The Daily Observances

Verse 1 (skanda.2.102.1)

नारद उवाच । कदा स्नानं प्रकर्तव्यं कथं स्थेयं दिनावधि । आह्निकं तत्समाचक्ष्व विशेषेण पितामह

nārada uvāca kadā snānaṁ prakartavyaṁ kathaṁ stheyaṁ dināvadhi āhnikaṁ tatsamācakṣva viśeṣeṇa pitāmaha

Narada said: When should the bath be performed, and how should one conduct oneself through the day? Tell me in particular, O Grandfather, of the daily rites.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.102.2)

ब्रह्मोवाच । रात्र्यां तुर्यांशशेषायामुत्तिष्ठेत्सर्वदा व्रती । विष्णुं स्तुत्वा बहुस्तोत्रैर्दिनकार्यं विचारयेत्

brahmovāca rātryāṁ turyāṁśaśeṣāyāmuttiṣṭhetsarvadā vratī viṣṇuṁ stutvā bahustotrairdinakāryaṁ vicārayet

Brahma said: When a fourth part of the night remains, the vow-observer should always rise; having praised Vishnu with many hymns, he should plan the day's activities.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.102.3)

ग्रामनैर्ऋत्यदिग्भागे मलोत्सर्गं यथाविधि । ब्रह्मसूत्रं दक्षकर्णे स्थाप्य तत्र उदङ्मुखः

grāmanairṛtyadigbhāge malotsargaṁ yathāvidhi brahmasūtraṁ dakṣakarṇe sthāpya tatra udaṅmukhaḥ

In the south-western direction from the village, he should relieve himself according to rule, having placed the sacred thread over his right ear, facing north,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.102.4)

अंतर्धाय तृणं भूमौ शिरः प्रावृत्य वाससा । वक्त्रं नियम्य वस्त्रेणाऽसंगः सोदकभाजनः

aṁtardhāya tṛṇaṁ bhūmau śiraḥ prāvṛtya vāsasā vaktraṁ niyamya vastreṇā'saṁgaḥ sodakabhājanaḥ

having concealed himself with grass on the ground, having covered his head with cloth, having covered his mouth with cloth, without contact with others, with a vessel of water,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.102.5)

कुर्यान्मूत्रपुरीषं तु रात्रौ चेद्दक्षिणामुखः । तत उत्थाय चाऽऽगच्छेत्समीपं कलशस्य हि

kuryānmūtrapurīṣaṁ tu rātrau ceddakṣiṇāmukhaḥ tata utthāya cā''gacchetsamīpaṁ kalaśasya hi

if it is at night, he should relieve himself facing south. Then, rising, he should come near the water-vessel.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.102.6)

गंधलेपक्षयकरं मृत्तिकाशौचमाचरेत् । एका लिंगे करे तिस्र उभयोर्मृद्द्वयं स्मृतम्

gaṁdhalepakṣayakaraṁ mṛttikāśaucamācaret ekā liṁge kare tisra ubhayormṛddvayaṁ smṛtam

He should perform purification with clay, which removes the odor and residue: one ball of clay for the private part, three for the hand, and two for both, it is said.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.102.7)

मूत्रशौचे त्विदं ज्ञेयं विष्ठाशौचमतः शृणु । पंचापानेऽथवा सप्त दश वामकरे तथा

mūtraśauce tvidaṁ jñeyaṁ viṣṭhāśaucamataḥ śṛṇu paṁcāpāne'thavā sapta daśa vāmakare tathā

This should be known for the purification after urination; hear now of the purification after defecation: five balls for the anus, or seven, and ten for the left hand,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.102.8)

उभयोः सप्त दातव्याः पादयोर्मृत्तिकात्रयम् । एतच्छौचं गृहस्थस्य द्विगुणं ब्रह्मचारिणः

ubhayoḥ sapta dātavyāḥ pādayormṛttikātrayam etacchaucaṁ gṛhasthasya dviguṇaṁ brahmacāriṇaḥ

seven should be given for both hands, and three balls of clay for the feet. This purification is for the householder; it is doubled for the celibate student,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.102.9)

