The Concluding Rite of the Kartika Vow

Verse 1 (padma.6.95.1)

नारद उवाच। अथोर्जव्रतिनः सम्यगुद्यापनविधिं नृप । तच्छृणुष्व मयाख्यातं किं विधानं समासतः

nārada uvāca athorjavratinaḥ samyagudyāpanavidhiṁ nṛpa tacchṛṇuṣva mayākhyātaṁ kiṁ vidhānaṁ samāsataḥ

Narada said: O king, now listen well to the rite of concluding the Kartika vow, which I shall relate to you in brief — what its procedure is.

Verse 2 (padma.6.95.2)

ऊर्ज्जशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां कुर्यादुद्यापनं व्रती । व्रतसंपूर्णतार्थाय विष्णुप्रीत्यर्थमेव च

ūrjjaśuklacaturdaśyāṁ kuryādudyāpanaṁ vratī vratasaṁpūrṇatārthāya viṣṇuprītyarthameva ca

On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, the vow-keeper should perform the concluding rite, for the sake of the vow's completion and for the pleasure of Vishnu alone.

Verse 3 (padma.6.95.3)

तुलस्या उपरिष्टात्तु कुर्यान्मंडपिकां शुभाम् । सुतोरणां चतुर्द्वारां पुष्पचामरशोभिताम्

tulasyā upariṣṭāttu kuryānmaṁḍapikāṁ śubhām sutoraṇāṁ caturdvārāṁ puṣpacāmaraśobhitām

Above the tulasi plant, one should erect an auspicious pavilion, fitted with beautiful festoons, having four doorways, and adorned with flowers and chowries.

Verse 4 (padma.6.95.4)

द्वारेषु द्वारपालांश्च पूजयेन्मृन्मयान्पृथक् । पुण्यशीलं सुशीलं च जयं विजयमेव च

dvāreṣu dvārapālāṁśca pūjayenmṛnmayānpṛthak puṇyaśīlaṁ suśīlaṁ ca jayaṁ vijayameva ca

At the doorways, one should separately worship gatekeepers made of clay — Punyashila, Sushila, Jaya, and Vijaya.

Verse 5 (padma.6.95.5)

तुलसीमूलदेशे च सर्वतोभद्रमालिखेत् । चतुर्भिर्वर्णकैः सम्यक्शोभाढ्यं समलंकृतम्

tulasīmūladeśe ca sarvatobhadramālikhet caturbhirvarṇakaiḥ samyakśobhāḍhyaṁ samalaṁkṛtam

Near the root of the tulasi, one should draw the Sarvatobhadra diagram, duly beautified and adorned with four colors.

Verse 6 (padma.6.95.6)

तस्योपरिष्टात्सपिधानं पंचरत्नसमन्वितम् । महाफलेन संयुक्तं कुंभं तत्र निधाय च

tasyopariṣṭātsapidhānaṁ paṁcaratnasamanvitam mahāphalena saṁyuktaṁ kuṁbhaṁ tatra nidhāya ca

Upon it, one should place a water-pot with a lid, furnished with the five gems, together with a great fruit —

Verse 7 (padma.6.95.7)

पूजयेत्तत्र देवेशं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् । कौशेयपीतवसनं युक्तं जलधिकन्यया

pūjayettatra deveśaṁ śaṁkhacakragadādharam kauśeyapītavasanaṁ yuktaṁ jaladhikanyayā

— and there worship the Lord of gods, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, clad in silken yellow garments, together with the ocean's daughter (Lakshmi).

