The Glory of the Lamp and of Sacred Flowers

Verse 1 (padma.6.121.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। धात्रीच्छायां समाश्रित्य कुर्यात्पिंडं तु यो गुह । मुक्तिं प्रयांति पितरः प्रसादान्माधवस्य तु

īśvara uvāca dhātrīcchāyāṁ samāśritya kuryātpiṁḍaṁ tu yo guha muktiṁ prayāṁti pitaraḥ prasādānmādhavasya tu

Ishvara said: O Guha, whoever offers the rice-ball [to ancestors] taking refuge in the shade of the amla tree — by the grace of Madhava, his ancestors attain liberation.

Verse 2 (padma.6.121.2)

मूर्ध्नि पाणौ मुखे चैव देहे चैव तु यो नरः । धत्ते धात्रीफलं वत्स धात्रीफलविभूषितः

mūrdhni pāṇau mukhe caiva dehe caiva tu yo naraḥ dhatte dhātrīphalaṁ vatsa dhātrīphalavibhūṣitaḥ

My child, that man who bears the amla fruit upon his head, hand, mouth, and body becomes adorned by the amla fruit.

Verse 3 (padma.6.121.3)

धात्रीफलकृताहारो नरो नारायणो भवेत् । यः कश्चिद्वैष्णवो लोके धत्ते धात्रीफलं गुह

dhātrīphalakṛtāhāro naro nārāyaṇo bhavet yaḥ kaścidvaiṣṇavo loke dhatte dhātrīphalaṁ guha

A man who takes the amla fruit as his food becomes one with Narayana. O Guha, whatever Vaishnava in this world bears the amla fruit —

Verse 4 (padma.6.121.4)

प्रियो भवति देवानां मनुष्याणं च का कथा । न जह्यात्तुलसीमालां धात्रीमालां विशेषतः

priyo bhavati devānāṁ manuṣyāṇaṁ ca kā kathā na jahyāttulasīmālāṁ dhātrīmālāṁ viśeṣataḥ

— he becomes dear to the gods; what then to speak of men? One should never abandon the tulasi garland, and especially not the amla-fruit garland.

Verse 5 (padma.6.121.5)

यावत्तिष्ठति कंठस्था धात्रीमाला नरस्य हि । तावत्तस्य शरीरे तु प्रतिष्ठति च केशवः

yāvattiṣṭhati kaṁṭhasthā dhātrīmālā narasya hi tāvattasya śarīre tu pratiṣṭhati ca keśavaḥ

For as long as the amla garland remains upon a man's neck, for that long Keshava abides established in his body.

Verse 6 (padma.6.121.6)

धात्रीं फलं तु तुलसीमृत्तिका द्वारकोद्भवा । सफलं जीवितं तस्य त्रितयं यस्य वेश्मनि

dhātrīṁ phalaṁ tu tulasīmṛttikā dvārakodbhavā saphalaṁ jīvitaṁ tasya tritayaṁ yasya veśmani

The amla fruit, tulasi, and the clay born of Dvaraka — whoever has these three in his home, his life is fruitful.

Verse 7 (padma.6.121.7)

यावद्दिनानि वहते धात्रीमालां कलौ नरः । तावद्युगसहस्राणि वैकुंठे वसतिर्भवेत्

yāvaddināni vahate dhātrīmālāṁ kalau naraḥ tāvadyugasahasrāṇi vaikuṁṭhe vasatirbhavet

For as many days as a man wears the amla garland in the Kali age, for that many thousand ages his dwelling is in Vaikuntha.

Verse 8 (padma.6.121.8)

मालायुग्मं वहेद्यस्तु धात्रीतुलसिसंभवम् । वहते कंठदेशे तु कल्पकोटिं दिवं वसेत्

mālāyugmaṁ vahedyastu dhātrītulasisaṁbhavam vahate kaṁṭhadeśe tu kalpakoṭiṁ divaṁ vaset

Whoever wears a pair of garlands, made of amla and tulasi, upon his neck, dwells in heaven for ten million kalpas.

