अन्यधर्मेष्वधिकृतिः कुलजातिविभागतः
The eligibility for other duties is determined by family and caste distinctions—
गोग्रासः कार्तिके मासि विशेषाद्यैस्तु दीयते
Especially in the month of Kārtika, the giving of food to cows is prescribed—
विष्णुदेवालयं प्रातः संमार्जयति कार्तिके 2.4.6.
Whoever, in Kārtika, sweeps the temple of Viṣṇu in the morning—
दद्यात्कार्तिकमासे तु धर्मकाष्ठानि भूरिशः
One should give, in the month of Kārtika, abundant firewood for religious purposes—
सुधादि लेपयेद्यस्तु कार्तिके विष्णुमंदिरे
Whoever, in Kārtika, anoints the temple of Viṣṇu with substances like sandal paste—
देवालये वा तीर्थे वा कृतो दुष्टैर्नृपैः करः
If a tax is imposed by wicked kings in a temple or at a sacred place—
कार्तिके मासि यो विप्रो गभस्तीश्वरसन्निधौ
In the month of Kārtika, the brāhmaṇa who, in the presence of the lord of rays (the Sun),—
वाराणस्यां तु यैः स्थित्वा त्रिवर्षं कार्तिकव्रतम्
Those who, having stayed in Vārāṇasī, observe the Kārtika vow for three years—
इह लोके फलं तेषां प्रत्यक्षं जायते किल
For them, the fruit is said to manifest visibly in this very world—
पलांडुं शृंगं मांसं च शय्यां सौवीरकं तथा
Onion, garlic, meat, bed, and also wine—
धात्रीफलं भानुवारे परदेशागमं तथा
The fruit of the myrobalan tree on Sunday, and likewise food brought from a foreign land,
देववेदद्विजातीनां गुरुगोव्रतिनां तथा
Food belonging to the gods, Vedic scholars, and those observing vows to the teacher and the cow,
नरकस्य चतुर्दश्यां तैलाभ्यंगं च कारयेत् नालिकां मूलकं चैव कूष्मांडं च कपित्थकम् 2.4.6.
On the fourteenth day, one should apply oil to the body; also, reed, radish, gourd, and wood-apple,
रजस्वलांत्यज म्लेच्छ पतितऽव्रतिकैस्तथा
Food from women in menstruation, outcastes, foreigners, the fallen, and those not observing vows,
एभिर्दृष्टं च काकैश्च सूतिकान्नं च यद्भवेत्
Food seen by these, or by crows, and food from a woman who has just given birth,
क्रमात्कूष्मांडबृहतीतरुणीमूलकं तथा
In order: gourd, brhati, young radish root as well,
नारिकेलमलाबुं च पटोलं बृहतीफलम्
Coconut, bottle gourd, patola, and the fruit of brhati,
शाकान्येतानि वर्ज्यानि क्रमात्प्रतिपदादिषु
These vegetables are to be avoided in order, starting from the first day of the lunar fortnight,
कार्तिकव्रतिनः पुण्यं यथोक्तव्रतकारिणः
Those observing the Kartika vow, who perform the prescribed practices, gain merit,
श्रोतव्यं नेह भूयो मे विद्यते देवसत्तम
There is nothing further to be heard from me here, O best of gods,
तथापि भगवन्किंचित्प्रष्टव्यं मे हृदि स्थितम्
Yet, O Lord, there is still something in my heart that I wish to ask,
दीपदानस्य माहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते प्रभो
I wish to hear from you, O Lord, the greatness of offering lamps,
तेन पापानि नश्येयुस्तमांसीव भगोदये
By that, sins are destroyed, just as darkness is dispelled by the rise of the sun,
आजन्म यत्कृतं पापं स्त्रिया वा पुरुषेण च
Whatever sin has been committed since birth, by a woman or by a man,
अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम्
Here I shall relate to you an ancient story,
पुरा द्रविडदेशे तु ब्राह्मणो बुद्धनामकः
Long ago, in the land of Dravida, there was a brahmin named Buddha,
तस्याः संसर्गदोषेण क्षीणाऽऽयुर्मृतिमाप्तवान्
Because of the fault of his association with her, his lifespan was diminished and he met death,
रताभून्न हि तस्यास्तु लज्जा लोकापवादतः
She felt no shame in her attachment to him, due to fear of public reproach,
न संस्कारान्नमल्पं वा भुक्त्वा पर्युषिताशिनी ।। 2.4.7.
She did not eat food that was impure or insufficient, nor did she consume anything that was stale.
कथायाः श्रवणं चैव न श्रुतं तु तया द्विज
Nor did she listen to the recitation of the story, O twice-born one.