The Glory of the Kartika Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.2.98.1)

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्

nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ caiva tato jayamudīrayet

Having bowed to Narayana, to Nara best among men, and to the goddess Sarasvati, one should then recite this sacred work.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.98.2)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत नः कथितं पुण्यं माहात्म्यमाश्विनस्य च । भूयोऽन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामः कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta naḥ kathitaṁ puṇyaṁ māhātmyamāśvinasya ca bhūyo'nyacchrotumicchāmaḥ kārtikasya ca vaibhavam

The sages said: O Suta, you have told us the sacred greatness of the month of Ashvina; we now wish to hear yet more — the glory of Kartika.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.98.3)

कलौ कलुषचित्तानां नराणां पापकर्मणाम् । संसाराब्धौ निमग्नानामनायासेन का गतिः

kalau kaluṣacittānāṁ narāṇāṁ pāpakarmaṇām saṁsārābdhau nimagnānāmanāyāsena kā gatiḥ

In the Kali age, for men of impure mind and sinful deeds, sunk in the ocean of transmigration, what path to liberation is there without hardship?

Verse 4 (skanda.2.98.4)

को धर्मः सर्वधर्माणामधिको मोक्षसाधकः । इहाऽपि मुक्तिदो नृणामेतत्त्वं कथय प्रभो

ko dharmaḥ sarvadharmāṇāmadhiko mokṣasādhakaḥ ihā'pi muktido nṛṇāmetattvaṁ kathaya prabho

Which dharma, among all dharmas, is supreme — the means to liberation, granting release to men even in this very world? Tell us this truth, O Lord.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.98.5)

सूत उवाच । भवद्भिर्यदहं पृष्टस्तदेतत्पृष्टवान्मुनिः । नारदो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो ब्रह्माणं तु जगद्गुरुम्

sūta uvāca bhavadbhiryadahaṁ pṛṣṭastadetatpṛṣṭavānmuniḥ nārado brahmaṇaḥ putro brahmāṇaṁ tu jagadgurum

Suta said: What you have asked me is the very question the sage Narada, son of Brahma, once asked Brahma, the guru of the world.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.98.6)

तथैव सत्यभामा च श्रीकृष्णं जगदीश्वरम् । अपृच्छत्कार्तिकस्यैव वैभवं श्रवणोत्सुका

tathaiva satyabhāmā ca śrīkṛṣṇaṁ jagadīśvaram apṛcchatkārtikasyaiva vaibhavaṁ śravaṇotsukā

And likewise Satyabhama, eager to hear of Kartika's glory, once asked this of Sri Krishna, Lord of the universe.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.98.7)

वालखिल्यैश्च ऋषिभिर्यदुक्तमृषिसंसदि । श्रीसूर्यारुणसंवादरूपेणाऽतिमनोहरम्

vālakhilyaiśca ṛṣibhiryaduktamṛṣisaṁsadi śrīsūryāruṇasaṁvādarūpeṇā'timanoharam

And that which the Valakhilya sages spoke in the assembly of sages, in the most enchanting form of a dialogue between Surya and Aruna;

Verse 8 (skanda.2.98.8)

कैलासे शंकरेणैव कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम् । वर्णितं षण्मुखस्याग्रे नानाख्यानसमन्वितम्

kailāse śaṁkareṇaiva kārtikasya ca vaibhavam varṇitaṁ ṣaṇmukhasyāgre nānākhyānasamanvitam

and that glory of Kartika which Shankara himself described on Kailasa before Shanmukha, replete with many stories;

Verse 9 (skanda.2.98.9)

पृथुं प्रति नारदेन कथितं च महात्म्यकम् । कार्तिकस्य च विप्रेंद्रा श्रुत्वा ब्रह्ममुखात्पुरा

pṛthuṁ prati nāradena kathitaṁ ca mahātmyakam kārtikasya ca vipreṁdrā śrutvā brahmamukhātpurā

and the greatness Narada once told to King Prithu — O foremost brahmins, all this having first been heard from Brahma's own mouth —

Verse 10 (skanda.2.98.10)

एकदा नारदो योगी सत्यलोकमुपागतः । पप्रच्छ विनयेनैव सर्वलोकपितामहम्

ekadā nārado yogī satyalokamupāgataḥ papraccha vinayenaiva sarvalokapitāmaham

Once the yogi Narada arrived at Satyaloka and, with great humility, questioned Brahma, the grandfather of all worlds.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.98.11)

