Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 30
Sourceनारद उवाच- ब्रह्मन्संवत्सराख्यस्य दीपस्य विधिमुत्तमम् । सर्वव्रतप्रधानस्य माहात्म्यं प्रवदस्व मे १। येन व्रतानि सर्वाणि कृतान्येव न संशयः । सर्वकामसमृद्धिश्च सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् २। महादेव उवाच - वदामि तव देवर्षे रहस्यं पापनाशनम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नो मित्रघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः ३। विश्वासघाती क्रूरात्मा मुक्तिमाप्नोति शाश्वतीम् । शतं कुलानामुद्धृत्य विष्णोर्लोकं स गच्छति ४। तदहं कथयिष्यामि दीपव्रतमनुत्तमम् । संवत्सरप्रमाणस्य विधिं माहात्म्यमेव च ५। हेमंते प्रथमे मासि प्राप्य ह्येकादशीं शुभाम् । ब्राह्मे मुहूर्त्ते चोत्थाय कामक्रोधविवर्जितः ६। नदीसंगमतीर्थेषु तडागेषु सरित्सु च । स्नानं समाचरेत्तत्र गृहे वा नियतात्मवान् ७। स्नातोऽहं सर्वतीर्थे तत्स्नानं देहि मे सदा ८। स्नानमंत्रः । देवान्पितॄंश्च संतर्प्य कृतजप्यो जितेंद्रियः । ततः संपूजयेद्देवं लक्ष्मीनारायणं प्रभुम् । पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य ततो गंधोदकेन च ९। स्नातोऽसि लक्ष्म्या सहितो देवदेव जगत्पते । मां समुद्धर देवेश घोरात्संसारबंधनात् १०। ततः संपूजयेद्देवं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् । मंत्रैस्तु वैदिकैर्भक्त्या तथा पौराणिकैरपि ११। अतो देवेति गंधादि पौरुषेणापि वा पुनः । नमो मत्स्याय देवाय कूर्मदेवाय वै नमः १२। नमो वाराहदेवाय नरसिंहाय वै नमः । नमोऽस्तु बुद्धदेवाय कल्किने च नमोनमः १३। नमोऽस्तु रामदेवाय विष्णुदेवाय ते नमः । नमः सर्वात्मने तुभ्यं शि रइत्यभिपूजयेत् । केशवादीनि नामानि तैर्वा संपूजयेद्धरिम् १४। वनस्पतिरसो दिव्यः सुरभिर्गंधवाञ्छुचिः । धूपोऽयं देवदेवेश नमस्ते प्रतिगृह्यताम् १५ ।धूपमंत्रः । दीपस्तमो नाशयति दीपः कांतिं प्रयच्छति । तस्माद्दीपप्रदानेन प्रीयतां मे जनार्दनः १६। दीपमंत्रः । नैवेद्यमिदमन्नाद्यं देवदेव जगत्पते । लक्ष्म्या सह गृहाण त्वं परमामृतमुत्तमम् १७। नैवेद्यमंत्रः । अर्घ्यं दद्यात्ततो भक्त्या एवं ध्यात्वा जनार्दनम् । फलेन चैव हस्तेन शंखेनादाय चोदकम् १८। जन्मांतरसहस्रेण यन्मया पातकं कृतम् । तत्सर्वं नाशमायातु प्रसादात्तव केशव १९। इति अर्घमंत्रः । ततः कुंभं नवं शुभ्रं घृतपूर्णं समानयेत् । लक्ष्मीनारायणस्याग्रे तैलपूर्णमथापि वा २०। तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रं ताम्रं मृन्मयमेव च । नवतंतुसमां वर्तिं तस्मिन्पात्रे तु निर्वपेत् २१। ततः प्रबोधयेद्दीपं स्थाप्य कुंभं सुनिश्चलम् । पुष्पगंधादिभिः पूज्य ततः संकल्पयेच्छुचिः २२। मंत्रेणानेन देवर्षे