The Prabodhini Festival and the Rites of the Twelfth Tithi

Verse 1 (skanda.2.130.1)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ प्रबोधिन्याश्च माहात्म्यं पापघ्नं पुण्यवर्धनम् ॥ मुक्तिदं तत्त्वबुद्धीनां शृणुष्व सुरसत्तम

īśvara uvāca prabodhinyāśca māhātmyaṁ pāpaghnaṁ puṇyavardhanam || muktidaṁ tattvabuddhīnāṁ śṛṇuṣva surasattama

Ishvara said: Listen, O best of gods, to the glory of Prabodhini Ekadashi, which destroys sin, increases merit, and grants liberation to those of true understanding.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.130.2)

तावद्गर्जति सेनानीर्गंगा भागीरथी क्षितौ ॥ यावत्प्रयाति पापघ्नी कार्तिके हरिबोधिनी

tāvadgarjati senānīrgaṁgā bhāgīrathī kṣitau || yāvatprayāti pāpaghnī kārtike haribodhinī

The war-god (Kartikeya) and the Ganga Bhagirathi roar upon the earth only until the sin-destroying Hari-bodhini of Kartika arrives.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.130.3)

तावद्गर्जंति तीर्थानि आसमुद्रसरांसि वै ॥ यावत्प्रबोधिनी विष्णोस्तिथिर्नाऽऽयाति कार्तिके

tāvadgarjaṁti tīrthāni āsamudrasarāṁsi vai || yāvatprabodhinī viṣṇostithirnā'āyāti kārtike

All the sacred fords and lakes as far as the ocean roar only until Vishnu's Prabodhini tithi arrives in Kartika.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.130.4)

अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च ॥ एकेनैवोपवासेन प्रबोधिन्या यथाऽभवत्

aśvamedhasahasrāṇi rājasūyaśatāni ca || ekenaivopavāsena prabodhinyā yathā'abhavat

The fruit of a thousand Ashvamedhas and a hundred Rajasuyas comes about through a single fast on Prabodhini.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.130.5)

दुर्लभं चैव दुष्प्राप्यं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ॥ तदपि प्रार्थितं विप्र ददाति प्रतिबोधिनी

durlabhaṁ caiva duṣprāpyaṁ trailokye sacarācare || tadapi prārthitaṁ vipra dadāti pratibodhinī

Whatever is rare and hard to obtain in the three worlds of the moving and unmoving, O brahmin, Pratibodhini grants even that, when asked.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.130.6)

ऐश्वर्यं संततिं ज्ञानं राज्यं च सुखसंपदः ॥ ददात्युपोषिता विप्र हेलया हरिबोधिनी

aiśvaryaṁ saṁtatiṁ jñānaṁ rājyaṁ ca sukhasaṁpadaḥ || dadātyupoṣitā vipra helayā haribodhinī

O brahmin, Hari-bodhini, when fasted, effortlessly bestows lordship, progeny, knowledge, kingdom, and happiness and prosperity.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.130.7)

मेरुमंदरतुल्यानि पापान्युपार्जितानि च ॥ एकेनैवोपवासेन दहते हरिबोधिनी

merumaṁdaratulyāni pāpānyupārjitāni ca || ekenaivopavāsena dahate haribodhinī

Even sins accumulated as vast as Mount Meru and Mount Mandara, Hari-bodhini burns away through a single fast.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.130.8)

उपवासं प्रबोधिन्यां यः करोति स्वभावतः ॥ विधिना नरशार्दूल यथोक्तं लभते फलम्

upavāsaṁ prabodhinyāṁ yaḥ karoti svabhāvataḥ || vidhinā naraśārdūla yathoktaṁ labhate phalam

O tiger among men, whoever fasts on Prabodhini according to the rule, even from natural inclination, obtains the fruit as declared.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.130.9)

पूर्वजन्मसहस्रेषु पापं यत्समुपार्जितम् ॥ जागरेण प्रबोधिन्यां दह्यते तृलराशिवत्

pūrvajanmasahasreṣu pāpaṁ yatsamupārjitam || jāgareṇa prabodhinyāṁ dahyate tṛlarāśivat

