प्रयांत्यनेकाऽर्जितपातकानि व्रतस्य संदर्शयतोऽपि मुक्तिम्
Even for those who have committed many sins, the vow, when observed, grants liberation.
स्वस्य कर्तुमसामर्थ्यं कथमेतत्कृतं भवेत्
How can this be accomplished if one is unable to perform it oneself?
द्रव्यं दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय गृह्णीयात्फलमुत्तमम्
By giving wealth to a brāhmaṇa, one may obtain the highest fruit.
शिष्याद्वा भृत्यवर्गाद्वा स्त्रीभ्यो वाऽऽप्ताच्च कारयेत्
Or one may have it performed by a disciple, by servants, by women, or by relatives.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कौतुकं मम वर्तते
I wish to hear this; my curiosity is aroused.
येनोपायेन तद्वच्मि शृणुष्वैकमना द्विज
By what means, I will tell you; listen attentively, O twice-born.
सुकृतं वा दुष्कृतं वा कृतमेकेन यत्कृते
Whether good or bad, whatever is done by one for a certain purpose,
द्वापरे वंशमध्ये तु कलौ कर्तैव केवलम्
In Dvapara, it is within the lineage; in Kali, only the doer is affected.
अज्ञानाद्यच्च तारुण्ये बाल्ये तस्य फलं भवेत्
Whatever is done out of ignorance in youth or childhood, its fruit accrues to him.
षण्मासं पापिसंगेन नरः पापी प्रजायते
By association with the wicked for six months, a man becomes wicked.
भोजनादेकपंक्तौ च विंशांशः पुण्यपापयोः 2.4.30.
From eating in a single row, one receives a twentieth share of merit and demerit.
यो वै यस्यान्नमश्नाति स भुंक्ते तस्य किल्बिषम्
Whoever eats another's food partakes of that person's sin.
परस्य स्तवनाद्यानादेकपात्रस्थभोजनात्
From eating food placed in another's vessel, through praise or other means,
पुरुषो हरते सर्वं भार्याया औरसस्य च
A man takes on everything belonging to his wife and his own son.
भर्तुराज्ञाकरी नारी भर्तुरर्द्धं वृषं हरेत्
A woman who obeys her husband takes half of his merit.
वर्षाऽशनं तु यो दत्ते तदर्द्धाघस्य भागयम्
Whoever gives food during the rainy season receives half the share of the sin.
पुरोहितस्य षष्ठांशं पापं वा पुण्यमेव वा
Of the priest, a sixth part of sin or merit accrues.
उद्योगी चानुमन्ता च यश्चोपकरणप्रदः
The one who acts, the one who consents, and the one who provides the means,
यद्धस्तात्कार्यते कर्म नान्नमस्मै प्रयच्छति
Whatever action is performed by hand, but does not give food to him,
व्यवहारात्तथा प्रीत्या नित्यं संभाषणादिभिः
Through dealings, affection, and constant conversation, and the like,
संसर्गपुण्ययोगेन एकदन्तो द्विजाधमः 2.4.30.
By association with merit, the lowest among twice-born becomes single-tusked.
नारद उवाच ईदृशं कार्तिकव्रतमल्पायासं महत्फलम्
Nārada said: Such is the Kartika vow—little effort, great result.
धर्ममेवाऽनुतिष्ठंतः प्राप्नुवंति शुभां गतिम्
Those who practice only righteousness attain an auspicious state.
अधर्ममनुतिष्ठंतो यांति तेऽधोगतिं नराः
Those men who practice unrighteousness go to a lower state.
तयोः पालनकर्तारौ द्वावेव विधिना कृतौ
Of these two, the upholders of each have indeed been established by ordinance.
गुरुतल्पादयः पुत्राः कामस्य प्रथिता भुवि
Sons such as those who violate the teacher’s bed are renowned on earth as offspring of desire.
ब्रह्मस्वहरणाद्याश्च एते नरकनायकाः
And those who commit acts like stealing Brahman’s wealth are leaders among the dwellers in hell.
व्रतादिधर्मकृत्यं यैस्तैर्मुक्तास्ते हि कुर्वते
Those who are freed from vows and other righteous acts, they indeed act thus.
श्रद्धा मेधा विघातिन्यौ वर्तेते भुवि सर्वदा
Faith and intelligence, being obstructed, always exist in the world.
न करोति सुदुर्मेधा येनांधं याति वै तमः
He of very poor understanding does not act, by which he truly goes into utter darkness.