The Awakening of Vishnu and the Origin of Kartika's Glory

Verse 1 (padma.6.90.1)

सत्योवाच । सर्वेऽपि कालावयवास्तवकालस्वरूपिणः । समानास्तु कथं नाथ मासानां कार्तिको वरः

satyovāca sarve'pi kālāvayavāstavakālasvarūpiṇaḥ samānāstu kathaṁ nātha māsānāṁ kārtiko varaḥ

Satya said: My lord, all divisions of time are but forms of your own being as Time, and are alike — then why, among all the months, is Kartika supreme?

Verse 2 (padma.6.90.2)

एकादशी तिथीनां च मासानां कार्त्तिकः प्रियः । कथं ते देवदेवेश कारणं किं च कथ्यताम्

ekādaśī tithīnāṁ ca māsānāṁ kārttikaḥ priyaḥ kathaṁ te devadeveśa kāraṇaṁ kiṁ ca kathyatām

Among tithis, the eleventh is dear to you, and among months, Kartika — O God of gods, why is this so? What is the reason? Tell me.

Verse 3 (padma.6.90.3)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । साधु पृष्टं त्वया सत्ये शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसा । पृथोर्वैन्यस्य संवादं देवर्षेर्नारदस्य च

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā satye śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasā pṛthorvainyasya saṁvādaṁ devarṣernāradasya ca

Shri Krishna said: A good question you have asked, O Satya. Listen with an undivided mind to the dialogue between King Prithu Vainya and the divine sage Narada.

Verse 4 (padma.6.90.4)

एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो नारदः पृथुना प्रिये । उवाच कार्त्तिकाधिक्ये कारणं सर्वविन्मुनिः

evameva purā pṛṣṭo nāradaḥ pṛthunā priye uvāca kārttikādhikye kāraṇaṁ sarvavinmuniḥ

O beloved, in former times, just so was Narada asked by Prithu, and the all-knowing sage Narada told him the reason for Kartika's supremacy.

Verse 5 (padma.6.90.5)

नारद उवाच । शंखनामाभवत्पूर्वमसुरः सागरात्मजः । त्रिलोकीमथने शक्तो महाबलपराक्रमः

nārada uvāca śaṁkhanāmābhavatpūrvamasuraḥ sāgarātmajaḥ trilokīmathane śakto mahābalaparākramaḥ

Narada said: Long ago there was a demon named Shankha, the son of the ocean. He was capable of churning up the three worlds, of great strength and might.

Verse 6 (padma.6.90.6)

जित्वा देवान्निराकृत्य स्वर्गलोकान्महासुरः । इंद्रादिलोकपालानामधिकारांस्तथाहरत्

jitvā devānnirākṛtya svargalokānmahāsuraḥ iṁdrādilokapālānāmadhikārāṁstathāharat

That great demon, having conquered the gods and driven them from the heavenly worlds, also seized the dominions of Indra and the other guardians of the world.

Verse 7 (padma.6.90.7)

तद्भयादथ ते देवाः सुवर्णाद्रिगुहां गताः । न्यवसन्बहुवर्षाणि सावरोधाः सवासवाः

tadbhayādatha te devāḥ suvarṇādriguhāṁ gatāḥ nyavasanbahuvarṣāṇi sāvarodhāḥ savāsavāḥ

In fear of him, the gods went to a cave in the golden mountain, and dwelt there for many years, together with Indra, along with their households.

Verse 8 (padma.6.90.8)

सुवर्णाद्रि गुहादुर्गसंस्थितास्त्रिदशा यदा । तद्वश्या न बभूवुस्ते तदा दैत्यो व्यचारयत्

suvarṇādri guhādurgasaṁsthitāstridaśā yadā tadvaśyā na babhūvuste tadā daityo vyacārayat

When the gods, established in that impregnable mountain cave, would not submit to him, then that demon reflected —

Verse 9 (padma.6.90.9)

हृताधिकारास्त्रिदशा मया यद्यपि निर्जिताः । भवंति बलयुक्तास्ते करणीयं ममात्र किम्

hṛtādhikārāstridaśā mayā yadyapi nirjitāḥ bhavaṁti balayuktāste karaṇīyaṁ mamātra kim

'Although I have seized the gods' dominions and defeated them, they still remain powerful. What should I now do?'

