The Duties of Kartika and the Glory of the Guru

Verse 1 (skanda.2.99.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ कार्तिकमासस्य धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि नारद । संप्राप्तं कार्तिकं दृष्ट्वा परान्नं यस्तु वर्जयेत्

brahmovāca atha kārtikamāsasya dharmānvakṣyāmi nārada saṁprāptaṁ kārtikaṁ dṛṣṭvā parānnaṁ yastu varjayet

Brahma said: Now, O Narada, I shall describe the duties of the month of Kartika. Whoever, seeing Kartika arrive, forsakes another's food —

Verse 2 (skanda.2.99.2)

स तु मोक्षमवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा । सर्वेषामेव धर्माणां गुरुपूजा परा मता । गुरुशुश्रूषया सर्वं प्राप्नोति ऋषिसत्तम

sa tu mokṣamavāpnoti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā sarveṣāmeva dharmāṇāṁ gurupūjā parā matā guruśuśrūṣayā sarvaṁ prāpnoti ṛṣisattama

— he attains liberation without doubt. Among all duties, worship of the guru is held supreme; through service to the guru, O best of sages, one obtains everything.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.99.3)

गुरौ तुष्टे च तुष्टाः स्युर्देवाः सर्वे सवासवा । गुरौ रुष्टे च रुष्टाः स्युर्देवाः सर्वे सवासवाः

gurau tuṣṭe ca tuṣṭāḥ syurdevāḥ sarve savāsavā gurau ruṣṭe ca ruṣṭāḥ syurdevāḥ sarve savāsavāḥ

When the guru is pleased, all the gods together with Indra are pleased; when the guru is angered, all the gods together with Indra are angered.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.99.4)

कार्तिकं मासि संप्राप्ते कृत्वा कर्माणि भूरिशः । अकृत्वा गुरुशुश्रूषां नरकानेव विंदति

kārtikaṁ māsi saṁprāpte kṛtvā karmāṇi bhūriśaḥ akṛtvā guruśuśrūṣāṁ narakāneva viṁdati

When the month of Kartika arrives, even after performing many rites, one who has not served the guru attains only hells.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.99.5)

यत्किंचिद्वा समादिष्टो गुरुणा तत्समाचरेत् । आज्ञप्तो गुरुणा विप्र न तद्वाक्यं तु लंघयेत् । यदि दुःखादिकं प्राप्तं गुरुं तु शरणं व्रजेत्

yatkiṁcidvā samādiṣṭo guruṇā tatsamācaret ājñapto guruṇā vipra na tadvākyaṁ tu laṁghayet yadi duḥkhādikaṁ prāptaṁ guruṁ tu śaraṇaṁ vrajet

Whatever the guru instructs, that one should do; O brahmin, one should never transgress the guru's command; if sorrow or the like befalls, one should take refuge in the guru.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.99.6)

मातृत्वे च पितृत्वे च गुरुमेव स्मरेद्बुधः । गुरौ न प्राप्यते यत्तन्नान्यत्राऽपि हि लभ्यते

mātṛtve ca pitṛtve ca gurumeva smaredbudhaḥ gurau na prāpyate yattannānyatrā'pi hi labhyate

The wise should regard the guru as both mother and father; what is not obtained through the guru is not obtained anywhere else either.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.99.7)

गुरुप्रसादात्सर्वं तु प्राप्नोत्येव न संशयः । मेधावी कपिलश्चैव सुमतिश्च महातपाः । गौतमस्य गुरोः सम्यक्सेवयाऽमरतां गताः

guruprasādātsarvaṁ tu prāpnotyeva na saṁśayaḥ medhāvī kapilaścaiva sumatiśca mahātapāḥ gautamasya guroḥ samyaksevayā'maratāṁ gatāḥ

By the guru's grace, one obtains everything without doubt. The greatly austere Medhavi, Kapila, and Sumati attained immortality through proper service to their guru Gautama.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.99.8)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्तिके विष्णुतत्परः । गुरुसेवां प्रकुर्वीत ततो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kārtike viṣṇutatparaḥ gurusevāṁ prakurvīta tato mokṣamavāpnuyāt

Therefore, with every effort, one devoted to Vishnu in Kartika should perform service to the guru; thereby one attains liberation.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.99.9)

नरेभ्यो वैष्णवं धर्मं यो ददाति द्विजोत्तमः । ससागरमहीदाने तत्पुण्यं लभते हि सः

narebhyo vaiṣṇavaṁ dharmaṁ yo dadāti dvijottamaḥ sasāgaramahīdāne tatpuṇyaṁ labhate hi saḥ

