The Rules of the Kartika Vow

Verse 1 (padma.4.21.1)

शौनक उवाच । कथयस्व मुने सूत सर्वमासोत्तमस्य च । कार्तिकस्य विधिं सम्यङ्नियमान्वक्तुमर्हसि ।

śaunaka uvāca kathayasva mune sūta sarvamāsottamasya ca kārtikasya vidhiṁ samyaṅniyamānvaktumarhasi

Shaunaka said: O sage Suta, tell me properly the rule of Kartika, best of all months; you should relate its observances as well.

Verse 2 (padma.4.21.2)

सूत उवाच । आश्विनस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ पौर्णमास्यां समाहितः । कार्तिकस्य व्रतं कुर्याद्यावदुद्बोधिनी भवेत् ।

sūta uvāca āśvinasya dvijaśreṣṭha paurṇamāsyāṁ samāhitaḥ kārtikasya vrataṁ kuryādyāvadudbodhinī bhavet

Suta said: O best of Brahmins, beginning attentively from the full-moon day of Ashvina, one should observe the vow of Kartika until the day of the Prabodhini Ekadashi.

Verse 3 (padma.4.21.3)

दिवा विप्र नरः कुर्यान्मलमूत्रमुदङ्मुखः । भवेन्मौनी च सर्वज्ञ रात्रौ चेद्दक्षिणामुखः ।

divā vipra naraḥ kuryānmalamūtramudaṅmukhaḥ bhavenmaunī ca sarvajña rātrau ceddakṣiṇāmukhaḥ

During the day, O Brahmin, a man should relieve himself facing north, and should keep silent, O all-knowing one; if at night, he should face south.

Verse 4 (padma.4.21.4)

पथ्यंभसि च गोष्ठेषु श्मशाने वल्मिके द्विज । कुर्यादुत्सर्जनं नैव व्रती मूत्रपुरीषयोः ।

pathyaṁbhasi ca goṣṭheṣu śmaśāne valmike dvija kuryādutsarjanaṁ naiva vratī mūtrapurīṣayoḥ

On a path, in water, in a cow-shed, in a cremation ground, or on an anthill, O Brahmin, the vow-observer should never relieve himself.

Verse 5 (padma.4.21.5)

अत्युत्तमेषु स्थानेषु मलमूत्रं न कारयेत् । शुद्धां मृदं गृहीत्वाथ वामं प्रक्षालयेत्करम् ।

atyuttameṣu sthāneṣu malamūtraṁ na kārayet śuddhāṁ mṛdaṁ gṛhītvātha vāmaṁ prakṣālayetkaram

In the most sacred places, one should never relieve oneself. Taking pure clay, one should wash the left hand.

Verse 6 (padma.4.21.6)

अद्भिर्मृदापि शुद्ध्यर्थं पूर्वं विंशतिसंख्यया । एका लिंगे गुदे पंच तथा वामकरे दश ।

adbhirmṛdāpi śuddhyarthaṁ pūrvaṁ viṁśatisaṁkhyayā ekā liṁge gude paṁca tathā vāmakare daśa

For purification with water and clay, clay should first be applied twenty times — once on the genital, five times on the anus, then ten times on the left hand,

Verse 7 (padma.4.21.7)

उभयोर्दश दातव्या पादयोश्च त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः । मुखशुद्धिं ततः कुर्य्यात्संकल्पं स्नपनस्य च ।

ubhayordaśa dātavyā pādayośca tribhistribhiḥ mukhaśuddhiṁ tataḥ kuryyātsaṁkalpaṁ snapanasya ca

ten times on both hands together, and three times on each foot. Then one should purify the mouth and make the resolve for the bath.