श्रीनारद उवाच । पापेंधनस्य घोरस्य शुष्कार्द्रस्य च भूरिशः । को वह्निर्दहते ब्रह्मंस्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति

śrīnārada uvāca pāpeṁdhanasya ghorasya śuṣkārdrasya ca bhūriśaḥ ko vahnirdahate brahmaṁstadbhavānvaktumarhati

Sri Narada said: O Brahman, what fire is it that burns, in great abundance, the terrible fuel of sin, whether dry or moist? You alone can tell me this.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.98.12)

नाज्ञातं त्रिषु लोकेषु ब्रह्मांडांतर्गतस्य यत् । विद्यते तव देवेश त्रिविधस्य सुनिश्चितम्

nājñātaṁ triṣu lokeṣu brahmāṁḍāṁtargatasya yat vidyate tava deveśa trividhasya suniścitam

O lord of gods, whatever exists within this threefold universe, in the three worlds, is surely not unknown to you.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.98.13)

मासानां प्रवरो मासो देवानामुत्तमोत्तमः । तीर्थानि तद्विशेषेण कथयस्व पितामह

māsānāṁ pravaro māso devānāmuttamottamaḥ tīrthāni tadviśeṣeṇa kathayasva pitāmaha

Which is the most excellent of months, supreme even among the gods? O Grandfather, tell me too, in particular, of its sacred fords.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.98.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच । मासानां कार्तिकः श्रेष्ठो देवानां मधुसूदनः । तीर्थं नारायणाख्यं हि त्रितयं दुर्लभं कलौ

brahmovāca māsānāṁ kārtikaḥ śreṣṭho devānāṁ madhusūdanaḥ tīrthaṁ nārāyaṇākhyaṁ hi tritayaṁ durlabhaṁ kalau

Brahma said: Among months, Kartika is best; among gods, Madhusudana; and the tirtha named Narayana — these three are hard to attain in the Kali age.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.98.15)

नारद उवाच । भगवंस्तव दासोऽस्मि भक्तोऽस्मि हरिवल्लभ । वैष्णवान्ब्रूहि मे धर्मान्सर्वज्ञोऽसि पितामह

nārada uvāca bhagavaṁstava dāso'smi bhakto'smi harivallabha vaiṣṇavānbrūhi me dharmānsarvajño'si pitāmaha

Narada said: O Lord, I am your servant, I am your devotee, O beloved of Hari. Since you, O Grandfather, are all-knowing, tell me the Vaishnava dharmas.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.98.16)

आदौ कार्तिकमाहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि मे प्रभो । दीपदानस्य माहात्म्यं व्रतिनां नियमांस्तथा

ādau kārtikamāhātmyaṁ vaktumarhasi me prabho dīpadānasya māhātmyaṁ vratināṁ niyamāṁstathā

O Lord, first tell me the greatness of Kartika, and then the greatness of the gift of lamps, and the rules for those who observe the vow.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.98.17)

गोपीचंदनमाहात्म्यं तुलस्याश्च तथा विभो । धात्र्याश्चैव च माहात्म्यं विधिं स्नानादिकस्य च । व्रतारंभः कदा कार्यं उद्यापनविधिं तथा

gopīcaṁdanamāhātmyaṁ tulasyāśca tathā vibho dhātryāścaiva ca māhātmyaṁ vidhiṁ snānādikasya ca vratāraṁbhaḥ kadā kāryaṁ udyāpanavidhiṁ tathā

O Lord, tell also of the greatness of gopichandana and of Tulasi, and of the Dhatri tree; the procedure for bathing and the rest; when the vow should begin, and the rite of its completion.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.98.18)

यत्किंचिद्वैष्णवं धर्मं तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि । येनाऽहं त्वत्प्रसादेन पदं यास्याम्यनामयम्

yatkiṁcidvaiṣṇavaṁ dharmaṁ tatsarvaṁ vaktumarhasi yenā'haṁ tvatprasādena padaṁ yāsyāmyanāmayam

Whatever Vaishnava dharma there is, all of it you should tell me, so that by your grace I may reach that flawless, sorrowless state.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.98.19)