Verse 8 (padma.6.95.8)

इंद्रादिलोकपालांश्च पूजयेन्मंडले व्रती । द्वादश्यां प्रतिबुद्धः स त्रयोदश्यां यतः सुरैः

iṁdrādilokapālāṁśca pūjayenmaṁḍale vratī dvādaśyāṁ pratibuddhaḥ sa trayodaśyāṁ yataḥ suraiḥ

The vow-keeper should also worship Indra and the other guardians of the directions in that same diagram. Since he was awakened on the twelfth day, and then on the thirteenth day, by the gods —

Verse 9 (padma.6.95.9)

दृष्टोऽर्चितश्चतुर्दश्यां तस्मात्पूज्यस्तथाधिकम् । तस्यामुपवसेद्भक्त्या शांतः प्रयतमानसः

dṛṣṭo'rcitaścaturdaśyāṁ tasmātpūjyastathādhikam tasyāmupavasedbhaktyā śāṁtaḥ prayatamānasaḥ

— he was seen and worshipped, and on the fourteenth day he was worshipped even more especially; therefore, on that day, one should fast with devotion, calm and with a controlled mind.

Verse 10 (padma.6.95.10)

पूजयेद्देवदेवेशं सौवर्णं गुर्वनुज्ञया । उपचारैः षोडशभिर्नानाभक्ष्यसमन्वितैः

pūjayeddevadeveśaṁ sauvarṇaṁ gurvanujñayā upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhirnānābhakṣyasamanvitaiḥ

With the guru's permission, one should worship a golden image of the God of gods, with the sixteen ritual offerings and various food-offerings.

Verse 11 (padma.6.95.11)

रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्याद्गीतवाद्यादि मंगलैः । गीतं कुर्वंति ये भक्त्या जागरे चक्रपाणिनः

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryādgītavādyādi maṁgalaiḥ gītaṁ kurvaṁti ye bhaktyā jāgare cakrapāṇinaḥ

At night, one should keep vigil with songs, music, and other auspicious activities. Those who sing with devotion during the night-vigil for the Wielder of the Discus —

Verse 12 (padma.6.95.12)

जन्मांतरशतोद्भूतैस्ते मुक्ताः पापसंचयैः । जागरे वासरे विष्णोर्गीतं नृत्यं च कुर्वताम्

janmāṁtaraśatodbhūtaiste muktāḥ pāpasaṁcayaiḥ jāgare vāsare viṣṇorgītaṁ nṛtyaṁ ca kurvatām

— become freed even from sins accumulated across a hundred former births. Of those who sing and dance on the day and night of Vishnu's vigil —

Verse 13 (padma.6.95.13)

गोसहस्रं च ददतां तत्फलं समुदाहृतम् । गीतनृत्यादिकं कुर्वन्दर्शयेत्कौतुकानि च

gosahasraṁ ca dadatāṁ tatphalaṁ samudāhṛtam gītanṛtyādikaṁ kurvandarśayetkautukāni ca

— their fruit is declared equal to the gift of a thousand cows. While performing songs and dances, one should also present spectacles and entertainments —

Verse 14 (padma.6.95.14)

पुरतो वासुदेवस्य रात्रौ यो हरिजागरे । पठन्विष्णुचरित्राणि यो रंजयति वैष्णवान्

purato vāsudevasya rātrau yo harijāgare paṭhanviṣṇucaritrāṇi yo raṁjayati vaiṣṇavān

— before Vasudeva, in the night-vigil for Hari. Whoever, reciting the deeds of Vishnu, delights the Vaishnavas present —

Verse 15 (padma.6.95.15)

मुखेन कुरुते वाद्यं स्वेच्छालापांश्च दर्शयन् । भावैरेतैर्नरो यस्तु कुरुते हरिजागरम्

mukhena kurute vādyaṁ svecchālāpāṁśca darśayan bhāvairetairnaro yastu kurute harijāgaram

— who makes instrumental sounds with the mouth, and displays lighthearted conversation — whatever man performs the vigil for Hari with all these expressions of devotion —

Verse 16 (padma.6.95.16)

दिनेदिने तस्य पुण्यं तीर्थकोटिसमं स्मृतम् । ततस्तु पौर्णिमास्यां वै सपत्नीकान्द्विजोत्तमान्

dinedine tasya puṇyaṁ tīrthakoṭisamaṁ smṛtam tatastu paurṇimāsyāṁ vai sapatnīkāndvijottamān

