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.
कुर्यात्सहस्रपापानि भर्त्राऽऽज्ञां या समाचरेत्
A woman who acts against her husband's command commits a thousand sins.
दरिद्रः पतितो मूर्खो दीनोऽपि यदि चेत्पतिः
Even if the husband is poor, fallen, foolish, or miserable,
कलौ वत्स मनुष्याणां शैथिल्यं स्नानकर्मणि
In the Kali age, O child, there is negligence among people regarding the rite of bathing.
यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च वाङ्मनश्च सुसंयतम्
He whose hands, feet, speech, and mind are well restrained,
अश्रद्दधानः पापात्मा नास्तिकश्छिन्नमानसः
One who lacks faith, is sinful, an atheist, and whose mind is broken,
प्रातरुत्थाय यो विप्रस्तीर्थस्नायी सदा भवेत्
He who rises early and is always a brahmin, a regular bather at holy places,
स्नानं चतुर्विधं प्रोक्तं स्नानविद्भिर्मनीषिभिः
Bathing is said to be of four kinds, as taught by those learned in the science of bathing.
वायव्यं गोरजःस्नानं वारुणं सागरादिषु 2.4.4.
These are the aerial bath, the dust-bath with cow-dung, the water-bath, and bathing in the ocean and similar waters.
स्नानानां चैव सर्वेषां विशिष्टं तत्र वारुणम्
Of all these types of bathing, the water-bath is considered the best.
तूष्णीमेव हि शूद्रस्य स्त्रीणां चैव तथा स्मृतम्
For a Śūdra and for women, silent bathing is prescribed.