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.
चन्द्रशर्माख्यविप्रस्य वचनात्कार्तिके सुधीः
By the words of a wise brāhmaṇa named Candraśarmā, during Kārtika—
दीपं दत्त्वा महाभक्त्या अशृणोच्च कथां निशि
He offered a lamp with great devotion and listened to a story at night.
राज्ञा दत्तं व्योमदीपं पश्यन्क्षणमतिष्ठत
He stood for a moment, watching the sky-lamp that had been offered by the king.
शीघ्रमागत्य जग्राह तैलपात्रं सदीपकम्
Quickly approaching, he took the oil vessel along with the lamp.
तत्र पीत्वा तु तैलं च दीपं स्थाप्य स पक्षिराट्
There, having drunk the oil, the king of birds set the lamp down.
तदानीं दैवयोगेन ग्रहीतुं पक्षिसत्तमम्
At that moment, by divine arrangement, someone came to seize that excellent bird.
तदग्रे मुखदीपं च पश्यन्क्षणमतिष्ठत
In front of him, seeing the lamp at the mouth, he stood for a moment.
राज्ञे सुकृतिनाम्ने च तौ वै शुश्रुवतुः क्षणम् 2.4.7.
For a moment, both of them listened to the king named Sukṛtin.
मार्जारो जगृहे तत्र शाखामतरगतं खगम्
A cat seized the bird that had gone onto a branch there.
भग्नगात्रौ मृतौ तत्र पक्षिमार्जारकौ भुवि
There, the bird and the cat, their limbs broken, died on the ground.