Verse 9 (padma.6.121.9)

संनियम्येंद्रियग्रामं शालग्रामशिलार्चनम् । यः कुर्यान्मानवो भक्त्या पुष्पेपुष्पेऽश्वमेधजम्

saṁniyamyeṁdriyagrāmaṁ śālagrāmaśilārcanam yaḥ kuryānmānavo bhaktyā puṣpepuṣpe'śvamedhajam

Whatever man, having restrained the host of senses, worships the Shaligrama stone with devotion — he obtains, for each and every flower offered, the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 10 (padma.6.121.10)

सुराणां च यथा विष्णुः पुष्पाणां तुलसी तथा । तुलस्यानुदिनं देवं योऽर्चयेद्गरुडध्वजम्

surāṇāṁ ca yathā viṣṇuḥ puṣpāṇāṁ tulasī tathā tulasyānudinaṁ devaṁ yo'rcayedgaruḍadhvajam

As Vishnu is among the gods, so is tulasi among flowers. Whoever daily worships the god who bears the Garuda-banner with tulasi —

Verse 11 (padma.6.121.11)

जन्मदुःखजरारोगैर्मुक्तोऽसौ मुक्तिमाप्नुयात् । तुलसीमालया विष्णुः पूजितो येन कार्तिके

janmaduḥkhajarārogairmukto'sau muktimāpnuyāt tulasīmālayā viṣṇuḥ pūjito yena kārtike

— he becomes freed from the sufferings of birth, old age, and disease, and attains liberation. By whomever Vishnu is worshipped with a tulasi garland in Kartika —

Verse 12 (padma.6.121.12)

यमाक्षरकृतां मालां स्फुटं शौरिः प्रमार्जति । श्रीचंदनं सकर्पूरमगुरुं च सकुंकुमम्

yamākṣarakṛtāṁ mālāṁ sphuṭaṁ śauriḥ pramārjati śrīcaṁdanaṁ sakarpūramaguruṁ ca sakuṁkumam

— Shauri [Krishna] plainly wipes away Yama's record [of that soul's sins]. Fine sandal with camphor, aloe-wood with saffron —

Verse 13 (padma.6.121.13)

केतकी दीपदानं च सर्वदा केशवप्रियम् । कार्तिके केतकीपुष्पं दत्तं येन कलौ युगे

ketakī dīpadānaṁ ca sarvadā keśavapriyam kārtike ketakīpuṣpaṁ dattaṁ yena kalau yuge

— the ketaki flower, and the offering of lamps, are ever dear to Keshava. By whomever the ketaki flower is offered in Kartika, in the Kali age —

Verse 14 (padma.6.121.14)

दीपदानं महासेन कुलानां तारयेच्छतम् । सरोरुहाणि तुलसी केतकी मुनिपुष्पकम्

dīpadānaṁ mahāsena kulānāṁ tārayecchatam saroruhāṇi tulasī ketakī munipuṣpakam

— O great commander, that offering of the lamp delivers a hundred generations of his family. Lotuses, tulasi, ketaki, and the muni-flower —

Verse 15 (padma.6.121.15)

कार्तिके च दिनान्येव दीपदानं तु पंचमम् । केतकीमालया येन कार्तिके पुष्पमंडपम्

kārtike ca dinānyeva dīpadānaṁ tu paṁcamam ketakīmālayā yena kārtike puṣpamaṁḍapam

— in Kartika, on certain days, the offering of the lamp is the fifth of these. By whomever, in Kartika, a flower-pavilion adorned with garlands of ketaki —

Verse 16 (padma.6.121.16)

केशवस्य कृतं वत्स वसतिर्दिवि तस्य च । केतकीपुष्पकेनैव पूजितो गरुडध्वजः

keśavasya kṛtaṁ vatsa vasatirdivi tasya ca ketakīpuṣpakenaiva pūjito garuḍadhvajaḥ

— is made for Keshava, my child, his dwelling becomes heaven. The Bearer of the Garuda-banner, worshipped with just the ketaki flower —

Verse 17 (padma.6.121.17)

समाः सहस्रं सुप्रीतो जायते मधुसूदनः । अर्चयित्वा हृषीकेशं कुसुमैः केतकीभवैः

samāḥ sahasraṁ suprīto jāyate madhusūdanaḥ arcayitvā hṛṣīkeśaṁ kusumaiḥ ketakībhavaiḥ

— Madhusudana becomes well pleased for a thousand years. Having worshipped Hrishikesha with flowers born of the ketaki —

Verse 18 (padma.6.121.18)

पुण्यं तद्भवनं याति केशवस्य शिवं गुह । दमनकेनापि देवेशं संप्राप्ते मधुमाधवे

puṇyaṁ tadbhavanaṁ yāti keśavasya śivaṁ guha damanakenāpi deveśaṁ saṁprāpte madhumādhave

— one goes, O Guha, to that blessed and auspicious abode of Keshava. Also with the damanaka plant, when the month of Madhu-Madhava arrives —

Verse 19 (padma.6.121.19)

समभ्यर्च्य मुनिश्रेष्ठ अर्चनाल्लभते फलम् । अगस्तिकुसुमैर्देवं योऽर्चयेत जनार्दनम्

samabhyarcya muniśreṣṭha arcanāllabhate phalam agastikusumairdevaṁ yo'rcayeta janārdanam

