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.
सपत्नीकं द्विजं शांतं क्रियावंतं विशेषतः । इतिहासपुराणज्ञं धर्मज्ञं मृदुमेव च
The brāhmaṇa should be peaceful, accompanied by his wife, skilled in rituals, especially learned in history and Purāṇas, knowledgeable in dharma, and gentle.
पितृभक्तं गुरुपरं देवब्राह्मणपूजकम् । पादार्घदानविधिना वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः
He should be devoted to his ancestors, respectful to his teacher, a worshipper of gods and brāhmaṇas, and should be honored with water for washing the feet, garments, and ornaments.
संपूज्य पत्न्या सहितमेकं भक्त्या च पूर्ववत् । लक्ष्मीनारायणं देवं दीपवर्तियुतं तथा
Together with his wife, one should worship with devotion, as before, the god Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, along with the lamp and wick.
ताम्रपात्रोपरिस्थाप्य घृतकुंभेन संयुतम् । ब्राह्मणाय ततो दद्याद्ध्यात्वा नारायणं परम् । मंत्रेणानेन देवर्षे तमहं कथयामि ते
Placing the copper vessel above, together with the ghee-filled pot, one should then give it to the brāhmaṇa, meditating on the supreme Nārāyaṇa, with this mantra, O divine sage, which I shall now tell you.
अविद्या तमसा व्याप्ते संसारे पापनाशनः । ज्ञानप्रदो मोक्षदश्च तस्माद्दत्तो मयानघ
In the world pervaded by ignorance and darkness, the lamp destroys sin, grants knowledge, and bestows liberation; therefore, O sinless one, I have given it.
इति दीपमंत्रः । दक्षिणां च यथाशक्त्या दत्त्वा विप्राय भक्तितः । भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्पश्चाद्घृतपायसमोदकैः
Thus is the lamp-mantra. One should give a donation to a Brahmin according to one's ability, with devotion, and afterwards feed Brahmins with ghee, rice pudding, and sweet drinks.
वस्त्रैराच्छादयेत्पश्चात्सपत्नीकं तथा द्विजम् । शय्यां सोपस्करां दद्याद्धेनुं चैव सवत्सकाम्
Afterwards, one should cover the Brahmin and his wife with garments, give a furnished bed, and also a cow with her calf.
तेभ्यस्तु दक्षिणां दद्याद्यथावित्तानुसारतः । सुहृत्स्वजनबंधूश्च भोजयेत्पूजयेत्तथा
To them, one should give gifts according to one's wealth, and likewise feed and honor friends, relatives, and family members.
एवं महोत्सवं कुर्याद्दीपव्रत समापने । ततो विसर्जयेत्पश्चात्प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत्
In this way, one should celebrate a great festival at the conclusion of the lamp vow; then, after bowing, one 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, and by the solstitial lamp rites, that fruit of the lamp called 'annual' is obtained by people.
मासव्रतैश्च यत्पुण्यं तत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते नरैः । संवत्सरस्य दीपस्य व्रतेन चरितेन च
The merit gained by monthly vows is also obtained by people through the observance and performance of the annual lamp vow.
दानव्रतैर्यथासंख्यैर्यश्च योगव्रतैस्तथा । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति दीपे सांवत्सरे कृते
Whatever fruit is gained by countless donation vows and by yoga vows, that is also attained by performing the annual lamp rite.
गोभूहिरण्यदानानि गृहादीनां विशेषतः । यत्फलं लभते विद्वान्तत्फलं दीपदो भवेत्
The fruit that a learned person obtains from giving cows, land, gold, and especially from giving houses, that fruit is gained by the giver of the lamp.
दीपदः कांतिमाप्नोति दीपदो धनमक्षयम् । दीपदो ज्ञानमाप्नोति दीपदः परमं सुखम्
The giver of the lamp attains radiance, inexhaustible wealth, knowledge, and supreme happiness.
दीपदानाच्च सौभाग्यं विद्यामत्यंतनिर्मलाम् । आरोग्यं परमामृद्धिं लभते नात्र संशयः
From giving lamps, one obtains good fortune, pure and boundless learning, health, and supreme prosperity; there is no doubt about this.
दीपदः सुभगां भार्यां सर्वलक्षणसंयुताम् । पुत्रान्पौत्रान्प्रपौत्रांश्च संततिं चाक्षया लभेत्
The giver of the lamp obtains a fortunate wife endowed with all marks, sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and an unending 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 marks, the highest lifespan, and abundant sons and grandsons.
वैधव्यं नैव युवती कदाचिदपि पश्यति । न वियोगमवाप्नोति दीपदानप्रभावतः
A young woman never sees widowhood, nor does she experience separation, due to the power of lamp-giving.
नाधयो व्याधयश्चैव जायंते दीपदानतः । भयात्प्रमुच्यते भीतो बद्धो मुच्येत बंधनात्
From lamp-giving, neither poverty nor disease arises; the fearful are freed from fear, and the bound are released from bondage.