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,
कार्तिके मासि विप्रेंद्र यस्तु गीतां पठेन्नरः
O foremost of Brahmins, in the month of Kartika, whoever recites the Gita,
गीतायास्तु समं शास्त्रं न भूतं न भविष्यति 2.4.2.
There has never been, nor will there be, any scripture equal to the Gita.
एकेनाऽध्यायपाठेन सर्वपापकृतोऽपि च
By reciting even one chapter, even a person who has committed all sins,
* शालिग्रामशिलादानं यः कुर्यात्कार्तिके मुने
Whoever gives a Shaligrama stone in Kartika, O sage,
* शालिग्रामं समभ्यर्च्य श्रोत्रियाय महामुने
Having worshipped the Shaligrama, to a learned Brahmin, O great sage,
सप्तसागरपर्यंतं भूदानाद्यत्फलं भवेत्
The fruit of giving land up to the extent of seven seas,
शालिग्रामशिलादानात्कार्तिके ब्राह्मणी यथा
From the gift of a Shaligrama stone in Kartika, a Brahmin woman likewise,
* तस्मात्तु कार्तिके मासि स्नानदानपुरःसरम्
Therefore, in the month of Kartika, preceded by bathing and charity,
ब्रह्मोवाच भूयः शृणुष्व विप्रेंद्र कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम्
Brahma said: Listen again, O foremost of Brahmins, to the glory of Kartika.
पौर्णमासीं समारभ्य पौर्णमास्यां समापयेत्
Beginning from the full moon, one should conclude on the full moon.