दत्तं दानवराजस्य आदर्शमिव भूतल । यः करोति नृपो राज्ये तस्य व्याधिभयं कुतः
The gift given to the king of the Dānavas becomes a model on earth; for the king who performs it in his kingdom, how could there be fear of disease?
सुभिक्षं क्षेममारोग्यं तस्य संपदनुत्तमा । नीरुजश्च जनाः सर्वे सर्वोपद्रववर्जिताः
There will be abundant food, safety, health, and the highest prosperity for him; all the people will be free from disease and untouched by any calamity.
कौमुदी क्रियते तस्माद्भावं कर्तुं महीतले । यो यादृशेन भावेन तिष्ठत्यस्यां च षण्मुख
Therefore, Kaumudī is performed to bring about such a state on earth; and, O Ṣaṇmukha, each person experiences the year according to their own disposition during it.
हर्षदुःखादिभावेन तस्य वर्षं प्रयाति हि । रुदिते रोदते वर्षं हृष्टे वर्षं प्रहर्षितम्
According to the feelings of joy or sorrow and the like, so the year passes for them; if one weeps, the year will be sorrowful, if one rejoices, the year will be full of delight.
भुक्ते भोक्ता भवेद्वर्षं स्वस्थे स्वस्थं भविष्यति । तस्मात्प्रहृष्टैः कर्त्तव्या कौमुदी च शुभैर्नरैः
If one eats, the year will be nourishing; if one is healthy, the year will be healthy; therefore, Kaumudī should be performed by virtuous people with joy.
वैष्णवी दानवी चेयं तिथिः प्रोक्ता च कार्तिके
This tithi in Kārtika is declared to be both Vaiṣṇava and Dānava.
दीपोत्सवंजनित सर्वजनप्रसादं कुर्वंति ये शुभतया बलिराजपूजाम् । दानोपभोगसुखबुद्धिमतां कुलानां हर्षं प्रयाति सकलं प्रभुदं च वर्षम्
Those who, with auspiciousness, perform the worship of King Bali during the festival of lamps, bringing delight to all people, cause the entire year to be filled with joy and prosperity for the wise and happy families.
स्कंदैतास्तिथयो नूनं द्वितीयाद्याश्च विश्रुताः । मासैश्चतुर्भिश्च ततःप्रावृट्काले शुभावहाः
O Skanda, these tithis, beginning with the second, are well known; and after four months, at the time of the rains, they bring auspiciousness.
प्रथमा श्रावणे मासि तथा भाद्रपदे परा । तृतीयाश्वयुजेमासि चतुर्थी कार्तिके भवेत्
The first is in the month of Śrāvaṇa, then the next in Bhādrapada; the third is in Āśvayuja, and the fourth occurs in Kārtika.
कलुषा श्रावणे मासि तथा भाद्रपदेमला । आश्विने प्रेतसंचारा कार्तिके याम्यकामता
In the month of Śrāvaṇa it is impure, likewise in Bhādrapada it is defiled; in Āśvina there is movement of spirits, and in Kārtika it fulfills Yama's desire.
गुह उवाच। कस्मात्सा कलुषा प्रोक्ता कस्मात्सा निर्मला मता । कस्मात्सा प्रेतसंचारा कस्माद्याम्या प्रकीर्तिता
Guha said: Why is it called impure, and why is it considered pure? Why is it associated with the movement of spirits, and why is it called Yama's day?
सूत उवाच। इति स्कंदवचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्भूतभावनः । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं प्रहसन्वृषभध्वजः
Sūta said: Hearing these words of Skanda, the blessed Lord, creator of beings, the bull-bannered one, smiled and spoke gentle words.
महेश उवाच। पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते प्राप्ते राज्ये पुरंदरे । ब्रह्महत्यापनोदार्थमश्वमेधः प्रवर्तितः
Maheśa said: Long ago, after Vṛtra was slain and Indra attained the kingdom, the Aśvamedha sacrifice was performed to remove the sin of killing a Brahmin.
क्रोधादिंद्रेण वज्रेण ब्रह्महत्या निषूदिता । षड्विधा सा क्षितौ क्षिप्ता वृक्षतोयमहीतले
By the wrathful Indra, with his thunderbolt, the sin of Brahmin-killing was struck down; it was cast in six ways upon the earth—on trees, water, and the ground.
नार्यां भ्रूणहणिवह्नौ संविभज्य यथाक्रमम् । तत्पापश्रवणात्पूर्वं द्वितीयाया दिनेन च
It was divided in order among women, trees, rivers, earth, fire, and those who destroy embryos; before hearing of this sin, and on the second day as well.
