Kartikeya's Questions and the Fourfold Bath

Verse 1 (padma.6.117.1)

सूत उवाच। इति सर्वं समाकर्ण्य सत्राजितसुता तदा । हरेर्वाक्यं महाभागा सत्या वचनमब्रवीत्

sūta uvāca iti sarvaṁ samākarṇya satrājitasutā tadā harervākyaṁ mahābhāgā satyā vacanamabravīt

Sūta said: Having heard all this, the illustrious daughter of Satrajit, Satya [Satyabhama], having heard Hari's words, then spoke as follows.

Verse 2 (padma.6.117.2)

सत्योवाच। कार्तिकस्य च माहात्म्यं न श्रुतं विस्तरात्प्रभो । सर्वेषामेव मासानां कार्तिकः प्रवरः कथम्

satyovāca kārtikasya ca māhātmyaṁ na śrutaṁ vistarātprabho sarveṣāmeva māsānāṁ kārtikaḥ pravaraḥ katham

Satya said: O Lord, I have not heard the glory of Kartika in full detail — how is it that Kartika is the most excellent of all the months?

Verse 3 (padma.6.117.3)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच। साधु पृष्टं त्वया सत्ये कार्तिकव्रतमादरात् । शौनकाय पुरा प्रोक्तं सूतेन सुमहात्मना

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā satye kārtikavratamādarāt śaunakāya purā proktaṁ sūtena sumahātmanā

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Well have you asked, O Satya, out of reverence, about the Kartika vow. This was once told to Shaunaka by the great-souled Sūta.

Verse 4 (padma.6.117.4)

सूत उवाच। श्रूयतां तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि एतत्प्रश्नोत्तरं शुभम् । ईश्वरेण पुरा प्रोक्तं पृच्छते षण्मुखाय वै

sūta uvāca śrūyatāṁ tatpravakṣyāmi etatpraśnottaraṁ śubham īśvareṇa purā proktaṁ pṛcchate ṣaṇmukhāya vai

Sūta said: Listen, I shall tell it — this auspicious question and answer, once spoken by Ishvara [Shiva] to the six-faced [Kartikeya] who had asked.

Verse 5 (padma.6.117.5)

कार्तिकेय उवाच। बहूनि पद्मनाभस्य रहस्यानि श्रुतानि च । यथा हि प्रोच्यमानानि वैष्णवेन त्वया प्रभो

kārtikeya uvāca bahūni padmanābhasya rahasyāni śrutāni ca yathā hi procyamānāni vaiṣṇavena tvayā prabho

Kartikeya said: I have heard many secrets of Padmanabha [Vishnu] as they have been spoken by you, O Lord, who are yourself devoted to Vishnu.

Verse 6 (padma.6.117.6)

संसारसागरे प्राप्ता दुःखोरुलहरीवृते । तेषामुत्तारणार्थाय कथयस्व प्रयत्नतः

saṁsārasāgare prāptā duḥkhorulaharīvṛte teṣāmuttāraṇārthāya kathayasva prayatnataḥ

For the sake of carrying across those who are caught in the ocean of worldly existence, surrounded by great waves of suffering, please tell me with care —

Verse 7 (padma.6.117.7)

कार्तिकस्य विधिश्चैव स्नानस्य वदतां वर । येन दुःखांबुधिं तात संतरिष्यंति मानवाः

kārtikasya vidhiścaiva snānasya vadatāṁ vara yena duḥkhāṁbudhiṁ tāta saṁtariṣyaṁti mānavāḥ

— O best of speakers, the rite of Kartika and of bathing, by which, O father, men shall cross over the ocean of suffering.

Verse 8 (padma.6.117.8)

फलं वैष्णवधर्मस्य कथयस्व सुविस्तरम् । येन धर्मप्रभावेन पदं गच्छति वैष्णवम्

phalaṁ vaiṣṇavadharmasya kathayasva suvistaram yena dharmaprabhāvena padaṁ gacchati vaiṣṇavam

Tell me at length the fruit of the Vaishnava dharma, by whose power one attains the abode of Vishnu.

