तावद्गर्जति सेनानीर्गंगा भागीरथी क्षितौ
So long does the commander of the army, Ganga Bhagirathi, roar upon the earth.
तावद्गर्जंति तीर्थानि आसमुद्रसरांसि वै
So long do the holy places and all the lakes up to the ocean resound.
अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च
A thousand horse sacrifices and hundreds of Rajasuya sacrifices,
दुर्लभं चैव दुष्प्राप्यं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
That which is rare and difficult to attain in the three worlds, among all beings moving and unmoving,
ऐश्वर्यं संततिं ज्ञानं राज्यं च सुखसंपदः
Sovereignty, progeny, knowledge, kingdom, and happiness with prosperity—
मेरुमंदरतुल्यानि पापान्युपार्जितानि च
Sins accumulated as great as Mount Meru and Mandara,
उपवासं प्रबोधिन्यां यः करोति स्वभावतः
Whoever naturally observes the fast on Prabodhini,
पूर्वजन्मसहस्रेषु पापं यत्समुपार्जितम्
The sin accumulated over thousands of previous births,
शृणु षण्मुख वक्ष्यामि जागरस्य च लक्षणम् 2.4.33.
Listen, O six-faced one, I will describe the characteristics of the night vigil.
फलमर्घ्यं च श्रद्धा च दानमिंद्रियसंयमम्
Offering of fruits, arghya, faith, charity, and restraint of the senses—
साश्चर्यं चैव प्रोत्साहमालस्यादिविवर्जितम्
Along with wonder and enthusiasm, free from laziness and the like,
नीराजनसमायुक्तमनिर्विण्णेन चेतसा
With a mind engaged in waving lights and not dejected,
एतैर्गुणैः समायुक्तं कुर्याज्जागरणं विभोः
One should perform the night vigil for the Lord, endowed with these qualities.
य एवं कुरुते भक्त्या वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः
Whoever does thus with devotion, free from miserliness regarding wealth,
पुरुषसूक्तेन यो नित्यं कार्तिकेऽथार्चयेद्धरिम्
Whoever always worships Hari in the month of Kārtika with the Purusha Sūkta,
यथोक्तेन विधानेन पंचरात्रोदितेन वै
According to the prescribed method as stated in the Pañcarātra,
नमो नारायणायेति कार्तिके योर्चयेद्धरिम्
Or worships Hari in Kārtika with the words 'Salutations to Nārāyaṇa',
हरेर्नामसहस्रं च गजराजस्य मोक्षणम् 2.4.33.
Recites the thousand names of Hari and the deliverance of the king of elephants,
युगकोटिसहस्राणि मन्वंतरशतानि च
For thousands of crores of yugas and hundreds of manvantaras,
कुले तस्य च ये जाताः शतशोथ सहस्रशः
All those born in his lineage, by the hundreds and thousands,
कार्तिके पश्चिमे यामे स्तवं गानं करोति यः
Whoever, in the last watch of the night in Kārtika, performs hymn-singing,
नैवेद्यदानं हरये कार्तिके दिनसंक्षये
And offers food to Hari at the end of the day in Kārtika,
अक्षयं मुनिशार्दूल मालतीकमलार्चनम्
O best of sages, the worship with mālatī and lotus flowers is inexhaustible in merit.
कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु कृत्वा ह्येकादशीं नरः
In the bright fortnight of Kārtika, if a man observes the Ekādaśī fast,
अत्रैव तु प्रकर्तव्यः प्रबोधस्तु हरेः खग
On this very occasion, O bird, the awakening of Hari should be performed.
एकादश्यां ततो विष्णुश्चातुर्मास्ये प्रसुप्तवान्
On Ekādaśī, then, Viṣṇu, during Cāturmāsya, had lain asleep.
अतः प्रबोधनं कार्यमेकादश्यां तु वैष्णवैः उत्तिष्ठ कमलाकांत त्रैलोक्यं मंगलं कुरु
Therefore, the awakening should be done by Vaiṣṇavas on Ekādaśī: 'Arise, O beloved of Lakṣmī, bring auspiciousness to the three worlds.'
इत्युक्त्वा शंखभेर्यादि प्रातःकाले तु वादयेत् 2.4.33.
Having said this, one should sound the conch, kettle-drum, and other instruments in the morning.
उत्थापयित्वा देवेशं पूजां तस्य विधाय च
After awakening the Lord of the gods and performing his worship,
सर्वदैकादशी पुण्या विशेषात्कार्तिकी स्मृता
Every Ekādaśī is meritorious, but Kārtikī is considered especially so.