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.
सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये सिद्धाश्रम इति श्रुतः । तत्रोवास द्विजः पूर्वं कपिलो नाम वेदवित्
On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvatī, there was a place known as Siddhāśrama; there once lived a learned brāhmaṇa named Kapila.
व्रतोपवासनिरतो दरिद्र श्रोःत्रियस्तथा । भिक्षावृत्त्या च कुरुते कुटुंब परिपालनम्
Devoted to vows and fasting, poor, and a learned Śrotriya, he maintained his household by begging.
व्रतोपवासनियमैर्विष्णुमाराधयत्यसौ । विष्णुं संपूज्य विधिवद्दीपं बोधयते सदा
By means of vows and fasting, he worshipped Viṣṇu; having properly worshipped Viṣṇu, he always kindled a lamp.
समादाय च तत्तैलं स्वगृहे पूज्य केशवम् । दीपं भक्त्या च परया बोधयेद्धरितुष्टये
Taking that oil in his own house, he worshipped Keśava and, with supreme devotion, lit the lamp to please Hari.
एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः । मार्जारस्तीक्ष्णंदंष्ट्रस्तु मूषकान्भक्षयेत्सदा
As the noble Kapila continued in this way, a cat with sharp teeth always ate the mice.
तत्रागच्छति भक्ष्यार्थं मूषकानामहर्निशम् । कृत्वा ध्यानं स भक्ष्यार्थं नित्यं नारायणाग्रतः
That cat would come day and night to eat the mice, and, intent on food, would meditate constantly before Nārāyaṇa.
भक्षिता बहवस्तेन मूषका द्विजवेश्मनि । ये ये तैलार्थमायांति वर्त्यपाहरणाय च
Many mice were eaten by that cat in the brāhmaṇa's house—those who came for oil or to steal the wicks.
तांस्तांस्तु भक्षयत्येव मूषकान्ध्यानतत्परः । एवं प्रवर्तमानस्य कदाचित्कालपर्ययात्
That cat, intent on its purpose, would eat those mice; thus, as time passed for Kapila, continuing in this way—
एकादश्यां स कपिलो ब्राह्मणः स्वगृहे शुचिः । सोपवासः सपत्नीकः पूजयामास चाच्युतम्
On the day of Ekādaśī, Kapila the brāhmaṇa, pure in his own house, together with his wife, observed a fast and worshipped Acyuta.
ततो जागरणं चक्रे स्तुतिनृत्यपरायणः । अर्द्धरात्रे तु संप्राप्ते निद्रया मोहितो द्विजः
Then he kept vigil, devoted to singing and dancing in praise; but when midnight came, the brāhmaṇa was overcome by sleep and delusion.
मार्जारश्चागतस्तत्र तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो लघुक्रमः । लक्षयामास नैवेद्यं गृहकोणे स्थितः सदा
A cat arrived there, sharp-toothed and light-footed; always stationed in the corner of the house, it observed the offering.
अद्राक्षीन्मूषिकां क्षुद्रा तैलपानार्थमागताम् । मंदतेजसि दीपे तु वर्त्यपाहरणोचिताम्
It saw a small mouse that had come to drink oil, accustomed to stealing wicks from the lamp with dim light.
समुत्पत्य पदाक्रम्य तदा सा बिलमाविशत् । तस्याः पादेन वै वर्त्या दीपः संबोधितो भृशम्
Leaping up and striking with its paw, the mouse then entered its hole; with its foot and the wick, it greatly stirred the lamp.
तैलपात्रं च नमितं सुप्रकाशोऽभवत्तदा । ब्राह्मणोऽपि जजागार त्यक्त्वा निद्रां विमोहिनीम्
The oil vessel was tipped, and there was bright illumination; the Brahmin also awoke, abandoning the deluding sleep.
मार्जारोऽपि च तां रात्रीमजाग्रच्चाखुभक्षकः । ततः प्रभाते विमले कृत्वा नित्यक्रियां द्विजः
The cat, eater of mice, too, stayed awake that night; then, at pure dawn, the twice-born performed his daily rites.
ततश्च पारणं चक्रे विप्रो बंधुजनैः सह । एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः
Afterwards, the Brahmin completed the pāraṇa with his relatives; thus, as Kapila the great-souled continued in this way—
बभूवुः पुत्रपौत्राश्च धनधान्यमनुत्तमम् । आरोग्यं परमामृद्धिमवाप महतीं श्रियम्
He obtained sons and grandsons, unsurpassed wealth and grain, 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 united with the auspicious orbits of the Sun and the Moon.
दीपज्योतिःस्वरूपेण परमात्मा नियुक्तवान् । मूषिकापि च कालेन ममार बिलमध्यतः
In the form of the lamp's light, the Supreme Self was established; 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 hosts of vidyādharas—