सूत उवाच । इति पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा हर्षसमन्वितः । राधादामोदरं स्मृत्वा प्रोवाच तनुजं प्रति

sūta uvāca iti putravacaḥ śrutvā brahmā harṣasamanvitaḥ rādhādāmodaraṁ smṛtvā provāca tanujaṁ prati

Suta said: Hearing his son's words, Brahma, filled with joy, remembered Radha-Damodara and spoke to his son.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.98.20)

ब्रह्मोवाच । साधु पृष्टं त्वया पुत्र लोकोद्धरणहेतवे । कथयामि न संदेहः कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम्

brahmovāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā putra lokoddharaṇahetave kathayāmi na saṁdehaḥ kārtikasya ca vaibhavam

Brahma said: Well have you asked, O son, for the deliverance of the world; without doubt I shall now tell the glory of Kartika.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.98.21)

एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वे यज्ञाः सदक्षिणाः । कार्तिकस्य तु मासस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्

ekataḥ sarvatīrthāni sarve yajñāḥ sadakṣiṇāḥ kārtikasya tu māsasya kalāṁ nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm

On one side all sacred fords, and all sacrifices with their fees; on the other, the month of Kartika — together they do not equal a sixteenth part of it.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.98.22)

एकतः पुष्करे वासः कुरुक्षेत्रे हिमालये । एकतः कार्तिकः पुत्र सर्वपुण्याधिको मतः

ekataḥ puṣkare vāsaḥ kurukṣetre himālaye ekataḥ kārtikaḥ putra sarvapuṇyādhiko mataḥ

On one side, dwelling at Pushkara, Kurukshetra, and the Himalayas; on the other, O son, Kartika alone is held to surpass all such merits.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.98.23)

स्वर्णानि मेरुतुल्यानि सर्वदानानि चैकतः । एकतः कार्तिको वत्स सर्वदा केशवप्रियः

svarṇāni merutulyāni sarvadānāni caikataḥ ekataḥ kārtiko vatsa sarvadā keśavapriyaḥ

On one side, gifts of gold equal to Mount Meru and all other gifts; on the other, O child, Kartika alone, ever dear to Keshava, outweighs them.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.98.24)

यत्किंचित्क्रियते पुण्यं विष्णुमुद्दिश्य कार्तिके । तस्य क्षयं न पश्यामि मयोक्तं तव नारद

yatkiṁcitkriyate puṇyaṁ viṣṇumuddiśya kārtike tasya kṣayaṁ na paśyāmi mayoktaṁ tava nārada

Whatever meritorious act is performed for Vishnu's sake in Kartika, I see no decay of it, O Narada — this I have told you.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.98.25)

सोपानभूतं स्वर्गस्य मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम् । तथात्मानं समादद्यान्न भ्रश्येत यथा पुनः

sopānabhūtaṁ svargasya mānuṣyaṁ prāpya durlabham tathātmānaṁ samādadyānna bhraśyeta yathā punaḥ

Having obtained this rare human birth, which is like a stairway to heaven, one should so guard oneself that one does not fall from it again.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.98.26)

दुष्प्राप्यं प्राप्य मानुष्यं कार्तिकोक्तं चरेन्न यः । धर्मं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ स मातापितृघातकः

duṣprāpyaṁ prāpya mānuṣyaṁ kārtikoktaṁ carenna yaḥ dharmaṁ dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha sa mātāpitṛghātakaḥ

Whoever gains this rare human birth yet does not practice the dharma taught for Kartika, O best of the upholders of dharma, is the slayer of his own parents.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.98.27)

कार्तिकः खलु वै मासः सर्वमासेषु चोत्तमः । पुण्यानां परमं पुण्यं पावनानां च पावनम्

kārtikaḥ khalu vai māsaḥ sarvamāseṣu cottamaḥ puṇyānāṁ paramaṁ puṇyaṁ pāvanānāṁ ca pāvanam

Kartika is indeed the very best of all months; it is the highest merit among merits, and the most purifying among purifying things.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.98.28)

अस्मिन्मासे त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवाः सन्निहिता मुने । अत्र स्नानानिदानानि भोजनानि व्रतानि च

asminmāse trayastriṁśaddevāḥ sannihitā mune atra snānānidānāni bhojanāni vratāni ca

