वंशपात्राणि शक्त्या च विरूढैः परिपूरयेत् । नालिकेरैश्च पक्वान्नैर्वस्त्रैश्च विविधैः फलैः
One should, to the best of one's ability, fill bamboo vessels with sprouted grains, coconuts, cooked food, garments, and various fruits.
सपत्नीकं गुरुं तत्र वस्त्राणि परिधापयेत् । विभूषणानि दिव्यानि गंधमाल्यैः प्रपूजयेत्
There, one should clothe the teacher together with his wife, and worship them with divine ornaments, fragrance, and garlands.
सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्तां गां दद्याच्च पयस्विनीम् । सदक्षिणां सवस्त्रां च तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
One should give a cow, adorned with all necessary ornaments, yielding milk, along with proper gifts and clothing—listen as I declare this to you.
सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं स्नातानां जायते नृणाम् । तत्फलं स लभेत्सर्वं देवदेवप्रसादतः
Whatever merit arises for people who have bathed at all sacred fords, that entire fruit is obtained by him through the grace of the Lord of gods.
भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगान्सर्वकामान्मनोरमान् । वैष्णवं पदमाप्नोति अंते विष्णोः प्रसादतः
After enjoying abundant pleasures and all delightful desires, by the grace of Viṣṇu, he attains the Vaiṣṇava abode at the end.
नारद उवाच- ब्रह्मन्संवत्सराख्यस्य दीपस्य विधिमुत्तमम् । सर्वव्रतप्रधानस्य माहात्म्यं प्रवदस्व मे
Nārada said: O Brahmā, tell me the supreme method of the lamp vow called Saṃvatsara, which is foremost among all vows, and its greatness.
येन व्रतानि सर्वाणि कृतान्येव न संशयः । सर्वकामसमृद्धिश्च सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्
By which, surely, all vows are as if accomplished, all desires are fulfilled, and all sins are destroyed.
महादेव उवाच - वदामि तव देवर्षे रहस्यं पापनाशनम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नो मित्रघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः
Mahādeva said: O divine sage, I will tell you the secret that destroys sin; by hearing which, even a slayer of a Brahmin, a killer of cows, a betrayer of friends, or one who violates the teacher’s bed—
विश्वासघाती क्रूरात्मा मुक्तिमाप्नोति शाश्वतीम् । शतं कुलानामुद्धृत्य विष्णोर्लोकं स गच्छति
A betrayer of trust, one of cruel mind—attains eternal liberation, uplifting a hundred generations, and goes to Viṣṇu’s world.
तदहं कथयिष्यामि दीपव्रतमनुत्तमम् । संवत्सरप्रमाणस्य विधिं माहात्म्यमेव च
Therefore, I shall explain to you the unsurpassed lamp vow, its procedure for a year, and its greatness.
हेमंते प्रथमे मासि प्राप्य ह्येकादशीं शुभाम् । ब्राह्मे मुहूर्त्ते चोत्थाय कामक्रोधविवर्जितः
In the first month of winter, having obtained the auspicious Ekādaśī, one should rise at the Brāhma Muhūrta, free from desire and anger.
नदीसंगमतीर्थेषु तडागेषु सरित्सु च । स्नानं समाचरेत्तत्र गृहे वा नियतात्मवान्
At the confluences of rivers, sacred fords, ponds, or streams, one should bathe there—or at home—with self-control.
स्नातोऽहं सर्वतीर्थे तत्स्नानं देहि मे सदा
Having bathed in all the sacred fords, grant me always that merit of bathing.
स्नानमंत्रः । देवान्पितॄंश्च संतर्प्य कृतजप्यो जितेंद्रियः । ततः संपूजयेद्देवं लक्ष्मीनारायणं प्रभुम् । पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य ततो गंधोदकेन च
Bathing mantra: Having satisfied the gods and ancestors, having performed japa, with controlled senses, then one should worship the Lord Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, bathing him with the five nectars and then with fragrant water.
स्नातोऽसि लक्ष्म्या सहितो देवदेव जगत्पते । मां समुद्धर देवेश घोरात्संसारबंधनात्
You are bathed, O Lord of gods, accompanied by Lakṣmī, Lord of the universe; O Lord of gods, deliver me from the terrible bondage of worldly existence.
