दीपाग्निना विना नैव तमोदारु प्रदह्यते
Without the fire of a lamp, darkness cannot be burned away.
पप्रच्छुस्ते पुनः सर्वे हृष्टा दामोदरं विभुम्
Then all of them, delighted, questioned the mighty Damodara again.
घोरे तमसि वै मग्ना नाग्निं जानीमहे वयम्
Sunk in dreadful darkness, we do not know fire.
तेन दीपं प्रतिज्वाल्य देवाः शिवपरायणाः
With that, the gods devoted to Shiva kindled the lamp.
दत्ते दीपे ततो देवैर्दृष्टो हृष्टो महेश्वरः
When the lamp was given, then the delighted Maheshvara was seen by the gods.
ततो देवाः सुखं प्रापुः स्वर्गे सेन्द्रपुरोगमाः
Then the gods, with Indra at their head, attained happiness in heaven.
दीपदानफलं ज्ञात्वा दैतेयाश्चापि विस्मिताः
Knowing the fruit of giving lamps, even the Daityas were amazed.
पूजयित्वा महादेवं पुष्पैश्च निर्मलैर्जलैः
Having worshipped Mahadeva with pure flowers and waters,
स्वस्थाने चाभवन्सर्वे दीपदानाच्च शोभनाः
All remained in their own places, and the giving of lamps brought beauty.
निराहारास्ततो व्यास पिशाचा वै निराश्रयाः 5.1.30.
Then, O Vyasa, the ghosts became without sustenance and without shelter.
चंडालादग्निमानीय ददुर्दीपं शिवे रताः ।। । दीपदानफलं ते वै पुत्रदारसमन्विताः
The outcastes, bringing fire, offered lamps, devoted to Shiva; the fruit of giving lamps was theirs, together with sons and wives.
लीढमन्नं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं तथा
They ate food that was licked, tasteless, rotten, and stale.
भुंजानास्ते सदा हृष्टा रमंते दुष्टभूमिषु
They always eat, delighted, and enjoy themselves in impure places.
दीपदानफलं ज्ञात्वा ददुर्दीपं शिवाग्रतः
Knowing the fruit of giving lamps, they offered lamps before Shiva.
स्थानेषु मुदितास्तेषु रमंते सुखिनस्तदा
In those places, they were joyful and happy, enjoying themselves.
ततो घोरं स्थितं सम्यक्प्रेतलोकेषु सर्वदा
Then, a terrible state always prevailed in the realm of the departed.
दामोदरं जगन्नाथमूचुः सर्वे सुरोत्तमाः
All the excellent gods spoke to Damodara, Lord of the Universe.
गंधर्वाश्च तथा यक्षाः सिद्धा विद्याधरोरगाः
The Gandharvas, Yakshas, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, and serpents also spoke.
स्थानेषु च सदा ह्येषु सुखिनश्च रमामहे
In these places, we are always happy and enjoy ourselves.
वसंति च जगन्नाथ वर्तंते तेऽतिदुःखिताः 5.1.30.
But, O Lord of the Universe, those who dwell there remain extremely miserable.
न तेषां विद्यते किंचिद्यत्प्रकाशं करोति च
For them, nothing exists that brings illumination.
न सहायो न जायेयं नालंबो न च देशिकाः
There is no companion, no spouse, no support, and no guides.
तत्राष्टाविंशतिः ख्याता घोरा नरककोटयः
There, twenty-eight dreadful hells are renowned.
सुखं तत्र कथं कृष्ण लभंते दुःखिता नराः
How, O Krishna, can those suffering people find happiness there?
उवाच वचनं हृद्यं मनोरथफलप्रदम्
He spoke words that were pleasing and granted the fruits of desire.
शृणुध्वं त्रिदशाः सर्वे यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि वो वचः
Hear, all you gods, what I am about to say to you.
अवंत्यां वर्तते तीर्थं सद्यः पापहरं परम्
In Avanti there exists a sacred place that instantly removes even the gravest sins.
कार्तिकस्यासिते पक्षे चतुर्दश्यां समाहितः
With focused mind, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Kārtika,
संगृह्य वै तिलान्कृष्णान्पितृभक्तो जितेंद्रियः
One who, devoted to the ancestors and self-controlled, gathers black sesame seeds,
अपसव्यं तथा कृत्वा मंत्रैः संतर्प येद्यमम् 5.1.30.
And, turning to the left, offers them with mantras to Yama,