Verse 9 (padma.6.117.9)

दीपदानस्य माहात्म्यं मुनिपुष्पस्य सुव्रत । गोपीचंदनमाहात्म्यं तुलस्यास्तु तथा विभो

dīpadānasya māhātmyaṁ munipuṣpasya suvrata gopīcaṁdanamāhātmyaṁ tulasyāstu tathā vibho

O you of good vows, tell me the glory of giving lamps, of the muni-flower, and, O Lord, the glory of gopichandana and of tulasi.

Verse 10 (padma.6.117.10)

मालतीपुष्पमाहात्म्यं वारिजानां तथा वद । धात्रीफलानां माहात्म्यं तथा दमनकस्य च

mālatīpuṣpamāhātmyaṁ vārijānāṁ tathā vada dhātrīphalānāṁ māhātmyaṁ tathā damanakasya ca

Tell also the glory of the malati flower and of lotuses, the glory of amla (dhatri) fruits, and of the damanaka plant.

Verse 11 (padma.6.117.11)

केतकीपुष्पमाहात्म्यं नैवेद्यस्य परंतप । तीर्थोदकस्य माहात्म्यं माघस्नानफलं विभो

ketakīpuṣpamāhātmyaṁ naivedyasya paraṁtapa tīrthodakasya māhātmyaṁ māghasnānaphalaṁ vibho

O scorcher of foes, tell the glory of the ketaki flower, of food-offerings, the glory of sacred waters, and the fruit of the Magha bath, O Lord.

Verse 12 (padma.6.117.12)

फलं ब्रूहि सुरश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मपत्रेषु भोजनात् । नीराजनफलं स्थाणो परदीपप्रवेधनात्

phalaṁ brūhi suraśreṣṭha brahmapatreṣu bhojanāt nīrājanaphalaṁ sthāṇo paradīpapravedhanāt

Tell me, O foremost of gods, the fruit of eating from leaf-plates, O Sthanu, the fruit of the lamp-waving rite, and of lighting another's lamp.

Verse 13 (padma.6.117.13)

पुष्करक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं शूकरस्य तथा विभो । शालग्रामस्य माहात्म्यं स्वस्तिकस्य विधानकम्

puṣkarakṣetramāhātmyaṁ śūkarasya tathā vibho śālagrāmasya māhātmyaṁ svastikasya vidhānakam

The glory of the sacred field of Pushkara, and likewise, O Lord, of Shukara-kshetra; the glory of the Shaligrama stone, and the rite of the svastika.

Verse 14 (padma.6.117.14)

दानानां च फलं ब्रूहि परान्नस्य च वर्जनात् । मासोपवासस्य फलं खट्वाया मोक्षणाद्विभो

dānānāṁ ca phalaṁ brūhi parānnasya ca varjanāt māsopavāsasya phalaṁ khaṭvāyā mokṣaṇādvibho

Tell me the fruit of gifts, and of abstaining from another's food; the fruit of fasting for a month, and, O Lord, of giving up one's bed [sleeping on the ground].

Verse 15 (padma.6.117.15)

दीपावल्याश्च माहात्म्यं प्रबोधिन्याश्च सुव्रत । पंचभीष्मस्यमाहात्म्यं कथयस्व सुविस्तरात्

dīpāvalyāśca māhātmyaṁ prabodhinyāśca suvrata paṁcabhīṣmasyamāhātmyaṁ kathayasva suvistarāt

O you of good vows, tell at length the glory of Diwali and of Prabodhini [Ekadashi], and the glory of the Five [rites offered to] Bhishma.

Verse 16 (padma.6.117.16)

ईश्वर उवाच। साधु पृष्टं त्वया वत्स लोकोद्धरणहेतवे । कथयामि न संदेहस्त्वत्समो नास्ति वैष्णवः

īśvara uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā vatsa lokoddharaṇahetave kathayāmi na saṁdehastvatsamo nāsti vaiṣṇavaḥ

Ishvara said: Well have you asked, my child, for the sake of the deliverance of the worlds; I shall tell you — there is no doubt that there is no Vaishnava equal to you.