Verse 10 (padma.6.90.10)

अद्य ज्ञातं मया देवा वेदमंत्रबलान्विताः । तान्हरिष्ये ततः सर्वे बलहीना भवंति हि

adya jñātaṁ mayā devā vedamaṁtrabalānvitāḥ tānhariṣye tataḥ sarve balahīnā bhavaṁti hi

'Now I have realized that the gods are endowed with the power of the Vedic mantras. If I steal these away, they will all surely become powerless.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.90.11)

इति मत्वा ततो दैत्यो विष्णुमालक्ष्य निद्रितम् । सत्यलोकाज्जहाराशु वेदानां च गणं प्रभुः

iti matvā tato daityo viṣṇumālakṣya nidritam satyalokājjahārāśu vedānāṁ ca gaṇaṁ prabhuḥ

Thinking thus, that powerful demon, seeing Vishnu asleep, swiftly stole the collection of Vedas from Satyaloka.

Verse 12 (padma.6.90.12)

नीतास्तु तेन ते वेदास्तद्भयात्ते निराक्रमन् । तोये निविविशुस्तेऽत्र यज्ञमंत्रसमन्विताः

nītāstu tena te vedāstadbhayātte nirākraman toye niviviśuste'tra yajñamaṁtrasamanvitāḥ

The Vedas, taken away by him, out of fear of him fled and, together with the sacrificial mantras, entered into the water and hid there.

Verse 13 (padma.6.90.13)

तान्मार्गमाणः शंखोऽपि समुद्रांतर्गतो भ्रमन् । न ददर्श ततो दैत्यः क्वचिदेकत्र संस्थितान्

tānmārgamāṇaḥ śaṁkho'pi samudrāṁtargato bhraman na dadarśa tato daityaḥ kvacidekatra saṁsthitān

Searching for them, Shankha too went wandering within the ocean, but that demon nowhere saw them gathered together in one place.

Verse 14 (padma.6.90.14)

अथ ब्रह्मा सुरैः सार्द्धं विष्णुं शरणमन्वयात् । पूजोपकरणं गृह्य वैकुंठभवनं गतः

atha brahmā suraiḥ sārddhaṁ viṣṇuṁ śaraṇamanvayāt pūjopakaraṇaṁ gṛhya vaikuṁṭhabhavanaṁ gataḥ

Then Brahma, together with the gods, sought refuge in Vishnu. Taking the materials for worship, he went to the abode of Vaikuntha.

Verse 15 (padma.6.90.15)

तत्र तस्य प्रबोधाय गीतवाद्यादिकाः क्रियाः । चक्रुर्देवा गंधपुष्पधूपदीपान्मुहुर्मुहुः

tatra tasya prabodhāya gītavādyādikāḥ kriyāḥ cakrurdevā gaṁdhapuṣpadhūpadīpānmuhurmuhuḥ

There, to awaken him, the gods performed songs, music, and other rites, and offered fragrance, flowers, incense, and lamps again and again.

Verse 16 (padma.6.90.16)

अथ प्रबुद्धो भगवांस्तद्भक्तिपरितोषितः । ददृशे तैः सुरैस्तत्र सहस्रार्कसमद्युतिः

atha prabuddho bhagavāṁstadbhaktiparitoṣitaḥ dadṛśe taiḥ suraistatra sahasrārkasamadyutiḥ

Then the Lord awoke, gladdened by their devotion, and those gods there beheld him, radiant as a thousand suns.