वानप्रस्थस्य त्रिगुणं यतीनां च चतुर्गुणम् । एतच्छौचं दिवा प्रोक्तं रात्रावर्द्धं समाचरेत्

vānaprasthasya triguṇaṁ yatīnāṁ ca caturguṇam etacchaucaṁ divā proktaṁ rātrāvarddhaṁ samācaret

tripled for the forest-dweller, and quadrupled for the renunciant ascetics. This purification is prescribed for the day; at night, half of it should be performed.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.102.10)

मार्गस्थस्य तदर्धं स्यात्स्त्रीशूद्राणां तदर्धकम् । शौचकर्मविहीनस्य समस्ता निष्फलाः क्रियाः

mārgasthasya tadardhaṁ syātstrīśūdrāṇāṁ tadardhakam śaucakarmavihīnasya samastā niṣphalāḥ kriyāḥ

For one on a journey it is half of that, and for women and shudras half of that again. For one devoid of the rite of purification, all his rites are fruitless.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.102.11)

दंतजिह्वाविशुद्धिं च ततः कुर्यादतंद्रितः । आयुर्बलं यशो वर्चः प्रजाः पशुवसूनि च

daṁtajihvāviśuddhiṁ ca tataḥ kuryādataṁdritaḥ āyurbalaṁ yaśo varcaḥ prajāḥ paśuvasūni ca

Then, without laziness, he should cleanse his teeth and tongue, saying: 'Life, strength, fame, vigor, offspring, cattle, and wealth,'

Verse 12 (skanda.2.102.12)

ब्रह्म प्रज्ञां च मेधां च त्वं नो देहि वनस्पते । दंतकाष्ठं तु गृह्णीयाद्द्वादशांगुलसंमितम्

brahma prajñāṁ ca medhāṁ ca tvaṁ no dehi vanaspate daṁtakāṣṭhaṁ tu gṛhṇīyāddvādaśāṁgulasaṁmitam

'spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and intellect — give these to us, O lord of the forest.' One should take a tooth-twig measuring twelve fingers' breadth.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.102.13)

क्षीरवृक्षस्य न ग्राह्यं कार्पासस्य तथैव च । कंटकस्य च वृक्षस्य दग्धवृक्षस्य चैव हि

kṣīravṛkṣasya na grāhyaṁ kārpāsasya tathaiva ca kaṁṭakasya ca vṛkṣasya dagdhavṛkṣasya caiva hi

It should not be taken from a milk-exuding tree, nor from a cotton tree, nor from a thorny tree, nor indeed from a burnt tree.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.102.14)

सद्वासनं मृदुतरं दंतधावनमादितः । उपवासे नवम्यां च षष्ठ्यां श्राद्धदिने रवौ । ग्रहणे प्रतिपद्दर्शे न कुर्याद्दंतधावनम् । कुर्याद्द्वादशगंडूषाननुक्ते दंतधावने

sadvāsanaṁ mṛdutaraṁ daṁtadhāvanamāditaḥ upavāse navamyāṁ ca ṣaṣṭhyāṁ śrāddhadine ravau grahaṇe pratipaddarśe na kuryāddaṁtadhāvanam kuryāddvādaśagaṁḍūṣānanukte daṁtadhāvane

It should have a good fragrance and be very soft — this is the rule at first for tooth-cleaning. On a fast day, on the ninth or sixth lunar day, on a shraddha day, on Sunday, during an eclipse, on the first day, or on the new moon, one should not use a tooth-twig; when it is not enjoined, one should instead rinse the mouth twelve times.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.102.15)

दंतान्विशोध्य विधिवन्मुखं संमार्ज्य वारिणा । ललाटे चोर्ध्वपुंड्रं तु धृत्वा चाचम्य वारिणा

daṁtānviśodhya vidhivanmukhaṁ saṁmārjya vāriṇā lalāṭe cordhvapuṁḍraṁ tu dhṛtvā cācamya vāriṇā

Having cleaned the teeth according to rule, rinsed the mouth with water, applied the urdhva-pundra mark on the forehead, and sipped water for purification,

Verse 16 (skanda.2.102.16)

देवालये नदीतीरे राजमार्गे विशेषतः । दत्त्वा चाकाशदीपं तु तुलसीसन्निधावथ

devālaye nadītīre rājamārge viśeṣataḥ dattvā cākāśadīpaṁ tu tulasīsannidhāvatha

especially at a temple, on a riverbank, or on a public road, having offered a lamp to the sky, and then in the presence of tulasi,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.102.17)

