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.
रात्रौ जागरणं गीतं नृत्यवाद्यादिकैस्तथा । पुण्यपाठैश्च विविधैर्धर्माख्यानैरुपोषणैः
At night, one should keep vigil with singing, dancing, and musical instruments, as well as with various recitations of sacred texts, stories of dharma, and observances.
ततः प्रभातसमये कृतपूर्वाह्णिक क्रियः । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या यथाशक्त्या प्रपूजयेत्
Then, at dawn, having performed the morning rites, one should feed the Brahmins with devotion and honor them according to one's ability.
स्वयं च पारणं कृत्वा प्रणिपत्य विसर्जयेत् । एवं संवत्सरं यावदहोरात्रं दृढव्रतः
Having broken the fast oneself, one should bow and take leave. In this way, with firm resolve, one should observe day and night for a year.
दीपं पलसुवर्णेन तदर्द्धार्द्धेन वा पुनः । वर्तिस्तु राजती प्रोक्ता द्विपलार्द्धार्द्धिकापि वा
The lamp should be made of a pala of gold, or half of that, or a quarter; the wick is said to be of silver, or even of half or a quarter of two palas.
घृतपूर्णं तथा कुंभं ताम्रपात्रसमन्वितम् । लक्ष्मीनारायणो देवो यथाशक्त्या हिरण्मयः
The pot should be filled with ghee and accompanied by a copper vessel; the image of Lakshmi-Narayana should be made of gold, according to one's means.
कार्यो भक्तिमता पुंसा मुक्तिद्वारमभीप्सता । ततो निमंत्रयेद्विद्वान्ब्रह्मणान्साधुसत्तमान्
This should be done by a devoted person who desires the gateway to liberation. Then, a learned man should invite excellent and virtuous Brahmins.
द्वादशोत्तमपक्षे तु विप्रान्षण्मध्यमे तथा । अन्यथा कारयेत्त्रीन्वा एकं कर्मकरं द्विजम्
In the bright half of the month, twelve Brahmins; in the middle, six; otherwise, three or even one Brahmin should be engaged for the rite.
सपत्नीकं द्विजं शांतं क्रियावंतं विशेषतः । इतिहासपुराणज्ञं धर्मज्ञं मृदुमेव च
A peaceful Brahmin with his wife, especially one skilled in rituals, learned in history and Purana, knowledgeable in dharma, and gentle, should be chosen.
पितृभक्तं गुरुपरं देवब्राह्मणपूजकम् । पादार्घदानविधिना वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः
One who is devoted to ancestors, honors the teacher, and worships gods and brahmins, should, with the prescribed offering of water for the feet, as well as with garments and ornaments,
संपूज्य पत्न्या सहितमेकं भक्त्या च पूर्ववत् । लक्ष्मीनारायणं देवं दीपवर्तियुतं तथा
worship, together with his wife, with devotion as before, the god Lakshmi-Narayana, accompanied by a lamp and wick.
ताम्रपात्रोपरिस्थाप्य घृतकुंभेन संयुतम् । ब्राह्मणाय ततो दद्याद्ध्यात्वा नारायणं परम् । मंत्रेणानेन देवर्षे तमहं कथयामि ते
Placing it upon a copper vessel, together with a pot of ghee, he should then give it to a brahmin, having meditated on the supreme Narayana, with this mantra, O divine sage, which I shall tell you.
अविद्या तमसा व्याप्ते संसारे पापनाशनः । ज्ञानप्रदो मोक्षदश्च तस्माद्दत्तो मयानघ
"In this world pervaded by the darkness of ignorance, you are the destroyer of sin, the giver of knowledge and the bestower of liberation; therefore, I offer this, O sinless one."
इति दीपमंत्रः । दक्षिणां च यथाशक्त्या दत्त्वा विप्राय भक्तितः । भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्पश्चाद्घृतपायसमोदकैः
Thus is the lamp-mantra. Then, according to his ability, he should give a gift to the brahmin with devotion, and afterwards feed the brahmins with ghee, rice pudding, and drinks.
वस्त्रैराच्छादयेत्पश्चात्सपत्नीकं तथा द्विजम् । शय्यां सोपस्करां दद्याद्धेनुं चैव सवत्सकाम्
Afterwards, he should cover the brahmin, together with his wife, with garments, and give him a bed with its furnishings, and also a cow with its calf.
तेभ्यस्तु दक्षिणां दद्याद्यथावित्तानुसारतः । सुहृत्स्वजनबंधूश्च भोजयेत्पूजयेत्तथा
To them he should give gifts according to his means, and likewise feed and honor friends, relatives, and kinsmen.
एवं महोत्सवं कुर्याद्दीपव्रत समापने । ततो विसर्जयेत्पश्चात्प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत्
Thus, at the conclusion of the lamp vow, one should hold a great festival; then, afterwards, having bowed, he should dismiss them and ask forgiveness.
एवं कृते तु यत्पुण्यं तथा सांक्रांतिकैश्च यत् । संवत्सराख्य दीपस्य तत्फलं प्राप्यते नरैः
Whatever merit is gained by doing this, as well as that obtained by the solstitial observances, is attained by men through the year-long lamp vow.
मासव्रतैश्च यत्पुण्यं तत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते नरैः । संवत्सरस्य दीपस्य व्रतेन चरितेन च
The merit gained by monthly vows is also obtained by men through the observance of the year-long lamp vow.
दानव्रतैर्यथासंख्यैर्यश्च योगव्रतैस्तथा । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति दीपे सांवत्सरे कृते
Whatever result is attained by innumerable vows of charity and by vows of yoga, that is also obtained by performing the year-long lamp vow.
गोभूहिरण्यदानानि गृहादीनां विशेषतः । यत्फलं लभते विद्वान्तत्फलं दीपदो भवेत्
The fruit that a learned man obtains from gifts of cows, land, and gold, and especially from household gifts, that fruit is gained by one who gives a lamp.