कार्तिके कृष्णपत्रे तु द्वादश्यादिषु पंचसु
In the month of Kārtika, on the leaves of the Krishna tree, during the five days beginning with the twelfth day (Dvādaśī),
पक्षं संसूचयत्यादिर्द्वितीयो मासमेव च वर्षं तु पंचमो दीपः शुभाशुभं विनिर्णयेत्
the first lamp indicates the fortnight, the second the month itself; the fifth lamp reveals the year, and determines auspiciousness or inauspiciousness.
सूर्यांशसंभवा दीपा अंधकारविनाशकाः ।। 2.4.9.
The lamps, arising from the rays of the sun, are destroyers of darkness.
अभिमंत्र्य च मंत्रेण ततो नीराजयेत्क्रमात्
After consecrating them with a mantra, one should then perform the ritual waving of lights in due order.
आदौ देवांस्ततो विप्रान्हस्तिनश्च तुरंगमान्
First to the gods, then to the Brahmins, and then to the elephants and horses.
ततो नीराजितान्दीपान्स्वस्वस्थानेषु विन्यसेत् अतिरक्तेषु युद्धानि मृत्युः कृष्णशिखेषु च
After waving the lamps, one should place them in their respective places; if there are too many, there will be battles and death among those with dark wicks.
एकांगीनाम गोपाला तयैतच्च व्रतं कृतम्
Among the cowherds, this vow was performed by Ekāṅginī.
* तस्माद्गोपूजनं कार्यं द्वादश्यां कार्तिकस्य तु
Therefore, the worship of cows should be performed on the twelfth day of Kārtika.
ते गोव्रतप्रभावेन न गोभिर्विच्युता भुवि
By the power of this vow for the cows, they were never separated from their cows on earth.
दीपोत्सव समीपे तु व्रतमेतत्समाचरेत्
Near the festival of lamps, one should observe this vow.
प्रातः स्नात्वा त्रयोदश्यां कृत्वा वै दंतधावनम्
On the morning of the thirteenth day, after bathing and brushing the teeth,
कार्य एतद्व्रतस्यांते तथा गोवर्द्धनोत्सवः
At the end of this vow, the festival of Govardhana should likewise be performed.
आश्विनस्याऽसिते पक्षे त्रयोदश्यां निशामुखे 2.4.9.
In the dark fortnight of Āśvina, on the thirteenth day, at the beginning of the night,
पुरा हेमनकस्यैव बालकश्चाऽपमृत्युतः
Long ago, the son of Hemanaka died an untimely death.
दूता ऊचुः यथा न जीविताद्भ्रश्येदीदृशे तु महोत्सवे
The messengers said: So that he may not fall from life during such a great festival,
आश्विनस्याऽसिते पक्षे त्रयोदश्यां निशामुखे
In the dark fortnight of Āśvina, on the thirteenth day, at the beginning of the night,
मन्त्रेणाऽनेन भो दूताः समानेयः स नोत्सवे
With this mantra, O messengers, he should be brought to the festival.
मृत्युना पाशदंडाभ्यां कालेन च मया सह
By Yama, with the noose and staff, by Time, and by me together.
मन्त्रेणानेन यो दीपं द्वारदेशे प्रयच्छति
Whoever offers a lamp at the doorway with this mantra,
पक्षे प्रत्यूषसमये स्नानं कुर्यात्प्रयत्नतः
Should carefully bathe at dawn during the fortnight.
अरुणोदयतोऽन्यत्र रिक्तायां स्नाति यो नरः
If a man bathes at any time other than sunrise, or on a day devoid of merit,
तथा कृष्णचतुर्दश्यामाश्विनेऽर्कोदये सुराः
Likewise, on the dark fourteenth day in the month of Ashvina, at sunrise, the gods—
यदा चतुर्दशी न स्याद्द्विदिने चेद्विधूदये 2.4.9.
When the fourteenth day does not occur, but if it falls on two days, then at moonrise.
बलात्काराद्धठाद्वाऽपि शिष्टत्वान्न करोति चेत्
If one does not perform it due to force or deceit, or because of being a learned person,
तैले लक्ष्मीर्जले गंगा दीपावल्याश्चतुर्दशीम्
Lakshmi is in oil, Ganga is in water, and the fourteenth day belongs to the festival of lamps.
अपामार्गमथो तुंबीं प्रपुन्नाडमथाऽपरम्
Apamarga, then gourd, prapunnada, and another,
वारत्रयं त्रिवारं च पठित्वा मन्त्रमुत्तमम्
Recite the excellent mantra three times, for three days.
सीतालोष्टसमायुक्त सकंटकदलान्वित अपामार्गं प्रपुन्नाडं भ्रामयेच्छिरसोपरि
With clay and stones, together with thorny banana, place apamarga and prapunnada, and circle them over the head.
स्नात्वार्द्रवाससा दद्याद्दीपकं मृत्युपुत्रयोः तुष्टौ स्यातां चतुर्दश्यां दीपदानेन मृत्युजौ
After bathing, wearing wet clothes, one should give a lamp to the sons of Death; on the fourteenth day, by giving a lamp, the two sons of Death are pleased.
इष्टवंधुजनैः सार्द्धमेतत्स्नानं समाचरेत्
This bathing should be performed together with beloved relatives.