महादेव उवाच - वदामि तव देवर्षे रहस्यं पापनाशनम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नो मित्रघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः
Mahādeva said: I shall tell you, O sage among the gods, a secret that destroys sin; hearing which, even one who has killed a Brahmin, a cow, a friend, or violated the teacher's bed—
विश्वासघाती क्रूरात्मा मुक्तिमाप्नोति शाश्वतीम् । शतं कुलानामुद्धृत्य विष्णोर्लोकं स गच्छति
One who betrays trust, one of cruel nature, attains eternal liberation; having uplifted a hundred families, he goes to the world of Viṣṇu.
तदहं कथयिष्यामि दीपव्रतमनुत्तमम् । संवत्सरप्रमाणस्य विधिं माहात्म्यमेव च
Therefore I shall describe the unsurpassed lamp-vow, its procedure measured by a year, and its greatness.
हेमंते प्रथमे मासि प्राप्य ह्येकादशीं शुभाम् । ब्राह्मे मुहूर्त्ते चोत्थाय कामक्रोधविवर्जितः
In the first month of winter, upon attaining the auspicious Ekādaśī, rising during the Brahma-muhūrta, free from desire and anger—
नदीसंगमतीर्थेषु तडागेषु सरित्सु च । स्नानं समाचरेत्तत्र गृहे वा नियतात्मवान्
At river confluences, holy banks, ponds, and lakes, one should bathe there, or at home, with self-restraint.
स्नातोऽहं सर्वतीर्थे तत्स्नानं देहि मे सदा
I am bathed in all sacred waters; grant me that bath always.
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 five nectars, then with fragrant water.
स्नातोऽसि लक्ष्म्या सहितो देवदेव जगत्पते । मां समुद्धर देवेश घोरात्संसारबंधनात्
You are bathed, O Lord of gods, master of the world, together with Lakṣmī; lift me up, O Lord of gods, from the terrible bondage of worldly existence.
ततः संपूजयेद्देवं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् । मंत्रैस्तु वैदिकैर्भक्त्या तथा पौराणिकैरपि
Then one should worship the Lord Janārdana together with Lakṣmī, with Vedic mantras in devotion, and also with Purāṇic mantras.
अतो देवेति गंधादि पौरुषेणापि वा पुनः । नमो मत्स्याय देवाय कूर्मदेवाय वै नमः
Thus, O Lord, with fragrant substances and also with human effort, again: 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, salutations 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, O god Viṣṇu; salutations to you, the soul of all; one should worship you with these names, such as Keśava, and thus worship Hari.
वनस्पतिरसो दिव्यः सुरभिर्गंधवाञ्छुचिः । धूपोऽयं देवदेवेश नमस्ते प्रतिगृह्यताम्
This incense is divine, fragrant, pure, and from the essence of trees; O Lord of gods, accept this incense, salutations to you.
धूपमंत्रः । दीपस्तमो नाशयति दीपः कांतिं प्रयच्छति । तस्माद्दीपप्रदानेन प्रीयतां मे जनार्दनः
Incense mantra: The lamp destroys darkness, the lamp bestows radiance; therefore, by offering the lamp, may Janārdana be pleased with me.
दीपमंत्रः । नैवेद्यमिदमन्नाद्यं देवदेव जगत्पते । लक्ष्म्या सह गृहाण त्वं परमामृतमुत्तमम्
Lamp mantra: This food offering, O Lord of gods, master of the world, together with Lakṣmī, accept it; it is supreme nectar.
नैवेद्यमंत्रः । अर्घ्यं दद्यात्ततो भक्त्या एवं ध्यात्वा जनार्दनम् । फलेन चैव हस्तेन शंखेनादाय चोदकम्
Offering mantra: Then one should give arghya with devotion, thus meditating on Janārdana; with fruit in hand, and water taken with a conch.
जन्मांतरसहस्रेण यन्मया पातकं कृतम् । तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु प्रसादात्तव केशव
O Keśava, by your grace, may all the sins I have committed over thousands of lifetimes be destroyed.
इति अर्घमंत्रः । ततः कुंभं नवं शुभ्रं घृतपूर्णं समानयेत् । लक्ष्मीनारायणस्याग्रे तैलपूर्णमथापि वा
This is the arghya mantra. Then, one should bring a new, spotless pot filled with ghee, or else filled with oil, and place it before Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa.
तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रं ताम्रं मृन्मयमेव च । नवतंतुसमां वर्तिं तस्मिन्पात्रे तु निर्वपेत्
Upon that, one should set a vessel, either copper or clay, and in that vessel place a wick made of nine 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 desire of what has been and what will be shines forth.
दीपः संवत्सरं यावत्मयायं परिकल्पितः । अग्निहोत्रमविच्छिन्नं प्रीयतां मम केशव
This lamp, which I have established for a year, may it, like an unbroken agnihotra, bring you pleasure, O Keśava.
ततो जितेंद्रियो भूत्वा श्रुतिज्ञानपरायणः । नालपेत्पतितान्पापांस्तथा पाखण्डिनो नरान्
Then, having mastered the senses and devoted 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 remain awake, with singing, dancing, and instrumental music, as well as various recitations of sacred texts, stories of dharma, and observances.
ततः प्रभातसमये कृतपूर्वाह्णिक क्रियः । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या यथाशक्त्या प्रपूजयेत्
Then, at dawn, having performed the morning rituals, one should feed the brāhmaṇas 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 continue day and night for a year.
दीपं पलसुवर्णेन तदर्द्धार्द्धेन वा पुनः । वर्तिस्तु राजती प्रोक्ता द्विपलार्द्धार्द्धिकापि वा
The lamp should be of a weight of a pala of gold, or half of that, or even a quarter; the wick is said to be of silver, or even half or a quarter of two palas.
घृतपूर्णं तथा कुंभं ताम्रपात्रसमन्वितम् । लक्ष्मीनारायणो देवो यथाशक्त्या हिरण्मयः
The pot should be filled with ghee and furnished with a copper vessel; the image of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa 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, the wise one should invite excellent and virtuous brāhmaṇas.
द्वादशोत्तमपक्षे तु विप्रान्षण्मध्यमे तथा । अन्यथा कारयेत्त्रीन्वा एकं कर्मकरं द्विजम्
In the bright half of the month, one should invite twelve brāhmaṇas, or six in the middle, or otherwise have three or even one brāhmaṇa perform the rite.