The sin accumulated across thousands of former births is burned away, like a heap of straw, by the night-vigil on Prabodhini.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.130.10)

शृणु षण्मुख वक्ष्यामि जागरस्य च लक्षणम् ॥ तस्य विज्ञानमात्रेण दुर्लभो न जनार्दनः

śṛṇu ṣaṇmukha vakṣyāmi jāgarasya ca lakṣaṇam || tasya vijñānamātreṇa durlabho na janārdanaḥ

Listen, O six-faced one, I shall tell the characteristics of the night-vigil. By merely understanding it, Janardana is no longer hard to attain.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.130.11)

गीतं वाद्यं च नृत्यं च पुराणपठनं तथा ॥ धूपं दीपं च नैवेद्यं पुष्पगंधाऽनुलेपनम्

gītaṁ vādyaṁ ca nṛtyaṁ ca purāṇapaṭhanaṁ tathā || dhūpaṁ dīpaṁ ca naivedyaṁ puṣpagaṁdhā'anulepanam

Song, instrumental music, dance, the reading of Puranas, incense, lamps, food-offerings, flowers, fragrance, and anointing —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.130.12)

फलमर्घ्यं च श्रद्धा च दानमिंद्रियसंयमम् ॥ सत्याऽन्वितं विनिंदं च मुदा युक्तं क्रियान्वितम्

phalamarghyaṁ ca śraddhā ca dānamiṁdriyasaṁyamam || satyā'nvitaṁ vinindaṁ ca mudā yuktaṁ kriyānvitam

fruit, arghya, faith, giving, control of the senses, joined with truth, free of slander, filled with joy, accompanied by proper ritual action —

Verse 13 (skanda.2.130.13)

साश्चर्यं चैव प्रोत्साहमालस्यादिविवर्जितम् ॥ प्रदक्षिणादिसंयुक्तं नमस्कारपुरःसरम्

sāścaryaṁ caiva protsāhamālasyādivivarjitam || pradakṣiṇādisaṁyuktaṁ namaskārapuraḥsaram

filled with wonder and enthusiasm, free from sloth and the like, accompanied by circumambulation and the rest, preceded by obeisance —

Verse 14 (skanda.2.130.14)

नीराजनसमायुक्तमनिर्विण्णेन चेतसा ॥ यामेयामे महाभाग कुर्वन्नीराजनं हरेः

nīrājanasamāyuktamanirviṇṇena cetasā || yāmeyāme mahābhāga kurvannīrājanaṁ hareḥ

joined with the waving of lamps in arati, with an untroubled mind — O most fortunate one, performing the arati of Hari in every watch of the night —

Verse 15 (skanda.2.130.15)

एतैर्गुणैः समायुक्तं कुर्याज्जागरणं विभोः ॥ एकाग्रमनसा यस्तु न पुनर्जायते भुवि

etairguṇaiḥ samāyuktaṁ kuryājjāgaraṇaṁ vibhoḥ || ekāgramanasā yastu na punarjāyate bhuvi

endowed with these qualities, one should keep the Lord's night-vigil. Whoever does so with a focused mind is not born again upon this earth.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.130.16)

य एवं कुरुते भक्त्या वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः ॥ जागरं वासरे विष्णोर्लीयते परमात्मनि

ya evaṁ kurute bhaktyā vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ || jāgaraṁ vāsare viṣṇorlīyate paramātmani

Whoever, thus with devotion, free from stinginess about wealth, keeps the night-vigil on Vishnu's day, merges into the Supreme Soul.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.130.17)

पुरुषसूक्तेन यो नित्यं कार्तिकेऽथार्चयेद्धरिम् ॥ वर्षकोटिसहस्राणि पूजितस्तेन केशवः

puruṣasūktena yo nityaṁ kārtike'thārcayeddharim || varṣakoṭisahasrāṇi pūjitastena keśavaḥ