— having duly worshipped the Lord of gods, O foremost of sages, one obtains fruit through that worship. Whoever worships the god Janardana with agasti flowers —

Verse 20 (padma.6.121.20)

दर्शनात्तस्य भो विप्र नरकाग्निः प्रणश्यति । न तत्करोति विप्रर्षे तपसा तोषितो हरिः

darśanāttasya bho vipra narakāgniḥ praṇaśyati na tatkaroti viprarṣe tapasā toṣito hariḥ

— O brahmin, merely by the sight of him the fire of hell is destroyed. O sage among brahmins, Hari, pleased by austerity, does not grant that which —

Verse 21 (padma.6.121.21)

यत्करोति महासेन मुनिपुष्पैरलंकृतः । विहाय सर्वपुष्पाणि मुनिपुष्पेण केशवम्

yatkaroti mahāsena munipuṣpairalaṁkṛtaḥ vihāya sarvapuṣpāṇi munipuṣpeṇa keśavam

— O great commander, he grants when adorned with muni-flowers. Setting aside all other flowers, whoever worships Keshava with the muni-flower —

Verse 22 (padma.6.121.22)

कार्तिके योऽर्चयेद्भक्त्या वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् । मुनिपुष्पकृतां मालां यो ददाति जनार्दने

kārtike yo'rcayedbhaktyā vājimedhaphalaṁ labhet munipuṣpakṛtāṁ mālāṁ yo dadāti janārdane

— in Kartika, with devotion, obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Whoever offers a garland made of muni-flowers to Janardana —

Verse 23 (padma.6.121.23)

देवेंद्रोऽपि मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुरुते तस्य सत्कथाम् । गवामयुतदानेन यत्फलं प्राप्यते गुह

deveṁdro'pi muniśreṣṭha kurute tasya satkathām gavāmayutadānena yatphalaṁ prāpyate guha

— O foremost of sages, even Indra, lord of the gods, speaks well of him. O Guha, that fruit which is obtained by the gift of ten thousand cows —

Verse 24 (padma.6.121.24)

मुनिपुष्पेण चैकेन कार्तिके लभते फलम् । कौस्तुभेन यथा प्रीतो यथा च वनमालया

munipuṣpeṇa caikena kārtike labhate phalam kaustubhena yathā prīto yathā ca vanamālayā

— that same fruit is obtained in Kartika through even a single muni-flower. Just as Hari is pleased by the Kaustubha jewel, and just as by the forest-garland,

Verse 25 (padma.6.121.25)

तुलसीदलेन संप्रीतः कार्तिके च तथा हरिः । सूत उवाच। प्रश्रयावनतं दृष्ट्वा कुमारं भक्तितत्परम्

tulasīdalena saṁprītaḥ kārtike ca tathā hariḥ sūta uvāca praśrayāvanataṁ dṛṣṭvā kumāraṁ bhaktitatparam

— so too is Hari, in Kartika, well pleased by a single tulasi leaf. Sūta said: Seeing the youth [Kartikeya] bowed low in humility, devoted in his heart —

Verse 26 (padma.6.121.26)

पुनः प्रोवाच भगवान्महादेवो वृषध्वजः । ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु दीपस्य माहात्म्यं कार्तिके शिखिवाहन

punaḥ provāca bhagavānmahādevo vṛṣadhvajaḥ īśvara uvāca śṛṇu dīpasya māhātmyaṁ kārtike śikhivāhana

— the Lord Mahadeva, whose banner bears the bull, spoke again. Ishvara said: Hear the glory of the lamp in Kartika, O rider of the peacock.

Verse 27 (padma.6.121.27)

पितरश्चैव वांच्छंति सदा पितृगणैर्वृताः । भविष्यति कुलेऽस्माकं पितृभक्तः सुपुत्रकः

pitaraścaiva vāṁcchaṁti sadā pitṛgaṇairvṛtāḥ bhaviṣyati kule'smākaṁ pitṛbhaktaḥ suputrakaḥ

The ancestors, surrounded always by the hosts of ancestors, wish thus: "May a good son, devoted to his ancestors, be born in our family —

Verse 28 (padma.6.121.28)

कार्तिके दीपदानेन यस्तोषयति केशवम् । घृतेन दीपको यस्य तिलतैलेन वा पुनः

kārtike dīpadānena yastoṣayati keśavam ghṛtena dīpako yasya tilatailena vā punaḥ

— who, by the gift of a lamp in Kartika, shall please Keshava." For whomever a lamp fed with ghee, or else with sesame oil —

Verse 29 (padma.6.121.29)

ज्वलते यस्य सेनानीरश्वमेधेन तस्य किम् । तेनेष्टं क्रतुभिः सर्वैः कृतं तीर्थावगाहनम्

jvalate yasya senānīraśvamedhena tasya kim teneṣṭaṁ kratubhiḥ sarvaiḥ kṛtaṁ tīrthāvagāhanam

— burns, O commander, what use has he of the Ashvamedha sacrifice? By him all sacrifices have been performed, and bathing in all the sacred tirthas has been accomplished.

