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.
समादाय च तत्तैलं स्वगृहे पूज्य केशवम् । दीपं भक्त्या च परया बोधयेद्धरितुष्टये
Having brought that oil to his own house, he worshipped Keśava and, with supreme devotion, kindled a lamp for the satisfaction of Hari.
एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः । मार्जारस्तीक्ष्णंदंष्ट्रस्तु मूषकान्भक्षयेत्सदा
Thus, as the great-souled Kapila continued in this way, a cat with sharp teeth always ate the mice.
तत्रागच्छति भक्ष्यार्थं मूषकानामहर्निशम् । कृत्वा ध्यानं स भक्ष्यार्थं नित्यं नारायणाग्रतः
There, for the sake of food, it came day and night for the mice; having fixed its mind on food, it always sat before Nārāyaṇa.
भक्षिता बहवस्तेन मूषका द्विजवेश्मनि । ये ये तैलार्थमायांति वर्त्यपाहरणाय च
Many mice were eaten by it in the Brahmin’s house—those who came for oil or to steal the wicks.
तांस्तांस्तु भक्षयत्येव मूषकान्ध्यानतत्परः । एवं प्रवर्तमानस्य कदाचित्कालपर्ययात्
Absorbed in meditation, he would continually eat those various mice; thus, as he continued in this way, after some time had passed—
एकादश्यां स कपिलो ब्राह्मणः स्वगृहे शुचिः । सोपवासः सपत्नीकः पूजयामास चाच्युतम्
On the day of Ekadashi, that tawny Brahmin, pure in his own house, together with his wife, observed a fast and worshipped Achyuta.
ततो जागरणं चक्रे स्तुतिनृत्यपरायणः । अर्द्धरात्रे तु संप्राप्ते निद्रया मोहितो द्विजः
Then he performed a vigil, devoted to singing hymns and dancing; but when midnight arrived, the twice-born was overcome by sleep and delusion.
मार्जारश्चागतस्तत्र तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो लघुक्रमः । लक्षयामास नैवेद्यं गृहकोणे स्थितः सदा
A cat also came there, with sharp teeth and swift steps; always standing in the corner of the house, it watched the offering.
अद्राक्षीन्मूषिकां क्षुद्रा तैलपानार्थमागताम् । मंदतेजसि दीपे तु वर्त्यपाहरणोचिताम्
It saw a small mouse that had come to drink oil, accustomed to stealing the wick from the dimly burning lamp.
समुत्पत्य पदाक्रम्य तदा सा बिलमाविशत् । तस्याः पादेन वै वर्त्या दीपः संबोधितो भृशम्
Leaping up and stepping forward, the mouse then entered its hole; with its foot, the wick was struck, and the lamp was greatly rekindled.
तैलपात्रं च नमितं सुप्रकाशोऽभवत्तदा । ब्राह्मणोऽपि जजागार त्यक्त्वा निद्रां विमोहिनीम्
The oil vessel was tipped, and at that moment there was bright illumination; the Brahmin also awoke, casting off the sleep that deludes.
मार्जारोऽपि च तां रात्रीमजाग्रच्चाखुभक्षकः । ततः प्रभाते विमले कृत्वा नित्यक्रियां द्विजः
The cat, too, remained awake that night, intent on eating mice; then, at the clear dawn, the twice-born performed his daily rites.
ततश्च पारणं चक्रे विप्रो बंधुजनैः सह । एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः
After that, the Brahmin broke his fast together with his relatives; thus, as the great-souled Kapila continued in this way—
बभूवुः पुत्रपौत्राश्च धनधान्यमनुत्तमम् । आरोग्यं परमामृद्धिमवाप महतीं श्रियम्
He obtained sons and grandsons, unsurpassed wealth and grain; he attained perfect health, supreme prosperity, and great fortune.
दीपव्रतप्रभावेन कपिलो मोक्षमागतः । संभेद्य मंडलं पुण्यं सवितुः शशिनस्तथा
By the power of the lamp vow, Kapila attained liberation; having traversed the sacred orbits of the sun and the moon—
दीपज्योतिःस्वरूपेण परमात्मा नियुक्तवान् । मूषिकापि च कालेन ममार बिलमध्यतः
The Supreme Self, in the form of the lamp's light, appointed him; and in time, the mouse also died within its hole.
विमानवरमारुह्य देवगंधर्वसेवितम् । अप्सरोभिः परिवृतो विद्याधरगणैर्युतः
Ascending a splendid celestial chariot, attended by gods and gandharvas, surrounded by apsarases and accompanied by hosts of vidyadharas—
स्तूयमानो महातेजा जयशब्दादि मंगलैः । स्तूयमानः स वै नागैर्विष्णुलोकं जगाम सः
Praised with auspicious cries of victory and other blessings, honored by the nagas, he went to the world of Vishnu.
कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च । भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगान्ततो राजाभवद्भुवि
For thousands of millions of aeons, and hundreds of millions more, enjoying abundant pleasures, he was finally born as a king on earth.
सुधर्मा नाम धर्मात्मा देवब्राह्मणपूजकः । रूपवान्सुभगश्चैव महाबलपराक्रमः
He was named Sudharma, righteous in soul, worshipper of gods and Brahmins, handsome, fortunate, and endowed with great strength and valor.