Verse 17 (padma.6.90.17)

उपचारैः षोडशभिः संपूज्य त्रिदशास्तदा । दंडवत्पतिता भूमौ तानुवाचाथ केशवः

upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ saṁpūjya tridaśāstadā daṁḍavatpatitā bhūmau tānuvācātha keśavaḥ

Then the gods worshipped him properly with the sixteen ritual offerings, and prostrated themselves flat upon the ground. Then Keshava spoke to them —

Verse 18 (padma.6.90.18)

विष्णुरुवाच । वरदोऽहं सुरगणा गीतवाद्यादि मंगलैः । मनोऽभिलषितान्कामान्सर्वानेव ददामि वः

viṣṇuruvāca varado'haṁ suragaṇā gītavādyādi maṁgalaiḥ mano'bhilaṣitānkāmānsarvāneva dadāmi vaḥ

Vishnu said: O gods, I am the granter of boons. By these auspicious songs, music, and the rest, I grant every one of you the desires cherished in your hearts.

Verse 19 (padma.6.90.19)

इषस्य शुक्लैकादश्या यावदुद्बोधिनी भवेत् । निशातुर्यांशशेषेण गीतवाद्यादि मंगलैः

iṣasya śuklaikādaśyā yāvadudbodhinī bhavet niśāturyāṁśaśeṣeṇa gītavādyādi maṁgalaiḥ

On the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika, which is called Prabodhini, in the last quarter of the night, with auspicious songs, music, and the rest —

Verse 20 (padma.6.90.20)

कुर्वंति मनुजा नित्यं भवद्भिर्यद्यथाकृतम् । ते मत्प्रियकरा नित्यं मत्सांनिध्यं व्रजंति हि

kurvaṁti manujā nityaṁ bhavadbhiryadyathākṛtam te matpriyakarā nityaṁ matsāṁnidhyaṁ vrajaṁti hi

— whatever men ever do just as you have done, they become ever dear to me and surely attain my close presence.

Verse 21 (padma.6.90.21)

पाद्यार्घाचमनीयाद्यैर्भवद्भिर्यद्यथाकृतम् । तदद्भुतगुणं यस्माज्जातंवः सुखकारणम्

pādyārghācamanīyādyairbhavadbhiryadyathākṛtam tadadbhutaguṇaṁ yasmājjātaṁvaḥ sukhakāraṇam

Whatever you have done with padya, arghya, achamaniya, and the rest possesses wondrous virtue, by which the cause of your happiness has come about.

Verse 22 (padma.6.90.22)

वेदाः शंखहृताः सर्वे तिष्ठंत्युदकसंस्थिताः । तानानयाम्यहं देवा हत्वा सागरनंदनम्

vedāḥ śaṁkhahṛtāḥ sarve tiṣṭhaṁtyudakasaṁsthitāḥ tānānayāmyahaṁ devā hatvā sāgaranaṁdanam

All the Vedas, stolen by Shankha, remain hidden in the water. O gods, I shall slay the ocean's son and bring them back.

Verse 23 (padma.6.90.23)

अद्यप्रभृति वेदास्तु मंत्रबीजमखान्विताः । प्रत्यब्दं कार्तिके मासि विश्रमंत्वप्सु सर्वदा

adyaprabhṛti vedāstu maṁtrabījamakhānvitāḥ pratyabdaṁ kārtike māsi viśramaṁtvapsu sarvadā

From this day forward, the Vedas, together with their mantra-seeds and sacrifices, shall each year, in the month of Kartika, ever rest within the waters.

Verse 24 (padma.6.90.24)

अद्यप्रभृत्यहमपि भवामि जलमध्यगः । भवंतोऽपि मया सार्द्धमायांतु समुनीश्वराः

adyaprabhṛtyahamapi bhavāmi jalamadhyagaḥ bhavaṁto'pi mayā sārddhamāyāṁtu samunīśvarāḥ

From this day forward, I too shall dwell in the midst of the water. You too, together with the great sages, come with me.

