धात्री शांतिस्तथा कांतिर्माया प्रकृतिरेव च
Dhātrī, tranquility, beauty, Māyā, and Prakṛti as well.
इंदिरा लोकमाता च कल्याणी कमला तथा 2.4.12.
Indirā, the mother of the world, Kalyāṇī, and Kamalā likewise.
प्रज्ञां मेधां च सौभाग्यं विष्णुभक्तिं च देहि मे
Grant me wisdom, intelligence, good fortune, and devotion to Viṣṇu.
बलिप्रदानकाले तु ये कुर्वंति प्रदक्षिणम् 2.4.12.
At the time of offering, those who perform circumambulation.
तस्मात्त्वं कुरु विप्रेंद्र धात्रीस्नानं हि यत्नतः 2.4.12.
Therefore, O best of Brāhmins, perform the dhātrī bath with care.
धात्रीफलकृतां मालां कंठस्थां यो वहेन्नहि 2.4.12.
Whoever wears a garland made of dhātrī fruits around the neck.
धात्रीछायां समाश्रित्य कार्तिकेऽन्नं भुनक्ति यः
Whoever, relying on the shade of the dhātrī tree, eats food in the month of Kārtika.
हर्षोत्फुल्लाऽऽनना सत्या वासुदेवमथाऽब्रवीत्
With a face radiant with joy and truth, she spoke to Vāsudeva.
दानं व्रतं तपो वाऽपि किं नु पूर्वं कृतं मया
Was it charity, a vow, or austerity that I performed earlier?
येनाऽहं मर्त्यजा देव तवांगार्द्धहराऽभवम् तवाऽहं वल्लभा जाता तद्वदस्व ममाऽखिलम्
By which, O god, born from mortals, I became half of your body; I have become your beloved—tell me all of this.
पुण्यव्रतं कृतवती तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते
You performed a meritorious vow; I will tell you all of it.
आत्रेयो देवशर्मेति वेदवेदांगपारगः
Ātreya, known as Devaśarman, accomplished in the Vedas and their auxiliaries.
अपुत्रः स स्वशिष्याय चंद्रनाम्ने ददौ सुताम्
Being without a son, he gave his daughter in marriage to his disciple named Candra.
तौ कदाचिद्वनं यातौ कुशेध्माहरणार्थिनौ
Once, the two of them went to the forest to gather sacred firewood.
स्वस्वपुण्य प्रभावेन विष्णुलोकं गतावुभौ
By the power of their own merits, both attained the world of Vishnu.
पितृभर्तृजदुःखार्ता कारुण्यं पर्यदेवयत् 2.4.13.
Afflicted by the sorrow of losing her father and husband, she lamented in compassion.
तयोश्चक्रे यथाशक्ति पारलौकीं ततः क्रियाम्
She performed, as best as she could, the prescribed rites for the departed.
व्रतद्वयं तया सम्यगाजन्ममरणात्कृतम्
She properly observed two vows from birth to death.
इत्थं गुणवती सम्यक्प्रत्यब्द व्रतिनी ह्यभूत्
Thus, endowed with virtue, she became a steadfast observer of vows every year.
स्नातुं गंगां गता कांते कथंचिच्छनकैस्तदा
Once, she went to the Ganga to bathe, accompanied by a few companions.
तावत्सा विह्वलाऽपश्यद्विमानं यातमंबरात्
Then, overwhelmed, she saw a celestial chariot descending from the sky.
कार्तिकव्रतपुण्येन मत्सान्निध्यं गताऽभवत्
By the merit of observing the Kartika vow, she attained my presence.
आगतोऽहं गणाः सर्वे यातास्तेऽपि मया सह
I have arrived, and all the hosts have also come with me.
पिता ते देवशर्माऽभूत्सत्राजिदभिधो ह्ययम्
Your father was Devaśarman, also known as Satrājit.
कार्तिकव्रतपुण्येन बहु मत्प्रीतिदायिनी
By the merit of the Kartika vow, you have given me much delight.
तस्मादयं कल्पवृक्षस्तवांगणगतः शुभे 2.4.13.
Therefore, O auspicious one, this wish-fulfilling tree has appeared in your courtyard.
कदाचिदपि तेन त्वं मद्वियोगं न यास्यसि सत्योवाच मासानां तु कथं नाम स मासः कार्तिको वरः
By this, you will never experience separation from me, not even for a moment. But tell me, how is the month of Kartika so excellent among months?
प्रियस्ते देवदेवेश कारणं तत्र कथ्यताम् श्रीकृष्ण उवाच साधु पृष्टं त्वया कांते शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसा
Your beloved, the Lord of gods, is here; let the reason for this be told. Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Well asked, O beloved; listen with focused mind.
पृथोर्वैन्यस्य संवादं महर्षेर्नारदस्य च
Hear the conversation between King Pṛthu, son of Vena, and the great sage Nārada.
इन्द्रादिलोकपालानामधिकाराञ्जहार ह
He took away the authority of Indra and the other guardians of the worlds.