Whoever daily worships Hari with the Purusha-sukta during Kartika — by him, Keshava is worshipped for tens of millions of years.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.130.18)

यथोक्तेन विधानेन पंचरात्रोदितेन वै ॥ कार्तिके त्वर्चयेन्नित्यं मुक्तिभागी भवेन्नरः

yathoktena vidhānena paṁcarātroditena vai || kārtike tvarcayennityaṁ muktibhāgī bhavennaraḥ

Whoever worships daily during Kartika according to the stated procedure, as declared in the Pancharatra scriptures, becomes a sharer of liberation.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.130.19)

नमो नारायणायेति कार्तिके योर्चयेद्धरिम् ॥ स मुक्तो नारकैर्दुःखैः पदं गच्छत्यनामयम्

namo nārāyaṇāyeti kārtike yorcayeddharim || sa mukto nārakairduḥkhaiḥ padaṁ gacchatyanāmayam

Whoever, saying "Namo Narayanaya," worships Hari in Kartika, is freed from the sufferings of hell and attains the untroubled state.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.130.20)

हरेर्नामसहस्रं च गजराजस्य मोक्षणम् ॥ कार्तिके पठते यस्तु पुनर्जन्म न विंदति

harernāmasahasraṁ ca gajarājasya mokṣaṇam || kārtike paṭhate yastu punarjanma na viṁdati

Whoever, in Kartika, recites Hari's thousand names and the account of the liberation of the lord of elephants, does not undergo rebirth.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.130.21)

युगकोटिसहस्राणि मन्वंतरशतानि च ॥ द्वादश्यां कार्तिके मासि जागरी वसते दिवि

yugakoṭisahasrāṇi manvaṁtaraśatāni ca || dvādaśyāṁ kārtike māsi jāgarī vasate divi

One who keeps the vigil on the twelfth day of the month of Kartika dwells in heaven for tens of millions of ages and hundreds of manvantaras.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.130.22)

कुले तस्य च ये जाताः शतशोथ सहस्रशः ॥ प्राप्नुवंति पदं विष्णोस्तस्मात्कुर्वीत जागरम्

kule tasya ca ye jātāḥ śataśotha sahasraśaḥ || prāpnuvaṁti padaṁ viṣṇostasmātkurvīta jāgaram

Hundreds and thousands born in his lineage also attain the abode of Vishnu; therefore one should keep the vigil.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.130.23)

कार्तिके पश्चिमे यामे स्तवं गानं करोति यः ॥ श्वेतद्वीपे तु वसते पितृभिः सह सुव्रत

kārtike paścime yāme stavaṁ gānaṁ karoti yaḥ || śvetadvīpe tu vasate pitṛbhiḥ saha suvrata

O virtuous one, whoever sings hymns of praise in the last watch of the night during Kartika dwells in Shvetadvipa together with his ancestors.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.130.24)

नैवेद्यदानं हरये कार्तिके दिनसंक्षये ॥ युगानि वसते स्वर्गे तावंति मुनिसत्तमाः

naivedyadānaṁ haraye kārtike dinasaṁkṣaye || yugāni vasate svarge tāvaṁti munisattamāḥ

O best of sages, one who offers food to Hari at the close of day in Kartika dwells in heaven for as many ages as there are grains in the offering.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.130.25)

अक्षयं मुनिशार्दूल मालतीकमलार्चनम् ॥ अर्चयेद्देवदेवेशं स याति परमं पदम्

akṣayaṁ muniśārdūla mālatīkamalārcanam || arcayeddevadeveśaṁ sa yāti paramaṁ padam

O tiger among sages, worship with malati and lotus flowers is imperishable in its fruit; whoever worships the God of gods attains the supreme state.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.130.26)

कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु कृत्वा ह्येकादशीं नरः ॥ प्रातर्दत्त्वा शुभान्कुंभान्स याति मम मंदिरम्

kārtike śuklapakṣe tu kṛtvā hyekādaśīṁ naraḥ || prātardattvā śubhānkuṁbhānsa yāti mama maṁdiram

