कलौ युगे विशेषेण पुराणश्रवणादृते पुराणश्रवणाद्विष्णोर्नास्ति संकीर्तनात्परम्
Especially in the Kali age, apart from hearing the Purāṇa, there is nothing higher than the recitation of Viṣṇu's Purāṇa.
य एतदूर्जमाहात्म्यं शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेदपि
Whoever hears or causes others to hear this greatness of Ūrja,
सर्वरोगापहं सर्वपापनाशकरं शुभम् ।। 2.4.36.
It removes all diseases, destroys all sins, and is auspicious.
श्रुत्वा चैकपदे यो वै अगम्यागमने रतः
Even one who is devoted to forbidden acts, upon hearing even a single verse,
माहात्म्यमेतदाकर्ण्य पूजयेद्यस्तु पाठकम्
Who, having heard this greatness, honors the reciter,
धर्मशास्त्रं पुराणं च वेदविद्यादिकं च यत् पुराणविद्यादातारो ह्यनंतफलभोगिनः
Those who give Dharmaśāstra, Purāṇa, or Vedic knowledge—such givers of Purāṇic wisdom enjoy endless rewards.
इदं यः पठते भक्त्या श्रुत्वा चैवाऽवधारयेत्
Whoever recites this with devotion and listens attentively,
न कस्याऽपीदमाख्येयं श्रद्धाहीनाय दुर्मतेः
This should not be told to anyone lacking faith or of wicked mind.
अपूजयित्वा गुरुमग्रबुद्ध्या धर्मप्रवक्तारमनन्यबुद्धिः
Without honoring the teacher, with a mind not devoted, one should not approach the expounder of dharma.
तस्मात्संपूजयेद्भक्त्या गुरुं तत्त्वावबोधकम्
Therefore, one should devotedly honor the teacher who reveals the truth.
न शक्यते हि संपूर्णं वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि
Indeed, it cannot be fully spoken even in a hundred years.
कार्तिकस्य तु माहात्म्यं यावद्वर्षशतं वदन्
Even if one speaks of the greatness of Kārtika for a hundred years,
पुत्रार्थी च धनार्थी च राज्यार्थी स्वफलं लभेत् 2.4.36.
One who desires sons, wealth, or kingdom attains his own desired result.
भूयोभूयो नमस्कृत्य ययौ यादृच्छिको मुनिः
Having bowed again and again, the sage departed as he wished.
कथितं शंकरेणाऽपि पुत्राय हितकाम्यया
This was also spoken by Śaṃkara to his son, out of desire for his welfare.
कृष्णेन सत्यभामायै कार्तिकस्य च वैभवः
Kṛṣṇa revealed the glory of Kārtika to Satyabhāmā.
ऋषयो वालखिल्येभ्यः श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
The sages, having heard the supreme greatness from the Vālakhilyas,
अधीत्य सर्वशास्त्राणि पयःसारमिवोद्धृतम्
Having studied all the scriptures, they extracted the essence as one would draw out the best from milk.
विरराम ततस्ते तु पूजां चक्रुस्तदास्य च
Then they ceased, and at that time performed worship for him.
ते पुनः स्वाश्रमं गत्वा हृष्टास्ते परमर्षयः
Those eminent sages, joyful, returned again to their hermitage.
अनेन विधिना ये वै कुर्वंति कार्तिकव्रतम्
Whoever performs the Kārtika vow according to this method,
व्यास उवाच उदियायोदयगिरौ शुचिप्रसृमरैः करैः
Vyāsa said: The sun rose on the mountain of sunrise, with rays pure and radiant.
संवर्धयन्सतां धर्मान्त्यक्कुर्वंस्तामसीं स्थितिम्
Nourishing the virtues of the good, he dispelled the state of darkness.
हव्यं कव्यं भूतबलिं देवादीनां प्रवर्तयन्
He set in motion offerings for gods and ancestors, as well as oblations for beings.
असतां हृदि वक्त्रेषु निर्दिशंस्तमसः स्थितिम्
Indicating the presence of darkness in the hearts and mouths of the wicked.
यस्मिन्नभ्युदिते जातः सम्यक्पुण्यजनोदयः
When he rises, there is a true emergence of virtuous people.
सायमस्तमितः प्रातः कथं जीवेद्रविः पुनः
When he sets in the evening and rises again in the morning, how could the sun live anew?
यामं भुक्त्वा तथाग्नेयीं ज्वलंतीं विरहादिव
Having consumed the fiery portion, blazing as if separated,
तांबूलीरागरक्तौष्ठीं द्राक्षास्तबकसुस्तनीम्
With lips reddened by betel and saffron, adorned with clusters of grapes,
मलयानिल निःश्वासां क्षीरोदकवरांबराम्
Breathing the breeze from Malaya, clad in garments of milk and water,