O sage, in this month the thirty-three gods are present; here bathing, gifts, meals, and vows —

Verse 29 (skanda.2.98.29)

तिलधेनुं हिरण्यं च रजतं भूमिवाससी । गोप्रदानानि कुर्वंति सर्वभावेन नारद

tiladhenuṁ hiraṇyaṁ ca rajataṁ bhūmivāsasī gopradānāni kurvaṁti sarvabhāvena nārada

— the gift of a sesame-cow, gold, silver, land, garments, and gifts of cows, O Narada, are all made with full devotion.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.98.30)

तानि दानानि दत्तानि गृह्णंति विधिवत्सुराः । यत्किंच दत्तं विप्रेंद्र तपश्चैव तथा कृतम्

tāni dānāni dattāni gṛhṇaṁti vidhivatsurāḥ yatkiṁca dattaṁ vipreṁdra tapaścaiva tathā kṛtam

Those gifts, once given, the gods duly receive; and, O best of brahmins, whatever is given and whatever austerity is performed,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.98.31)

तदक्षय्यफलं प्रोक्तं विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । पापानां मोक्षणं चैव कार्तिके मासि शस्यते

tadakṣayyaphalaṁ proktaṁ viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā pāpānāṁ mokṣaṇaṁ caiva kārtike māsi śasyate

— its imperishable fruit has been declared by the mighty Lord Vishnu himself; and release from sins in the month of Kartika is especially praised.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.98.32)

तस्माद्यत्नेन विप्रेंद्र कार्तिके मासि दीयते । यत्किंचित्कार्तिके दत्तं विष्णुमुद्दिश्य मानवैः

tasmādyatnena vipreṁdra kārtike māsi dīyate yatkiṁcitkārtike dattaṁ viṣṇumuddiśya mānavaiḥ

Therefore, O best of brahmins, whatever is given with effort in the month of Kartika, whatever men offer for Vishnu's sake in that month,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.98.33)

तदक्षयं हि लभते अन्नदानं विशेषतः । यथा नदीनां विप्रेंद्र शैलानां चैव नारद

tadakṣayaṁ hi labhate annadānaṁ viśeṣataḥ yathā nadīnāṁ vipreṁdra śailānāṁ caiva nārada

— that, especially the gift of food, yields imperishable fruit; for, O best of brahmins, O Narada, just as of rivers and of mountains,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.98.34)

उदधीनां च विप्रर्षे क्षयो नैवोपपद्यते । दानं कार्तिकमासे तु यत्किंचिद्दीयते मुने

udadhīnāṁ ca viprarṣe kṣayo naivopapadyate dānaṁ kārtikamāse tu yatkiṁciddīyate mune

and, O sage among brahmins, of oceans there is never any diminishing, so too, O sage, whatever gift is given in Kartika remains undiminished.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.98.35)

न तस्यास्ति क्षयो विप्र पापं याति सहस्रधा । संप्राप्तं कार्तिकं दृष्ट्वा परान्नं यस्तु वर्जयेत्

na tasyāsti kṣayo vipra pāpaṁ yāti sahasradhā saṁprāptaṁ kārtikaṁ dṛṣṭvā parānnaṁ yastu varjayet

O brahmin, it never decays. Whoever, seeing Kartika arrive, forsakes another's food, his sin is destroyed a thousandfold.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.98.36)

दिनेदिनेऽतिकृच्छ्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्ययत्नतः । न कार्तिकसमो मासो न कृतेन समं युगम्

dinedine'tikṛcchrasya phalaṁ prāpnotyayatnataḥ na kārtikasamo māso na kṛtena samaṁ yugam

Day after day he obtains, without effort, the fruit of the most severe austerity. There is no month equal to Kartika, no age equal to the Krita age,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.98.37)

न वेदसदृशं शास्त्रं न तीर्थं गंगया समम् । न चान्नसदृशं दानं न सुखं भार्यया समम्

na vedasadṛśaṁ śāstraṁ na tīrthaṁ gaṁgayā samam na cānnasadṛśaṁ dānaṁ na sukhaṁ bhāryayā samam

no scripture equal to the Veda, no tirtha equal to the Ganga, no gift equal to the gift of food, and no happiness equal to that found with a good wife.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.98.38)