Whoever, having observed the Ekadashi in Kartika's bright fortnight, gives auspicious water-pots in the morning, goes to my abode.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.130.27)

अत्रैव तु प्रकर्तव्यः प्रबोधस्तु हरेः खग ॥ हतः शंखासुरो दैत्यो नभसः शुक्लपक्षके

atraiva tu prakartavyaḥ prabodhastu hareḥ khaga || hataḥ śaṁkhāsuro daityo nabhasaḥ śuklapakṣake

O bird (Garuda), it is on this very day that Hari's awakening should be performed, for the daitya Shankhasura was slain in the bright fortnight of that season.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.130.28)

एकादश्यां ततो विष्णुश्चातुर्मास्ये प्रसुप्तवान् ॥ क्षीरांभोधौ जागृतोऽसावेकादश्यां तु कार्तिके

ekādaśyāṁ tato viṣṇuścāturmāsye prasuptavān || kṣīrāṁbhodhau jāgṛto'sāvekādaśyāṁ tu kārtike

From then, Vishnu fell asleep on that Ekadashi in the Kshirasagara for the four rainy months, and he awakens on the Ekadashi of Kartika.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.130.29)

अतः प्रबोधनं कार्यमेकादश्यां तु वैष्णवैः ॥ उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ गोविंद उत्तिष्ठ गरुडध्वज ॥ उत्तिष्ठ कमलाकांत त्रैलोक्यं मंगलं कुरु

ataḥ prabodhanaṁ kāryamekādaśyāṁ tu vaiṣṇavaiḥ uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha govinda uttiṣṭha garuḍadhvaja || uttiṣṭha kamalākāṁta trailokyaṁ maṁgalaṁ kuru

Therefore Vaishnavas should perform his awakening on the Ekadashi: "Arise, arise, O Govinda! Arise, O Garuda-bannered one! Arise, O beloved of Kamala; bring auspiciousness to the three worlds."

Verse 30 (skanda.2.130.30)

इत्युक्त्वा शंखभेर्यादि प्रातःकाले तु वादयेत् ॥ वीणावेणुमृदंगादि नृत्यगीतादि कारयेत्

ityuktvā śaṁkhabheryādi prātaḥkāle tu vādayet || vīṇāveṇumṛdaṁgādi nṛtyagītādi kārayet

Having said this, one should sound conches, drums, and the like at dawn, and cause dance and song to be performed with vina, flute, mridanga, and other instruments.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.130.31)

उत्थापयित्वा देवेशं पूजां तस्य विधाय च ॥ सायंकाले प्रकर्तव्यस्तुलस्युद्वाहजो विधिः

utthāpayitvā deveśaṁ pūjāṁ tasya vidhāya ca || sāyaṁkāle prakartavyastulasyudvāhajo vidhiḥ

Having awakened the Lord of gods and performed his worship, in the evening the rite of Tulasi's marriage should be performed.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.130.32)

सर्वदैकादशी पुण्या विशेषात्कार्तिकी स्मृता ॥ यानि कानि च पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च

sarvadaikādaśī puṇyā viśeṣātkārtikī smṛtā || yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahmahatyādikāni ca

Every Ekadashi is meritorious, but the Kartika one is held to be especially so. Whatever sins there are, beginning with the killing of a brahmin —

Verse 33 (skanda.2.130.33)

अन्नमाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति संप्राप्ते हरिवासरे ॥ स केवलमघं भुंक्ते यो भुंक्ते हरिवासरे

annamāśritya tiṣṭhaṁti saṁprāpte harivāsare || sa kevalamaghaṁ bhuṁkte yo bhuṁkte harivāsare

they all take up residence in food when Hari's day (Ekadashi) arrives. Whoever eats on Hari's day partakes of nothing but sin.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.130.34)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कुर्यादेकादशीव्रतम् ॥ न कुर्याद्यदि मोहेन उपवासं नराधमः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kuryādekādaśīvratam || na kuryādyadi mohena upavāsaṁ narādhamaḥ