गृहीत्वार्चनसामग्रीमिष्टदेवगृहं व्रजेत् । ततो गायेत नृत्येत पूजां कृत्वा तु बुद्धिमान्

gṛhītvārcanasāmagrīmiṣṭadevagṛhaṁ vrajet tato gāyeta nṛtyeta pūjāṁ kṛtvā tu buddhimān

having taken the materials for worship, one should go to the temple of one's chosen deity. Then the wise man, having performed worship, should sing and dance,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.102.18)

पठित्वा विष्णुनामानि कुर्य्यान्नीराजनं हरेः । नाडीद्वयावशिष्टायां रात्र्यां गच्छेज्जलाशयम्

paṭhitvā viṣṇunāmāni kuryyānnīrājanaṁ hareḥ nāḍīdvayāvaśiṣṭāyāṁ rātryāṁ gacchejjalāśayam

and, having recited the names of Vishnu, should perform the waving of lamps before Hari. As already stated, when two nadikas of the night remain, one should go to a body of water,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.102.19)

तत्रोक्तविधिना स्नानं कुर्याद्वै कार्तिकव्रती । वस्त्रनिष्पीडनं कृत्वा कुर्याच्च तिलकं तथा

tatroktavidhinā snānaṁ kuryādvai kārtikavratī vastraniṣpīḍanaṁ kṛtvā kuryācca tilakaṁ tathā

and there, the observer of the Kartika vow should bathe according to the rule already stated; having wrung out the garment, he should also apply the tilaka mark.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.102.20)

ततः संध्यामुपासीत स्वसूत्रोक्तेन वर्त्मना । ततः कार्यो जपो देव्या यावदकोंदयो भवेत्

tataḥ saṁdhyāmupāsīta svasūtroktena vartmanā tataḥ kāryo japo devyā yāvadakoṁdayo bhavet

Then he should perform the twilight worship according to the path prescribed by his own Vedic branch; then japa of the Goddess should be performed until sunrise.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.102.21)

एतत्प्रोक्तं रात्रिशेषकृत्यं दैनमथोच्यते । यस्मिन्कृते कार्तिकोऽयं सकलः सफलो भवेत्

etatproktaṁ rātriśeṣakṛtyaṁ dainamathocyate yasminkṛte kārtiko'yaṁ sakalaḥ saphalo bhavet

This has been declared as the duty for the remainder of the night; now the day's duty is told, by performing which this entire month of Kartika becomes fruitful.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.102.22)

विष्णोः सहस्रनामाऽऽद्यं संध्यांते च पठेत्ततः । देवालये समागत्य पुनः पूजनमारभेत्

viṣṇoḥ sahasranāmā''dyaṁ saṁdhyāṁte ca paṭhettataḥ devālaye samāgatya punaḥ pūjanamārabhet

He should recite the thousand names of Vishnu at the end of the twilight rite; then, having come again to the temple, he should begin worship once more.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.102.23)

नृत्यगानादिकार्येषु प्रहरं दिवसं नयेत् । ततः पुराणश्रवणं यामार्धं सम्यगाचरेत्

nṛtyagānādikāryeṣu praharaṁ divasaṁ nayet tataḥ purāṇaśravaṇaṁ yāmārdhaṁ samyagācaret

He should pass one watch of the day in activities such as dance and song; then he should properly attend to the hearing of the Purana for half a watch.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.102.24)

पौराणिकस्य पूजां तु तुलसीपूजनं तथा । कृत्वा माध्याह्निकं कर्म भुंजीत द्विदलोज्झितम्

paurāṇikasya pūjāṁ tu tulasīpūjanaṁ tathā kṛtvā mādhyāhnikaṁ karma bhuṁjīta dvidalojjhitam

Having performed worship of the Purana-reciter and the worship of tulasi, and having performed the midday rites, he should eat food free of split-pulse dishes.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.102.25)

बलिदानं वैश्वदेवमतिथीनां समर्पणम् । कृत्वा भुंक्ते तु यो मर्त्यः केवलं चाऽमृतं हि तत्

balidānaṁ vaiśvadevamatithīnāṁ samarpaṇam kṛtvā bhuṁkte tu yo martyaḥ kevalaṁ cā'mṛtaṁ hi tat

