards off diseases and afflictions; the fearful are freed from fear, and those bound are released from bondage. One who keeps the vow of offering lamps is freed from even the gravest sins, such as the slaying of a Brahmin—this is the word of Brahma, and there is no doubt. The merit gained by maintaining a lamp for a year as an eternal offering to Hari equals that of the Chandrayana and Kricchra penances. Blessed are those great-souled devotees who, worshipping Hari with devotion, keep a lamp burning for a year; they attain the true fruit of birth. Even those who merely witness the preparation of the lamp-wick in this world are granted the supreme abode, difficult for even the gods to reach. Those who, to the best of their ability, continually place oil and wicks in the lamp attain the highest state. When a lamp is going out, none can awaken it; yet even those from other worlds who witness this partake in its merit. Even one who, having begged a little oil at a time for the sake of the lamp, makes a lamp for Vishnu, gains merit thereby. The lowliest person, who with joined palms beholds a lamp being kindled for Vishnu, attains the world of Vishnu. Whoever, whether by intent or by their own act, kindles a lamp is freed from all sins and reaches Vishnu's world. To illustrate this, an ancient legend is told, by the mere hearing of which one is freed from all sin. On the beautiful banks of the Sarasvati, in the hermitage called Siddhashrama, lived a Brahmin named Kapila, learned in the Vedas. He was poor, a Shrotriya, sustaining his family through alms, and devoted to vows and fasts. Kapila worshipped Vishnu through vows and fasting, always kindling a lamp after proper worship. Bringing oil home, he worshipped Kesava and, with supreme devotion, lit a lamp to please Hari. As Kapila continued his lamp vow, a sharp-toothed cat frequented his house, always seeking mice. Day and night, the cat came for food, fixing its mind on the hunt, and sat before Narayana. Many mice were eaten by the cat—those who came for oil or to steal the wicks. Absorbed in meditation, the cat devoured countless mice. Time passed thus, and on the day of Ekadashi, Kapila, pure in his house, observed a fast with his wife and worshipped Achyuta. He performed a vigil, singing hymns and dancing in devotion; but at midnight, sleep and delusion overcame him. A cat entered, sharp-toothed and swift, standing in the corner, watching the offering. It saw a small mouse, accustomed to stealing the wick from the dimly burning lamp, come to drink oil. The mouse leapt and fled into its hole, striking the wick with its foot, and the lamp was greatly rekindled. The oil vessel tipped, and bright illumination filled the room. The Brahmin awoke, casting off sleep and delusion. The cat remained awake, intent on catching mice, and at dawn, Kapila performed his daily rites. Afterwards, Kapila broke his fast with his relatives. As he continued his lamp vow, he gained sons and grandsons, unsurpassed wealth and grain, perfect health, supreme prosperity, and great fortune. By the power of the lamp vow, Kapila attained liberation, traversing the sacred orbits of the sun and moon. The Supreme Self, manifest in the lamp's light, appointed him, and in time, the mouse died within its hole. Kapila ascended a splendid celestial chariot, attended by gods and gandharvas, surrounded by apsarases and accompanied by hosts of vidyadharas. Praised with auspicious cries of victory and blessings, honored by the nagas, he journeyed to the world of Vishnu. For thousands of millions of aeons, and hundreds of millions more, Kapila enjoyed abundant pleasures. Eventually, he was born as a king on earth, named Sudharma—righteous in soul, worshipper of gods and Brahmins, handsome, fortunate, and endowed with great strength and valor. Such is the glory of the lamp offering, and the boundless merit it bestows.