Therefore one should keep the Ekadashi vow with every effort. If, deluded, a base man does not observe the fast —

Verse 35 (skanda.2.130.35)

नरके नियतं वासः पितृभिः सह तस्य वै ॥ सूतके मृतके वाऽपि नोपवासं त्यजेद्बुधः

narake niyataṁ vāsaḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha tasya vai || sūtake mṛtake vā'api nopavāsaṁ tyajedbudhaḥ

then he certainly dwells in hell together with his ancestors. Even during birth-impurity or death-impurity, a wise man should not abandon the fast.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.130.36)

दशमीवेधसंयुक्ता त्याज्या चैकादशी व्रते ॥ गांधार्याऽपि पुरा तस्यामुपवासः कृतो गुह

daśamīvedhasaṁyuktā tyājyā caikādaśī vrate || gāṁdhāryā'api purā tasyāmupavāsaḥ kṛto guha

In the vow, an Ekadashi tainted by contact with the tenth tithi should be avoided. O Guha, long ago Gandhari too observed a fast on such a one.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.130.37)

तस्याः पुत्रशतं नष्टं तस्मात्तां वधजां त्यजेत् ॥ एकादशीमुपवसेत्स्नानदानपुरःसरम्

tasyāḥ putraśataṁ naṣṭaṁ tasmāttāṁ vadhajāṁ tyajet || ekādaśīmupavaset snānadānapuraḥsaram

Her hundred sons perished; therefore that tithi tainted like a killing should be avoided. One should fast on the Ekadashi preceded by bathing and giving.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.130.38)

रुक्मांगदोऽपि राजर्षिर्मोहिन्याः संगमेन च ॥ इह लोके सुखं भुक्त्वा चांऽते विष्णुपुरं ययौ

rukmāṁgado'pi rājarṣirmohinyāḥ saṁgamena ca || iha loke sukhaṁ bhuktvā cā'aṁte viṣṇupuraṁ yayau

The royal sage Rukmangada too, through his union with Mohini, having enjoyed happiness in this world, went at the end to Vishnu's realm.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.130.39)

द्वादशी पुण्यदा प्रोक्ता सर्वाऽघौघविनाशिनी ॥ किं दानैः कि तपोभिश्च किमु पोष्यैर्व्रतैश्च किम्

dvādaśī puṇyadā proktā sarvā'aghaughavināśinī || kiṁ dānaiḥ ki tapobhiśca kimu poṣyairvrataiśca kim

Dvadashi is declared to grant merit and to destroy the whole mass of sin. What use are gifts, what use austerities, what use vows requiring careful maintenance,

Verse 40 (skanda.2.130.40)

किमिष्टैश्चैव पुत्रैश्च द्वादशी येन सेविता ॥ गंगायां चैव दुर्भिक्षे प्रत्यहं कोटिभोजनात्

kimiṣṭaiścaiva putraiśca dvādaśī yena sevitā || gaṁgāyāṁ caiva durbhikṣe pratyahaṁ koṭibhojanāt

and what use even beloved sons, for one who has observed Dvadashi? What fruit is obtained from feeding tens of millions daily on the Ganga during a famine —

Verse 41 (skanda.2.130.41)

यत्फलं तदवाप्नोति द्वादश्यामेकभोजनात् ॥ यद्दत्तं चार्हते दानं द्वादश्यां तु सिते शुभे

yatphalaṁ tadavāpnoti dvādaśyāmekabhojanāt || yaddattaṁ cārhate dānaṁ dvādaśyāṁ tu site śubhe

that fruit is obtained merely by eating once on Dvadashi. Whatever gift is given to a worthy recipient on the auspicious bright Dvadashi —

Verse 42 (skanda.2.130.42)

सिक्थेसिक्थे च वैकस्य कतिब्राह्मणभोजनम् ॥ तदहं नैव जानामि महिमानं हि सुव्रत

sikthesikthe ca vaikasya katibrāhmaṇabhojanam || tadahaṁ naiva jānāmi mahimānaṁ hi suvrata

for its every single grain, how many brahmins' feedings-worth of fruit it yields — even I do not know, O virtuous one; such is its glory.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.130.43)

