The Rules of the Kartika Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.2.103.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि कार्तिकस्य व्रतं महत् । यच्छुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तो मोक्षमवाप्स्यसि

brahmovāca śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi kārtikasya vrataṁ mahat yacchutvā sarvapāpebhyo mukto mokṣamavāpsyasi

Brahma said: Listen, Narada, I shall tell of the great vow of Kartika, by hearing which you shall be freed from all sins and attain liberation.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.103.2)

कार्तिके मासि संप्राप्ते निषिद्धानि च वर्जयेत् । तैलाभ्यंगं परान्नं च तथा वै तैलभोजनम्

kārtike māsi saṁprāpte niṣiddhāni ca varjayet tailābhyaṁgaṁ parānnaṁ ca tathā vai tailabhojanam

When the month of Kartika arrives, one should avoid forbidden things: oil-massage, another's food, and food cooked in oil,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.103.3)

फलानि बहुबीजानि धान्यानि द्विदलान्यपि । वर्जयेत्कार्तिके मासि नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा

phalāni bahubījāni dhānyāni dvidalānyapi varjayetkārtike māsi nā'tra kāryā vicāraṇā

fruits with many seeds, and split-pulse grains — these should be avoided in the month of Kartika; there is no need to deliberate on this.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.103.4)

अलाबुं गृंजरं चैव वृंताकं बृहतीफलम् । अन्नं पर्युषितं वाऽपि भिस्सटं च मसूरिकम्

alābuṁ gṛṁjaraṁ caiva vṛṁtākaṁ bṛhatīphalam annaṁ paryuṣitaṁ vā'pi bhissaṭaṁ ca masūrikam

Bottle-gourd, carrot, brinjal, the large brinjal fruit, stale food, radish-sprouts, and lentils,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.103.5)

पुनर्भोजनं माध्वं च परान्नं कांस्यभोजनम् । नखं चर्म च छत्राकं कांजि दुर्गंधमेव च

punarbhojanaṁ mādhvaṁ ca parānnaṁ kāṁsyabhojanam nakhaṁ carma ca chatrākaṁ kāṁji durgaṁdhameva ca

eating a second time, honey-wine, another's food, eating from a bronze vessel, nails and hide, mushrooms, fermented rice-gruel, and anything foul-smelling,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.103.6)

गणान्नं गणिकान्नं च तथा वै ग्रामयाजिनः । शूद्रान्नं शद्रसंपर्कं सूतकान्नं तथैव च

gaṇānnaṁ gaṇikānnaṁ ca tathā vai grāmayājinaḥ śūdrānnaṁ śadrasaṁparkaṁ sūtakānnaṁ tathaiva ca

food from a corporate feast, food from a courtesan, from a village-priest, the food of a shudra, contact with a shudra, and food touched by birth-pollution,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.103.7)

श्राद्धान्नमृतुशांत्याश्च जातकं नामकं तथा । श्लेष्मातकफलं चैव वर्जयेत्कार्तिकव्रती

śrāddhānnamṛtuśāṁtyāśca jātakaṁ nāmakaṁ tathā śleṣmātakaphalaṁ caiva varjayetkārtikavratī

food from a shraddha rite, from a menstrual purification rite, from a birth-ceremony and naming-ceremony, and the fruit of the shleshmataka tree — the Kartika vow-observer should avoid all these.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.103.8)

निषिद्धेषु च पत्रेषु भोजनं नैव कारयेत् । मधुपालाशकदलीजंबूप्लक्षमकूटिकाः । एतत्पत्रेषु भोक्तव्यं पुष्करे न कदाचन

niṣiddheṣu ca patreṣu bhojanaṁ naiva kārayet madhupālāśakadalījaṁbūplakṣamakūṭikāḥ etatpatreṣu bhoktavyaṁ puṣkare na kadācana

One should never eat food on forbidden leaves. Food should be eaten on the leaves of madhuka, palasha, plantain, jambu, plaksha, and makutika; never on the lotus-leaf.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.103.9)

कार्तिके मासि संप्राप्ते यः कुर्याद्वनभोजनम् । स याति परमं लोकं विष्णोर्देवस्य चक्रिणः

kārtike māsi saṁprāpte yaḥ kuryādvanabhojanam sa yāti paramaṁ lokaṁ viṣṇordevasya cakriṇaḥ

Whoever, when the month of Kartika arrives, takes a meal in a forest grove, goes to the supreme world of the disc-bearing god Vishnu.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.103.10)