Verse 17 (padma.6.117.17)

सत्पुत्रेण त्वया वत्स तारितोऽहं न संशयः । निश्चला केशवे भक्तिस्त्वयि तिष्ठति सर्वदा

satputreṇa tvayā vatsa tārito'haṁ na saṁśayaḥ niścalā keśave bhaktistvayi tiṣṭhati sarvadā

By you, my good son, I myself am carried across, without doubt; unwavering devotion to Keshava [Vishnu] ever abides in you.

Verse 18 (padma.6.117.18)

नरेभ्यो वैष्णवं धर्मं यो ददाति द्विजोत्तमः । ससागरमही दाने तत्पुण्यं लभते हि सः

narebhyo vaiṣṇavaṁ dharmaṁ yo dadāti dvijottamaḥ sasāgaramahī dāne tatpuṇyaṁ labhate hi saḥ

That best of brahmins who imparts the Vaishnava dharma to other men truly obtains the merit of giving away the earth together with its oceans.

Verse 19 (padma.6.117.19)

कार्तिकस्य च मासस्य कोट्यंशेनापि नार्हति । एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वदानानि चैकतः

kārtikasya ca māsasya koṭyaṁśenāpi nārhati ekataḥ sarvatīrthāni sarvadānāni caikataḥ

[Even that merit,] a ten-millionth part of it, does not equal [the merit of] the month of Kartika. On the one side all the tirthas and all gifts;

Verse 20 (padma.6.117.20)

एकतो गोप्रदानानि सर्वे यज्ञाः सदक्षिणाः । एकतः पुष्करे वासं कुरुक्षेत्रे हिमालये

ekato gopradānāni sarve yajñāḥ sadakṣiṇāḥ ekataḥ puṣkare vāsaṁ kurukṣetre himālaye

— on the one side the gift of cows, and all sacrifices together with their fees; on the one side dwelling at Pushkara, at Kurukshetra, in the Himalayas;

Verse 21 (padma.6.117.21)

एकतो मथुरातीर्थे वाराणस्यां च शूकरे । एकतः कार्तिको वत्स सर्वदा केशवप्रियः

ekato mathurātīrthe vārāṇasyāṁ ca śūkare ekataḥ kārtiko vatsa sarvadā keśavapriyaḥ

— on the one side at the tirtha of Mathura, at Varanasi, and at Shukara-kshetra — and on the other side alone, my child, Kartika, ever dear to Keshava.

Verse 22 (padma.6.117.22)

सूत उवाच। इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूल पुनर्वाक्यं जगौ हरः । कार्तिकस्नानमाहात्म्यं कथयिष्ये सुविस्तरात्

sūta uvāca ityuktvā muniśārdūla punarvākyaṁ jagau haraḥ kārtikasnānamāhātmyaṁ kathayiṣye suvistarāt

Sūta said: Having said this, O tiger among sages, Hara spoke again: "I shall tell at length the glory of the Kartika bath."

Verse 23 (padma.6.117.23)

ईश्वर उवाच। ब्राह्मं कृतयुगं प्रोक्तं त्रेता तु क्षत्रियं स्वयम् । द्वापरं वैश्यमित्याहुः शूद्रं कलियुगं स्मृतम्

īśvara uvāca brāhmaṁ kṛtayugaṁ proktaṁ tretā tu kṣatriyaṁ svayam dvāparaṁ vaiśyamityāhuḥ śūdraṁ kaliyugaṁ smṛtam

Ishvara said: The Krita Yuga is declared to be Brahmin [in nature], the Treta itself is said to be Kshatriya; the Dvapara they call Vaishya, and the Kali Yuga is remembered as Shudra.

Verse 24 (padma.6.117.24)

कलौ वत्स मनुष्याणां शैथिल्यं स्नानकर्मणि । तथापि कथयिष्यामि स्नानं कार्तिकमाघयोः

kalau vatsa manuṣyāṇāṁ śaithilyaṁ snānakarmaṇi tathāpi kathayiṣyāmi snānaṁ kārtikamāghayoḥ

In the Kali age, my child, men grow lax in the observance of bathing; nevertheless I shall tell of the bathing in Kartika and Magha.