शालिग्रामशिलादानं यः कुर्याद्द्वादशीदिने ॥ सप्तद्वीपवतीं भूमिं गंगायां च रविग्रहे ॥ दत्त्वा यत्फलमाप्नोति तत्फलं लभते नरः

śāligrāmaśilādānaṁ yaḥ kuryāddvādaśīdine || saptadvīpavatīṁ bhūmiṁ gaṁgāyāṁ ca ravigrahe || dattvā yatphalamāpnoti tatphalaṁ labhate naraḥ

Whoever gives the gift of a Shaligrama stone on the day of Dvadashi obtains the fruit that is obtained by giving away the seven-continented earth on the Ganga during a solar eclipse.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.130.44)

पंचामृतैस्तु यो विष्णुं भक्त्या संस्नापयेद्द्विज ॥ स सर्वकुलमुद्धृत्य विष्णुलोके महीयते

paṁcāmṛtaistu yo viṣṇuṁ bhaktyā saṁsnāpayeddvija || sa sarvakulamuddhṛtya viṣṇuloke mahīyate

O brahmin, whoever devotedly bathes Vishnu with the five nectars redeems his entire lineage and is glorified in Vishnu's realm.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.130.45)

शुक्ले कार्तिकमासस्य द्वादश्यां परमोत्सवे ॥ प्रातरारभ्य यः कुर्यात्स्नानदानादिकं तथा ॥ स तु मोक्षमवाप्नोति नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा

śukle kārtikamāsasya dvādaśyāṁ paramotsave || prātārabhya yaḥ kuryātsnānadānādikaṁ tathā || sa tu mokṣamavāpnoti nā'atra kāryā vicāraṇā

On the supreme festival of the twelfth day of Kartika's bright fortnight, whoever, beginning at dawn, performs bathing, giving, and the rest, attains liberation — of this there should be no doubt.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.130.46)

द्वादश्यां कार्तिके मासि स्नानसंध्यादिकर्म च ॥ कृत्वा दामोदरं पूज्य भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः

dvādaśyāṁ kārtike māsi snānasaṁdhyādikarma ca || kṛtvā dāmodaraṁ pūjya bhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaḥ

On the twelfth day of Kartika, having performed bathing, the twilight-rite, and the rest, and, filled with devotion and faith, having worshipped Damodara —

Verse 47 (skanda.2.130.47)

यस्तस्यां सूपनैवेद्यं न ददाति नराधमः ॥ नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम

yastasyāṁ sūpanaivedyaṁ na dadāti narādhamaḥ || narake niyataṁ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma

whatever base man does not offer a food-offering of cooked lentils on that day — we have heard that his dwelling in hell is certain.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.130.48)

तस्मात्सूपस्य नैवेद्यं द्वादश्यां कार्तिके शुभे ॥ दद्याद्भक्तियुतो ब्रह्मंश्चान्यथा नरकं व्रजेत्

tasmātsūpasya naivedyaṁ dvādaśyāṁ kārtike śubhe || dadyādbhaktiyuto brahmaṁścānyathā narakaṁ vrajet

Therefore, O brahmin, one should devotedly offer a food-offering of cooked lentils on the auspicious Dvadashi of Kartika; otherwise one goes to hell.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.130.49)

यस्तस्यां दंपतीनां तु भोजनं कुरुते नरः ॥ न तस्य फलविश्रांतिर्मया वक्तुं तु शक्यते

yastasyāṁ daṁpatīnāṁ tu bhojanaṁ kurute naraḥ || na tasya phalaviśrāntirmayā vaktuṁ tu śakyate

Whatever man feeds married couples on that day — the limit of his fruit cannot even be told by me.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.130.50)