प्रातःस्नानं तु कर्तव्यं तथैव हरिपूजनम् । कथायाः श्रवणं चैव कार्तिके शस्यते मुने

prātaḥsnānaṁ tu kartavyaṁ tathaiva haripūjanam kathāyāḥ śravaṇaṁ caiva kārtike śasyate mune

The morning bath should be performed, and likewise the worship of Hari; and hearing of sacred discourse too, O sage, is praised in Kartika.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.103.11)

गोपीचंदनदानं तु गोदानं श्रोत्रियाय च । कर्तव्यं कार्तिके मासि तेन मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

gopīcaṁdanadānaṁ tu godānaṁ śrotriyāya ca kartavyaṁ kārtike māsi tena mokṣamavāpnuyāt

The gift of gopichandana, and the gift of a cow to a learned brahmin, should be made in the month of Kartika; thereby one attains liberation.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.103.12)

कदलीफलदानं तु दानं धात्रीफलस्य च । वस्त्रदानं तथा कुर्याच्छीतार्ताय द्विजन्मने

kadalīphaladānaṁ tu dānaṁ dhātrīphalasya ca vastradānaṁ tathā kuryācchītārtāya dvijanmane

One should give the gift of a plantain and the amalaki fruit, and likewise give a garment to a twice-born man afflicted by cold.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.103.13)

शाकादिदानं कुर्वीत चान्नदानं विशेषतः । शालिग्रामस्य दानं च कर्तव्यं तु द्विजन्मने

śākādidānaṁ kurvīta cānnadānaṁ viśeṣataḥ śāligrāmasya dānaṁ ca kartavyaṁ tu dvijanmane

One should give vegetables and the like, and especially food; and the gift of a Shaligrama stone should be made to a twice-born man.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.103.14)

पौराणिकाय यो दद्यादामान्नं घृतपायसम् । स चैश्वर्यमवाप्नोति शतब्राह्मणभोजनात्

paurāṇikāya yo dadyādāmānnaṁ ghṛtapāyasam sa caiśvaryamavāpnoti śatabrāhmaṇabhojanāt

Whoever gives to the reciter of the Purana uncooked grain or milk-and-rice pudding with ghee, obtains sovereignty greater than that from feeding a hundred brahmins.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.103.15)

कमलैः पूजयेद्यस्तु कार्तिके कमलाप्रियम् । स तु पुण्यमवाप्नोति नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा

kamalaiḥ pūjayedyastu kārtike kamalāpriyam sa tu puṇyamavāpnoti nā'tra kāryā vicāraṇā

Whoever worships, in Kartika, the beloved of Lakshmi with lotuses, obtains merit — there is no need to deliberate on this.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.103.16)

कार्तिके तुलसीपत्रं यो भक्त्या विष्णवेऽर्पयेत् । संसाराच्च विनिर्मुक्तो याति विष्णोः परं पदम्

kārtike tulasīpatraṁ yo bhaktyā viṣṇave'rpayet saṁsārācca vinirmukto yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam

Whoever, in Kartika, offers a tulasi leaf to Vishnu with devotion, freed from the cycle of transmigration, attains the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.103.17)

कार्तिके केतकीपुष्पैरर्चयेद्गरुडध्वजम् । पूजितो जन्मसाहस्रं नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा

kārtike ketakīpuṣpairarcayedgaruḍadhvajam pūjito janmasāhasraṁ nā'tra kāryā vicāraṇā

Whoever, in Kartika, worships Vishnu with ketaki flowers has thereby worshipped him for a thousand births — there is no need to deliberate on this.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.103.18)

शंखदानं तु यः कुर्यात्तथा चक्रांकितस्य च । तस्य पापानि नश्यंति दानमात्रान्न संशयः

śaṁkhadānaṁ tu yaḥ kuryāttathā cakrāṁkitasya ca tasya pāpāni naśyaṁti dānamātrānna saṁśayaḥ

Whoever gives the gift of a conch, and likewise gives to one marked with the disc, his sins are destroyed by the mere act of giving — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.103.19)

गीतापाठं तु यः कुर्यात्कार्तिके विष्णुवल्लभे । तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं नाऽलं वर्षशतैरपि

gītāpāṭhaṁ tu yaḥ kuryātkārtike viṣṇuvallabhe tasya puṇyaphalaṁ vaktuṁ nā'laṁ varṣaśatairapi