The best of brahmins who imparts the Vaishnava dharma to men obtains the very merit of donating the earth together with its oceans.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.99.10)

तिलधेनुं हिरण्यं च रजतं भूमिवाससी । गोप्रदानानि दास्यंति सर्वभावेन सुव्रत

tiladhenuṁ hiraṇyaṁ ca rajataṁ bhūmivāsasī gopradānāni dāsyaṁti sarvabhāvena suvrata

O good votary, the gift of a sesame-cow, gold, silver, land, garments, and cows are all given with full devotion.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.99.11)

सर्वेषामेव दानानां कन्यादानं विशिष्यते । सहस्रमेव धेनूनां शतं चानडुहां समम्

sarveṣāmeva dānānāṁ kanyādānaṁ viśiṣyate sahasrameva dhenūnāṁ śataṁ cānaḍuhāṁ samam

Among all gifts, the gift of a maiden in marriage is most excellent; it equals a thousand cows or a hundred bulls.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.99.12)

दशानडुत्समं यानं दशयानसमो हयः । हयदान सहस्रेभ्यो गजदानं विशिष्यते

daśānaḍutsamaṁ yānaṁ daśayānasamo hayaḥ hayadāna sahasrebhyo gajadānaṁ viśiṣyate

A carriage equals ten bulls; a horse equals ten carriages; the gift of an elephant excels a thousand gifts of horses.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.99.13)

गजदानसहस्राणां स्वर्णदानं च तत्समम् । स्वर्णदानसहस्राणां विद्यादानं च तत्समम्

gajadānasahasrāṇāṁ svarṇadānaṁ ca tatsamam svarṇadānasahasrāṇāṁ vidyādānaṁ ca tatsamam

The gift of gold equals a thousand gifts of elephants; the gift of knowledge equals a thousand gifts of gold.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.99.14)

विद्यादानात्कोटिगुणं भूमिदानं विशिष्यते । भूमिदानसहस्रेण गोप्रदानं विशिष्यते

vidyādānātkoṭiguṇaṁ bhūmidānaṁ viśiṣyate bhūmidānasahasreṇa gopradānaṁ viśiṣyate

The gift of land excels the gift of knowledge a crore-fold; the gift of a cow excels a thousand gifts of land.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.99.15)

गोप्रदानसहस्रेभ्यो ह्यन्नदानं विशिष्यते । अन्नाधारमिदं प्रोक्तं तस्माद्देयं तु कार्तिके

gopradānasahasrebhyo hyannadānaṁ viśiṣyate annādhāramidaṁ proktaṁ tasmāddeyaṁ tu kārtike

The gift of food excels a thousand gifts of cows; this whole world is said to rest upon food, therefore it should especially be given in Kartika.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.99.16)

परान्नवर्जनादेव लभेच्चांद्रायणं फलम् । दिनेदिनेऽतिकृच्छ्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः

parānnavarjanādeva labheccāṁdrāyaṇaṁ phalam dinedine'tikṛcchrasya phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

By merely abstaining from another's food, one obtains the fruit of the Chandrayana penance; day by day a man obtains, without hardship, the fruit of the severest austerity.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.99.17)

कार्तिके वर्जयेन्मांसं सन्धानं च विशेषतः । राक्षसीं योनिमाप्नोति सकृन्मांसस्य भक्षणात्

kārtike varjayenmāṁsaṁ sandhānaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ rākṣasīṁ yonimāpnoti sakṛnmāṁsasya bhakṣaṇāt

In Kartika one should avoid meat and, especially, fermented or pickled foods; by eating meat even once, one attains a demonic birth.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.99.18)

प्रवृत्तानां तु भक्ष्याणां कार्तिके नियमे कृते । अवश्यं विष्णुरूपत्वं प्राप्यते मोक्षदं पदम्

pravṛttānāṁ tu bhakṣyāṇāṁ kārtike niyame kṛte avaśyaṁ viṣṇurūpatvaṁ prāpyate mokṣadaṁ padam

When restraint regarding customary foods is duly observed in Kartika, one certainly attains Vishnu's own form — the liberating state.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.99.19)

