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,
तत्कर्णिकायां तु महाप्रकाशो देयो हि दीपः परया च भक्त्या
In its center, a great light should be offered, with supreme devotion.
अनंगलग्नं धवलं च वस्त्रं नवं सुरक्तं ह्यथवा सुशुक्लम्
A new, spotless, white or bright red cloth, or else pure white,
तच्छालिपिष्टोपरि संनिधाय यथा न निर्याति न कंपते च
Placing it upon rice flour so that it neither spills nor trembles,
दलेषु शोभार्थमतीव कुर्यान्मनोरथप्रत्युपलब्धये च
One should arrange it beautifully on the petals, for the sake of splendor and the fulfillment of desires.
संलिप्य भूमिं त्वथ गोमयेन पुनः सुगंधेन जलेन लिप्त्वा
Then, having smeared the ground with cow dung, again anointed it with fragrant water.
ततो जलं शीतलमानयित्वा आपूर्य चाष्टौ कलशांस्तु रम्यान्
After that, bringing cool water, he filled eight beautiful water pots.
मध्वाज्ययुक्ता दधिदुग्धपूर्णा नैर्ऋत्यकोणादथ दक्षिणांतम्
Filled with honey and ghee, curd and milk, from the southwest corner to the southern end.
प्रजापतिभ्यः क्रमशो हि भक्त्या प्रेतेभ्य इंद्राय तथा पितृभ्यः
With devotion, he offered them in order to the Prajapatis, to the departed, to Indra, and to the ancestors.
गावो हिरण्यं रजतं च वस्त्रं फलानि मूलानि यवाश्च धान्यम्
Cows, gold, silver, cloth, fruits, roots, barley, and grain—
विद्याधिकेभ्यो द्विजसत्तमेभ्यः पौराणिकेभ्यश्च तथा द्विजेभ्यः 5.1.30.
To the foremost twice-born who are learned, to those versed in the Puranas, and likewise to the Brahmins.