नरकाय प्रदातव्यो दीपः संपूज्य देवताः । ततः प्रदोषसमये दीपान्दद्यान्मनोहरान्
A lamp should be given to Naraka, after worshipping the deities; then, at twilight, one should offer beautiful lamps.
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादीनां भवनेषु विशेषतः । कूटागारेषु चैत्येषु सभासु च नदीषु च
Especially in the houses of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others; also in towers, temples, assembly halls, and at rivers.
प्राकारोद्यानवापीषु प्रतोली निष्कुटेषु च । मंदुरासु विविक्तासु हस्तिशालासु चैव हि
At walls, gardens, wells, gateways, thresholds, in stables, secluded places, and even in elephant sheds.
एवं प्रभातसमये ह्यमावास्यां तु पावकं । स्नात्वा देवान्पितॄन्भक्त्या संपूज्याथ प्रणम्य च
Thus, at dawn on the new moon, having bathed in fire, one should worship and bow to the gods and ancestors with devotion.
कृत्वा तु पार्वणं श्राद्धं दधिक्षीरघृतादिभिः । भोज्यैर्नानाविधैर्विप्रान्भोजयित्वा क्षमापयेत्
Having performed the fortnightly śrāddha with curd, milk, ghee, and other foods, one should feed the brāhmaṇas with various dishes and then ask their forgiveness.
ततोपराह्णसमये पोषयेन्नागरान्प्रिय । तेषां गोष्ठीं च मानं च कृत्वा संभाषणं नृपः
After that, at midday, one should nourish the townspeople, O dear one; the king should also honor their gatherings and converse with them.
वक्तृणां वत्सरं यावत्प्रीतिरुत्पद्यते गुह । अप्रबुद्धे हरौ पूर्वं स्त्रीभिर्लक्ष्मीः प्रबोधयेत्
As long as the reciters' affection arises during the year, before Hari awakens, Lakshmi should be awakened by women.
प्रबोधसमये लक्ष्मीं बोधयित्वा तु सुस्त्रिया । पुमान्वै वत्सरं यावल्लक्ष्मीस्तं नैव मुंचति
At the time of awakening, having awakened Lakshmi with a virtuous woman, Lakshmi does not leave that man for the entire year.
अभयं प्राप्य विप्रेभ्यो विष्णुभीता सुरद्विषः । सुप्तं क्षीरोदधौ ज्ञात्वा लक्ष्मीं पद्माश्रितां तथा
Having obtained safety from the Brahmins, the enemies of the gods, fearful of Vishnu, knowing that Lakshmi is asleep in the Milk Ocean and is also sheltered by the lotus,
त्वं ज्योतिः श्री रविश्चंद्रो विद्युत्सौवर्णतारकः । सर्वेषां ज्योतिषां ज्योतिर्दीपज्योतिः स्थिता तु या
You are light, you are Śrī, you are the sun, the moon, lightning, gold, and stars; you are the light of all lights, the lamp's flame that abides.
या लक्ष्मीर्दिवसे पुण्ये दीपावल्यां च भूतले । गवां गोष्ठे तु कार्तिक्यां सा लक्ष्मीर्वरदा मम
That Lakshmi who, on the auspicious day of Dīpāvali, is on earth, and in the cows' enclosure during Kārtik, is the Lakshmi who grants boons to me.
शंकरश्च भवानी च क्रीडया द्यूतमास्थितौ । भवान्याभ्यर्चिता लक्ष्मीर्धेनुरूपेण संस्थिता
Śaṃkara and Bhavānī, engaged in play, took up dice; Lakshmi, worshipped by Bhavānī, remained in the form of a cow.
गौर्या जित्वा पुरा शंभुर्नग्नो द्यूते विसर्जितः । अतोऽयं शंकरो दुःखी गौरी नित्यं सुखेस्थिता
Long ago, having been defeated by Gaurī, Śaṃbhu was stripped naked and dismissed in the game; therefore, Śaṃkara is sorrowful, while Gaurī is always established in happiness.
प्रथमं विजयो यस्य तस्य संवत्सरं सुखम् । एवं गते निशीथे तु जने निद्रार्धलोचने
For the one whose victory comes first, happiness lasts for a year; thus, when midnight arrives and people are half-asleep,
तावन्नगरनारीभिस्तूर्य डिंडिमवादनैः । निष्कास्यते प्रहृष्टाभिरलक्ष्मीश्च गृहांगणात्
Then, with city women and the playing of drums and kettledrums, joyfully, Alakshmi is expelled from the house courtyard.
