तदक्षयं हि लभते अन्नदानं विशेषतः
Indeed, such giving becomes inexhaustible, especially the gift of food.
उदधीनां च विप्रर्षे क्षयो नैवोपपद्यते
O sage among Brāhmaṇas, just as the oceans do not diminish, so too is there no decrease here.
न तस्यास्ति क्षयो विप्र पापं याति सहस्रधा
For him, O Brāhmaṇa, there is no loss; his sin departs a thousandfold.
दिनेदिनेऽतिकृच्छ्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्ययत्नतः
Day by day, without effort, he attains the fruit of the most difficult penances.
न वेदसदृशं शास्त्रं न तीर्थं गंगया समम्
There is no scripture equal to the Veda, nor any pilgrimage equal to the Ganges.
न्यायेनोपार्जितं द्रव्यं दुर्लभं दानकारिणाम्
Wealth acquired justly is rare among those who give gifts.
कार्तिके मुनिशार्दूल शालिग्रामशिलार्चनम्
O tiger among sages, worship of the Śālig rāma stone in Kārtika—
एतादृशं कार्तिकं च अकृतेनैव यो नयेत् 2.4.1.
one who passes through such a Kārtika month without performing these acts—
येन तत्फलमाप्नोति तन्मे वद पितामह
O Grandsire, tell me by what means one attains that result.
अन्यस्मै द्रविणं दत्त्वा कारयेत्कार्तिकव्रतम्
By giving wealth to another, one should have the Kārtika vow performed.
तस्मात्पुण्यं प्रगृह्णीत दानसंकल्पपूर्वकम्
Therefore, one should accept that merit, having first resolved to give a donation.
तदा तेन प्रकर्तव्यं पानं तीर्थजलस्य च
At that time, one should drink water from a sacred place.
स्मरणं च प्रकर्तव्यं नाम्ना नियमपूर्वकम्
One should also perform remembrance by name, preceded by discipline.
विष्णोः शिवस्य वा कुर्यादालये हरिजागरम्
One may keep vigil for Hari in a temple of Viṣṇu or Śiva.
दुर्गाटव्यां स्थितो वाऽथ यदिवाऽऽपद्गतो भवेत्
Or, if one is in a difficult forest or has fallen into misfortune,
विष्णुनामप्रबंधानां गायनं विष्णुसन्निधौ
singing sequences of Viṣṇu's names in the presence of Viṣṇu—
वाद्यकृत्पुरुषश्चापि वाजपेयफलं लभेत्
even the musician gains the fruit of a Vājapeya sacrifice.
सर्वमेतल्लभेत्पुण्यमेतेषां द्रव्यदः पुमान् 2.4.1.
Whoever gives the means for these gains all this merit.
आपद्गतो यदाप्यंभो न लभेत्कुत्रचिन्नरः
If a man in distress cannot obtain water anywhere,
उद्यापनविधिं कर्तुमशक्तो यो व्रतस्थितः
or one who is observing the vow is unable to perform the concluding rite,
अशक्तो दीपदानाय परदीपं प्रबोधयेत्
if he is unable to offer a lamp, he should kindle another's lamp.
श्रीविष्णोः पूजनाऽभावे तुलसीधात्रिपूजनम् तस्याप्यभावे मनसि विष्णोर्नामानुकीर्तनम्
If worship of Śrī Viṣṇu is not possible, one should worship the tulasī or dhātrī plant; if even that is not possible, one should recite Viṣṇu's names in the mind.
ब्रह्मोवाच अथ कार्तिकमासस्य धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि नारद
Brahmā said: Now, O Nārada, I shall declare the duties of the month of Kārtika.
स तु मोक्षमवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा गुरुशुश्रूषया सर्वं प्राप्नोति ऋषिसत्तम
He indeed attains liberation—there is no need for doubt; by serving the guru, O best of sages, one obtains everything.
गुरौ तुष्टे च तुष्टाः स्युर्देवाः सर्वे सवासवा
When the guru is pleased, all the gods, including Indra, are pleased.
कार्तिकं मासि संप्राप्ते कृत्वा कर्माणि भूरिशः
When the month of Kārtika arrives, having performed many acts,
यत्किंचिद्वा समादिष्टो गुरुणा तत्समाचरेत्
Whatever is instructed by the teacher, that one should carry out.
आज्ञप्तो गुरुणा विप्र न तद्वाक्यं तु लंघयेत्
When commanded by the teacher, O Brahmin, one must not disregard that command.
मातृत्वे च पितृत्वे च गुरुमेव स्मरेद्बुधः
In the roles of mother and father as well, the wise should remember only the teacher.
गुरुप्रसादात्सर्वं तु प्राप्नोत्येव न संशयः गौतमस्य गुरोः सम्यक्सेवयाऽमरतां गताः
By the teacher’s grace, one indeed attains everything—there is no doubt; by properly serving the teacher Gautama, they attained immortality.