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महीं दत्त्वा ग्रहणे सूर्यचंद्रयोः । यत्फलं लभते वत्स तत्फलं भूमिशायिनः

brāhmaṇebhyo mahīṁ dattvā grahaṇe sūryacaṁdrayoḥ yatphalaṁ labhate vatsa tatphalaṁ bhūmiśāyinaḥ

O child, the fruit obtained by giving land to brahmins during a solar or lunar eclipse — that same fruit belongs to one who sleeps on the ground in Kartika.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.99.20)

भोजनं द्विजदंपत्योः पूजनं च विलेपनैः । कंबलानि च रत्नानि वासांसि विविधानि च

bhojanaṁ dvijadaṁpatyoḥ pūjanaṁ ca vilepanaiḥ kaṁbalāni ca ratnāni vāsāṁsi vividhāni ca

Feeding a brahmin couple, worshipping them with unguents, and giving blankets, jewels, and various garments —

Verse 21 (skanda.2.99.21)

तूलिकाश्च प्रदातव्याः प्रच्छादनपटैः सह । उपानहावातपत्रं कार्तिके देहि सुव्रत

tūlikāśca pradātavyāḥ pracchādanapaṭaiḥ saha upānahāvātapatraṁ kārtike dehi suvrata

cotton mattresses should also be given, along with covering cloths; O good votary, give sandals and an umbrella in Kartika.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.99.22)

कार्तिके क्षितिशायी च हन्यात्पापं युगार्जितम् । जागरं कार्तिके मासि यः करोत्यरुणोदये

kārtike kṣitiśāyī ca hanyātpāpaṁ yugārjitam jāgaraṁ kārtike māsi yaḥ karotyaruṇodaye

He who sleeps on the ground in Kartika destroys sin accumulated over an age; he who keeps vigil in the month of Kartika at the rising of dawn,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.99.23)

दामोदराग्रे देवर्षे गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । नदीस्नानं कथा विष्णोर्वैष्णवानां च दर्शनम्

dāmodarāgre devarṣe gosahasraphalaṁ labhet nadīsnānaṁ kathā viṣṇorvaiṣṇavānāṁ ca darśanam

before Damodara, O divine sage, obtains the fruit of a thousand cows; bathing in a river, discourse on Vishnu, and the sight of Vaishnavas —

Verse 24 (skanda.2.99.24)

न भवेत्कार्तिके यस्य हरेत्पुण्यं दशाब्दिकम् । पुष्करं यः स्मरेत्प्राज्ञः कर्मणा मनसा गिरा

na bhavetkārtike yasya haretpuṇyaṁ daśābdikam puṣkaraṁ yaḥ smaretprājñaḥ karmaṇā manasā girā

— whoever lacks these in Kartika, ten years' merit is taken from him. The wise man who remembers Pushkara in deed, mind, and speech,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.99.25)

कार्तिके मुनिशार्दूल लक्षकोटिगुणं भवेत् । प्रयागो माघमासे तु पुष्करं कार्तिके तथा

kārtike muniśārdūla lakṣakoṭiguṇaṁ bhavet prayāgo māghamāse tu puṣkaraṁ kārtike tathā

O tiger among sages, that remembrance becomes a hundred-thousand-crore-fold more fruitful in Kartika. Prayaga is especially efficacious in Magha, and Pushkara likewise in Kartika.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.99.26)

अवन्ती माधवे मासि हन्यात्पापं युगार्जितम् । धन्यास्ते मानवा लोके कलिकाले विशेषतः

avantī mādhave māsi hanyātpāpaṁ yugārjitam dhanyāste mānavā loke kalikāle viśeṣataḥ

A pilgrimage to Avanti in the month of Madhava (Vaishakha) destroys sin accumulated over an age. Blessed indeed are those men in this world, especially in the Kali age,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.99.27)

ये कुर्वंति नरा नित्यं प्रीत्यर्थं हरिपूजनम् । तारितास्तैश्च पितरो नरकाच्च न संशयः

ye kurvaṁti narā nityaṁ prītyarthaṁ haripūjanam tāritāstaiśca pitaro narakācca na saṁśayaḥ

who constantly worship Hari with love; by them their ancestors too are undoubtedly delivered from hell.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.99.28)

क्षीरादिस्नपनं विष्णोः क्रियते पितृकारणात् । कल्पकोटिं दिवं प्राप्य वसन्ति त्रिदिवैः सह

kṣīrādisnapanaṁ viṣṇoḥ kriyate pitṛkāraṇāt kalpakoṭiṁ divaṁ prāpya vasanti tridivaiḥ saha