Verse 25 (padma.6.90.25)

कालेऽस्मिन्नेव कुर्वंति प्रातःस्नानं द्विजोत्तमाः । ते सर्वयज्ञावभृथैः सुस्नाताः स्युर्न संशयः

kāle'sminneva kurvaṁti prātaḥsnānaṁ dvijottamāḥ te sarvayajñāvabhṛthaiḥ susnātāḥ syurna saṁśayaḥ

Excellent brahmins who perform the morning bath in this very season should be deemed to have bathed as thoroughly as with the concluding purificatory bath of every sacrifice — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 26 (padma.6.90.26)

ये कार्तिके व्रतं सम्यङ्नित्यं कुर्वंति मानवाः । ते देहांते त्वया शक्र प्राप्या मद्भवनं सदा

ye kārtike vrataṁ samyaṅnityaṁ kurvaṁti mānavāḥ te dehāṁte tvayā śakra prāpyā madbhavanaṁ sadā

O Shakra (Indra), those men who ever duly perform this vow in Kartika, at the end of the body, should always be conducted by you to my own abode.

Verse 27 (padma.6.90.27)

विघ्नेभ्यो रक्षणं तेषां यया कार्यं ममाज्ञया । देया त्वया च वरुण पुत्रपौत्रादि संततिः

vighnebhyo rakṣaṇaṁ teṣāṁ yayā kāryaṁ mamājñayā deyā tvayā ca varuṇa putrapautrādi saṁtatiḥ

By my command, in whatever way is fitting, their protection from obstacles should be undertaken. And you, O Varuna, should grant them offspring — sons, grandsons, and the rest.

Verse 28 (padma.6.90.28)

धनवृद्धिर्धनाध्यक्ष त्वया कार्या ममाज्ञया । ममरूपधराः साक्षाज्जीवन्मुक्ताश्च ते नराः

dhanavṛddhirdhanādhyakṣa tvayā kāryā mamājñayā mamarūpadharāḥ sākṣājjīvanmuktāśca te narāḥ

O Lord of wealth (Kubera), by my command, you should increase their prosperity. Those men are truly bearers of my own form, and are liberated even while living.

Verse 29 (padma.6.90.29)

आजन्ममरणाद्यैश्च कृतमेतद्व्रतोत्तमम् । यथोक्तविधिना सम्यक्ते मान्या भवतामपि

ājanmamaraṇādyaiśca kṛtametadvratottamam yathoktavidhinā samyakte mānyā bhavatāmapi

Those who, from birth until death, have duly performed this excellent vow according to the prescribed rite are worthy of honor even by all of you.

Verse 30 (padma.6.90.30)

एकादश्यां यतश्चाहं भवद्भिः प्रतिबोधितः । अतश्चैषा तिथिर्मान्या सदैव प्रीतिदा मम

ekādaśyāṁ yataścāhaṁ bhavadbhiḥ pratibodhitaḥ ataścaiṣā tithirmānyā sadaiva prītidā mama

Since it was on the eleventh day that you awakened me, this tithi is therefore held in honor and is ever dear to me.

Verse 31 (padma.6.90.31)

व्रतद्वयं सम्यगिदं नरैः कृतं कृष्णस्य सान्निध्यदमस्ति नान्यत् । दानानि तीर्थानि तपांसि यज्ञाः स्वर्लोकदानेन सदा सुरोत्तमाः

vratadvayaṁ samyagidaṁ naraiḥ kṛtaṁ kṛṣṇasya sānnidhyadamasti nānyat dānāni tīrthāni tapāṁsi yajñāḥ svarlokadānena sadā surottamāḥ

These two vows, when duly performed by men, alone grant closeness to Krishna — there is nothing else that does so. O excellent gods, gifts, pilgrimages, austerities, and sacrifices are ever fruitful, like the gift of the heavenly world itself, yet none equals this vow.