धात्रीच्छायां गतो यस्तु द्वादश्यां पूजयेद्धरिम् ॥ तत्रैव भोजनं यस्तु ब्राह्मणानां तु कारयेत्

dhātrīcchāyāṁ gato yastu dvādaśyāṁ pūjayeddharim || tatraiva bhojanaṁ yastu brāhmaṇānāṁ tu kārayet

Whoever, on Dvadashi, goes into the shade of an amla tree and worships Hari, and there causes brahmins to be fed —

Verse 51 (skanda.2.130.51)

स्वयं च तत्र भुंक्ते यः सूपभक्ष्यादिकं तथा ॥ न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

svayaṁ ca tatra bhuṁkte yaḥ sūpabhakṣyādikaṁ tathā || na tasya punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi

and himself eats there too, of lentils and food and the like — his return to rebirth does not occur even in hundreds of millions of cosmic ages.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.130.52)

एवं प्रातर्विधायाऽथ पूजां दामोदरस्य हि ॥ रात्रौ पुनः प्रकर्तव्यं पूजाकर्म हरेर्द्विज

evaṁ prātarvidhāyā'atha pūjāṁ dāmodarasya hi || rātrau punaḥ prakartavyaṁ pūjākarma harerdvija

O brahmin, thus, having performed the worship of Damodara in the morning, one should again perform the worship-rite of Hari at night.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.130.53)

तुलसीसन्निधौ कृत्वा पताकाध्वजशोभितम् ॥ पुष्पमालासमाकीर्णं नानारत्नोपशोभितम्

tulasīsannidhau kṛtvā patākādhvajaśobhitam || puṣpamālāsamākīrṇaṁ nānāratnopaśobhitam

near Tulasi, having set up a splendid pavilion adorned with banners and flags, laden with garlands of flowers, ornamented with various jewels,

Verse 54 (skanda.2.130.54)

मुक्तादामभिराच्छन्नं कृत्वा मंडपमुत्तमम् ॥ पूजयेद्विष्णुमव्यग्रस्तद्गतैकाग्रमानसः

muktādāmabhirācchannaṁ kṛtvā maṁḍapamuttamam || pūjayedviṣṇumavyagrastadgataikāgramānasaḥ

covered with strings of pearls — with an undisturbed mind fixed one-pointedly upon him, one should worship Vishnu there.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.130.55)

पंचरात्रोक्तमार्गेण गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिभिः ॥ नवनीतं दधिक्षीरं तथैव च घनं घृतम्

paṁcarātroktamārgeṇa gaṁdhapuṣpākṣatādibhiḥ || navanītaṁ dadhikṣīraṁ tathaiva ca ghanaṁ ghṛtam

according to the procedure declared in the Pancharatra scriptures, with fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, and the rest, as well as butter, curd, milk, and thick ghee —

Verse 56 (skanda.2.130.56)

विविधैः खाद्यनैवेद्यैर्जलेन च सुगंधिना ॥ युक्तं निवेदयेद्विष्णोस्तांबूलं सलवंगकम्

vividhaiḥ khādyanaivedyairjalena ca sugaṁdhinā || yuktaṁ nivedayedviṣṇostāṁbūlaṁ salavaṁgakam

with manifold food-offerings, and with fragrant water, one should offer these to Vishnu, along with betel accompanied by cloves.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.130.57)

पुष्पाणि च विचित्राणि सुगन्धीनि बहूनि च ॥ प्रोक्षयित्वा च विधिवदर्पयित्वा दलैः शुभैः

puṣpāṇi ca vicitrāṇi sugandhīni bahūni ca || prokṣayitvā ca vidhivadarpayitvā dalaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Having duly consecrated many varied and fragrant flowers, one should offer them together with auspicious leaves.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.130.58)

तुलस्याश्चापि धात्र्याश्च फलैश्चाऽपि प्रपूजयेत् ॥ नीराजनं ततः कृत्वा मंत्रपुष्पं समर्पयेत्

tulasyāścāpi dhātryāśca phalaiścā'api prapūjayet || nīrājanaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā maṁtrapuṣpaṁ samarpayet