न्यायेनोपार्जितं द्रव्यं दुर्लभं दानकारिणाम् । दुर्लभं मर्त्यधर्माणां तीर्थे च प्रतिपादनम्

nyāyenopārjitaṁ dravyaṁ durlabhaṁ dānakāriṇām durlabhaṁ martyadharmāṇāṁ tīrthe ca pratipādanam

Wealth earned righteously is rare even for the charitable; and steadfast dedication at a tirtha is likewise rare for mortals bound by worldly duties.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.98.39)

कार्तिके मुनिशार्दूल शालिग्रामशिलार्चनम् । स्मरणं वासुदेवस्य कर्तव्यं पापभीरुणा

kārtike muniśārdūla śāligrāmaśilārcanam smaraṇaṁ vāsudevasya kartavyaṁ pāpabhīruṇā

O tiger among sages, in Kartika a man who fears sin should worship the Shaligrama stone and remember Vasudeva.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.98.40)

एतादृशं कार्तिकं च अकृतेनैव यो नयेत् । पूर्वं कृतस्य पुण्यस्य क्षयमाप्नोत्यसंशयम्

etādṛśaṁ kārtikaṁ ca akṛtenaiva yo nayet pūrvaṁ kṛtasya puṇyasya kṣayamāpnotyasaṁśayam

Whoever lets such a Kartika pass without observance undoubtedly loses even the merit he had earned before.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.98.41)

नारद उवाच । अशक्तेन कथं कार्यं कार्तिकव्रतमुत्तमम् । येन तत्फलमाप्नोति तन्मे वद पितामह

nārada uvāca aśaktena kathaṁ kāryaṁ kārtikavratamuttamam yena tatphalamāpnoti tanme vada pitāmaha

Narada said: How is one who is unable to perform the excellent Kartika vow to still obtain its fruit? Tell me this, O Grandfather.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.98.42)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अशक्तस्तु यदा मर्त्यस्तदैवं व्रतमाचरेत् । अन्यस्मै द्रविणं दत्त्वा कारयेत्कार्तिकव्रतम्

brahmovāca aśaktastu yadā martyastadaivaṁ vratamācaret anyasmai draviṇaṁ dattvā kārayetkārtikavratam

Brahma said: When a man is unable, he should observe the vow thus — giving wealth to another, he should have the Kartika vow performed through him.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.98.43)

तस्मात्पुण्यं प्रगृह्णीत दानसंकल्पपूर्वकम् । द्रव्यदानेऽप्यशक्तश्चेद्यदा देवर्षिसत्तम

tasmātpuṇyaṁ pragṛhṇīta dānasaṁkalpapūrvakam dravyadāne'pyaśaktaścedyadā devarṣisattama

Thus, through the resolve of giving, he may obtain the merit. And, O best of divine sages, if he is unable even to give wealth,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.98.44)

तदा तेन प्रकर्तव्यं पानं तीर्थजलस्य च । तत्राप्यशक्तो यो मर्त्यस्तेन नित्यं हरेर्मुदा

tadā tena prakartavyaṁ pānaṁ tīrthajalasya ca tatrāpyaśakto yo martyastena nityaṁ harermudā

then he should drink the water of a sacred ford. And if a man is unable even for that, then he should, with joy, constantly turn to Hari,

Verse 45 (skanda.2.98.45)

स्मरणं च प्रकर्तव्यं नाम्ना नियमपूर्वकम् । अखंडितं तदा तेन कार्तिकव्रतजं फलम्

smaraṇaṁ ca prakartavyaṁ nāmnā niyamapūrvakam akhaṁḍitaṁ tadā tena kārtikavratajaṁ phalam

remembering his name under a fixed rule; then the fruit born of the Kartika vow comes to him unbroken.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.98.46)

विष्णोः शिवस्य वा कुर्यादालये हरिजागरम् । शिवविष्ण्वोर्गृहाभावे सर्वदेवालयेष्वपि

viṣṇoḥ śivasya vā kuryādālaye harijāgaram śivaviṣṇvorgṛhābhāve sarvadevālayeṣvapi

One should keep the night-vigil for Hari in a temple of Vishnu or of Shiva; and if no such temple is at hand, in any temple of the gods.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.98.47)