Whoever recites the Gita in Kartika, dear to Vishnu — even a hundred years would not suffice to tell his fruit of merit.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.103.20)

श्रीमद्रागवतस्याऽपि श्रवणं यः समाचरेत् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः परं निर्वाणमृच्छति

śrīmadrāgavatasyā'pi śravaṇaṁ yaḥ samācaret sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ paraṁ nirvāṇamṛcchati

Whoever attends to the hearing of the glorious Bhagavata, freed from all sin, attains the supreme nirvana.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.103.21)

एकादश्यां निराहारमुपवासं करोति यः । पूर्वजन्मकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नाऽत्र संशयः

ekādaśyāṁ nirāhāramupavāsaṁ karoti yaḥ pūrvajanmakṛtātpāpānmucyate nā'tra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever fasts completely without food on Ekadashi is freed from the sins committed in previous births — there is no doubt of this.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.103.22)

शालिग्रामस्य नैवेद्यं कोटियज्ञफलं लभेत् । अन्यदेवस्य नैवेद्यं भुक्त्वा चांद्रायणं चरेत्

śāligrāmasya naivedyaṁ koṭiyajñaphalaṁ labhet anyadevasya naivedyaṁ bhuktvā cāṁdrāyaṇaṁ caret

The offering made to the Shaligrama gives the fruit of a crore sacrifices; one who partakes of another deity's food-offering should perform the Chandrayana penance.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.103.23)

पूजाकाले तु देवस्य घण्टानादं करोति यः । हरेस्तृप्तिं परां याति मनुजो नाऽत्र संशयः

pūjākāle tu devasya ghaṇṭānādaṁ karoti yaḥ harestṛptiṁ parāṁ yāti manujo nā'tra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever sounds a bell during the worship of the deity — that man brings supreme satisfaction to Hari, there is no doubt of this.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.103.24)

परान्नं वर्जयेद्यस्तु कार्तिके विष्णुतुष्टये । दामोदरस्य प्रीतिं स सम्यक्प्राप्नोति मानवः

parānnaṁ varjayedyastu kārtike viṣṇutuṣṭaye dāmodarasya prītiṁ sa samyakprāpnoti mānavaḥ

Whoever forsakes another's food in Kartika for Vishnu's pleasure, that man fully obtains the love of Damodara.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.103.25)

अध्वगं तु परिश्रांतं काले च गृहमागतम् । योऽतिथिं पूजयेद्भक्त्या जन्मसाहस्रनाशनम्

adhvagaṁ tu pariśrāṁtaṁ kāle ca gṛhamāgatam yo'tithiṁ pūjayedbhaktyā janmasāhasranāśanam

Whoever, with devotion, honors as a guest a weary traveler who has arrived at the right time at his house, destroys the sin of a thousand births.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.103.26)

निंदां कुर्वंति ये मूढा वैष्णवानां महात्मनाम् । पतंति पितृभिः सार्द्धं महारौरव संज्ञके

niṁdāṁ kurvaṁti ye mūḍhā vaiṣṇavānāṁ mahātmanām pataṁti pitṛbhiḥ sārddhaṁ mahāraurava saṁjñake

Those fools who slander great-souled Vaishnavas fall, together with their ancestors, into the hell named Maharaurava.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.103.27)

दृष्ट्वा भागवतान्विप्रान्सन्मुखो न च याति हि । न गृह्णाति हरिस्तस्य पूजां द्वादशवार्षिकीम्

dṛṣṭvā bhāgavatānviprānsanmukho na ca yāti hi na gṛhṇāti haristasya pūjāṁ dvādaśavārṣikīm

Whoever, on seeing devout brahmins, does not go to meet them face to face — Hari does not accept even twelve years of that man's worship.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.103.28)

निंदां भगवतः शृण्वंस्तत्परस्य जनस्य च । ततो नाऽपैति यः सोऽपि हरेः प्रियतमो नहि

niṁdāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvaṁstatparasya janasya ca tato nā'paiti yaḥ so'pi hareḥ priyatamo nahi

Whoever, hearing slander of the Lord or of one devoted to him, does not withdraw from that place — he too is by no means dear to Hari.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.103.29)

प्रदक्षिणां तु यः कुर्यात्कार्तिके केशवस्य हि । पदेपदेऽश्वमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयः

pradakṣiṇāṁ tu yaḥ kuryātkārtike keśavasya hi padepade'śvamedhasya phalaṁ prāpnotyasaṁśayaḥ