One should also worship with the fruits of Tulasi and amla. Then, having performed the arati, one should offer the mantra-flower.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.130.59)

अभिषेकं विना सर्वपूजां कृत्वा विधानतः ॥ विष्णोः पूजां समाप्याऽथ ब्राह्मणानां प्रपूजनम्

abhiṣekaṁ vinā sarvapūjāṁ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ || viṣṇoḥ pūjāṁ samāpyā'atha brāhmaṇānāṁ prapūjanam

Having performed the whole worship according to procedure, without the ablution rite, and having completed Vishnu's worship, one should then worship the brahmins.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.130.60)

कुर्याद्भक्तियुतो विप्र दद्याच्चैव फलादिकम् ॥ तांबूलं च ततो दत्त्वा दक्षिणां शक्तितोऽर्पयेत्

kuryādbhaktiyuto vipra dadyāccaiva phalādikam || tāṁbūlaṁ ca tato dattvā dakṣiṇāṁ śaktito'rpayet

O brahmin, one should devotedly give them fruit and the like. Then, having given betel, one should offer a fee according to one's means.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.130.61)

ततो वृद्धान्पितॄन्मातॄन् पूजयित्वा विधानतः ॥ ततः स्वयं स्वभार्याभिर्नैवेद्यं भक्षयेत्सुधीः

tato vṛddhānpitṝnmātṝn pūjayitvā vidhānataḥ || tataḥ svayaṁ svabhāryābhirnaivedyaṁ bhakṣayetsudhīḥ

Then, having duly worshipped the aged, one's parents, and ancestors, the wise man should himself, together with his wife, then partake of the food-offering.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.130.62)

इत्येवं तु विधानेन यः कुर्याद्द्वादशीव्रतम् ॥ न तस्य लोकाः क्षीयंते कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

ityevaṁ tu vidhānena yaḥ kuryāddvādaśīvratam || na tasya lokāḥ kṣīyaṁte kalpakoṭiśatairapi

Whoever performs the Dvadashi vow in this manner according to procedure — his attained worlds do not diminish even in hundreds of millions of cosmic ages.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.130.63)

पुत्रपौत्रैः परिवृतो भुक्त्वा भोगान्मनोहरान् ॥ भोगांते च व्रजेन्मोक्षमतीतकुलसप्तकैः

putrapautraiḥ parivṛto bhuktvā bhogānmanoharān || bhogāṁte ca vrajenmokṣamatītakulasaptakaiḥ

Surrounded by sons and grandsons, having enjoyed delightful pleasures, at the end of those enjoyments he attains liberation together with seven generations of his lineage past.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.130.64)

तस्मान्नारद माहात्म्यं द्वादश्याः कार्तिकस्य च ॥ न मया शक्यते वक्तुं किमन्यैर्मनुजैरपि

tasmānnārada māhātmyaṁ dvādaśyāḥ kārtikasya ca || na mayā śakyate vaktuṁ kimanyairmanujairapi

Therefore, O Narada, even I am unable to declare the full glory of the Dvadashi of Kartika — what then of other men?

Verse 65 (skanda.2.130.65)

द्वादश्या ह्युत्तमं पुण्यं माहात्म्यं यः पठेन्नरः ॥ शृणुयाद्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ स याति परमां गतिम्

dvādaśyā hyuttamaṁ puṇyaṁ māhātmyaṁ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ || śṛṇuyādvā muniśreṣṭha sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

O best of sages, whatever man reads or hears this supreme and meritorious glory of the Dvadashi attains the highest destiny.

Verse 66 (skanda.2.130.66)

राजर्षिरम्बरीषोऽपि चकारैतद्व्रतं शुभम् ॥ यथाविधि तपोनिष्ठस्तेन मोक्षमवाप्तवान्

rājarṣirambarīṣo'pi cakāraitadvrataṁ śubham || yathāvidhi taponiṣṭhastena mokṣamavāptavān

The royal sage Ambarisha too performed this auspicious vow duly, devoted to austerity, and by it attained liberation.