दुर्गाटव्यां स्थितो वाऽथ यदिवाऽऽपद्गतो भवेत् । कुर्यादश्वत्थमूले तु तुलसीनां वनेष्वपि

durgāṭavyāṁ sthito vā'tha yadivā''padgato bhavet kuryādaśvatthamūle tu tulasīnāṁ vaneṣvapi

Or if one is caught in an impenetrable forest, or has fallen into calamity, he should perform it at the foot of an ashvattha tree, or even in a grove of tulasi.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.98.48)

विष्णुनामप्रबंधानां गायनं विष्णुसन्निधौ । गोसहस्रप्रदानस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः

viṣṇunāmaprabaṁdhānāṁ gāyanaṁ viṣṇusannidhau gosahasrapradānasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ

By singing hymns woven from Vishnu's names in Vishnu's presence, a man obtains the fruit of giving a thousand cows.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.98.49)

वाद्यकृत्पुरुषश्चापि वाजपेयफलं लभेत् । सर्वतीर्थावगाहोत्थं नर्तकः फलमाप्नुयात्

vādyakṛtpuruṣaścāpi vājapeyaphalaṁ labhet sarvatīrthāvagāhotthaṁ nartakaḥ phalamāpnuyāt

And one who plays music obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice; the dancer obtains the fruit that comes from bathing in all sacred fords.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.98.50)

सर्वमेतल्लभेत्पुण्यमेतेषां द्रव्यदः पुमान् । श्रवणाद्दर्शनाद्वापि षडंशं फलमाप्नुयात्

sarvametallabhetpuṇyameteṣāṁ dravyadaḥ pumān śravaṇāddarśanādvāpi ṣaḍaṁśaṁ phalamāpnuyāt

He who provides the materials for all these obtains this entire merit; and even one who only hears or sees it obtains a sixth part of the fruit.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.98.51)

आपद्गतो यदाप्यंभो न लभेत्कुत्रचिन्नरः । व्याधितो वाथवा कुर्याद्विष्णोर्नाम्नाऽपि मार्जनम्

āpadgato yadāpyaṁbho na labhetkutracinnaraḥ vyādhito vāthavā kuryādviṣṇornāmnā'pi mārjanam

If a man in distress can find water nowhere, or if he is ill, he may perform the cleansing rite even by uttering Vishnu's name.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.98.52)

उद्यापनविधिं कर्तुमशक्तो यो व्रतस्थितः । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चाद्व्रतसंपूर्तिहेतवे

udyāpanavidhiṁ kartumaśakto yo vratasthitaḥ brāhmaṇānbhojayetpaścādvratasaṁpūrtihetave

The vow-keeper who is unable to perform the rite of completion should afterward feed brahmins, so that the vow may be fulfilled.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.98.53)

अशक्तो दीपदानाय परदीपं प्रबोधयेत् । तस्य वा रक्षणं कुर्याद्वातादिभ्यः प्रयत्नतः

aśakto dīpadānāya paradīpaṁ prabodhayet tasya vā rakṣaṇaṁ kuryādvātādibhyaḥ prayatnataḥ

One unable to offer a lamp should keep another's lamp burning, or should carefully shield it from the wind and the like.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.98.54)

श्रीविष्णोः पूजनाऽभावे तुलसीधात्रिपूजनम् । सर्वाऽभावे व्रती कुर्याद्ब्राह्मणानां गवामपि । तस्याप्यभावे मनसि विष्णोर्नामानुकीर्तनम्

śrīviṣṇoḥ pūjanā'bhāve tulasīdhātripūjanam sarvā'bhāve vratī kuryādbrāhmaṇānāṁ gavāmapi tasyāpyabhāve manasi viṣṇornāmānukīrtanam

In the absence of the worship of Sri Vishnu, let him worship Tulasi and the Dhatri tree; failing all of these, let the vow-keeper honor brahmins and cows; and failing even that, let him chant Vishnu's name in his mind.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.98.55)

नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन्ब्रूहि विशेषेण धर्मान्कार्तिकसंभवान्

nārada uvāca brahmanbrūhi viśeṣeṇa dharmānkārtikasaṁbhavān

Narada said: O Brahman, tell me in particular of the dharmas that arise concerning Kartika.