यत्किंचित्कुरुते पुण्यं धात्रीछायासु मानवः
Whatever meritorious act a person performs in the shade of the dhātrī tree,
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Here they recount an ancient legend as an example.
अयोध्यानगरे कश्चिद्वैश्यश्चासीद्विजोत्तम 2.4.12.
In the city of Ayodhyā, O best of the twice-born, there was a certain merchant.
भिक्षया चोदराग्निं स शमयामास नारद
By alms, he appeased the fire of his hunger, O Nārada.
भिक्षाप्तचणकान्गृह्य धात्रीछायामगात्किल
Having obtained chickpeas as alms, he went to the shade of the dhātrī tree, it is said.
केचिदुर्वरितास्तेपु चणकास्तत्र नारद
Some of those chickpeas were unripe, O Nārada.
तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन राजाऽऽसीद्धनिकः क्षितौ
By the power of that merit, he became a wealthy king on earth.
धात्रीवने मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये यः शृणोति स पापेभ्यो मुच्यते द्विजसूनुवत्
O best of sages, whoever listens to this in the dhātrī grove for the attainment of all desires and aims is freed from sins, like the son of a twice-born.
नारद उवाच कोऽभूद्द्विजसुतो ब्रह्मन्किं पापं कृतवान्पुरा
Nārada said: Who was the son of a twice-born, O Brahman? What sin did he commit before?
देवशर्मेति विख्यातो वेदवेदांगपारगः
He was renowned as Devaśarman, accomplished in the Vedas and their auxiliaries.
इदानीं कार्तिको मासो वर्तते हरिवल्लभः
Now the month of Kārtika, beloved of Hari, is present.
तुलसीपुष्पसहितां कुरुपूजां हरेः सुत 2.4.12.
Perform worship of Hari accompanied by Tulasī flowers, O son of Kuru.
एवं पितुर्वचः श्रुत्वा पुत्रः क्रोधसमन्वितः
Hearing his father's words in this way, the son became filled with anger.
इति पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा सक्रोधः प्राह तं सुतम्
Hearing his son's words, he too spoke to his son with anger.
मूषको भव दुर्बुद्धे वने वृक्षस्य कोटरे
Become a mouse, O wicked-minded one, in the hollow of a tree in the forest.
दुर्योनेर्मम मुक्तिः स्यात्कथं तद्वद मे गुरो
How can there be liberation for me, born in a low womb? Tell me that, O teacher.
यदोर्ज्जव्रतजं पुण्यं शृणोषि हरिवल्लभम्
Listen to the merit arising from Urjja-vrata, beloved of Hari.
स पित्रा चैवमुक्तस्तु तत्क्षणान्मूषकोऽभवत्
Thus addressed by his father, he immediately became a mouse.
एकदा कार्तिके मासि विश्वामित्रः सशिष्यकः
Once, in the month of Kārtika, Viśvāmitra, together with his disciples,
कथयामास माहात्म्यं शिष्येभ्यश्चोर्ज्जसंभवम्
began to recount to his disciples the greatness that arises from Urjja.
दृष्ट्वा ऋषिगणान्हंतुं कृतेच्छः प्राणिघातकः
Seeing the groups of sages, the killer of living beings desired to slay them.
अथोवाच द्विजान्नत्वा भवद्भिः क्रियतेऽत्र किम् 2.4.12.
Then, bowing to the twice-born, he said: 'What are you doing here?'
विश्वामित्र उवाच सर्वेषामेव मासानां कार्तिकः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते
Viśvāmitra said: 'Of all the months, Kārtika is declared the best.'
कार्तिके मासि यः कुर्यात्स्नानं दानं च पूजनम्
Whoever performs bathing, charity, and worship in the month of Kārtika—
व्याधप्रयुक्तमाकर्ण्य धर्मं च ऋषिणा द्विजः
Hearing the dharma spoken by the sage, even the twice-born affected by disease—
विश्वामित्रं प्रणम्याथ स्ववृत्तांतं निवेद्य च
Then, bowing to Viśvāmitra and recounting his own story,
विस्मितो गाधिपुत्रस्तु व्याधश्चैव विशेषतः
The son of Gādhi was astonished, and especially the hunter.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्तिके केशवाऽग्रतः
Therefore, with all effort, in Kārtika, before Keśava—
मूषकोऽपि च दुर्योनेर्मुक्त ऊर्जकथाश्रुतेः
Even a mouse, born in a low womb, is freed by hearing the account of the amalaki's power.
धात्रीछायां समाश्रित्य वनभोजनमाचरेत् कृत्वा कर्माणि नित्यानि माधवं पूजयेत्ततः
One should take shelter under the shade of the amalaki tree and partake of forest food; having performed daily duties, one should then worship Mādhava.