Verse 8 (padma.4.21.8)

हृदि दामोदरं ध्यात्वा इमं मंत्रं ततो वदेत् । कार्तिकेहं करिष्यामि प्रातःस्नानं जनार्द्दन ।

hṛdi dāmodaraṁ dhyātvā imaṁ maṁtraṁ tato vadet kārtikehaṁ kariṣyāmi prātaḥsnānaṁ janārddana

Meditating upon Damodara in the heart, one should then recite this mantra: "O Janardana, I shall perform my morning bath in Kartika,"

Verse 9 (padma.4.21.9)

दामोदरस्य प्रीत्यर्थं राधया पापनाशनं । नमः पंकजनाभाय श्रीकृष्णजलशायिने ।

dāmodarasya prītyarthaṁ rādhayā pāpanāśanaṁ namaḥ paṁkajanābhāya śrīkṛṣṇajalaśāyine

"— for the pleasure of Damodara, together with Radha, destroying sin. Salutations to the lotus-naveled one, salutations to Shri Krishna who reclines upon the waters."

Verse 10 (padma.4.21.10)

नमस्ते राधया सार्द्धं गृहाणार्घं प्रसीद मे । स्नानं कुर्य्यात्ततो विप्र तिलकं तु यथाविधि ।

namaste rādhayā sārddhaṁ gṛhāṇārghaṁ prasīda me snānaṁ kuryyāttato vipra tilakaṁ tu yathāvidhi

"Salutations to you, together with Radha; accept my offering and be gracious to me." Then, O Brahmin, one should bathe, and apply the tilaka mark according to rule.

Verse 11 (padma.4.21.11)

ऊर्ध्वपुंड्रविहीनस्तु किंचित्कर्मकरोति यः । निष्फलं कर्म तत्सर्वं सत्यमेतन्मयोच्यते ।

ūrdhvapuṁḍravihīnastu kiṁcitkarmakaroti yaḥ niṣphalaṁ karma tatsarvaṁ satyametanmayocyate

Whatever act a man performs without the vertical urdhva-pundra mark, that entire act becomes fruitless — this I say truly.

Verse 12 (padma.4.21.12)

यच्छरीरं मनुष्याणामूर्ध्वपुंड्रं विना कृतम् । तद्दर्शनं न कर्तव्यं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यं निरीक्षयेत् ।

yaccharīraṁ manuṣyāṇāmūrdhvapuṁḍraṁ vinā kṛtam taddarśanaṁ na kartavyaṁ dṛṣṭvā sūryaṁ nirīkṣayet

One should not look upon the body of a man made without the urdhva-pundra mark; if it is inadvertently seen, one should then gaze at the sun.

Verse 13 (padma.4.21.13)

ऊर्ध्वपुंड्रं मृदा शुभ्रं ललाटे यस्य दृश्यते । चांडालोऽपि विशुद्धात्मा पूज्य एव न संशयः । अच्छिद्रमूर्ध्वपुंड्रं तु ये कुर्वंति नराधमाः ।

ūrdhvapuṁḍraṁ mṛdā śubhraṁ lalāṭe yasya dṛśyate cāṁḍālo'pi viśuddhātmā pūjya eva na saṁśayaḥ acchidramūrdhvapuṁḍraṁ tu ye kurvaṁti narādhamāḥ

Whoever bears upon his forehead the white urdhva-pundra mark made of clay — even a Chandala, his soul thereby purified, is truly worthy of worship, without doubt. But whatever base men wear this mark flawed and improperly drawn bear, without doubt, upon their foreheads what is, in effect, the inauspicious mark of a dog's footprint.

Verse 14 (padma.4.21.14)

तेषां ललाटे सततं शुनःपादो न संशयः । प्रातःकालोदितं कर्म्म समाप्य हरिवल्लभाम् ।

teṣāṁ lalāṭe satataṁ śunaḥpādo na saṁśayaḥ prātaḥkāloditaṁ karmma samāpya harivallabhām

Having completed the rites enjoined for the morning, O Brahmin, one should worship with devotion the sin-destroying tulasi, so dear to Hari.

