ततः श्रेष्ठतरा काशी यस्या नाशो न जायते
Then there is Kāśī, the most excellent, whose destruction never occurs.
काशिकाया नैव नाशो ब्रह्मण्यपि मृते सति तस्यां पंचनदं तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
There is never any destruction of Kāśī, not even when Brahmā dies; in her is the Pañcanada tīrtha, renowned in the three worlds.
आगते कार्तिके मासि रौरवं नरकं गताः
When the month of Kārtika arrives, those who have gone to the Raurava hell—
कश्चिद्भाग्यवतां श्रेष्ठो गत्वा पंचनदे शुभे
Someone among the most fortunate, having gone to the auspicious Pañcanada—
तीर्थराजादितीर्थानि प्राप्ते कार्तिकमासके
When the month of Kārtika arrives, all the tīrthas, beginning with Tīrtharāja, are present.
कृत्वा तु लक्षपापानि स्नात्वा पंचनदे शुभे
Even having committed a hundred thousand sins, by bathing in the auspicious Pañcanada—
यैः स्नातं कार्तिके मासि सकृत्पंचनदे शुभे
Those who have bathed even once in the auspicious Pañcanada during the month of Kārtika—
तावता वै विमुक्ताऽघो विष्णुसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ।। 2.4.4.
By that alone, one is freed from sin and attains union with Viṣṇu.
कावेर्य्याश्चैव माहात्म्यं को वदेत्परमुत्तमम्
Who indeed can tell the supreme and excellent greatness of the Kāverī?
कावेर्या विषये ब्रह्मन्सावधानमनाः शृणु
O Brahman, listen attentively concerning the region of the Kāverī.
गंगा त्रैलोक्यपापघ्नी वर्तते लोकपूजिता
The Gaṅgā, destroyer of the sins of the three worlds, exists, honored by all people.
सर्वलोकाः समागत्य मयि पापं त्यजंति हि
All the worlds, having assembled, indeed cast off their sin in me.
प्रष्टुं जगाम कैलासं गिरिजावल्लभं भवम्
He went to Kailāsa to ask Bhava, the beloved of Girijā.
सर्वे लोकाः समागत्य मयि पापं त्यजंति हि
All the worlds, having assembled, indeed cast off their sin in me.
तत्पापं तु मया सोढुं न शक्यं पार्वतीपते
O Lord of Pārvatī, I am not able to endure that sin.
एवं गंगावचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्याह परमेश्वरः रुद्र उवाच पापनिर्हरणायादौ पद्मनाभांघ्रिपंकजात्
Having heard these words of Gaṅgā, the supreme Lord replied—Rudra spoke: 'For the removal of sin at first, from the lotus feet of Padmanābha—'
प्रादुर्भूताऽसि त्वं देवि किमर्थं तप्यते त्वया
You have appeared, O goddess; why are you afflicted by austerity?
तथाऽपि पापनिर्हार उपायं ते ब्रवीम्यहम् 2.4.4.
Nevertheless, I shall tell you a means for the removal of sin.
सर्वोत्कृष्टा च सर्वेषां हरेर्बलवशात्तु सा
She is the most excellent among all, yet by the power of Hari she is subdued.
कार्तिके मासि कावेर्यां यः स्नानं कुरुते नरः
Whoever bathes in the Kaveri during the month of Kartika,
तस्मात्तां गच्छ देवि त्वं ततः पापाद्विमोक्ष्यसे
Therefore, O goddess, go there; then you will be freed from sin.
तज्जलस्पर्शमात्रेण कार्तिके विष्णुपादजा
By merely touching that water in Kartika, which arose from Vishnu’s feet,
कार्तिके प्रतिवर्षं तु गंगा त्रैलोक्यपावनीम्
Every year in Kartika, the Ganga, purifier of the three worlds,
तज्जलस्पर्शमात्रेण कार्तिके विष्णुपादजा
By merely touching that water in Kartika, which arose from Vishnu’s feet,
तस्माच्छस्तं तुलास्नानं कावेर्य्यां शस्यते बुधैः
Therefore, bathing in the Kaveri during Libra is praised by the wise.
विमुक्तदुरितः सद्यस्ततो याति परां गतिम्
Freed at once from sin, he then attains the highest state.
इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा कार्तिकव्रततत्परः
Hearing this history, one devoted to the Kartika vow,
रात्रिशेषे भवेत्स्नानमुत्तमं विष्णुतुष्टिकृत् 2.4.4.
Bathing at the end of the night is excellent and pleases Vishnu.
तावदेव भवेत्स्नानमन्यथा तन्न कार्तिकम्
Only then is it considered a true Kartika bath; otherwise, it is not Kartika.
अपृष्ट्वा यत्कृतं धर्म्यं भर्तारं तत्क्षयं नयेत्
Any righteous act done without asking the husband leads to loss.