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.
दरिद्रो दानपात्रं स्याद्विद्यावांस्तु विशेषतः
A poor person is fit to receive gifts, but especially one who is learned.
विष्णोर्मूर्तिर्जंगमतः स्थावरा तु प्रशस्यते पितृभिर्निरयं याति दशपूर्वैर्दशापरैः
The moving form of Viṣṇu is praised, but the stationary form is superior; by the ancestors, one goes to hell with ten forebears and ten descendants.
शूद्रार्चितस्य संस्पर्शाद्दहेदासप्तमं कुलम्
By the touch of one worshipped by a Śūdra, seven generations of the family are burned.
तस्माद्विचार्य्य विप्रैर्या स्थापिता तां समर्चयेत्
Therefore, one should worship the image established by the brāhmaṇas after due consideration.
मूर्त्यभावे पूजनीयोऽश्वत्थो वाऽथ वटोऽथ वा
If there is no image, then the aśvattha or the vaṭa tree should be worshipped.
कार्तिके तुलसीशाकं तांबूलं वा नराधमः
In Kārtika, the lowest of men should offer tulasī leaves or betel.
शालिग्रामशिलाचक्रे नित्यं सन्निहितो हरिः 2.4.3.
Hari is always present in the śāligrāma stone and the cakra.
रुद्रशापवशाद्गावो विष्ठाभक्षणतत्पराः
Due to Rudra's curse, cows are intent on eating excrement.
ब्रह्मांऽशकसमुद्भूते पालाशे यस्तु भोजनम्
Whoever eats food placed on a plate made from the palāśa tree, which has arisen from a portion of Brahmā,
* अश्वत्थरूपी भगवान्वटरूपी सदाशिवः
The Lord appears in the form of the aśvattha tree; Sadāśiva is in the form of the vaṭa tree.