When Vishnu's bathing with milk and the rest is performed for the sake of one's ancestors, they attain heaven for a crore of kalpas and dwell there together with the gods.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.99.29)

कार्तिके नार्चितो यैस्तु कृष्णस्तु कमलेक्षणः । जन्मकोटिषु विप्रेन्द्र न तेषां कमला गृहे

kārtike nārcito yaistu kṛṣṇastu kamalekṣaṇaḥ janmakoṭiṣu viprendra na teṣāṁ kamalā gṛhe

By whom the lotus-eyed Krishna is not worshipped in Kartika, O best of brahmins, in their houses, through a crore of births, Lakshmi never dwells.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.99.30)

अहो मुष्टा विनष्टास्ते पतिताः कलिकन्दरे । यैर्नार्चितो हरिर्भक्त्या कमलैरसितैः सितैः

aho muṣṭā vinaṣṭāste patitāḥ kalikandare yairnārcito harirbhaktyā kamalairasitaiḥ sitaiḥ

Alas, cheated and ruined are they, fallen into the abyss of Kali, who did not worship Hari with devotion, with lotuses dark and white.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.99.31)

पद्मेनैकेन देवेशं योऽर्चयेत्कमलापतिम् । वर्षायुतसहस्रस्य पापस्य कुरुते क्षयम् । पुष्करार्चनयोगेन श्वेतो मुक्तिमवाप ह

padmenaikena deveśaṁ yo'rcayetkamalāpatim varṣāyutasahasrasya pāpasya kurute kṣayam puṣkarārcanayogena śveto muktimavāpa ha

He who worships the lord of gods, the husband of Kamala, with even a single lotus, destroys the sin of ten thousand years. Through the merit of worship at Pushkara, King Shveta indeed attained liberation.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.99.32)

अपराधसहस्राणि तथा सप्तशतानि च । पद्मेनैकेन देवेशः क्षमते प्रणतोऽर्चितः

aparādhasahasrāṇi tathā saptaśatāni ca padmenaikena deveśaḥ kṣamate praṇato'rcitaḥ

A thousand and seven hundred offenses — the lord of gods, when bowed to and worshipped with even a single lotus, forgives them all.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.99.33)

तुलसीपत्रलक्षेण कार्तिके योऽर्चयेद्धरिम् । पत्रेपत्रे मुनिश्रेष्ठ मौक्तिकं लभते फलम्

tulasīpatralakṣeṇa kārtike yo'rcayeddharim patrepatre muniśreṣṭha mauktikaṁ labhate phalam

O best of sages, he who worships Hari in Kartika with a hundred thousand tulasi leaves obtains, for each leaf, a fruit equal to the gift of a pearl.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.99.34)

मुखे शिरसि देहे तु कृष्णोत्तीर्णां तु यो वहेत् । तुलसी कृष्णनिर्माल्यैर्यो गात्रं परिमार्जयेत् । सर्वरोगैस्तथा पापैर्मुक्तो भवति मानवः

mukhe śirasi dehe tu kṛṣṇottīrṇāṁ tu yo vahet tulasī kṛṣṇanirmālyairyo gātraṁ parimārjayet sarvarogaistathā pāpairmukto bhavati mānavaḥ

He who bears upon his face, head, or body the tulasi that has touched Krishna, or who cleanses his limbs with Krishna's remnant offerings together with tulasi, that man becomes free from all diseases and sins.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.99.35)

शंखोदकं हरेर्भक्तिर्निर्माल्यं पादयोर्जलम् । चन्दनं धूपशेषं च ब्रह्महत्यापहारकम्

śaṁkhodakaṁ harerbhaktirnirmālyaṁ pādayorjalam candanaṁ dhūpaśeṣaṁ ca brahmahatyāpahārakam

The water of the conch, devotion to Hari, his remnant offerings, the water that has washed his feet, sandal paste, and the remains of incense — these remove even the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.99.36)

कार्तिके मासि विप्रेन्द्र प्रातःस्नानपरायणः । विप्रेभ्यश्चान्नदानं तु कुर्याच्छक्त्यनुसारतः

kārtike māsi viprendra prātaḥsnānaparāyaṇaḥ viprebhyaścānnadānaṁ tu kuryācchaktyanusārataḥ

O best of brahmins, in the month of Kartika, one devoted to the morning bath should give food to brahmins according to one's ability.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.99.37)

सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं विशिष्यते । अन्नेन जायते लोको ह्यन्नेनैवाऽभिवर्द्धते

sarveṣāmeva dānānāmannadānaṁ viśiṣyate annena jāyate loko hyannenaivā'bhivarddhate

Among all gifts, the gift of food is most excellent; by food the world comes into being, and by food alone it flourishes.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.99.38)

अन्नं हि सर्वभूतानां प्राणभूतं परं विदुः । अन्नदः सर्वदो लोके सर्वयज्ञादिकृद्भवेत्

annaṁ hi sarvabhūtānāṁ prāṇabhūtaṁ paraṁ viduḥ annadaḥ sarvado loke sarvayajñādikṛdbhavet

Food, indeed, is known as the supreme life-breath of all beings; he who gives food gives everything in this world, and becomes as one who has performed every sacrifice.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.99.39)

तीर्थस्नानेन किं तस्य देवयात्रादिनाऽपि किम् । सर्वं संपाद्यते ब्रह्मन्नन्नदानान्न संशयः

tīrthasnānena kiṁ tasya devayātrādinā'pi kim sarvaṁ saṁpādyate brahmannannadānānna saṁśayaḥ

What need has he of bathing at sacred fords, or of pilgrimages to the gods? O Brahman, everything is accomplished through the gift of food — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.99.40)

सत्यकेतुर्द्विजः पूर्वं चान्नदानेन केवलम् । सर्वपुण्यफलं प्राप्य मोक्षं प्राप सुदुर्लभम्

satyaketurdvijaḥ pūrvaṁ cānnadānena kevalam sarvapuṇyaphalaṁ prāpya mokṣaṁ prāpa sudurlabham

Long ago the brahmin Satyaketu, by the gift of food alone, obtaining the fruit of every merit, attained liberation, most hard to reach.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.99.41)

कार्तिकव्रतनिष्ठस्तु कुर्याद्गोदानमुत्तमम् । व्रतं संपूर्णतां याति गोदानेन न संशयः

kārtikavrataniṣṭhastu kuryādgodānamuttamam vrataṁ saṁpūrṇatāṁ yāti godānena na saṁśayaḥ

One devoted to the Kartika vow should make the excellent gift of a cow; through the gift of a cow the vow attains completeness, without doubt.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.99.42)

गोदानात्परमं दानं संसारार्णवतारकम् । नास्ति नारद लोकेऽस्मिन्सुशर्मा ब्राह्मणो यथा

godānātparamaṁ dānaṁ saṁsārārṇavatārakam nāsti nārada loke'sminsuśarmā brāhmaṇo yathā

There is no gift higher than the gift of a cow, a raft across the ocean of transmigration, in this world, O Narada — as shown by the example of the brahmin Susharma.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.99.43)

कार्तिके मासि विप्रेंद्र दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकशः । हरिस्मृतिविहीनश्चेन्न पुनंति कदाचन

kārtike māsi vipreṁdra dattvā dānānyanekaśaḥ harismṛtivihīnaścenna punaṁti kadācana

O best of brahmins, even after giving many gifts in the month of Kartika, if one is devoid of remembrance of Hari, those gifts never purify him.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.99.44)

नामस्मरणमाहात्म्यं मया वक्तुं न शक्यते । पुष्करेण यथा पूर्वं नारकीयाश्च मोचिताः

nāmasmaraṇamāhātmyaṁ mayā vaktuṁ na śakyate puṣkareṇa yathā pūrvaṁ nārakīyāśca mocitāḥ

The greatness of the remembrance of the divine name cannot be told even by me — as, long ago, denizens of hell were freed through the power of Pushkara.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.99.45)

गोविंद गोविंद हरे मुरारे गोविंद गोविंद् मुकुंद कृष्ण । गोविंद गोविंद रथांगपाणे गोविंद दामोदर माधवेति

goviṁda goviṁda hare murāre goviṁda goviṁd mukuṁda kṛṣṇa goviṁda goviṁda rathāṁgapāṇe goviṁda dāmodara mādhaveti

"Govinda, Govinda, O Hari, O Murari, Govinda, Govinda, Mukunda, Krishna! Govinda, Govinda, O wielder of the discus, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!" — thus he cried out.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.99.46)

श्लोकार्द्धं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं भागवतोद्भवम् । कार्तिके यः पठन्मर्त्यः श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः

ślokārddhaṁ ślokapādaṁ vā nityaṁ bhāgavatodbhavam kārtike yaḥ paṭhanmartyaḥ śraddhābhaktisamanvitaḥ

