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.
* तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्तिके विष्णुतत्परः
Therefore, with all effort, one should be devoted to Viṣṇu in the month of Kārtika.
नरेभ्यो वैष्णवं धर्मं यो ददाति द्विजोत्तमः 2.4.2.
The best of twice-born who gives Vaiṣṇava dharma to men—
तिलधेनुं हिरण्यं च रजतं भूमिवाससी
Sesame, cows, gold, silver, land, and garments—
सर्वेषामेव दानानां कन्यादानं विशिष्यते
Among all gifts, the gift of a maiden is considered superior.
दशानडुत्समं यानं दशयानसमो हयः
A vehicle equal to ten bullocks, a horse equal to ten vehicles—
गजदानसहस्राणां स्वर्णदानं च तत्समम्
A gift of gold is equal to a thousand gifts of elephants.
विद्यादानात्कोटिगुणं भूमिदानं विशिष्यते
The gift of land surpasses the gift of knowledge by ten million times.
गोप्रदानसहस्रेभ्यो ह्यन्नदानं विशिष्यते
The gift of food surpasses even a thousand gifts of cows.
परान्नवर्जनादेव लभेच्चांद्रायणं फलम्
By merely avoiding another’s food, one obtains the fruit of the Cāndrāyaṇa vow.
कार्तिके वर्जयेन्मांसं सन्धानं च विशेषतः
In the month of Kārtika, one should especially avoid meat and sexual union.