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.
तत्सर्वं लुब्धको दृष्ट्वा चौर्यार्थं समुपागतः
The hunter, who had come there with the intent to steal, saw all of this.
चंद्रशर्माणमाभाष्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Addressing Candraśarmā, he spoke these words:
राज्ञा सुकृतिना दत्तं व्योमदीपं मनोहरम्
A virtuous king gave a beautiful sky-lamp.
तैलं पीत्वा तु तत्पात्रं सदीपं तु मनोहरम्
After drinking the oil, that vessel along with the lovely lamp,
मार्जारोऽप्यागतस्तत्र ग्रहीतुं पक्षिपुंगवम्
A cat also came there to seize the foremost of birds.
त्वन्मुखात्कथ्यमानां हि कथां शुश्रुवतुः क्षणम्
For a moment, they both listened to the story being told by you.
तौ वृक्षात्पतितौ मृत्युं प्राप्तौ च क्षणमात्रतः
Those two fell from the tree and met death in but a moment.
तदाश्चर्यमहं दृष्ट्वा त्वां प्रष्टुं समुपागतः 2.4.7.
Seeing this wonder, I have come to question you.
तिर्यग्योनिसमापन्नौ मुक्तौ केन च कर्मणा
Having entered the animal womb, by what deed were they liberated?
शृणु लुब्ध प्रवक्ष्यामि तयोर्वृत्तांतमंजसा
Listen, greedy one, I will plainly tell you their story.