इषासितचतुर्दश्यामिन्दुक्षयतिथावपि
On the fourteenth day with the moon waning, even on the lunar day of the moon's decline,
कुर्यात्संलग्नमेतच्च दीपोत्सवदिनत्रयम्
One should perform this ritual in conjunction with the three days of the festival of lamps.
वरं याचस्व भद्रं ते यद्यन्मनसि वर्तते 2.4.9.
Ask for a boon, may it be auspicious for you, whatever is in your mind.
आत्मार्थं किं याचनीयं सर्वं दत्तं मया तथा
What is there to ask for oneself? I have already given everything.
मयाऽद्य ते धरा दत्ता वामनच्छद्मरूपिणे
Today I have given you the earth, to the one who appears as the dwarf, covered in a cloak.
तस्माद्भूमितले राज्यमस्तु घस्रत्रये हरे
Therefore, may the kingdom on the earth belong to Hari for three fortnights.
मद्राज्ये ये दीपदानं भुवि कुर्वंति मानवाः
Those people in my kingdom who offer lamps on the earth,
मम राज्ये गृहे यैषामंधकारः पतिष्यति
In my kingdom, in the house of those whose darkness will fall,
चतुर्दश्यां च ये दीपान्नरकाय ददंति च
And those who give lamp food to the ancestors on the fourteenth day,
बलिराज्यं समासाद्य यैर्न दीपावलिः कृता
Those who, having obtained the kingdom of Bali, did not celebrate the festival of lamps,
बलिराज्ये तु ये लोकाः शोकाऽनुत्साहकारिणः
But those people in the kingdom of Bali who cause sorrow and discouragement,
चतुर्दशीत्रये राज्यं बलेरस्त्विति याचयेत् ददावतिथयेंद्राय बलिं पातालवासिनम्
One should request that the kingdom of Bali be for three fourteenth days, and offer Bali, the resident of the netherworld, to Indra, the guest.
दत्तं दैत्यपतेरित्थं हरिणा तद्दिनत्रयम् 2.4.9.
Thus, for three days, the lord of the demons was given by Hari.
महारात्रिः समुत्पन्ना चतुर्दश्यां मुनीश्वराः
The great night arose on the fourteenth day, O best of sages.
बलिराज्यं समासाद्य यक्षगंधर्वकिन्नराः
Having attained the kingdom of Bali, the Yakshas, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras—
सर्व एव प्रहृष्यंति नृत्यंति च निशामुखे
All of them rejoice and dance at the approach of night.
बलिराज्यं समासाद्य यथा लोकाः सुहर्षिताः
Just as the worlds are filled with joy upon attaining the reign of Bali—
तुलासंस्थे सहस्रांशौ प्रदोषे भूतदर्शयोः
When the thousand-rayed one stands in Libra, at dusk, in the presence of beings.
नरकस्थास्तु ये प्रेतास्ते मार्गं तु व्रतात्सदा
Those departed souls who dwell in Naraka always follow the path of observance.
आश्विने मासि भूतादितिथयः कीर्तितास्त्रयः
In the month of Ashvina, three lunar days beginning with Bhuta are declared.
यदि स्युः संगवादर्वागेताश्च तिथयस्त्रयः
If these three lunar days occur together or separately—
कौमोदिन्यास्तु माहात्म्यं प्रष्टुमिच्छामहे द्विजाः
We wish to ask, O twice-born, about the greatness of Kaumodini.
किमर्थं क्रियते सा तु तस्याः का देवता भवेत् 2.4.9.
For what purpose is it performed, and who is its presiding deity?
प्रहर्षः कोऽत्र निर्दिष्टः क्रीडा काऽत्र प्रकीर्तिता
What joy is indicated here, and what play is mentioned in this context?
स्नात्वा देवान्पितॄन्भक्त्या संपूज्याऽथ प्रणम्य च
Having bathed, one should worship the gods and ancestors with devotion, and then bow to them.
कृत्वा तु पार्वणश्राद्धं दधिक्षीरघृतादिभिः
After performing the Parvana Shraddha with curd, milk, ghee, and similar offerings—
ततः प्रदोषसमये पूजयेदिंदिरां शुभाम्
Then, at the time of dusk, one should worship the auspicious Indira.
नानापुष्पैः पल्लवैश्च चित्रैश्चाऽपि विचित्रितम्
With various flowers, leaves, and also with diverse and splendid decorations.
संपूज्या देवनार्योऽपि वहुभिश्चोपचारकैः
One should worship the divine ladies as well, with many kinds of offerings.
अस्मिन्नहनि सर्वेऽपि विष्णुना मोचिताः पुरा
On this day, all were once liberated by Vishnu.