Whoever performs circumambulation of Keshava in Kartika obtains, at every step, the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice — without doubt.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.103.30)

दंडप्रणामं यः कुर्यात्कार्तिके केशवाऽग्रतः । राजसूयाऽश्वमेधानां फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयः

daṁḍapraṇāmaṁ yaḥ kuryātkārtike keśavā'grataḥ rājasūyā'śvamedhānāṁ phalaṁ prāpnotyasaṁśayaḥ

Whoever prostrates flat like a rod before Keshava in Kartika obtains the fruit of the Rajasuya and the Ashvamedha sacrifices — without doubt.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.103.31)

कुटुम्बभोजनं चैव कार्तिके भक्तिसंयुतः । कारयेद्विप्रशार्दूल तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम्

kuṭumbabhojanaṁ caiva kārtike bhaktisaṁyutaḥ kārayedvipraśārdūla tasya puṇyamanaṁtakam

O tiger among brahmins, whoever, filled with devotion, arranges a family feast in Kartika, his merit is endless.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.103.32)

परस्त्रीसंगमं यस्तु कार्तिके कुरुते नरः । तस्य पापस्य विश्रांतिर्यावद्वक्तुं न शक्यते

parastrīsaṁgamaṁ yastu kārtike kurute naraḥ tasya pāpasya viśrāṁtiryāvadvaktuṁ na śakyate

The man who has union with another's wife in Kartika — the limit of his sin cannot even be told.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.103.33)

तुलसीमृत्तिकापुंड्रं ललाटे यस्य दृश्यते । यमस्तं नेक्षितुं शक्तः किमु दूता भयंकराः

tulasīmṛttikāpuṁḍraṁ lalāṭe yasya dṛśyate yamastaṁ nekṣituṁ śaktaḥ kimu dūtā bhayaṁkarāḥ

He on whose forehead the tulasi-clay mark is seen — even Yama himself is unable to look upon him; what then of his fearsome messengers?

Verse 34 (skanda.2.103.34)

शाकं वा लवणं वाऽपि यत्किंचिद्वा भविष्यति । तद्देयं कार्तिके मासि प्रीत्यर्थं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः

śākaṁ vā lavaṇaṁ vā'pi yatkiṁcidvā bhaviṣyati taddeyaṁ kārtike māsi prītyarthaṁ śārṅgadhanvanaḥ

Whether it be vegetables, or salt, or whatever else there may be — it should be given in the month of Kartika, for the pleasure of the wielder of the Sharnga bow.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.103.35)

इत्याद्या बहवो धर्माः कार्तिके विष्णुवल्लभाः । यथाशक्त्या प्रकुर्वीत धर्मं देवस्य तुष्टिदम्

ityādyā bahavo dharmāḥ kārtike viṣṇuvallabhāḥ yathāśaktyā prakurvīta dharmaṁ devasya tuṣṭidam

Thus there are many such observances, dear to Vishnu, in Kartika; one should perform, according to one's ability, the dharma that gladdens the god.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.103.36)

हरिसंतुष्टये कार्यस्त्यागो वा स्वेष्टवस्तुनः । मासांते द्विजवर्याय दद्यात्तद्व्रतपूर्तये

harisaṁtuṣṭaye kāryastyāgo vā sveṣṭavastunaḥ māsāṁte dvijavaryāya dadyāttadvratapūrtaye

For Hari's satisfaction, one should renounce a desired object of one's own; at the end of the month, one should give it to an excellent brahmin, for the fulfillment of the vow.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.103.37)

सर्वव्रतानि चैकत्र सत्यव्रतमथैकतः । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सत्यं भाषेत सर्वदा

sarvavratāni caikatra satyavratamathaikataḥ tasmātsarvaprayatnena satyaṁ bhāṣeta sarvadā

All other vows together on one side, and the vow of truthfulness alone on the other; therefore one should always speak the truth with every effort.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.103.38)

अन्यधर्मेष्वधिकृतिः कुलजातिविभागतः । अधिकारी कार्तिके तु सर्व एव जनो भवेत्

anyadharmeṣvadhikṛtiḥ kulajātivibhāgataḥ adhikārī kārtike tu sarva eva jano bhavet

Eligibility for other observances is determined by division of family and caste; but for the observances of Kartika, every single person is eligible.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.103.39)