The mortal who, in Kartika, with faith and devotion, daily recites even half a verse or a quarter-verse arising from the Bhagavata,

Verse 47 (skanda.2.99.47)

यैर्न श्रुतं भागवतं पुराणं नाराधितो वै पुरुषः पुराणः । हुतं मुखे नैव धरामराणां तेषां वृथा जन्म गतं नराणाम्

yairna śrutaṁ bhāgavataṁ purāṇaṁ nārādhito vai puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ hutaṁ mukhe naiva dharāmarāṇāṁ teṣāṁ vṛthā janma gataṁ narāṇām

Those men who have not heard the Bhagavata Purana, who have not worshipped the eternal Purusha, and by whom oblation has not been offered into the mouths of brahmins — their birth as men has passed in vain.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.99.48)

कार्तिके मासि विप्रेंद्र यस्तु गीतां पठेन्नरः । तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं मम शक्तिर्न विद्यते

kārtike māsi vipreṁdra yastu gītāṁ paṭhennaraḥ tasya puṇyaphalaṁ vaktuṁ mama śaktirna vidyate

O best of brahmins, the man who recites the Gita in the month of Kartika — I have no power to tell the merit that is his.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.99.49)

गीतायास्तु समं शास्त्रं न भूतं न भविष्यति । सर्वपापहरा नित्यं गीतैका मोक्षदायिनी

gītāyāstu samaṁ śāstraṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati sarvapāpaharā nityaṁ gītaikā mokṣadāyinī

There has never been, nor will there ever be, a scripture equal to the Gita; the Gita alone, ever the remover of all sins, bestows liberation.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.99.50)

एकेनाऽध्यायपाठेन सर्वपापकृतोऽपि च । मुच्यंते नरकाद्घोराज्जडो वै ब्राह्मणो यथा

ekenā'dhyāyapāṭhena sarvapāpakṛto'pi ca mucyaṁte narakādghorājjaḍo vai brāhmaṇo yathā

By the recitation of even a single chapter, even one who has committed every sin is freed from terrible hell — as indeed happened for a dull-witted brahmin.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.99.51)

शालिग्रामशिलादानं यः कुर्यात्कार्तिके मुने । तस्य पुण्यस्य विश्रांतिर्विष्णुना न निरूपिता

śāligrāmaśilādānaṁ yaḥ kuryātkārtike mune tasya puṇyasya viśrāṁtirviṣṇunā na nirūpitā

O sage, whoever makes the gift of a Shaligrama stone in Kartika — for his merit, Vishnu himself has declared no limit.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.99.52)

शालिग्रामं समभ्यर्च्य श्रोत्रियाय महामुने । दानं यः कुरुते विप्र तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

śāligrāmaṁ samabhyarcya śrotriyāya mahāmune dānaṁ yaḥ kurute vipra tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

O brahmin, hear the fruit of merit of him who, having duly worshipped a Shaligrama stone, O great sage, gives it in gift to a learned brahmin.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.99.53)

सप्तसागरपर्यंतं भूदानाद्यत्फलं भवेत् । शालिग्रामशिलादानात्तत्फलं समवाप्नुयात्

saptasāgaraparyaṁtaṁ bhūdānādyatphalaṁ bhavet śāligrāmaśilādānāttatphalaṁ samavāpnuyāt

Whatever fruit arises from the gift of the earth bounded by the seven oceans, that same fruit is obtained from the gift of a Shaligrama stone.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.99.54)

शालिग्रामशिलादानात्कार्तिके ब्राह्मणी यथा । विधवा सधवा जाता विवाहे पंचमेऽहनि

śāligrāmaśilādānātkārtike brāhmaṇī yathā vidhavā sadhavā jātā vivāhe paṁcame'hani

By the power of the gift of a Shaligrama stone in Kartika — as happened to a certain brahmin woman who, though widowed, became a wedded wife again on the fifth day of her marriage.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.99.55)

तस्मात्तु कार्तिके मासि स्नानदानपुरःसरम् । शालिग्रामशिलादानं कर्तव्यं नाऽत्र संशयः

tasmāttu kārtike māsi snānadānapuraḥsaram śāligrāmaśilādānaṁ kartavyaṁ nā'tra saṁśayaḥ

Therefore, in the month of Kartika, preceded by bathing and giving, the gift of a Shaligrama stone should certainly be made — of this there is no doubt.