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,
वैवस्वताय कालाय दक्षाय मनवे तथा
To Vaivasvata, Kāla, Dakṣa, and Manu as well,
हरये रविपुत्राय कालिंदीसोदराय च
To Hara, to the son of the Sun, and to the brother of Kālindī,
मंत्रैरेभिर्नमःप्रोक्तैरोंकाराद्यैः सुशोभनैः
With these mantras, beginning with 'salutation' and the sacred syllable Oṃ, most auspicious,
संतर्पयेद्यमं देवं तिलपात्रं समाहितः
With concentrated mind, one should satisfy the god Yama with a vessel of sesame seeds.
अनेन विधिना यस्तु संतर्पयेद्यमं विभुम्
Whoever, by this method, satisfies the mighty Yama,
रात्रिं तत्राथ संप्राप्य मानवः कामसंयुतः
After spending the night there, the person, filled with desire,
नमः सूर्याय रुद्राय कालांतपतये नमः
Salutation to Sūrya, to Rudra, to the lord of the end of time, salutation.
कार्तिकं हि समग्रं तु वर्धंते तस्य संपदः
Indeed, throughout the month of Kārtika, his prosperity increases.
दिवाकराह्नेऽस्तमिते च सूर्ये दीपस्य वर्त्तिं पुरुष प्रमाणाम्
At sunset, when the sun has set at midday, the wick of the lamp should be of a man's length,
निक्षिप्य भूमावथ हस्तमात्रं मूर्ध्नि द्विहस्ताष्टदलान्वितस्य 5.1.30.
Then, placing it on the ground, measuring a hand's length, and on the head, two hands, adorned with eight petals,