असमीरेषु धामसु । कामो भूतस्य भव्यस्य सम्राडेको विराजते २३। दीपः संवत्सरं यावत्मयायं परिकल्पितः । अग्निहोत्रमविच्छिन्नं प्रीयतां मम केशव २४। ततो जितेंद्रियो भूत्वा श्रुतिज्ञानपरायणः । नालपेत्पतितान्पापांस्तथा पाखण्डिनो नरान् २५। रात्रौ जागरणं गीतं नृत्यवाद्यादिकैस्तथा । पुण्यपाठैश्च विविधैर्धर्माख्यानैरुपोषणैः २६। ततः प्रभातसमये कृतपूर्वाह्णिक क्रियः । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या यथाशक्त्या प्रपूजयेत् २७। स्वयं च पारणं कृत्वा प्रणिपत्य विसर्जयेत् । एवं संवत्सरं यावदहोरात्रं दृढव्रतः २८। दीपं पलसुवर्णेन तदर्द्धार्द्धेन वा पुनः । वर्तिस्तु राजती प्रोक्ता द्विपलार्द्धार्द्धिकापि वा २९। घृतपूर्णं तथा कुंभं ताम्रपात्रसमन्वितम् । लक्ष्मीनारायणो देवो यथाशक्त्या हिरण्मयः ३०। कार्यो भक्तिमता पुंसा मुक्तिद्वारमभीप्सता । ततो निमंत्रयेद्विद्वान्ब्रह्मणान्साधुसत्तमान् ३१। द्वादशोत्तमपक्षे तु विप्रान्षण्मध्यमे तथा । अन्यथा कारयेत्त्रीन्वा एकं कर्मकरं द्विजम् ३२। सपत्नीकं द्विजं शांतं क्रियावंतं विशेषतः । इतिहासपुराणज्ञं धर्मज्ञं मृदुमेव च ३३। पितृभक्तं गुरुपरं देवब्राह्मणपूजकम् । पादार्घदानविधिना वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः ३४। संपूज्य पत्न्या सहितमेकं भक्त्या च पूर्ववत् । लक्ष्मीनारायणं देवं दीपवर्तियुतं तथा ३५। ताम्रपात्रोपरिस्थाप्य घृतकुंभेन संयुतम् । ब्राह्मणाय ततो दद्याद्ध्यात्वा नारायणं परम् । मंत्रेणानेन देवर्षे तमहं कथयामि ते ३६। अविद्या तमसा व्याप्ते संसारे पापनाशनः । ज्ञानप्रदो मोक्षदश्च तस्माद्दत्तो मयानघ ३७। इति दीपमंत्रः । दक्षिणां च यथाशक्त्या दत्त्वा विप्राय भक्तितः । भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्पश्चाद्घृतपायसमोदकैः ३८। वस्त्रैराच्छादयेत्पश्चात्सपत्नीकं तथा द्विजम् । शय्यां सोपस्करां दद्याद्धेनुं चैव सवत्सकाम् ३९। तेभ्यस्तु दक्षिणां दद्याद्यथावित्तानुसारतः । सुहृत्स्वजनबंधूश्च भोजयेत्पूजयेत्तथा ४०। एवं महोत्सवं कुर्याद्दीपव्रत समापने । ततो विसर्जयेत्पश्चात्प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत् ४१। एवं कृते तु यत्पुण्यं तथा सांक्रांतिकैश्च यत् । संवत्सराख्य दीपस्य तत्फलं प्राप्यते नरैः ४२। मासव्रतैश्च यत्पुण्यं तत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते नरैः । संवत्सरस्य दीपस्य व्रतेन चरितेन च ४३। दानव्रतैर्यथासंख्यैर्यश्च योगव्रतैस्तथा । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति दीपे सांवत्सरे कृते ४४। गोभूहिरण्यदानानि गृहादीनां विशेषतः । यत्फलं लभते विद्वान्तत्फलं दीपदो भवेत् ४५। दीपदः कांतिमाप्नोति दीपदो धनमक्षयम् । दीपदो ज्ञानमाप्नोति दीपदः परमं सुखम् ४६। दीपदानाच्च सौभाग्यं विद्यामत्यंतनिर्मलाम् । आरोग्यं परमामृद्धिं लभते नात्र संशयः ४७। दीपदः सुभगां भार्यां सर्वलक्षणसंयुताम् । पुत्रान्पौत्रान्प्रपौत्रांश्च संततिं चाक्षया लभेत् ४८। ब्राह्मणः परमं ज्ञानं क्षत्रियो राज्यमुत्तमम् । वैश्यो धनपशून्सर्वाञ्छूद्रः सुखमवाप्नुयात् ४९। कुमारी चापि भर्तारं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । प्राप्नोति परमायुश्च पुत्रान्पौत्रांश्च पुष्कलान् 6.30.५०। वैधव्यं नैव युवती कदाचिदपि पश्यति । न वियोगमवाप्नोति दीपदानप्रभावतः ५१। नाधयो व्याधयश्चैव जायंते दीपदानतः । भयात्प्रमुच्यते भीतो बद्धो मुच्येत बंधनात् ५२। ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्दीपव्रतपरायणः । मुच्यते नात्र संदेहो ब्रह्मणो वचनं यथा ५४। चांद्रायणानि कृच्छ्राणि चरितानि न संशयः । येन सांवत्सरो दीपो बोधितः शाश्वतो हरेः ५५। ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानस्तैः प्राप्तं जन्मनः फलम् । यैः संपूज्य हरिं भक्त्या दीपःसांवत्सरः कृतः ५६। येऽपि संवर्त्तयंतीह दीपवर्तिविलोकनाः । ते यांति परमं स्थानं यत्सुरैरपि दुर्लभम् ५७। येन तैलं च वर्तिं च यथाशक्त्या प्रदीपके । प्रक्षेपयंति सततं ते यांति परमां गतिम् ५८। गच्छंतं दीपकं शांतिं न शक्नोति प्रबोधितुम् । कथयत्यन्यलोकानां तेऽपि तत्फलभागिनः ५९। स्तोकं स्तोकं च भिक्षित्वा तैलं दीपार्थमेव च । करोति दीपकं विष्णोः पुण्यं तेनापि लभ्यते ६०। दीपं प्रज्वाल्यमानं तु यः पश्यत्यधमो नरः । कृतांजलिपुटो विष्णोर्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् ६१। दीपप्रज्वालने बुद्धिं यो दद्यात्कुरुते स्वयम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् ६२। अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ६३। सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये सिद्धाश्रम इति श्रुतः । तत्रोवास द्विजः पूर्वं कपिलो नाम वेदवित् ६४। व्रतोपवासनिरतो दरिद्र श्रोःत्रियस्तथा । भिक्षावृत्त्या च कुरुते कुटुंब परिपालनम् ६५। व्रतोपवासनियमैर्विष्णुमाराधयत्यसौ । विष्णुं संपूज्य विधिवद्दीपं बोधयते सदा ६६। समादाय च तत्तैलं स्वगृहे पूज्य केशवम् । दीपं भक्त्या च परया बोधयेद्धरितुष्टये ६७। एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः । मार्जारस्तीक्ष्णंदंष्ट्रस्तु मूषकान्भक्षयेत्सदा ६८। तत्रागच्छति भक्ष्यार्थं मूषकानामहर्निशम् । कृत्वा ध्यानं स भक्ष्यार्थं नित्यं नारायणाग्रतः ६९। भक्षिता बहवस्तेन मूषका द्विजवेश्मनि । ये ये तैलार्थमायांति वर्त्यपाहरणाय च ७०। तांस्तांस्तु भक्षयत्येव मूषकान्ध्यानतत्परः । एवं प्रवर्तमानस्य कदाचित्कालपर्ययात् ७१। एकादश्यां