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.
द्वितीयायां महोत्सर्गो नारकीयाश्च तर्पिताः । पापेभ्यो विप्रयुक्तास्ते मुक्ताः सर्वनिबंधनात्
On the second day, there is a great offering, and those bound for hell are satisfied; separated from their sins, they are freed from all bonds.
आशंसिताश्च संतुष्टाः स्थिताः सर्वे यदृच्छया । तेषां महोत्सवो वृत्तो यमराष्ट्रसुखावहः
All those who were hopeful and content remain as they wish; for them, a great festival has occurred, bringing happiness in Yama's realm.
अतो यमद्वितीयेयं त्रिषुलोकेषु विश्रुता । तस्मान्निजगृहे विप्र न भोक्तव्यं ततो बुधैः
Therefore, this Yama-dvitiya is renowned in the three worlds; thus, O learned one, one should not eat in one's own house on this day.
स्नेहेन भगिनीहस्ताद्भोक्तव्यं पुष्टिवर्द्धनं । दानानि च प्रदेयानि भगिनीभ्यो विधानतः
With affection, one should eat food given by the sister, which increases strength; and gifts should be properly given to sisters.
स्वर्णालंकारवस्त्राणि पूजासत्कारसंयुतम् । भोक्तव्यं सह जायाश्च भगिन्याहस्ततः परम्
Gold, ornaments, and garments, along with worship and hospitality, should be enjoyed together with one's wife, receiving food from the sister's hand thereafter.
सर्वासु भगिनीहस्ताद्भोक्तव्यं बलवर्द्धनम् । ऊर्जे शुक्लद्वितीयायां पूजितस्तर्पितो यमः
From the hands of all sisters, one should eat nourishing food; on the bright second day of Ūrja, Yama is worshipped and satisfied.
महिषासनमारूढो दंडमुद्गरभृत्प्रभुः । वेष्टितः किंकरैहृष्टैस्तस्मै याम्यात्मने नमः 6.122.
Seated on a buffalo throne, holding staff and mace, the lord surrounded by delighted attendants—to that Yama, embodiment of restraint, I bow.
यैर्भगिन्यः सुवासिन्यो वस्त्रदानादि तोषिताः । न तेषां वत्सरं यावत्कलहो न रिपोर्भयम्
Those whose married sisters are pleased by gifts of garments and the like, for them, throughout the year, there is neither quarrel nor fear from enemies.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं धर्मकामार्थसाधनम् । व्याख्यातं सकलं पुत्र सरहस्यं मयानघ
Blessed, renowned, long-lived, and fulfilling righteousness, desire, and wealth—O sinless one, I have explained to you all this secret in full.
यस्यां तिथौ यमुनया यमराजदेवः संभोजितः प्रतितिथौ स्वसृसौहृदेन । तस्मात्स्वसुः करतलादिह यो भुनक्ति प्राप्नोति वित्तशुभसंपदमुत्तमां सः
On that date when Yamarāja was fed by Yamunā, and on every such occasion through the affection of his sister—whoever eats from the sister's hand here attains the highest prosperity, wealth, and good fortune.