Having performed the offering of bali, the Vaishvadeva rite, and the honoring of guests, that mortal who then eats — for him that food alone is truly nectar.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.102.26)

यथाशक्ति द्विजा भोज्याः प्रत्यहं वाऽथ पर्वणि । हविष्यभोजनं कुर्यादामिषं परिवर्जयेत्

yathāśakti dvijā bhojyāḥ pratyahaṁ vā'tha parvaṇi haviṣyabhojanaṁ kuryādāmiṣaṁ parivarjayet

According to one's ability, brahmins should be fed, whether daily or on special occasions; one should eat only oblational food and avoid meat entirely.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.102.27)

भक्षयेत्तुलसीं वक्त्रशुद्ध्यर्थं तीर्थवारिणा । संसारव्यवहारेण दिनशेषं समापयेत्

bhakṣayettulasīṁ vaktraśuddhyarthaṁ tīrthavāriṇā saṁsāravyavahāreṇa dinaśeṣaṁ samāpayet

For the purification of the mouth, one should partake of tulasi with sacred water; the remainder of the day should be spent in one's worldly affairs.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.102.28)

सायंकाले पुनर्गच्छेद्विष्णोर्देवालयं प्रति । संध्यां कृत्वा प्रयुंजीत तत्र दीपन्यथाबलम्

sāyaṁkāle punargacchedviṣṇordevālayaṁ prati saṁdhyāṁ kṛtvā prayuṁjīta tatra dīpanyathābalam

In the evening he should go again to the temple of Vishnu; having performed the evening twilight rite, he should light lamps there according to his means.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.102.29)

विष्णुं प्रणम्य हरये कृत्वा नीराजनं शुभम् । स्तोत्रपाठादिकं कुर्वन्नाद्ययामे तु जागरम्

viṣṇuṁ praṇamya haraye kṛtvā nīrājanaṁ śubham stotrapāṭhādikaṁ kurvannādyayāme tu jāgaram

Having bowed to Vishnu and performed the auspicious waving of lamps to Hari, reciting hymns and the like, he should keep vigil during the first watch of the night.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.102.30)

यामे तु प्रथमेऽतीते निद्रां कुर्याद्विचक्षणः । ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतं कुर्याद्भार्यामीयादृतौ तथा

yāme tu prathame'tīte nidrāṁ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ brahmacaryavrataṁ kuryādbhāryāmīyādṛtau tathā

When the first watch has passed, the discerning man should sleep. He should observe the vow of celibacy; he may approach his wife only during her fertile season,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.102.31)

तया कामयमानो वा भार्यां गच्छेन्न दोषभाक् । एवं प्रतिदिनं कुर्यादामासं तु यथाविधि

tayā kāmayamāno vā bhāryāṁ gacchenna doṣabhāk evaṁ pratidinaṁ kuryādāmāsaṁ tu yathāvidhi

and if, desiring her, he approaches his wife thus, he incurs no fault. He should do this every day, according to rule, for the whole month.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.102.32)

एवं तु कार्तिके मासि यः कुर्यात्परमं व्रतम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो याति विष्णोः सलोकताम्

evaṁ tu kārtike māsi yaḥ kuryātparamaṁ vratam sarvapāpavinirmukto yāti viṣṇoḥ salokatām

Whoever thus observes this supreme vow in the month of Kartika, freed from all sin, attains the world of Vishnu.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.102.33)

रोगापहं पातकनाशकृत्परं सद्बुद्धिदं पुत्रधनादिसाधकम् । मुक्तेर्निदानं नहि कार्तिकव्रताद्विष्णुप्रियादन्यदिहाऽस्ति भूतले

rogāpahaṁ pātakanāśakṛtparaṁ sadbuddhidaṁ putradhanādisādhakam mukternidānaṁ nahi kārtikavratādviṣṇupriyādanyadihā'sti bhūtale

There is nothing else on this earth — nothing that removes disease, supremely destroys sin, grants good understanding, secures sons and wealth, and is the very cause of liberation — other than the Kartika vow, so dear to Vishnu.