स कपिलो ब्राह्मणः स्वगृहे शुचिः । सोपवासः सपत्नीकः पूजयामास चाच्युतम् ७२। ततो जागरणं चक्रे स्तुतिनृत्यपरायणः । अर्द्धरात्रे तु संप्राप्ते निद्रया मोहितो द्विजः ७३। मार्जारश्चागतस्तत्र तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो लघुक्रमः । लक्षयामास नैवेद्यं गृहकोणे स्थितः सदा ७४। अद्राक्षीन्मूषिकां क्षुद्रा तैलपानार्थमागताम् । मंदतेजसि दीपे तु वर्त्यपाहरणोचिताम् ७५। समुत्पत्य पदाक्रम्य तदा सा बिलमाविशत् । तस्याः पादेन वै वर्त्या दीपः संबोधितो भृशम् ७६। तैलपात्रं च नमितं सुप्रकाशोऽभवत्तदा । ब्राह्मणोऽपि जजागार त्यक्त्वा निद्रां विमोहिनीम् ७७। मार्जारोऽपि च तां रात्रीमजाग्रच्चाखुभक्षकः । ततः प्रभाते विमले कृत्वा नित्यक्रियां द्विजः ७८। ततश्च पारणं चक्रे विप्रो बंधुजनैः सह । एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः ७९। बभूवुः पुत्रपौत्राश्च धनधान्यमनुत्तमम् । आरोग्यं परमामृद्धिमवाप महतीं श्रियम् ८०। दीपव्रतप्रभावेन कपिलो मोक्षमागतः । संभेद्य मंडलं पुण्यं सवितुः शशिनस्तथा ८१। दीपज्योतिःस्वरूपेण परमात्मा नियुक्तवान् । मूषिकापि च कालेन ममार बिलमध्यतः ८२। विमानवरमासाद्य विष्णुलोकं जगाम सा । मार्जारोऽपि च कालांते मृतः स्वर्गं जगाम सः ८२। विमानवरमारुह्य देवगंधर्वसेवितम् । अप्सरोभिः परिवृतो विद्याधरगणैर्युतः ८३। स्तूयमानो महातेजा जयशब्दादि मंगलैः । स्तूयमानः स वै नागैर्विष्णुलोकं जगाम सः ८४। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च । भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगान्ततो राजाभवद्भुवि ८५। सुधर्मा नाम धर्मात्मा देवब्राह्मणपूजकः । रूपवान्सुभगश्चैव महाबलपराक्रमः ८६। तस्य प्रियतमा भार्या सर्वलक्षणसंयुता । भर्तृभक्ता तथा शीला नाम्ना सा रूपसुंदरी ८७। सर्वासां चैव नारीणां मध्ये सा सुभगाभवत् । पुत्राश्च बहवो जातास्तथा दुहितरो घनाः ८८। एवं विहरतोस्तद्वद्दंपत्योः प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । आगतः कार्त्तिको मासो हरिनेत्रावबोधकृत् ८९। तस्मिन्दीपाः प्रबोध्यंते नारायणपरायणैः । कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणादीनि व्रतानि नियमास्तथा ९०। क्रियंते विष्णुभक्तैश्च संसारभयभीरुभिः । अथ प्रबोधिनीं प्राप्य राजा राज्ञीमथाब्रवीत् ९१। भद्रे प्रबोधिनी पुण्या विष्णोर्नाभिसरोरुहे । करिष्याम्यद्य पूजां च सोपवासो जितेंद्रियः ९२। स्नात्वा च पुष्करे तीर्थे पुंडरीकाक्षमच्युतम् । पूजयिष्यामि देवेशं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् ९३। इति सा वांछितं श्रुत्वा भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता । उवाच वचनं गुह्यं भर्त्तारं चारुहासिनी ९४। रूपसुंदर्युवाच- ममापि हृदये कामः समुत्पन्नो नराधिप । रूपसौंदर्यवांछा च हृदये मम वर्त्तते ९५। पुष्करं प्रथमं तीर्थं गंतुमिच्छे त्वया सह । ततो राजा तया सार्द्धमागतः पुष्करं तदा ९६। हस्त्यश्वरथवृंदैश्च समागत्य पुरोहितैः । ततः स्नात्वा तथा ध्यायन्तर्पयन्पितृदेवताः ९७। पूजयामास देवेशं पुंडरीकाक्षमच्युतम् । दीपमालाकुले तत्र सर्वतः सुमनोहरे ९८। ददर्श लिखितं तत्र मार्जारं देवतालये । तं दृष्ट्वा प्राकृतं कर्म जन्म स्मृत्वा नृपस्तदा ९९। मुखपंकजमालोक्य प्रियायाः प्रजहास च । रूपसुंदर्युवाच- मम सन्मुखमालोक्य भर्तः किं स्मितकारणम् 6.30.१००। कथयामास हृष्टात्मा प्राक्तनं कर्मणः फलम् । राजोवाच- अहमासं पुरा देवि मार्जारो ब्राह्मणालये १०१। भक्षिता मूषकास्तत्र मया शतसहस्रशः । ततो नारायणस्याग्रे दीपः संरक्षितो यतः १०२। व्याजेनापि मया देविप्राप्तं तत्कर्मणः फलम् । विष्णुलोकमनुप्राप्य राज्यं प्राप्तं मयाधुना १०३। रूपसुंदर्युवाच-। ममापि स्मरणं जातं प्राकृतस्य च जन्मनः । मूषिका चाहमप्यासं क्षुद्रा ब्राह्मणवेश्मनि १०४। कार्तिके च प्रबोधिन्यां मंदीभूते च दीपके । वर्त्यग्राहरणार्थाय निर्गताहं तदा बिलात् १०५। दृष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं पूजितं कुसुमैस्तथा । निद्राभिभूतं विप्रं च वर्त्तिः कृष्टा मया तदा १०६। उत्थितस्त्वं यदा तत्र मां गृहीतुं कृतक्षणः । दृष्ट्वा त्वं च प्रणष्टाहं प्रविष्टा बिलमध्यतः १०७। विशंत्या मम पादेन दीपवर्त्तिर्विजृंभिता । तैलपात्रं च नमितं तेनाहं सुखभागिनी १०८। तन्मया राजराजेंद्र दीपं चैव प्रकाशितम् । इदानीं च मया प्राप्तं रूपलावण्यमुत्तमम् १०९। त्वं च भर्त्ता तथा राज्यं पुत्राश्चैवंविधं सुखम् । दीपप्रबोधनाज्जातं ज्ञानमत्यंत दुर्ल्लभम् ११०। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन दीपव्रतमनुत्तमम् । आवां हि परया भक्त्या कुर्वश्चैव विशेषतः १११। तदेतत्कर्मणः प्राप्तं फलं राज्यादिसंपदः । पूर्वजन्मस्मृतं चापि सर्वपापक्षयस्तथा ११२। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन विधिमंत्रादिपूर्वकम् । दीपव्रतं कृतं पुंभिः पुण्यं चंद्रार्कतारकम् ११३। इति श्रुत्वा वचो राजा चक्रे दीपव्रतं तदा । प्रियया सह देवर्षे सम्यक्श्रद्धासमन्वितः ११४। तस्मिंस्तु पुष्करे तीर्थे कृत्वा दीपव्रतं तु तौ । अवापतुः परां मुक्तिं देवदानवदुर्ल्लभाम् ११५। एतद्दीपस्य माहात्म्यं ये शृण्वंति नरा भुवि । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ताः प्रयांति हरिमंदिरम् ११६। ये च कुर्वंति पुरुषाः स्त्रियो वा भक्तितत्पराः । ते सर्वे पापनिर्मुक्ता यांति ब्रह्मसनातनम् ११७। दीपव्रतमिदं विद्वन्कथितं ते विमुक्तिदम् । सर्वसौख्यप्रदं धन्यं महाव्रतमिदं तव ११७। नेत्ररोगा विनश्यंति यथा पापप्रभावजाः । आधयो व्याधयः सर्वे नश्यंते हि कृतेक्षणात् ११८। न दारिद्र्यं न शोकं च न मोहो न च विभ्रमः । गृहे लक्ष्मीः समायाति जन्मजन्मनि वाडव ११९। इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां उत्तरखण्डे उमापतिनारदसंवादे दीपव्रतमाहात्म्यंनाम त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ३०।
nārada uvāca- brahmansaṃvatsarākhyasya dīpasya vidhimuttamam | sarvavratapradhānasya māhātmyaṃ pravadasva me 1| yena vratāni sarvāṇi kṛtānyeva na saṃśayaḥ | sarvakāmasamṛddhiśca sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet 2| mahādeva uvāca - vadāmi tava devarṣe rahasyaṃ pāpanāśanam | yacchrutvā brahmahā goghno mitraghno gurutalpagaḥ 3| viśvāsaghātī krūrātmā muktimāpnoti śāśvatīm | śataṃ kulānāmuddhṛtya viṣṇorlokaṃ sa gacchati 4| tadahaṃ kathayiṣyāmi dīpavratamanuttamam | saṃvatsarapramāṇasya vidhiṃ māhātmyameva ca 5| hemaṃte prathame māsi prāpya hyekādaśīṃ śubhām | brāhme muhūrtte cotthāya kāmakrodhavivarjitaḥ 6| nadīsaṃgamatīrtheṣu taḍāgeṣu saritsu ca | snānaṃ samācarettatra gṛhe vā niyatātmavān 7| snāto'haṃ sarvatīrthe tatsnānaṃ dehi me sadā 8| snānamaṃtraḥ | devānpitṝṃśca saṃtarpya kṛtajapyo jiteṃdriyaḥ | tataḥ saṃpūjayeddevaṃ lakṣmīnārāyaṇaṃ prabhum | paṃcāmṛtena saṃsnāpya tato gaṃdhodakena ca 9| snāto'si lakṣmyā sahito devadeva jagatpate | māṃ samuddhara deveśa ghorātsaṃsārabaṃdhanāt 10| tataḥ saṃpūjayeddevaṃ lakṣmyā saha janārdanam | maṃtraistu vaidikairbhaktyā tathā paurāṇikairapi 11| ato deveti gaṃdhādi pauruṣeṇāpi vā punaḥ | namo matsyāya devāya kūrmadevāya vai namaḥ 12| namo vārāhadevāya narasiṃhāya vai namaḥ | namo'stu buddhadevāya kalkine ca namonamaḥ 13| namo'stu rāmadevāya viṣṇudevāya te namaḥ | namaḥ sarvātmane tubhyaṃ śi raityabhipūjayet | keśavādīni nāmāni tairvā saṃpūjayeddharim 14| vanaspatiraso divyaḥ surabhirgaṃdhavāñchuciḥ | dhūpo'yaṃ devadeveśa namaste pratigṛhyatām 15 |dhūpamaṃtraḥ | dīpastamo nāśayati dīpaḥ kāṃtiṃ prayacchati | tasmāddīpapradānena prīyatāṃ me janārdanaḥ 16| dīpamaṃtraḥ | naivedyamidamannādyaṃ devadeva jagatpate | lakṣmyā saha gṛhāṇa tvaṃ paramāmṛtamuttamam 17| naivedyamaṃtraḥ | arghyaṃ dadyāttato bhaktyā evaṃ dhyātvā janārdanam | phalena caiva hastena śaṃkhenādāya codakam 18| janmāṃtarasahasreṇa yanmayā pātakaṃ kṛtam | tatsarvaṃ nāśamāyātu prasādāttava