देवशर्मा इति प्रोक्तो देवद्रव्याऽपहारकः
He was called Devaśarman, a thief of divine property.
तस्मिन्देवालये प्राप्तं तैलं द्रव्यादिकं तथा
In that temple, he took oil and other goods as well.
आयुर्नीत्वैवमेवाऽसौ ततः पंचत्वमागतः
Having spent his life thus, he then met his end.
निरुच्छ्वासं तथा प्राप्य असिपत्रवनं क्रमात्
Having become breathless, he gradually reached the sword-leaf forest.
अनुभूय च तान्सर्वान्ब्रह्मराक्षसतां गतः
After experiencing all those things, he became a Brahmarākṣasa.
एवं जन्मशतं प्राप्य भूमौ मार्जारतां गतः निर्मुक्ताऽखिलपापस्तु अगमद्धरिमंदिरम्
After obtaining a hundred births in this way, he became a cat on earth; freed from all sins, he reached the abode of Hari.
गृध्रोऽयं तु पुरा विप्रो मिथिले वेदपारगः
This vulture was formerly a learned Brāhmaṇa in Mithilā.
दासीसंगं चकारासौ वेश्यासंगं तथैव च 2.4.7.
He consorted with a maidservant, and likewise with a courtesan.
कुंभीपाके महाघोरे स्थित्वा युगचतुष्टयम्
He remained in the dreadful Kumbhīpāka hell for four ages.
दैवेन चोदितो गृध्रस्तैलपानार्थमागतः
Urged by fate, the vulture came for the sake of drinking oil.
दत्त्वा चाकाशदीपं च श्रुत्वा चैव हरेः कथाम्
Having offered the sky-lamp and listened to the story of Hari,
इत्येतत्सर्वमाख्यातं लुब्ध गच्छ यथासुखम्
All this has been told to you; greedy one, go as you please.
व्रतं चाकाशदीपस्य चकार विधिवन्मुने
He performed the vow of the sky-lamp according to the prescribed rule, O sage.
सुनंदोपि महाराज आश्चर्यं समुपागतः
And Sunanda too, O great king, was filled with wonder.
प्रातः स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कार्तिके मासि वै नृपः
In the month of Kārtika, the king, having bathed in the morning and become pure,
रात्रौ दद्याद्व्योमदीपं मंत्रेणानेन वै नृपः
At night, the king should offer the sky-lamp with this mantra.
दामोदराय विश्वाय विश्वरूपधराय च निर्विघ्नं कुरु देवेश यावन्मासः समाप्यते
"To Dāmodara, the all-pervading, the one who assumes all forms—O lord of gods, let this be without obstacle until the month is complete."
व्रतेनाऽनेन देवेश त्वयि भक्तिः प्रवर्द्धताम् 2.4.7.
"By this vow, O lord of gods, may devotion to you increase."
ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते च पुनर्व्योमदीपं ददाति हि
Again, at the Brāhma-muhūrta, he offers the sky-lamp.
उत्सर्गस्य विधिं कृत्वा व्योम्नि दीपं समाप्य च
Having performed the rite of release and completed the sky-lamp in the sky,
तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन स राजा मुनिसत्तम
By the power of that merit, O best of sages, that king
सुपुत्रपौत्रस्वजनैर्बुभुजे सह भार्यया
Enjoyed happiness with good sons, grandsons, relatives, and his wife.
स्त्रीभिः सह समारुह्य मोक्षमार्गं गतो मुने
Ascending the path of liberation together with women, O sage, he went.
विष्णुलोके विष्णुरिव प्रोच्यमानः सदाऽमरैः
In the world of Viṣṇu, always praised by the immortals, he was like Viṣṇu.
तस्मात्तु कार्तिके मासि मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम्
Therefore, in the month of Kārtika, having attained the rare human birth,
दास्यंति ये कार्तिकमासि मर्त्या व्योमप्रदीपं हरितुष्टयेऽत्र
Those mortals who offer the sky-lamp to please Hari in the month of Kārtika—
अथाऽन्यच्च प्रवक्ष्यामि व्योमदीपस्य वैभवम्
Now I shall tell you further of the glory of the sky-lamp.
आकाशादीपदानं तु कुर्वंतु ऋषिसत्तमाः ।। 2.4.7.
Let the best of sages perform the offering of the sky-lamp.
मन्त्रेणाऽनेन ये मर्त्याः पितृभ्यः खे तु दीपकम् उत्तमां गतिमित्थं ते दीपदानं मयेरितम् ।। 2.4.7.
Those mortals who, with this mantra, offer a lamp to the ancestors in the sky—such is the supreme attainment; thus I have declared the giving of a lamp.
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादीनां भवनेषु विशेषतः
Especially in the abodes of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others—