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.
प्रवृत्तानां तु भक्ष्याणां कार्तिके नियमे कृते
Of foods that are permitted, when observing the vow in Kārtika—
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महीं दत्त्वा ग्रहणे सूर्यचंद्रयोः 2.4.2.
By giving land to Brāhmaṇas at the conjunction of the sun and moon—
भोजनं द्विजदंपत्योः पूजनं च विलेपनैः
One should offer food to a Brāhmaṇa couple, and honor them with ointments.
तूलिकाश्च प्रदातव्याः प्रच्छादनपटैः सह
Cushions should also be given, along with covering cloths.
कार्तिके क्षितिशायी च हन्यात्पापं युगार्जितम्
In the month of Kārtika, one who lies upon the ground destroys sin accumulated over an age.
दामोदराग्रे देवर्षे गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
In the presence of Dāmodara, O sage among the gods, one attains the merit equal to gifting a thousand cows.
न भवेत्कार्तिके यस्य हरेत्पुण्यं दशाब्दिकम्
In Kārtika, for one who does not observe it, even ten years of merit is taken away.
कार्तिके मुनिशार्दूल लक्षकोटिगुणं भवेत्
In Kārtika, O best of sages, the merit becomes a hundred million times greater.
अवन्ती माधवे मासि हन्यात्पापं युगार्जितम्
In Avantī, during the month of Mādhava, one destroys sin accumulated over an age.
ये कुर्वंति नरा नित्यं प्रीत्यर्थं हरिपूजनम्
Those men who daily worship Hari with devotion for the sake of pleasing him—