पितृवित्तक्षयकरो वंशच्छेदे कुठारकः
He caused the loss of his father's wealth and was an axe that cut down his lineage.
हारितं दुष्टसंसर्गात्ततो दुःखी स चाऽभवत्
He was ruined by association with the wicked, and thus became miserable.
अयोध्यामागतो वत्से महापापकरो द्विजः
That Brahmin, a perpetrator of great sins, came to Ayodhya, O child.
द्यूतव्याजेन तेनाऽऽशु दीपो दत्तो हरेः पुरः
By means of gambling, he quickly offered a lamp before Hari.
महापातककृद्वाऽपि गतवानभयं हरिम्
Even though he committed great sins, he attained fearlessness from Hari.
तथाऽन्यान्यपि दानानि कुरु भक्तिसमन्विता
In the same way, perform other acts of charity, accompanied by devotion.
साऽपि कुत्सवचः श्रुत्वा पश्चात्तापेन संयुता
She too, upon hearing words of reproach, was filled with remorse.
पतंगोदयवेलायां कार्तिके स्नानमंभसि 2.4.7.
At the time of sunrise, during Kartika, she bathed in the water.
ततः कालांतरे चैव गतायुर्मृतिमागता
Then, after some time, her lifespan ended and death arrived.
स्वर्गमार्गं गता सा स्त्री काले मोक्षमवाप ह
That woman attained the path to heaven and, in time, achieved liberation.
कार्तिके दीपदानं तु महापुण्यफलप्रदम्
Giving lamps in Kartika grants the reward of great merit.
दीपदानस्येतिहासं शृण्वन्वै मोक्षमाप्नुयात्
One who listens to the story of lamp-giving indeed attains liberation.
दीपदानस्य माहात्म्यं वक्तुं केनेह शक्यते
Who here is able to speak of the greatness of lamp-giving?
स्वस्याऽपि शक्तिराहित्ये परस्याऽपि प्रबोधनम्
Even lacking one's own ability, one may awaken another.
दीपार्थं वर्तिकां तैलं पात्रं वा यो ददाति हि
Whoever gives a wick, oil, or vessel for the sake of a lamp,
स तु मोक्षमवाप्नोति नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा
He indeed attains liberation; there should be no doubt about this.
स्वस्यापि शक्तिराहित्ये परदीपं प्रबोधयेत्
Even lacking one's own ability, one should kindle another's lamp.
वेश्या चेन्दुमतीनाम तस्या गेहेऽथ मूषिका 2.4.7.
There was a courtesan named Indumati, and in her house, a mouse.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन परदीपं प्रबोधयेत्
Therefore, with all effort, one should kindle another's lamp.
परदीपप्रबबोधस्य फलमीदृग्विधं मुने
O sage, the fruit of kindling another's lamp is of such a kind.
परदीप प्रबोधस्य माहात्म्यमपि वै श्रुतम्
The greatness of kindling another's lamp has also been heard.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण दीपदाने मतिर्भवेत्
By merely hearing, one may develop the intention for lamp-giving.
संप्राप्ते कार्तिके मासि प्रातःस्नानपरायणः
When the month of Kartika arrives, one devoted to bathing in the morning,
सर्वलोकाधिपो भूत्वा सर्वसंपत्समन्वितः
Becomes the lord of all worlds, endowed with every prosperity.
स्नानदानक्रियापूर्वं हरिमंदिरमस्तके कार्तिके शुद्धपूर्णायां विधिनोत्सर्जयेच्च तम्
Before bathing, giving gifts, and performing rites, one should ritually release it at the top of Hari’s temple on the pure full-moon night of Kārtika.
यः करोति विधानेन कार्तिके व्योम्नि दीपकम्
Whoever, according to the prescribed method, lights a lamp in the sky during Kārtika—
अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम्
Here I shall recount to you an ancient legend about this.
पुरा तु निष्ठुरोनाम लुब्धको लोककंटकः 2.4.7.
Long ago, there was a cruel hunter named Niṣṭhura, a tormentor of people.
वने चरन्मृगान्सर्वान्हत्वा वृत्तिमकल्पयत्
Roaming the forest, he made his living by killing all the animals.
कंचिद्ग्रामं जगामाशु चौर्यार्थं कार्तिके मुने
In the month of Kārtika, O sage, he quickly went to a certain village with the intent to steal.