Verse 15 (padma.4.21.15)

पूजयेद्भक्तितो विप्र तुलसीं पापनाशिनीम् । पौराणीं तु कथां श्रुत्वा श्रीहरेः स्थिरमानसः ।

pūjayedbhaktito vipra tulasīṁ pāpanāśinīm paurāṇīṁ tu kathāṁ śrutvā śrīhareḥ sthiramānasaḥ

Having heard a Puranic tale, his mind fixed steadily upon Shri Hari, the vow-observer should then worship a Brahmin duly, with devotion.

Verse 16 (padma.4.21.16)

ततो विप्रं व्रती भक्त्या पूजयेत्तं यथाविधि । परासनं परान्नं च परशय्यां परांगनाम् ।

tato vipraṁ vratī bhaktyā pūjayettaṁ yathāvidhi parāsanaṁ parānnaṁ ca paraśayyāṁ parāṁganām

Another's seat, another's food, another's bed, and another's wife —

Verse 17 (padma.4.21.17)

सर्वदा वर्जयेद्विप्र कार्त्तिके च विशेषतः । सौवीरकं तथा माषानामिषं च तथा मधु ।

sarvadā varjayedvipra kārttike ca viśeṣataḥ sauvīrakaṁ tathā māṣānāmiṣaṁ ca tathā madhu

— these should always be avoided, O Brahmin, especially in Kartika. Sour gruel, black lentils, meat, and honey,

Verse 18 (padma.4.21.18)

राजमाषादिकं नित्यं वर्जयेत्कार्तिके व्रती । जंबीरमामिषं चूर्णमन्नं पर्य्युषितं द्विज ।

rājamāṣādikaṁ nityaṁ varjayetkārtike vratī jaṁbīramāmiṣaṁ cūrṇamannaṁ paryyuṣitaṁ dvija

large beans and the like, the vow-observer should always avoid in Kartika. Citron, meat, ground flour, and stale food, O Brahmin,

Verse 19 (padma.4.21.19)

धान्ये मसूरिका प्रोक्ता गवां दुग्धमनामिषम् । लवणं भूमिजं विप्र प्राण्यङ्गमामिषं खलु ।

dhānye masūrikā proktā gavāṁ dugdhamanāmiṣam lavaṇaṁ bhūmijaṁ vipra prāṇyaṅgamāmiṣaṁ khalu

among grains, lentils too are forbidden; cow's milk is not considered meat. Salt drawn from the earth, O Brahmin — but the flesh of any living being is indeed meat.

Verse 20 (padma.4.21.20)

द्विजक्रीता रसाः सर्वे जलं चाल्पसरः स्थितम् । ब्रह्मचर्यं तुर्यकाले पत्रावल्यां च भोजनम् ।

dvijakrītā rasāḥ sarve jalaṁ cālpasaraḥ sthitam brahmacaryaṁ turyakāle patrāvalyāṁ ca bhojanam

All prepared juices and extracts, and water standing in a small pool, should also be avoided. Observing celibacy, one should eat once a day, from a leaf-plate —

Verse 21 (padma.4.21.21)

कुर्याद्वै द्विजशार्दूल तैलाभ्यंगं च वर्जयेत् । छत्राकं नालिकं हिंगुं पलांडुं पूतिकादलम् ।

kuryādvai dvijaśārdūla tailābhyaṁgaṁ ca varjayet chatrākaṁ nālikaṁ hiṁguṁ palāṁḍuṁ pūtikādalam

— thus, O tiger among Brahmins, and one should give up oiling the body. Mushrooms, lotus-stalks, asafoetida, onion, the leaf of the putika plant,

Verse 22 (padma.4.21.22)