— his merit each day is remembered as equal to a million pilgrimages. Then, on the full-moon day, excellent brahmins together with their wives —

Verse 17 (padma.6.95.17)

त्रिंशन्मिताननेकान्वा स्वशक्त्या वा निमंत्रयेत् । वरान्दत्त्वा यतो विष्णुर्मत्स्यरूपी अभूत्तदा

triṁśanmitānanekānvā svaśaktyā vā nimaṁtrayet varāndattvā yato viṣṇurmatsyarūpī abhūttadā

— should be invited, thirty in number, or as many as one's means allow, since it was on this day, having granted boons, that Vishnu had assumed the form of the Fish —

Verse 18 (padma.6.95.18)

तस्यां दत्तं हुतं जप्तं तदक्षयफलं स्मृतम् । अतस्तान्भोजयेद्विप्रान्पायसान्नादिना व्रती

tasyāṁ dattaṁ hutaṁ japtaṁ tadakṣayaphalaṁ smṛtam atastānbhojayedviprānpāyasānnādinā vratī

— gifts given, oblations offered, and mantras recited on that day are remembered as bestowing imperishable fruit. Therefore, the vow-keeper should feed those brahmins with rice-pudding and other foods.

Verse 19 (padma.6.95.19)

अतो देवा इति द्वाभ्यां जुहुयात्तिलपायसम् । प्रीत्यर्थं देवदेवस्य देवानां च पृथक्पृथक्

ato devā iti dvābhyāṁ juhuyāttilapāyasam prītyarthaṁ devadevasya devānāṁ ca pṛthakpṛthak

With the two mantras beginning 'Ato devah,' one should offer oblations of sesame mixed with rice-pudding into the fire, separately for the pleasure of the God of gods and for the other deities.

Verse 20 (padma.6.95.20)

दक्षिणां च यथाशक्ति प्रदद्यात्प्रणमेच्च तान् । पुनर्देवं समभ्यर्च्य देवांश्च तुलसीं तथा

dakṣiṇāṁ ca yathāśakti pradadyātpraṇamecca tān punardevaṁ samabhyarcya devāṁśca tulasīṁ tathā

One should give a fee according to one's ability and bow to them. Then one should again worship the deity, the other gods, and the tulasi.

Verse 21 (padma.6.95.21)

ततो गां कपिलां तत्र पूजयेद्विधिवद्व्रती । गुरुं व्रतोपदेष्टारं वस्त्रालंकरणादिभिः

tato gāṁ kapilāṁ tatra pūjayedvidhivadvratī guruṁ vratopadeṣṭāraṁ vastrālaṁkaraṇādibhiḥ

Then the vow-keeper should duly worship a tawny cow there, and should also worship the guru who instructed him in the vow, with garments, ornaments, and the rest.

Verse 22 (padma.6.95.22)

सपत्नीकं समभ्यर्च्य गां च तस्मै प्रदापयेत् । युष्मत्प्रसादाद्देवेशः प्रसन्नो मे भवेत्तदा

sapatnīkaṁ samabhyarcya gāṁ ca tasmai pradāpayet yuṣmatprasādāddeveśaḥ prasanno me bhavettadā

Having worshipped him together with his wife, one should also give him the gift of a cow, saying: 'By the grace of all of you, may the Lord of gods become pleased with me.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.95.23)

व्रतादस्माच्च यत्पापं सप्तजन्मकृतं मया । तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु स्थिरा मे चास्तु संततिः

vratādasmācca yatpāpaṁ saptajanmakṛtaṁ mayā tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyātu sthirā me cāstu saṁtatiḥ

'By this vow, may whatever sins I have committed across seven lives be entirely destroyed, and may my lineage remain steadfast.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.95.24)

मनोरथाश्च सफलाः संतु नित्यं ममार्चनात् । देहांते वैष्णवं स्थानं प्राप्नुयामतिदुर्लभम्

manorathāśca saphalāḥ saṁtu nityaṁ mamārcanāt dehāṁte vaiṣṇavaṁ sthānaṁ prāpnuyāmatidurlabham