Verse 25 (padma.6.117.25)

यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ न वाङ्मनश्च सुसंयतम् । विद्या तपश्च कीर्तिश्च स तीर्थफलभाङ्नरः

yasya hastau ca pādau na vāṅmanaśca susaṁyatam vidyā tapaśca kīrtiśca sa tīrthaphalabhāṅnaraḥ

That man whose hands and feet, whose speech and mind, are not well restrained, and who lacks learning, austerity, and good repute — such a man does not share in the fruit of the sacred tirtha.

Verse 26 (padma.6.117.26)

अश्रद्दधानः पापात्मा नास्तिकश्छिन्नमानसः । हेतुवादी च पंचैते न तीर्थफलभागिनः

aśraddadhānaḥ pāpātmā nāstikaśchinnamānasaḥ hetuvādī ca paṁcaite na tīrthaphalabhāginaḥ

The faithless, the sinful of soul, the atheist, the one of distracted mind, and the mere logic-chopper — these five do not share in the fruit of the tirtha.

Verse 27 (padma.6.117.27)

प्रातरुत्थाय यो विप्रस्तीर्थस्नायी सदा भवेत् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति

prātarutthāya yo viprastīrthasnāyī sadā bhavet sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ paraṁ brahmādhigacchati

That brahmin who, rising in the morning, ever bathes in sacred waters, becomes freed from all sin and attains the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 28 (padma.6.117.28)

स्नानं चतुर्विधं प्रोक्तं स्नानविद्भिः षडानन । वायव्यं वारुणं दिव्यं ब्राह्मं चेति तथा स्मृतम्

snānaṁ caturvidhaṁ proktaṁ snānavidbhiḥ ṣaḍānana vāyavyaṁ vāruṇaṁ divyaṁ brāhmaṁ ceti tathā smṛtam

O six-faced one, bathing is declared by those who know its science to be fourfold: it is remembered as Vayavya [wind-bath], Varuna [water-bath], Divya [celestial], and Brahma [mantra-bath].

Verse 29 (padma.6.117.29)

वायव्यं गोरजः स्नानं वारुणं सागरादिषु । ब्राह्म्य ब्राह्मणमंत्रोक्तं दिव्यं मेघांबु भास्करम्

vāyavyaṁ gorajaḥ snānaṁ vāruṇaṁ sāgarādiṣu brāhmya brāhmaṇamaṁtroktaṁ divyaṁ meghāṁbu bhāskaram

Vayavya is bathing in the dust raised by cows; Varuna is bathing in the ocean and the like; the Brahma bath is that declared through brahmin mantras; the Divya bath is bathing in rain-water while the sun still shines.

Verse 30 (padma.6.117.30)

स्नानानां चैव सर्वेषां विशिष्टं तत्र वारुणम् । ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यो मंत्रवत्स्नानमाचरेत्

snānānāṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ viśiṣṭaṁ tatra vāruṇam brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyo maṁtravatsnānamācaret

Among all these forms of bathing, the Varuna bath is there declared the most excellent. A brahmin, kshatriya, or vaishya should perform the bath together with its mantras.

Verse 31 (padma.6.117.31)

तूष्णीमेव हि शूद्रस्य स्त्रीणां चैव षडानन । बाला च तरुणी वृद्धा नरनारीनपुंसकाः

tūṣṇīmeva hi śūdrasya strīṇāṁ caiva ṣaḍānana bālā ca taruṇī vṛddhā naranārīnapuṁsakāḥ

But for a shudra, O six-faced one, and for women, it should be done silently [without mantras] — whether girl, young woman, or old, whether man, woman, or eunuch.

Verse 32 (padma.6.117.32)

पापैः सर्वैः प्रमुच्यंते स्नानात्कार्तिकमाघयोः । स्नाता वै कार्तिके लोकाः प्राप्नुवंतीप्सितं फलम्

pāpaiḥ sarvaiḥ pramucyaṁte snānātkārtikamāghayoḥ snātā vai kārtike lokāḥ prāpnuvaṁtīpsitaṁ phalam

All are freed from every sin through bathing in Kartika and Magha; people who bathe in Kartika truly obtain their desired fruit.