कलौ कलुषचित्तानां नराणां पापकर्मणाम्
In the age of Kali, among men with impure minds and sinful deeds,
को धर्मः सर्वधर्माणामधिको मोक्षसाधकः
Which dharma among all dharmas is supreme and leads to liberation?
नारदो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो ब्रह्माणं तु जगद्गुरुम्
Nārada, the son of Brahmā, approached Brahmā, the teacher of the universe.
तथैव सत्यभामा च श्रीकृष्णं जगदीश्वरम्
In the same way, Satyabhāmā approached Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the universe.
वालखिल्यैश्च ऋषिभिर्यदुक्तमृषिसंसदि
And what was spoken by the Vālakhilya sages in the assembly of seers,
कैलासे शंकरेणैव कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम्
and the glory of Kārtikeya as told by Śaṅkara on Mount Kailāsa,
पृथुं प्रति नारदेन कथितं च महात्म्यकम्
and the greatness narrated by Nārada to Pṛthu,
एकदा नारदो योगी सत्यलोकमुपागतः 2.4.1.
Once, the yogi Nārada went to Satyaloka.
को वह्निर्दहते ब्रह्मंस्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Which fire is able to burn Brahman? You, O Lord, are worthy to speak of this.
नाज्ञातं त्रिषु लोकेषु ब्रह्मांडांतर्गतस्य यत्
There is nothing within the three worlds, within the cosmic egg, that is unknown to you.
मासानां प्रवरो मासो देवानामुत्तमोत्तमः
Among months, one is the foremost; among the gods, the most excellent.
तीर्थं नारायणाख्यं हि त्रितयं दुर्लभं कलौ
The three sacred places named Nārāyaṇa are indeed rare in the Kali age.
वैष्णवान्ब्रूहि मे धर्मान्सर्वज्ञोऽसि पितामह
Tell me the Vaiṣṇava duties, for you are all-knowing, O Grandfather.
आदौ कार्तिकमाहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि मे प्रभो
First, you should tell me, O Lord, the greatness of the month of Kārtika.
गोपीचंदनमाहात्म्यं तुलस्याश्च तथा विभो व्रतारंभः कदा कार्यं उद्यापनविधिं तथा
Also, O mighty one, the greatness of Gopī-candana and of Tulasī, when to begin the vow, and the method of concluding it.
यत्किंचिद्वैष्णवं धर्मं तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Whatever Vaiṣṇava duty there is, you should tell me all of it.
राधादामोदरं स्मृत्वा प्रोवाच तनुजं प्रति
Remembering Rādhā and Dāmodara, he spoke to his son.
कथयामि न संदेहः कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम् ।। 2.4.1.
I will tell you, without doubt, the glory of Kārtika.
एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वे यज्ञाः सदक्षिणाः कार्तिकस्य तु मासस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्
Even if all sacred places and all sacrifices with proper gifts are on one side, they do not equal even a sixteenth part of the month of Kārtika.
एकतः पुष्करे वासः कुरुक्षेत्रे हिमालये
Even if one resides at Puṣkara, Kurukṣetra, or in the Himalayas on one side,
स्वर्णानि मेरुतुल्यानि सर्वदानानि चैकतः
Even if one gives away gold equal to Mount Meru and all other gifts together,
यत्किंचित्क्रियते पुण्यं विष्णुमुद्दिश्य कार्तिके
any small act of merit performed in the month of Kārtika, dedicated to Viṣṇu,
सोपानभूतं स्वर्गस्य मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम्
having attained the rare human birth, which serves as a stairway to heaven,
दुष्प्राप्यं प्राप्य मानुष्यं कार्तिकोक्तं चरेन्न यः
one who, having attained this difficult-to-obtain human life, does not practice what is prescribed for Kārtika,
कार्तिकः खलु वै मासः सर्वमासेषु चोत्तमः
Kārtika is indeed the month, the best among all months.
अस्मिन्मासे त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवाः सन्निहिता मुने
In this month, O sage, all thirty-three gods are present.
तिलधेनुं हिरण्यं च रजतं भूमिवाससी
Sesame, cows, gold, silver, land, and garments—
तानि दानानि दत्तानि गृह्णंति विधिवत्सुराः 2.4.1.
these gifts, when given according to the prescribed method, are received by the gods.
तदक्षय्यफलं प्रोक्तं विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना पापानां मोक्षणं चैव कार्तिके मासि शस्यते
Such gifts are said by the mighty Viṣṇu to yield inexhaustible fruit; and in the month of Kārtika, liberation from sins is praised.
तस्माद्यत्नेन विप्रेंद्र कार्तिके मासि दीयते
Therefore, O best of Brāhmaṇas, one should strive to give in the month of Kārtika.