गोग्रासः कार्तिके मासि विशेषाद्यैस्तु दीयते । तेषां पुण्यफलं वक्तुं न शक्नोति पितामहः

gogrāsaḥ kārtike māsi viśeṣādyaistu dīyate teṣāṁ puṇyaphalaṁ vaktuṁ na śaknoti pitāmahaḥ

Those who, especially in the month of Kartika, give a mouthful of food to a cow — even the Grandfather Brahma is unable to tell their fruit of merit.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.103.40)

विष्णुदेवालयं प्रातः संमार्जयति कार्तिके । तस्य वैकुंठभवने जायते सुदृढं गृहम्

viṣṇudevālayaṁ prātaḥ saṁmārjayati kārtike tasya vaikuṁṭhabhavane jāyate sudṛḍhaṁ gṛham

Whoever sweeps the temple of Vishnu each morning in Kartika — for him a firm dwelling arises in the abode of Vaikuntha.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.103.41)

दद्यात्कार्तिकमासे तु धर्मकाष्ठानि भूरिशः । न तत्पुण्यस्य नाशोस्ति कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

dadyātkārtikamāse tu dharmakāṣṭhāni bhūriśaḥ na tatpuṇyasya nāśosti kalpakoṭiśatairapi

Whoever gives, in abundance, sacred wood in the month of Kartika — that merit does not perish even in a hundred crore kalpas.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.103.42)

सुधादि लेपयेद्यस्तु कार्तिके विष्णुमंदिरे । चित्रादिकं लिखेद्वाऽपि मोदते विष्णुसन्निधौ

sudhādi lepayedyastu kārtike viṣṇumaṁdire citrādikaṁ likhedvā'pi modate viṣṇusannidhau

Whoever has the Vishnu temple plastered with lime in Kartika, or has paintings made there, rejoices in Vishnu's very presence.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.103.43)

देवालये वा तीर्थे वा कृतो दुष्टैर्नृपैः करः । तं मोचयंति ये लोकास्तेषां धर्मः सनातनः

devālaye vā tīrthe vā kṛto duṣṭairnṛpaiḥ karaḥ taṁ mocayaṁti ye lokāsteṣāṁ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

Whatever tax has been imposed by wicked kings upon a temple or a sacred ford — those people who cause it to be remitted, their merit is eternal.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.103.44)

कार्तिके मासि यो विप्रो गभस्तीश्वरसन्निधौ । शतरुद्रीजपं कुर्यान्मंत्रसिद्धिः प्रजायते

kārtike māsi yo vipro gabhastīśvarasannidhau śatarudrījapaṁ kuryānmaṁtrasiddhiḥ prajāyate

The brahmin who, in the month of Kartika, performs the recitation of the Shatarudriya near Gabhastishvara — for him mantra-siddhi is generated.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.103.45)

वाराणस्यां तु यैः स्थित्वा त्रिवर्षं कार्तिकव्रतम् । सोपांगं सांगं यैर्मर्त्यैः कृतं भक्त्यैकतत्परैः

vārāṇasyāṁ tu yaiḥ sthitvā trivarṣaṁ kārtikavratam sopāṁgaṁ sāṁgaṁ yairmartyaiḥ kṛtaṁ bhaktyaikatatparaiḥ

Those mortals who, dwelling in Varanasi for three years, wholly devoted with single-minded devotion, have performed the Kartika vow complete with all its limbs —

Verse 46 (skanda.2.103.46)

इह लोके फलं तेषां प्रत्यक्षं जायते किल । संपत्त्या चैव संतत्या यशोभिर्धर्मबुद्धिभिः

iha loke phalaṁ teṣāṁ pratyakṣaṁ jāyate kila saṁpattyā caiva saṁtatyā yaśobhirdharmabuddhibhiḥ

— their fruit indeed becomes manifest in this very world, through prosperity, offspring, fame, and righteous understanding.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.103.47)

पलांडुं शृंगं मांसं च शय्यां सौवीरकं तथा । राजिकोन्मादिकं चाऽपि चिपिटान्नं च वर्जयेत्

palāṁḍuṁ śṛṁgaṁ māṁsaṁ ca śayyāṁ sauvīrakaṁ tathā rājikonmādikaṁ cā'pi cipiṭānnaṁ ca varjayet

One should avoid onion, horn-related food, meat, a luxurious bed, sauvira, mustard-based intoxicants, and flattened-rice preparations.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.103.48)

धात्रीफलं भानुवारे परदेशागमं तथा । तीर्थं विना सदैवेह वर्जयेत्कार्तिकव्रती

dhātrīphalaṁ bhānuvāre paradeśāgamaṁ tathā tīrthaṁ vinā sadaiveha varjayetkārtikavratī

