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.
दीपदः कांतिमाप्नोति दीपदो धनमक्षयम् । दीपदो ज्ञानमाप्नोति दीपदः परमं सुखम्
The giver of a lamp attains radiance; the giver of a lamp attains inexhaustible wealth; the giver of a lamp attains knowledge; the giver of a lamp attains supreme happiness.
दीपदानाच्च सौभाग्यं विद्यामत्यंतनिर्मलाम् । आरोग्यं परमामृद्धिं लभते नात्र संशयः
From the gift of a lamp, one obtains good fortune, pure and boundless learning, excellent health, and supreme prosperity—of this there is no doubt.
दीपदः सुभगां भार्यां सर्वलक्षणसंयुताम् । पुत्रान्पौत्रान्प्रपौत्रांश्च संततिं चाक्षया लभेत्
The giver of a lamp obtains a fortunate wife endowed with all auspicious marks, and gains sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and an unbroken lineage.
ब्राह्मणः परमं ज्ञानं क्षत्रियो राज्यमुत्तमम् । वैश्यो धनपशून्सर्वाञ्छूद्रः सुखमवाप्नुयात्
A brahmin attains supreme knowledge, a kshatriya the highest sovereignty, a vaishya all wealth and cattle, and a shudra attains happiness.
कुमारी चापि भर्तारं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । प्राप्नोति परमायुश्च पुत्रान्पौत्रांश्च पुष्कलान् 6.30.
A maiden also obtains a husband endowed with all auspicious marks, attains the highest longevity, and many sons and grandsons.
वैधव्यं नैव युवती कदाचिदपि पश्यति । न वियोगमवाप्नोति दीपदानप्रभावतः
A young woman never experiences widowhood, nor does she suffer separation, due to the power of giving a lamp.
नाधयो व्याधयश्चैव जायंते दीपदानतः । भयात्प्रमुच्यते भीतो बद्धो मुच्येत बंधनात्
From the offering of lamps, neither diseases nor afflictions arise; the fearful is freed from fear, and the bound is released from bondage.
ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्दीपव्रतपरायणः । मुच्यते नात्र संदेहो ब्रह्मणो वचनं यथा
One devoted to the vow of offering lamps is freed from sins such as the slaying of a Brahmin; there is no doubt of this, just as it is the word of Brahma.
चांद्रायणानि कृच्छ्राणि चरितानि न संशयः । येन सांवत्सरो दीपो बोधितः शाश्वतो हरेः
There is no doubt that the merit of performing Cāndrāyaṇa and Kṛcchra penances accrues to the one by whom a lamp is maintained for a year, as an eternal offering to Hari.
ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानस्तैः प्राप्तं जन्मनः फलम् । यैः संपूज्य हरिं भक्त्या दीपःसांवत्सरः कृतः
Blessed and great-souled are those who, having worshipped Hari with devotion, have maintained a lamp for a year; by them, the fruit of birth is attained.
येऽपि संवर्त्तयंतीह दीपवर्तिविलोकनाः । ते यांति परमं स्थानं यत्सुरैरपि दुर्लभम्
Even those who, in this world, merely look upon the lamp-wick being prepared, attain the supreme abode, which is difficult to reach even for the gods.
येन तैलं च वर्तिं च यथाशक्त्या प्रदीपके । प्रक्षेपयंति सततं ते यांति परमां गतिम्
Those who, to the best of their ability, continually place oil and wicks in the lamp, they attain the highest state.
गच्छंतं दीपकं शांतिं न शक्नोति प्रबोधितुम् । कथयत्यन्यलोकानां तेऽपि तत्फलभागिनः
When a lamp is going out, no one can awaken it; it is said that even those from other worlds who see this also partake of its fruit.
स्तोकं स्तोकं च भिक्षित्वा तैलं दीपार्थमेव च । करोति दीपकं विष्णोः पुण्यं तेनापि लभ्यते
Even one who, having begged a little oil at a time for the sake of the lamp, makes a lamp for Viṣṇu, obtains merit thereby.
दीपं प्रज्वाल्यमानं तु यः पश्यत्यधमो नरः । कृतांजलिपुटो विष्णोर्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात्
The lowliest man who, with joined palms, sees a lamp being kindled for Viṣṇu, attains the world of Viṣṇu.
दीपप्रज्वालने बुद्धिं यो दद्यात्कुरुते स्वयम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात्
Whoever, with intent or by his own act, kindles a lamp, is freed from all sins and attains the world of Viṣṇu.
अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः
Here too, they cite an ancient legend, by the mere hearing of which one is freed from all sins.
सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये सिद्धाश्रम इति श्रुतः । तत्रोवास द्विजः पूर्वं कपिलो नाम वेदवित्
On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvatī, there was a hermitage known as Siddhāśrama; there once lived a Brahmin named Kapila, learned in the Vedas.
व्रतोपवासनिरतो दरिद्र श्रोःत्रियस्तथा । भिक्षावृत्त्या च कुरुते कुटुंब परिपालनम्
Engaged in vows and fasts, poor, and a Śrotriya, he maintained his family by means of alms.
व्रतोपवासनियमैर्विष्णुमाराधयत्यसौ । विष्णुं संपूज्य विधिवद्दीपं बोधयते सदा
By means of vows and fasts, he worshipped Viṣṇu; having properly worshipped Viṣṇu, he always kindled a lamp.