दामोदरं नमस्कृत्य कुर्यात्संकल्पमादितः
Having bowed to Dāmodara, one should first make a solemn resolve.
कार्तिकस्य व्रतं कर्तुमनुज्ञां दातुमर्हसि
You ought to grant permission to undertake the vow of Kārtika.
इति संप्रार्थ्य विधिना कार्तिकव्रतमाचरेत् कलौ च स्वर्गगमनकारणं श्रूयतां हि तत्
Thus, having requested according to the prescribed method, one should observe the Kārtika vow; now hear that which is the cause of attaining heaven in the age of Kali.
तस्मात्पुण्यफलः प्रोक्तो वैशाखो नर्मदातटे
Therefore, the merit of Vaiśākha has been declared, especially on the banks of the Narmadā.
तस्मान्महाफलः प्रोक्तः कार्तिको जलमात्रके
Therefore, the great fruit of Kārtika is proclaimed, even with only water.
एकतः कार्तिकस्नानं ब्रह्मणा तुलया धृतम्
On one side, the Kārtika bath is weighed by Brahmā on the scales.
अवश्यं तैः कृतं विद्धि कार्तिकस्नानमादरात् 2.4.3.
Know that the Kārtika bath must certainly be performed by them with reverence.
भूमिशय्या ब्रह्मचर्य्यं तथा द्विदलवर्जनम्
Sleeping on the ground, celibacy, and abstaining from split pulses—
कार्तिके मासि कुर्वंति जीवन्मुक्तास्त एव हि
Those who are liberated while living practice these in the month of Kārtika.
न कार्तिकसमं काम्यं मोक्षदानं न कार्तिकात्
There is no desired gift of liberation equal to Kārtika, nor is there any greater than Kārtika.
श्रीकृष्णेन तु कामार्थं मोक्षार्थं नारदेन च
Śrī Kṛṣṇa for the sake of desire, and Nārada for the sake of liberation—
अरुण उवाच ब्रूहि भास्कर सर्वात्मन्कदाऽऽरभ्य व्रतं कृतम्
Aruṇa said: Tell me, Bhāskara, soul of all, from when was the vow begun?
अहं विष्णुश्च शर्वश्च देवी विघ्नेश्वरस्तथा
I, Viṣṇu, Śarva, the Goddess, and Vighneśvara as well—
अस्माकं सर्व एवैते भेदा विद्धि खगेश्वर
Know, O lord of birds, that all these are our forms.
कर्तव्यं कार्तिकस्नानं सर्वपापापनुत्तये
The Kārtika bath should be performed for the removal of all sins.
इषपूर्णां समारभ्य यावत्कार्तिकपूर्णिमा
Beginning from the full moon of Īṣa, until the full moon of Kārtika—
देवीपक्षं समारभ्य महारात्रिचतुर्दशी 2.4.3.
Beginning from the fortnight of the Goddess, up to the great night, the fourteenth day.
गणपक्षं समारभ्य कृष्णा या कार्तिके भवेत्
Beginning from the fortnight of Gaṇa, whatever is the dark half in Kārtika.
एकादशीं समारभ्य आश्विनस्याऽसितेतराम् कृतं येन तु तस्य स्यात्परितुष्टो जनार्दनः
Beginning from the eleventh day and continuing through the dark fortnight of Āśvina, whoever performs this, Janārdana is pleased with them.
न कार्तिकसमो मासो न काशीसदृशी पुरी
There is no month equal to Kārtika, nor any city comparable to Kāśī.
प्रसंगाद्वा बलात्कारैर्ज्ञात्वाज्ञात्वा कृतं भवेत्
Whether done intentionally or unintentionally, by association or by force, the act may be accomplished.
स्नानार्थं चेन्न सामर्थ्यं दत्वान्यस्मै धनादिकम्
If one lacks the ability for bathing, one should give wealth or other possessions to another for that purpose.
अथवा कार्तिकस्नानं ये कुर्वंति द्विजातयः
Alternatively, those of the twice-born who perform the Kārtika bath—
राधादामोदरः पूज्यः कार्तिके तु विशेषतः
Rādhā and Dāmodara are to be worshipped, especially in the month of Kārtika.
स्वर्णस्य वाथ रौप्यस्याऽप्यभावे शुल्बजामपि
If gold or silver is unavailable, then even objects made of copper may be used.
दामोदरस्य राधायास्तुलस्यधोऽर्चयंति ये
Those who worship Dāmodara and Rādhā beneath the tulasī plant—
अपि पापसहस्राढ्यः कार्तिकस्नानतो नरः 2.4.3.
Even a man burdened with thousands of sins is purified by the Kārtika bath.
तुलस्यभावे कर्तव्या पूजा धात्रीतले खग
If tulasī is unavailable, worship should be performed on the amla tree, O bird.
अप्रत्यक्षाः सर्वदेवाः प्रत्यक्षो भगवानयम्
All the gods are not directly visible, but this Lord is manifest.
एतदाराधनेऽशक्तः प्रतिमां पूजयेन्नरः
If one is unable to worship in this manner, one should worship the image.