लशुनं मूलकं शिग्रुं तथैव तुंबिकाफलम् । कपित्थं चैव वृंताकं कूष्मांडं कांस्यभोजनम् ।

laśunaṁ mūlakaṁ śigruṁ tathaiva tuṁbikāphalam kapitthaṁ caiva vṛṁtākaṁ kūṣmāṁḍaṁ kāṁsyabhojanam

garlic, radish, drumstick, and likewise bottle-gourd, wood-apple, brinjal, pumpkin, and eating from bronze vessels,

Verse 23 (padma.4.21.23)

द्विपाचितं सूतिकान्नं मत्स्यं शय्यां रजस्वलाम् । द्विस्त्रिश्चान्नं स्त्रियः संगं वर्जयेत्कार्तिकव्रती ।

dvipācitaṁ sūtikānnaṁ matsyaṁ śayyāṁ rajasvalām dvistriścānnaṁ striyaḥ saṁgaṁ varjayetkārtikavratī

food cooked twice, food touched by childbirth-impurity, fish, a bed touched by a menstruating woman, eating two or three times a day, and the company of women — the Kartika vow-observer should avoid all these.

Verse 24 (padma.4.21.24)

धात्रीफलं गृही विप्र रवौ तत्सर्वदा त्यजेत् । कूष्मांडे धनहानिः स्यात्बृहत्यां न स्मरेद्धरिम् ।

dhātrīphalaṁ gṛhī vipra ravau tatsarvadā tyajet kūṣmāṁḍe dhanahāniḥ syātbṛhatyāṁ na smareddharim

A householder, O Brahmin, should always give up amla on Sundays. Eating pumpkin brings loss of wealth; eating a certain brinjal (brihati) causes one to fail to remember Hari.

Verse 25 (padma.4.21.25)

पटोले तु न वृद्धिः स्याद्बलहानिश्च मूलके । कलंकी जायते बिल्वे तिर्यग्योनिश्च निंबुके ।

paṭole tu na vṛddhiḥ syādbalahāniśca mūlake kalaṁkī jāyate bilve tiryagyoniśca niṁbuke

Eating snake-gourd brings no growth or increase, and eating radish causes loss of strength. Eating bael fruit brings disgrace, and eating citron leads to birth in an animal womb.

Verse 26 (padma.4.21.26)

ताले शरीरनाशः स्यान्नारिकेले च मूर्खता । तुंबी गोमांसतुल्या स्याद्गोवधं स्यात्कलिंदके ।

tāle śarīranāśaḥ syānnārikele ca mūrkhatā tuṁbī gomāṁsatulyā syādgovadhaṁ syātkaliṁdake

Eating palm-fruit brings ruin to the body, and eating coconut brings foolishness. Bottle-gourd is equal in sin to beef, and eating watermelon is equal to cow-slaughter.

Verse 27 (padma.4.21.27)

शिंबी पापकरा प्रोक्ता पूतिका ब्रह्मघातिका । वार्ताक्यां सुतनाशः स्याच्चिररोगी च माषके ।

śiṁbī pāpakarā proktā pūtikā brahmaghātikā vārtākyāṁ sutanāśaḥ syāccirarogī ca māṣake

Beans are said to bring sin; putika is said to be equal to the killing of a Brahmin. Eating brinjal brings the loss of one's children, and eating black gram brings chronic illness.

Verse 28 (padma.4.21.28)

मांसे च बहुपापं स्याद्वर्जयेत्प्रतिपदादिषु । यत्किंचिद्वर्जयेद्योऽन्नं श्रीहरे प्रीतये द्विज ।

māṁse ca bahupāpaṁ syādvarjayetpratipadādiṣu yatkiṁcidvarjayedyo'nnaṁ śrīhare prītaye dvija

In meat there is very great sin; it should be given up from the first day of the fortnight onward. O Brahmin, whatever food the vow-observer gives up for the pleasure of Shri Hari,

Verse 29 (padma.4.21.29)

