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.
या नारी कार्तिके मासि लक्षं कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणाः
Any woman who performs a hundred thousand circumambulations in the month of Kārtika,
दम्पती भोजयेद्राधादामोदरस्वरूपिणौ
She should feed a married couple who embody Rādhā and Āmodara.
वन्ध्याऽपि लभते पुत्रमितरासां तु का कथा
Even a barren woman obtains a son; what need is there to speak of others?
बोधिद्रुमे पादपेषु शालिग्रामे शिलासु च
In the bodhi tree, among trees, in the śāligrāma stones,
अश्वत्थपूजा स्पर्शेन कर्त्तव्या शनिवासरे
Worship of the aśvattha tree should be performed by touch on a Saturday.
स्नानं जागरणं दीपं तुलसीवनपालनम्
Bathing, staying awake, lighting lamps, and caring for a grove of tulasī,
संमार्जनं विष्णुगृहे स्वस्तिकादिनिवेदनम् 2.4.3.
Sweeping in Viṣṇu's temple and offering svastika and other items,
स्नानकालं प्रवक्ष्यामि तीर्थादिषु च यत्फलम्
I will declare the time for bathing and the results obtained at holy places and elsewhere.
तुलसीमृत्तिकायुक्तः सवस्त्रकलशो मुने
O sage, a pot with cloth, joined with tulasī and clay,
आगत्य तोयनिकटे तीरे संस्थाप्य पात्रकम्
Having come near the water, one should place the vessel on the bank.
स्मरेद्गंगादिका नद्यो विष्णुशर्वादिदेवताः
One should remember rivers such as the Ganges and deities like Viṣṇu and Śarva.
कार्तिकेऽहं करिष्यामि प्रातःस्नानं जनार्दन
In Kārtika, I will perform the morning bath, O Janārdana.
नित्ये नैमित्तिके कृत्वा कार्तिके पापनाशन
Having performed the daily and occasional rites, in Kārtika, the destroyer of sin,
तीर्थादिदेवताभ्यश्च क्रमादर्घ्यादि दापयेत्
One should offer arghya and other oblations in order to the deities presiding over holy places and so forth.
नमः कमलनाभाय नमस्ते जलशायिने
Salutations to the lotus-naveled one; obeisance to you who recline upon the waters.
व्रतिनः कार्तिके मासि स्नातस्य विधिवन्मम
For one observing vows, in the month of Kārtika, after bathing according to the prescribed method—
किरणा धूतपापा च पुण्यतोया सरस्वती
The rays, the sin-cleansing waters, and Sarasvatī, the holy river—
अन्यासां च नदीनां च दद्यादर्घ्यं यथाविधि 2.4.4.
And likewise, for the other rivers, one should offer arghya as prescribed.
नान्यत्तीर्थं तु जाह्नव्यां स्मरणीयं कदाचन
No other sacred place on the Jāhnavī is ever to be remembered.
मृत्स्नानं च पितृस्नानं गुरुस्नानं ततः परम्
Then, the clay bath, the ancestral bath, and the bath for the teacher, in due order.