Verse 30 (padma.6.121.30)

दीपदानं कृतं येन कार्तिके केशवाग्रतः । कृष्णपक्षे विशेषेण पुत्र पंचदिनानि च

dīpadānaṁ kṛtaṁ yena kārtike keśavāgrataḥ kṛṣṇapakṣe viśeṣeṇa putra paṁcadināni ca

By whomever the gift of a lamp is made before Keshava in Kartika — especially, my son, during the five days of the dark fortnight —

Verse 31 (padma.6.121.31)

पुण्यानि तेषु यो दत्ते दीपं सोऽक्षयमाप्नुयात् । एकादश्यां परैर्दत्तं दीपं प्रज्वाल्य मूषिका

puṇyāni teṣu yo datte dīpaṁ so'kṣayamāpnuyāt ekādaśyāṁ parairdattaṁ dīpaṁ prajvālya mūṣikā

— whoever gives a lamp on those meritorious days obtains imperishable merit. Once, a mouse, having relit on Ekadashi a lamp offered by others —

Verse 32 (padma.6.121.32)

मानुष्यं दुर्ल्लभं प्राप्य परां गतिमवाप सा । लुब्धकोऽपि चतुर्दश्यां पूजयित्वा महेश्वरम्

mānuṣyaṁ durllabhaṁ prāpya parāṁ gatimavāpa sā lubdhako'pi caturdaśyāṁ pūjayitvā maheśvaram

— attained the rare state of a human being and thereby the supreme goal. Even a hunter, having worshipped Maheshvara on the fourteenth [lunar day] —

Verse 33 (padma.6.121.33)

निर्भक्षः परमं प्राप्य विष्णुलोकं जगाम सः । श्वपाकस्याश्रयाद्वैश्या दीपं कृत्वा परैः कृतम्

nirbhakṣaḥ paramaṁ prāpya viṣṇulokaṁ jagāma saḥ śvapākasyāśrayādvaiśyā dīpaṁ kṛtvā paraiḥ kṛtam

— without eating, attained the supreme, and went to the world of Vishnu. A courtesan, taking refuge with an outcaste, having tended a lamp lit by others —

Verse 34 (padma.6.121.34)

शुद्धा लीलावती भूत्वा जगाम स्वर्गमक्षयम् । गोपः कश्चिदमावस्यां पूजां दृष्ट्वा तु शार्ङ्गिणः

śuddhā līlāvatī bhūtvā jagāma svargamakṣayam gopaḥ kaścidamāvasyāṁ pūjāṁ dṛṣṭvā tu śārṅgiṇaḥ

— became pure, was named Lilavati, and went to imperishable heaven. A certain cowherd, having seen the worship of Sharngin [Vishnu] on the new-moon day —

Verse 35 (padma.6.121.35)

मुहुर्मुहुर्जयेत्युक्त्वा राजराजेश्वरोऽभवत् । तस्माद्दीपाः प्रदातव्या रात्रावस्तमते रवौ

muhurmuhurjayetyuktvā rājarājeśvaro'bhavat tasmāddīpāḥ pradātavyā rātrāvastamate ravau

— having repeatedly cried out "Victory!", became a lord of kings. Therefore lamps should be offered at night, once the sun has set —

Verse 36 (padma.6.121.36)

गृहेषु सर्वगोष्ठेषु सर्वेष्वायतनेषु च । देवालयेषु देवानां श्मशानेषु सरस्सु च

gṛheṣu sarvagoṣṭheṣu sarveṣvāyataneṣu ca devālayeṣu devānāṁ śmaśāneṣu sarassu ca

— in homes, in all cow-pens, in all sacred enclosures, in temples of the gods, in cremation grounds, and by ponds,

Verse 37 (padma.6.121.37)

घृतादिना शुभार्थाय यावत्पंचदिनानि च । पापिनः पितरो ये च लुप्तपिंडोदकक्रियाः । तेपि यांति परां मुक्तिं दीपदानस्य पुण्यतः

ghṛtādinā śubhārthāya yāvatpaṁcadināni ca pāpinaḥ pitaro ye ca luptapiṁḍodakakriyāḥ tepi yāṁti parāṁ muktiṁ dīpadānasya puṇyataḥ

— with ghee and the like, for the sake of good fortune, for a full five days. Even those sinful ancestors whose rites of rice-ball and water-offering have lapsed — they too attain supreme liberation through the merit of this gift of lamps.