पराजये विरुद्धं स्यात्प्रतिपद्युदिते रवौ । प्रातर्गोवर्द्धनः पूज्यो द्यूतं रात्रौ समाचरेत्
In defeat, one becomes opposed when the sun rises on the day after; in the morning, Govardhana should be worshipped, and dice should be played at night.
भूषणीयास्तथा गावो वर्ज्या वहनदोहनात् । गोवर्द्धनधराधार गोकुलत्राणकारक
Cows should be adorned and spared from carrying loads and being milked; Govardhana, the bearer, the protector of Gokula, should be honored.
विष्णुबाहुकृतोच्छ्राय गवां कोटिप्रदो भव । या लक्ष्मीर्लोकपालानां धेनुरूपेण संस्थिता
By the greatness created by Vishnu's arms, be the giver of millions of cows; that Lakshmi who abides among the guardians of the world in the form of a cow.
घृतं वहति यज्ञार्थे मम पापं व्यपोहतु । अग्रतः संतु मे गावो गावो मे संतु पृष्ठतः । गावो मे हृदये संतु गवां मध्ये वसाम्यहम्
May the ghee carried for sacrifice remove my sin; may cows be before me, may cows be behind me, may cows be in my heart, and I dwell among the cows.
इतिगोवर्द्धनपूजा । सद्भावेनैव संतोष्य देवान्सत्पुरुषान्नरान् । इतरेषामन्नपानैर्वाक्यदानेन पंडितान्
Thus is the worship of Govardhana; by true feeling, satisfy the gods, the virtuous, and men; others with food and drink, and the learned with words.
वस्त्रैस्तांबूलदीपैश्च पुष्पकर्पूरकुंकुमैः । भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैर्भोज्यैरंतःपुर निवासिनः
With garments, betel, lamps, flowers, camphor, and saffron, with various foods and dishes, the residents of the inner chambers.
ग्रामर्षभं च दानैश्च सामंतान्नृपतिर्धनैः । पदातिजनसंघांश्च ग्रैवेयैः कटकैः शुभैः
The village bull, with gifts, the king with wealth, and the groups of foot soldiers with fine neck ornaments and bracelets.
स्वानमात्यांश्च तान्राजा तोषयेत्स्वजनान्पृथक् । यथार्थं तोषयित्वा तु ततो मल्लान्नटांस्तथा
The king should gratify his ministers and his own people separately; having satisfied them appropriately, then the wrestlers and dancers likewise.
वृषभांश्च महोक्षांश्च युद्ध्य्मानान्परैः सह । राजान्यांश्चापि योधांश्च पदातीन्स समलंकृतान्
The bulls and great oxen fighting with others, the kings and warriors, and the foot soldiers, all adorned.
मंचारूढः स्वयं पश्येन्नटनर्तकचारणान् । योधयेद्वासयेच्चैव गोमहिष्यादिकं च यत्
Seated upon a bench, he should himself observe the dancers, actors, and bards, and he should also engage in contests and arrange for the presence of cows, buffaloes, and the like.
वत्सानाकर्षयेद्गोभिरुक्तिप्रत्युक्ति वादनात् । ततोपराह्णसमये पूर्वस्यां दिशि पावके
He should draw the calves together with the cows, through questions and responses; then, in the afternoon, in the eastern direction, at the fire—
मार्गपालद्यं प्रबध्नीयाद्दुर्गस्तंभेऽथ पादपे । कुशकाशमयीं दिव्यां लंबकैर्बहुभिर्गुह
He should tie the guardian of the path to a fort post or a tree, using a divine rope made of kuśa or kāśa grass, adorned with many pendants, O Guha.
वीक्षयित्वा गजानश्वान्मार्गपाल्यास्तले नयेत् । गावैर्वृषांश्चमहिषान्महिषीर्घंटिकोत्कटाः
After inspecting elephants and horses, he should lead them to the place of the path guardian; with cows, bulls, buffaloes, and fierce buffalo-cows with bells.
कृतहोमैर्द्विजेंद्रैस्तु बध्नीयान्मार्गपालिकाम् । नमस्कारं ततः कुर्यान्मंत्रेणानेन सुव्रतः
With the chief of the twice-born having performed the prescribed offerings, he should bind the path guardian; then, O virtuous one, he should offer obeisance with this mantra:
मार्गपालि नमस्तुभ्यं सर्वलोकसुखप्रदे । मार्गपालीतले स्कंद यांति गावो महावृषाः
"O path guardian, I bow to you, bestower of happiness to all beings; on the ground of the path guardian, cows and great bulls proceed—