पापैः सर्वैः प्रमुच्यंते स्नानात्कार्तिकमाघयोः
By bathing during the months of Kārtika and Māgha, all sins are washed away.
पुष्करे तीर्थवर्ये तु नंदायाः संगमे पुरा
In ancient times, at the confluence of the sacred river Nandā at Puṣkara, the foremost of holy places—
* नंदाया वचनेनैव कार्तिके सा परं ययौ
By the command of Nandā alone, she attained the supreme state in the month of Kārtika.
यच्छुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तो मोक्षमवाप्स्यसि
By hearing this, you will be freed from all sins and will attain liberation.
कार्तिके मासि संप्राप्ते निषिद्धानि च वर्जयेत्
When the month of Kārtika arrives, one should avoid what is forbidden.
फलानि बहुबीजानि धान्यानि द्विदलान्यपि
Fruits with many seeds, and grains that are split into two parts—
अलाबुं गृंजरं चैव वृंताकं बृहतीफलम्
Bottle gourd, cucumber, eggplant, and the fruit of the brhatī plant—
पुनर्भोजनं माध्वं च परान्नं कांस्यभोजनम्
A second meal, honey, food prepared by others, and eating from bronze vessels—
गणान्नं गणिकान्नं च तथा वै ग्रामयाजिनः
Food from groups, food from courtesans, and likewise that of village sacrificers—
श्राद्धान्नमृतुशांत्याश्च जातकं नामकं तथा
Food offered at śrāddha rites, food for seasonal pacification, and what is called birth-feast—
निषिद्धेषु च पत्रेषु भोजनं नैव कारयेत् एतत्पत्रेषु भोक्तव्यं पुष्करे न कदाचन
One should not eat from forbidden leaves; and in Puṣkara, one should never eat from these leaves.
कार्तिके मासि संप्राप्ते यः कुर्याद्वनभोजनम्
When the month of Kārtika arrives, whoever eats in the forest—
प्रातःस्नानं तु कर्तव्यं तथैव हरिपूजनम् 2.4.6.
One must bathe in the morning and likewise worship Hari.
गोपीचंदनदानं तु गोदानं श्रोत्रियाय च
One should give Gopīcandana clay, and also donate a cow to a learned Brāhmaṇa.
कदलीफलदानं तु दानं धात्रीफलस्य च
The giving of banana fruit and the giving of amla fruit are acts of charity.
शाकादिदानं कुर्वीत चान्नदानं विशेषतः
One should give vegetables and similar foods, and especially offer cooked rice as charity.
पौराणिकाय यो दद्यादामान्नं घृतपायसम्
Whoever gives cooked rice with ghee and milk to a reciter of the Purāṇas—
कमलैः पूजयेद्यस्तु कार्तिके कमलाप्रियम्
Whoever worships the beloved of Lakṣmī with lotuses in the month of Kārtika—
कार्तिके तुलसीपत्रं यो भक्त्या विष्णवेऽर्पयेत्
Whoever, with devotion, offers tulasī leaves to Viṣṇu in the month of Kārtika—
कार्तिके केतकीपुष्पैरर्चयेद्गरुडध्वजम्
Whoever worships the bearer of Garuḍa’s banner with ketakī flowers in Kārtika—
शंखदानं तु यः कुर्यात्तथा चक्रांकितस्य च
Whoever gives a conch, or one marked with a discus—
गीतापाठं तु यः कुर्यात्कार्तिके विष्णुवल्लभे
Whoever recites the Gītā in the beloved month of Viṣṇu, Kārtika—
श्रीमद्रागवतस्याऽपि श्रवणं यः समाचरेत् 2.4.6.
Whoever also listens to the Śrīmad Bhāgavata—
एकादश्यां निराहारमुपवासं करोति यः
Whoever observes a fast without food on the day of Ekādaśī—
शालिग्रामस्य नैवेद्यं कोटियज्ञफलं लभेत्
The offering of food to the Śāligrāma stone yields the fruit of ten million sacrifices.
पूजाकाले तु देवस्य घण्टानादं करोति यः
Whoever rings a bell at the time of worship of the deity—
परान्नं वर्जयेद्यस्तु कार्तिके विष्णुतुष्टये
Whoever avoids eating others’ food in Kārtika to please Viṣṇu—
अध्वगं तु परिश्रांतं काले च गृहमागतम्
A traveler who is weary and comes home at the right time—
निंदां कुर्वंति ये मूढा वैष्णवानां महात्मनाम्
Those fools who slander the great-souled Vaiṣṇavas—
दृष्ट्वा भागवतान्विप्रान्सन्मुखो न च याति हि
Seeing devotees of the Lord, if a brāhmaṇa does not approach them—