नारीवृक्षनदीभूमिवह्निभ्रूणहनस्तथा । कलुषीभवनं जातो ह्यतोर्थं कलुषा स्मृता
Thus, in women, trees, rivers, earth, fire, and embryo-slayers, impurity arose; therefore, it is remembered as impure for this reason.
मधुकैटभयो रक्ते पुरा मग्नानु मेदिनी । अष्टांगुला पवित्रा सा नारीणां तु रजोमलम्
In ancient times, when the earth was submerged in the blood of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, it became pure to the extent of eight fingers; but for women, the impurity is their menstrual flow.
नद्यः प्रावृण्मला सर्वा वह्निरूर्ध्वं मषीमलः । निर्यासमलिना वृक्षाः संगाद्भ्रूणहनो मलाः
All rivers are impure during the rainy season; fire is impure above with soot; trees are impure with their exudations; and those who destroy embryos are impure by association.
कलुषानि चरंत्यस्यां तेनैषा कलुषा मता । देवर्षिपितृधर्माणां निंदका नास्तिकाः शठाः
Impurities move within these; thus, it is regarded as impure. Those who revile the gods, sages, ancestors, and righteousness—heretics and deceivers—
तेषां सा वाङ्मलात्पूता द्वितीया तेन निर्मला । अनध्यायेषु शास्त्राणि पाठयंति पठंति च
For them, by the impurity of speech, the second day is pure; they recite and study scriptures during forbidden periods.
सांख्यकास्तार्किकाः श्रौतास्तेषां शब्दापशब्दजात् । मलात्पूता द्वितीयायां ततोर्थे निर्मला च सा
Followers of Sāṃkhya, logicians, and ritualists—those who use words and non-words—are purified on the second day from impurity; for this reason, it is also pure.
कृष्णस्य जन्मना वत्स त्रैलोक्यं पावितं भवेत् । नभस्येते विनिर्दिष्टा निर्मला सा तिथिर्बुधैः
By the birth of Kṛṣṇa, O child, the three worlds became purified; on the day designated in the month of Nabhas, that lunar day is called pure by the wise.
अग्निष्वात्ता बर्हिषद आज्यपाः सोमपास्तथा । पितॄन्पितामहान्प्रेतसंचारात्प्रेतसंचरा
The Agniṣvāttas, Barhiṣads, Ājyapās, and Somapās—ancestors and forefathers—are called 'moving among the dead' because of their connection with the departed.
प्रेतास्तु पितरः प्रोक्तास्तेषां तस्यां तु संचरः । पुत्रपौत्रेस्तुदौहित्रैः स्वधामंत्रैस्तु पूजिताः
The ancestors are called 'the departed,' and their movement occurs on that day; honored by sons, grandsons, and daughter's sons with offerings and mantras.
श्राद्धदानमखैस्तृप्ता यांत्यतः प्रेतसंचरा । महालये तु प्रेतानां संचारो भुवि दृश्यते
Satisfied by offerings, gifts, and sacrifices, they depart; therefore, it is called 'the movement of the departed.' In the great fortnight, the movement of the departed is seen on earth.
तेनैषा प्रेतसंचारा कीर्तिता शिखिवाहन । यमस्य क्रियते पूजा यतोऽस्या पावके नरैः
Therefore, O peacock-bannered one, it is called 'the movement of the departed.' On this day, worship of Yama is performed with fire by men.
तेनैषा याम्यका प्रोक्ता सत्यं सत्यं मयोदितम् । एतत्कार्तिकमाहात्म्यं ये शृण्वंति नरोत्तमाः
Therefore, it is called Yama's day; truly, truly, I have spoken. Those best of men who hear this greatness of Kārtika—
कार्तिकस्नानजं पुण्यं तेषां भवति निश्चितम्
Certainly, for them arises the merit born of bathing in Kārtika.
कार्तिके च द्वितीयायां पूर्वाह्णे यममर्चयेत् । भानुजायां नरः स्नात्वा यमलोकं न पश्यति
On the second day of the bright fortnight in Kārtika, one should worship Yama in the forenoon; a man who bathes on Bhānudvitiya does not see the realm of Yama.
कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वितीयायां तु शौनक । यमो यमुनया पूर्वं भोजितः स्वगृहेऽचितः
O Śaunaka, on the second day of the bright half of Kārtika, Yama was once fed and honored in his own house by Yamunā.