The vow-observer of Kartika should always avoid the amalaki fruit on Sunday, and likewise travel to a foreign land, except for the sake of a pilgrimage.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.103.49)

देववेदद्विजातीनां गुरुगोव्रतिनां तथा । स्त्रीराजमहतां निंदां वर्जयेत्कार्तिकव्रती

devavedadvijātīnāṁ gurugovratināṁ tathā strīrājamahatāṁ niṁdāṁ varjayetkārtikavratī

The Kartika vow-observer should avoid slandering the gods, the Vedas, the twice-born, the guru, cows, fellow vow-observers, women, kings, and great souls.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.103.50)

नरकस्य चतुर्दश्यां तैलाभ्यंगं च कारयेत् । अन्यत्र कार्तिके मासि तैलस्नानं विवर्जयेत् । नालिकां मूलकं चैव कूष्मांडं च कपित्थकम्

narakasya caturdaśyāṁ tailābhyaṁgaṁ ca kārayet anyatra kārtike māsi tailasnānaṁ vivarjayet nālikāṁ mūlakaṁ caiva kūṣmāṁḍaṁ ca kapitthakam

On the fourteenth day of Naraka, one should have an oil massage performed; on other days in Kartika one should avoid oil-bathing. Lotus-stem, radish, pumpkin, and wood-apple are likewise avoided,

Verse 51 (skanda.2.103.51)

रजस्वलांत्यज म्लेच्छ पतितऽव्रतिकैस्तथा । द्विजद्विड्वेदबाह्यैश्च न वदेत्सर्वदा व्रती

rajasvalāṁtyaja mleccha patita'vratikaistathā dvijadviḍvedabāhyaiśca na vadetsarvadā vratī

the vow-observer should never speak with a menstruating woman, an outcaste, a foreigner, a fallen person, one without a vow, one who hates brahmins, or one outside the Vedic fold.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.103.52)

एभिर्दृष्टं च काकैश्च सूतिकान्नं च यद्भवेत् । द्विःपाचितं च दग्धान्नं नैवाद्याद्वैष्णवव्रती

ebhirdṛṣṭaṁ ca kākaiśca sūtikānnaṁ ca yadbhavet dviḥpācitaṁ ca dagdhānnaṁ naivādyādvaiṣṇavavratī

The Vaishnava vow-observer should never eat food looked upon by these persons or by crows, food from a birthing-chamber, food cooked twice, or burnt food.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.103.53)

क्रमात्कूष्मांडबृहतीतरुणीमूलकं तथा । श्रीफलं च कलिंगं च फलं धात्रीभवं तथा

kramātkūṣmāṁḍabṛhatītaruṇīmūlakaṁ tathā śrīphalaṁ ca kaliṁgaṁ ca phalaṁ dhātrībhavaṁ tathā

In order should be avoided: pumpkin, brinjal, taruni-radish, bael fruit, watermelon, and the amalaki fruit,

Verse 54 (skanda.2.103.54)

नारिकेलमलाबुं च पटोलं बृहतीफलम् । चर्मवृंताकचवलीशाकं तुलसिजं तथा

nārikelamalābuṁ ca paṭolaṁ bṛhatīphalam carmavṛṁtākacavalīśākaṁ tulasijaṁ tathā

coconut and bottle-gourd, pointed gourd, the large brinjal, brinjal-skin, cowpea-greens, and anything born of tulasi,

Verse 55 (skanda.2.103.55)

शाकान्येतानि वर्ज्यानि क्रमात्प्रतिपदादिषु । एवमेव हि माघेऽपि कुर्य्याच्च नियमान्व्रती

śākānyetāni varjyāni kramātpratipadādiṣu evameva hi māghe'pi kuryyācca niyamānvratī

these vegetables should be avoided in sequence, one for each lunar day beginning from the first; and the vow-observer should likewise keep these same rules in the month of Magha.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.103.56)

कार्तिकव्रतिनः पुण्यं यथोक्तव्रतकारिणः । न समर्थो भवेद्वक्तुं ब्रह्माऽपीह चतुर्मुखः

kārtikavratinaḥ puṇyaṁ yathoktavratakāriṇaḥ na samartho bhavedvaktuṁ brahmā'pīha caturmukhaḥ

Even four-faced Brahma is unable to tell the merit of one who observes the Kartika vow as it has been described.