इदं व्रतं मया देव कृतं प्रीत्यै तव प्रभो
"O Lord, this vow has been performed by me for your pleasure."
रेवतीतुर्यचरणे द्वादशीसंयुते नरः 2.4.31.
On the twelfth day, joined with the Revati or Turyā lunar asterism, a man—
ततो येषां पदार्थानां वर्जनं तु कृतं भवेत् ततः सर्वं समश्नीयाद्यद्यत्त्यक्तं व्रते स्थितम्
Then, whatever things were renounced, one should eat all of them, whatever was given up during the vow.
दंपतिभ्यां सहैवाऽत्र भोक्तव्यं च द्विजैः सह
It should be eaten here together with one's spouse and along with the twice-born.
ततो भुक्त्युत्तरं यानि गलितानि दलानि च
Then, whatever leaves have fallen after the meal—
इक्षुदण्डं तथा धात्रीफलं कोलिफलं तथा
Sugarcane, as well as the fruit of the myrobalan and the fruit of the jujube—
एषु त्रिषु न भुक्तं चेदेकैकमपि येन तु
If any one of these three has not been eaten by someone—
ततः सायं पुनः पूज्याविक्षुदण्डैश्च शोभितैः
Then, in the evening, worship should again be performed, adorned with sugarcane stalks.
ततो विसर्जनं कृत्वा दत्त्वा दायादिकं हरेः मत्कृतं पूजनं गृह्य संतुष्टो भव सर्वदा
Then, after the dismissal, having given gifts and such to Hari, accept the worship I have performed and always be satisfied.
गच्छगच्छ सुरश्रेष्ठ स्वस्थाने परमेश्वर
Go, go, O best of gods, to your own abode, O Supreme Lord.
एवं विसृज्य देवेशमाचार्याय प्रदापयेत्
Thus, after dismissing the Lord of the gods, one should have it given to the teacher.
प्रतिवर्षं तु यः कुर्यात्तुलसीकरपीडनम् इहलोके परत्राऽपि विपुलं च यशो लभेत् ।। 2.4.31.
Whoever performs the pressing of the tulasī stalk every year, attains great fame in this world and the next.
एकादश्यां तु गृह्णीयाद्व्रतं पंचदिनात्मकम्
On the eleventh day, one should undertake a vow lasting five days.
शरपंजरसुप्तेन भीष्मेण तु महात्मना कथिता पांडुदायादैः कृष्णेनाऽपि श्रुतास्तदा
This was explained by the great-souled Bhishma, lying on the bed of arrows, and was heard at that time by the Pandavas and also by Krishna.
ततः प्रीतेन मनसा वासुदेवेन भाषितम्
Then, with a pleased mind, Vasudeva spoke.
एकादश्यां कार्तिकस्य याचितं च जलं त्वया
On the eleventh day of Kartika, you requested water.
तुष्टानि तव गात्राणि तस्मादद्यदिनावधि
Your limbs have been satisfied from that day onward.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मम संतुष्टिकारकम्
Therefore, by every effort, do that which brings satisfaction to me.
कार्तिकस्य व्रतं कृत्वा न कुर्याद्भीष्मपंचकम्
Having performed the vow of Kartika, one should not neglect the Bhishma Panchaka.
अशक्तश्चेन्नरो भूयादसमर्थश्च कार्तिके
If a man is unable or incapable during Kartika—
सत्यव्रताय शुचये गांगेयाय महात्मने
—to the truthful, pure, and great-souled son of Ganga—
सव्येनाऽनेन मंत्रेण तर्पणं सार्ववर्णिकम् ।। 2.4.32.
—with the left hand, using this mantra, one should offer libations for all classes.
व्रतांगत्वात्पूर्णिमायां प्रदेयः पापपूरुषः
Because it is part of the vow, on the full moon one should give away a sinful person.
यः पुत्रार्थं व्रतं कुर्यात्सस्त्रीको भीष्मपञ्चकम्
Whoever, desiring a son, performs the Bhishma Panchaka vow together with his wife—
अवश्यमेव कर्तव्यं तस्माद्भीष्मस्य पंचकम्
—must certainly perform the five days of Bhishma.
कार्तिकेयाय रुद्रेण पुरा प्रोक्तः सविस्तरात्
Long ago, Rudra explained this in detail to Kartikeya.
भीष्मेणैतद्यतः प्राप्तं व्रतं पञ्चदिनात्मकम्
This five-day vow was thus obtained from Bhishma.
सकाशाद्वासुदेवस्य तेनोक्तं भीष्मपञ्चकम्
From Vasudeva it was declared as the Bhishma Panchaka.
कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु शृणु धर्मं पुरातनम्
Now hear the ancient dharma for the bright fortnight of Kartika.
अम्बरीषेण भोगाद्यैश्चीर्णं त्रेतायुगादिषु
It was practiced by Ambarisha, with enjoyments and other means, in the early Treta Yuga.