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.
ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्दीपव्रतपरायणः । मुच्यते नात्र संदेहो ब्रह्मणो वचनं यथा
One devoted to the lamp vow is freed from sins such as killing a Brahmin; there is no doubt, as this is the word of Brahma.
चांद्रायणानि कृच्छ्राणि चरितानि न संशयः । येन सांवत्सरो दीपो बोधितः शाश्वतो हरेः
There is no doubt that the Chandrayana and Krichchhra penances performed by one who has established the annual lamp are eternal for Hari.
ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानस्तैः प्राप्तं जन्मनः फलम् । यैः संपूज्य हरिं भक्त्या दीपःसांवत्सरः कृतः
Blessed and noble are those who, having worshipped Hari with devotion, have performed the lamp offering for a full year; by this, they attain the true fruit of human birth.
येऽपि संवर्त्तयंतीह दीपवर्तिविलोकनाः । ते यांति परमं स्थानं यत्सुरैरपि दुर्लभम्
Even those who, in this world, simply watch the lamp-wick being kindled, attain the supreme abode, which is difficult even for the gods to reach.
येन तैलं च वर्तिं च यथाशक्त्या प्रदीपके । प्रक्षेपयंति सततं ते यांति परमां गतिम्
Those who, to the best of their ability, always offer oil and wicks to the lamp, continually attain the highest state.
गच्छंतं दीपकं शांतिं न शक्नोति प्रबोधितुम् । कथयत्यन्यलोकानां तेऽपि तत्फलभागिनः
When the lamp is extinguished and peace descends, even those who awaken others to this, as well as those in other worlds, share in its fruit.
स्तोकं स्तोकं च भिक्षित्वा तैलं दीपार्थमेव च । करोति दीपकं विष्णोः पुण्यं तेनापि लभ्यते
One who begs for oil, little by little, solely for the sake of the lamp, and lights a lamp for Viṣṇu—even by this, merit is obtained.
दीपं प्रज्वाल्यमानं तु यः पश्यत्यधमो नरः । कृतांजलिपुटो विष्णोर्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात्
Even a lowly person who sees a lamp being kindled for Viṣṇu, with hands joined in reverence, attains Viṣṇu's world.
दीपप्रज्वालने बुद्धिं यो दद्यात्कुरुते स्वयम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात्
Whoever, with intent and personal effort, resolves to light a lamp, becomes free from all sins and attains Viṣṇu's world.
अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः
Here, too, is recounted an ancient legend, by hearing which alone one is freed from all sins.