तत्पुनर्भूसुरे दत्वा व्रतांते तस्य भोजनम् । कार्तिकव्रतिनं विप्र यथोक्तकारिणं नरम् ।

tatpunarbhūsure datvā vratāṁte tasya bhojanam kārtikavratinaṁ vipra yathoktakāriṇaṁ naram

— he should offer it to a Brahmin at the vow's end, and only then eat it himself. O Brahmin, whatever man observes the Kartika vow exactly as prescribed —

Verse 30 (padma.4.21.30)

यमदूताः पलायंते सिंहं दृष्ट्वा यथा गजाः । श्रेष्ठं विष्णुव्रतं विप्र तत्तुल्या न शतं मखाः ।

yamadūtāḥ palāyaṁte siṁhaṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā gajāḥ śreṣṭhaṁ viṣṇuvrataṁ vipra tattulyā na śataṁ makhāḥ

— Yama's messengers flee from him just as elephants flee at the sight of a lion. O Brahmin, this supreme vow of Vishnu is not equaled even by a hundred sacrifices.

Verse 31 (padma.4.21.31)

कृत्वा क्रतुं व्रजेत्स्वर्गं वैकुंठं कार्तिकव्रती । यत्किंचिद्दुष्कृतं विप्र मनोवाक्कायकर्मजम् ।

kṛtvā kratuṁ vrajetsvargaṁ vaikuṁṭhaṁ kārtikavratī yatkiṁcidduṣkṛtaṁ vipra manovākkāyakarmajam

Having performed this vow, the Kartika vow-observer goes to heaven, to Vaikuntha. O Brahmin, whatever evil deed has been committed by mind, speech, or body,

Verse 32 (padma.4.21.32)

दृष्ट्वा तु विलयं याति कार्तिकव्रतिनं क्षणात् । कार्त्तिकव्रतिनः पुण्यं ब्रह्मा चैव चतुर्मुखः ।

dṛṣṭvā tu vilayaṁ yāti kārtikavratinaṁ kṣaṇāt kārttikavratinaḥ puṇyaṁ brahmā caiva caturmukhaḥ

is destroyed the very instant it beholds the Kartika vow-observer. The merit of the Kartika vow-observer —

Verse 33 (padma.4.21.33)

न समर्थो भवेद्वक्तुं यथोक्तव्रतकारिणः । यत्कृत्वा कलुषं सर्वं व्रजेद्विप्र दशो दिशः ।

na samartho bhavedvaktuṁ yathoktavratakāriṇaḥ yatkṛtvā kaluṣaṁ sarvaṁ vrajedvipra daśo diśaḥ

— even four-faced Brahma is unable to fully describe, of one who performs the vow exactly as prescribed. Every accumulated sin, O Brahmin, flees in all ten directions, thinking —

Verse 34 (padma.4.21.34)

क्व गच्छामि क्व तिष्ठामि कार्त्तिकव्रतिनो भयात् । पौर्णमास्यां यथाशक्ति चान्नवस्त्रादिकं द्विज ।

kva gacchāmi kva tiṣṭhāmi kārttikavratino bhayāt paurṇamāsyāṁ yathāśakti cānnavastrādikaṁ dvija

"— Where shall I go, where shall I stay?" — out of fear of the Kartika vow-observer. On the full-moon day, according to one's ability, food, clothing, and the like, O Brahmin,

Verse 35 (padma.4.21.35)

दद्याद्वै श्रीहरेः प्रीत्यै ब्राह्मणानपि भोजयेत् । रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यान्नृत्यगीतादिभिर्व्रती । य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या तस्य पापं प्रणश्यति ।

dadyādvai śrīhareḥ prītyai brāhmaṇānapi bhojayet rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryānnṛtyagītādibhirvratī ya idaṁ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā tasya pāpaṁ praṇaśyati

— should be given for the pleasure of Shri Hari, and Brahmins should be fed as well. At night the vow-observer should keep vigil with dance, song, and the like. Whoever hears this with devotion — his sin is destroyed.