ततः संपूजयेद्देवं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् । मंत्रैस्तु वैदिकैर्भक्त्या तथा पौराणिकैरपि
Then, one should worship Janārdana together with Lakṣmī, with Vedic mantras and also with Purāṇic ones, with devotion.
अतो देवेति गंधादि पौरुषेणापि वा पुनः । नमो मत्स्याय देवाय कूर्मदेवाय वै नमः
After this, saying 'O God,' with sandal and other offerings, or with one’s own words: Salutations to the god Matsya, salutations to the god Kūrma.
नमो वाराहदेवाय नरसिंहाय वै नमः । नमोऽस्तु बुद्धदेवाय कल्किने च नमोनमः
Salutations to the god Vārāha, and to Narasiṃha; salutations to the god Buddha, and again, salutations to Kalki.
नमोऽस्तु रामदेवाय विष्णुदेवाय ते नमः । नमः सर्वात्मने तुभ्यं शि रइत्यभिपूजयेत् । केशवादीनि नामानि तैर्वा संपूजयेद्धरिम्
Salutations to the god Rāma, salutations to you, god Viṣṇu; salutations to you, the soul of all—thus one should worship, or worship Hari with the names beginning with Keśava.
वनस्पतिरसो दिव्यः सुरभिर्गंधवाञ्छुचिः । धूपोऽयं देवदेवेश नमस्ते प्रतिगृह्यताम्
This incense, divine, fragrant, pure, and sweet-scented, O Lord of gods, please accept it.
धूपमंत्रः । दीपस्तमो नाशयति दीपः कांतिं प्रयच्छति । तस्माद्दीपप्रदानेन प्रीयतां मे जनार्दनः
The lamp dispels darkness; the lamp bestows radiance. Therefore, by offering this lamp, may Janardana be pleased with me.
दीपमंत्रः । नैवेद्यमिदमन्नाद्यं देवदेव जगत्पते । लक्ष्म्या सह गृहाण त्वं परमामृतमुत्तमम्
O Lord of gods, Lord of the universe, please accept this food offering, together with Lakshmi, as the highest and most excellent nectar.
नैवेद्यमंत्रः । अर्घ्यं दद्यात्ततो भक्त्या एवं ध्यात्वा जनार्दनम् । फलेन चैव हस्तेन शंखेनादाय चोदकम्
Then, having meditated on Janardana with devotion, one should offer arghya, taking water with a fruit in hand or with a conch.
जन्मांतरसहस्रेण यन्मया पातकं कृतम् । तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु प्रसादात्तव केशव
Whatever sin I have committed over thousands of lifetimes, let all of that be destroyed by Your grace, O Keshava.
इति अर्घमंत्रः । ततः कुंभं नवं शुभ्रं घृतपूर्णं समानयेत् । लक्ष्मीनारायणस्याग्रे तैलपूर्णमथापि वा
Thus is the arghya mantra. Next, one should bring a new, spotless pot filled with ghee, or else filled with oil, before Lakshmi-Narayana.
तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रं ताम्रं मृन्मयमेव च । नवतंतुसमां वर्तिं तस्मिन्पात्रे तु निर्वपेत्
Upon that, one should place a vessel of copper or clay, and in that vessel set a wick made of ninety threads.
ततः प्रबोधयेद्दीपं स्थाप्य कुंभं सुनिश्चलम् । पुष्पगंधादिभिः पूज्य ततः संकल्पयेच्छुचिः
Then, having kindled the lamp and set the pot firmly, one should worship it with flowers, fragrance, and the like, and then, being pure, make a resolve.
मंत्रेणानेन देवर्षे असमीरेषु धामसु । कामो भूतस्य भव्यस्य सम्राडेको विराजते
With this mantra, O divine sage, in the dwellings where there is no wind, the one sovereign lord of what has been and what will be shines forth.
दीपः संवत्सरं यावत्मयायं परिकल्पितः । अग्निहोत्रमविच्छिन्नं प्रीयतां मम केशव
This lamp, which I have arranged for a year, is like an unbroken fire-offering; may Keshava be pleased with me.
ततो जितेंद्रियो भूत्वा श्रुतिज्ञानपरायणः । नालपेत्पतितान्पापांस्तथा पाखण्डिनो नरान्
Then, having mastered the senses and devoted oneself to the knowledge of the scriptures, one should not converse with fallen sinners or heretical men.