'By this ever-continuing worship of mine, may my heart's desires be fulfilled. At the end of my body, may I attain that most rare Vaishnava abode.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.95.25)

इति क्षमाप्यतान्विप्रान्प्रसाद्य च विसर्जयेत् । तामर्चां गुरवे दद्याद्रत्नयुक्तां तदा व्रती

iti kṣamāpyatānviprānprasādya ca visarjayet tāmarcāṁ gurave dadyādratnayuktāṁ tadā vratī

Having thus asked forgiveness of those brahmins and pleased them, one should bid them farewell. Then the vow-keeper should give that gem-adorned image to the guru.

Verse 26 (padma.6.95.26)

तदा सुहृद्गुरुयुतः स्वयं भुंजति भक्तिमान् । कार्त्तिके वाथ तपसि विधिरेवंविधः स्मृतः

tadā suhṛdguruyutaḥ svayaṁ bhuṁjati bhaktimān kārttike vātha tapasi vidhirevaṁvidhaḥ smṛtaḥ

Then the devoted man himself partakes of food, together with his friends and his guru. This same procedure is remembered for the month of Kartika, and likewise for Magha (Tapas).

Verse 27 (padma.6.95.27)

एवं यः कुरुते सम्यक्कार्तिकस्य व्रतं नरः । विपाप्मा स विनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुसान्निध्यगो भवेत्

evaṁ yaḥ kurute samyakkārtikasya vrataṁ naraḥ vipāpmā sa vinirmukto viṣṇusānnidhyago bhavet

Whatever man thus duly performs the Kartika vow becomes free of sin, liberated, and attains the close presence of Vishnu.

Verse 28 (padma.6.95.28)

सर्वव्रतैः सर्वतीर्थैःस र्वदानैश्च यत्फलम् । तत्कोटिगुणितं ज्ञेयं सम्यगस्य विधानतः

sarvavrataiḥ sarvatīrthaiḥsa rvadānaiśca yatphalam tatkoṭiguṇitaṁ jñeyaṁ samyagasya vidhānataḥ

Whatever fruit is obtained from all vows, all pilgrimages, and all gifts, that fruit should be known to be multiplied a million times over by the proper performance of this vow.

Verse 29 (padma.6.95.29)

ते धन्यास्ते महापुण्यास्तेषां सर्वफलोदयः । विष्णुभक्तिरता ये स्युः कार्तिके व्रतकारिणः

te dhanyāste mahāpuṇyāsteṣāṁ sarvaphalodayaḥ viṣṇubhaktiratā ye syuḥ kārtike vratakāriṇaḥ

Blessed are they, of great merit are they, and to them comes the fruition of every reward, who, devoted to devotion to Vishnu, perform this vow in Kartika.

Verse 30 (padma.6.95.30)

देहस्थितानि पापानि वितर्कं यांति तद्भयात् । क्व यास्यामो वदंत्येवं यद्ययं व्रतकृन्नरः

dehasthitāni pāpāni vitarkaṁ yāṁti tadbhayāt kva yāsyāmo vadaṁtyevaṁ yadyayaṁ vratakṛnnaraḥ

The sins residing within the body, out of fear of him, fall into anxious thought, saying, 'If this man has become a keeper of the vow, where shall we go?'

Verse 31 (padma.6.95.31)

इत्यूर्जव्रतनियमान्शृणोति भक्ता ये चैतत्कथयंति चैव वैष्णवाग्रे । ते सम्यग्व्रतकरणात्फलं लभेरन्तत्सर्वं कलुषविनाशनं लभंते

ityūrjavrataniyamānśṛṇoti bhaktā ye caitatkathayaṁti caiva vaiṣṇavāgre te samyagvratakaraṇātphalaṁ labherantatsarvaṁ kaluṣavināśanaṁ labhaṁte

Those devotees who thus hear these rules of the Kartika vow, and those who recite them before Vaishnavas, likewise obtain the fruit of duly performing this vow — they all obtain that fruit which destroys all impurity.