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—
क्षीरादिस्नपनं विष्णोः क्रियते पितृकारणात्
Bathing Viṣṇu with milk and other substances is performed for the sake of the ancestors.
कार्तिके नार्चितो यैस्तु कृष्णस्तु कमलेक्षणः 2.4.2.
In Kārtika, those by whom Kṛṣṇa, the lotus-eyed one, is not worshipped—
अहो मुष्टा विनष्टास्ते पतिताः कलिकन्दरे
Alas, those fists are ruined; they have fallen into the pit of Kali.
पद्मेनैकेन देवेशं योऽर्चयेत्कमलापतिम् पुष्करार्चनयोगेन श्वेतो मुक्तिमवाप ह
He who worships the Lord of Lakṣmī with a single lotus, by the act of worship with a lotus, the white one attained liberation.
* अपराधसहस्राणि तथा सप्तशतानि च
A thousand offenses, and also seven hundred more—
तुलसीपत्रलक्षेण कार्तिके योऽर्चयेद्धरिम्
He who worships Hari in Kārtika with a hundred thousand Tulasī leaves—
मुखे शिरसि देहे तु कृष्णोत्तीर्णां तु यो वहेत् सर्वरोगैस्तथा पापैर्मुक्तो भवति मानवः
Whoever bears Kṛṣṇa's crossing (image or name) on his mouth, head, or body becomes freed from all diseases and sins.
शंखोदकं हरेर्भक्तिर्निर्माल्यं पादयोर्जलम्
The water from Viṣṇu's conch, devotion to Hari, the flowers removed from worship, and the water from his feet—
कार्तिके मासि विप्रेन्द्र प्रातःस्नानपरायणः
In the month of Kārtika, O best of Brāhmaṇas, one devoted to bathing early in the morning—
सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं विशिष्यते
Of all gifts, the gift of food is considered the best.
अन्नं हि सर्वभूतानां प्राणभूतं परं विदुः
Indeed, food is known as the very life of all beings.
तीर्थस्नानेन किं तस्य देवयात्रादिनाऽपि किम् 2.4.2.
What is the use of bathing at sacred fords, or even of processions for the gods?
सत्यकेतुर्द्विजः पूर्वं चान्नदानेन केवलम्
Satyaketu, a twice-born, formerly gave only food as charity.
* कार्तिकव्रतनिष्ठस्तु कुर्याद्गोदानमुत्तमम्
But one devoted to the Kartika vow should perform the excellent gift of a cow.
गोदानात्परमं दानं संसारार्णवतारकम्
The gift of a cow is the supreme charity, which carries one across the ocean of worldly existence.
* कार्तिके मासि विप्रेंद्र दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकशः
O foremost of Brahmins, in the month of Kartika, having given many gifts repeatedly,
नामस्मरणमाहात्म्यं मया वक्तुं न शक्यते
I am unable to describe the greatness of remembering the divine names.
* गोविंद गोविंद हरे मुरारे गोविंद गोविंद् मुकुंद कृष्ण
Govinda, Govinda, Hare, Murari, Govinda, Govinda, Mukunda, Krishna.
श्लोकार्द्धं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं भागवतोद्भवम्
Even half a verse or a single line arising from the Bhagavata, recited daily,
यैर्न श्रुतं भागवतं पुराणं नाराधितो वै पुरुषः पुराणः
Those who have not heard the Bhagavata Purana, nor worshipped the Ancient Person,