keśava 19| iti arghamaṃtraḥ | tataḥ kuṃbhaṃ navaṃ śubhraṃ ghṛtapūrṇaṃ samānayet | lakṣmīnārāyaṇasyāgre tailapūrṇamathāpi vā 20| tasyopari nyasetpātraṃ tāmraṃ mṛnmayameva ca | navataṃtusamāṃ vartiṃ tasminpātre tu nirvapet 21| tataḥ prabodhayeddīpaṃ sthāpya kuṃbhaṃ suniścalam | puṣpagaṃdhādibhiḥ pūjya tataḥ saṃkalpayecchuciḥ 22| maṃtreṇānena devarṣe asamīreṣu dhāmasu | kāmo bhūtasya bhavyasya samrāḍeko virājate 23| dīpaḥ saṃvatsaraṃ yāvatmayāyaṃ parikalpitaḥ | agnihotramavicchinnaṃ prīyatāṃ mama keśava 24| tato jiteṃdriyo bhūtvā śrutijñānaparāyaṇaḥ | nālapetpatitānpāpāṃstathā pākhaṇḍino narān 25| rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ gītaṃ nṛtyavādyādikaistathā | puṇyapāṭhaiśca vividhairdharmākhyānairupoṣaṇaiḥ 26| tataḥ prabhātasamaye kṛtapūrvāhṇika kriyaḥ | brāhmaṇānbhojayedbhaktyā yathāśaktyā prapūjayet 27| svayaṃ ca pāraṇaṃ kṛtvā praṇipatya visarjayet | evaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ yāvadahorātraṃ dṛḍhavrataḥ 28| dīpaṃ palasuvarṇena tadarddhārddhena vā punaḥ | vartistu rājatī proktā dvipalārddhārddhikāpi vā 29| ghṛtapūrṇaṃ tathā kuṃbhaṃ tāmrapātrasamanvitam | lakṣmīnārāyaṇo devo yathāśaktyā hiraṇmayaḥ 30| kāryo bhaktimatā puṃsā muktidvāramabhīpsatā | tato nimaṃtrayedvidvānbrahmaṇānsādhusattamān 31| dvādaśottamapakṣe tu viprānṣaṇmadhyame tathā | anyathā kārayettrīnvā ekaṃ karmakaraṃ dvijam 32| sapatnīkaṃ dvijaṃ śāṃtaṃ kriyāvaṃtaṃ viśeṣataḥ | itihāsapurāṇajñaṃ dharmajñaṃ mṛdumeva ca 33| pitṛbhaktaṃ guruparaṃ devabrāhmaṇapūjakam | pādārghadānavidhinā vastrālaṃkārabhūṣaṇaiḥ 34| saṃpūjya patnyā sahitamekaṃ bhaktyā ca pūrvavat | lakṣmīnārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ dīpavartiyutaṃ tathā 35| tāmrapātroparisthāpya ghṛtakuṃbhena saṃyutam | brāhmaṇāya tato dadyāddhyātvā nārāyaṇaṃ param | maṃtreṇānena devarṣe tamahaṃ kathayāmi te 36| avidyā tamasā vyāpte saṃsāre pāpanāśanaḥ | jñānaprado mokṣadaśca tasmāddatto mayānagha 37| iti dīpamaṃtraḥ | dakṣiṇāṃ ca yathāśaktyā dattvā viprāya bhaktitaḥ | bhojayedbrāhmaṇānpaścādghṛtapāyasamodakaiḥ 38| vastrairācchādayetpaścātsapatnīkaṃ tathā dvijam | śayyāṃ sopaskarāṃ dadyāddhenuṃ caiva savatsakām 39| tebhyastu dakṣiṇāṃ dadyādyathāvittānusārataḥ | suhṛtsvajanabaṃdhūśca bhojayetpūjayettathā 40| evaṃ mahotsavaṃ kuryāddīpavrata samāpane | tato visarjayetpaścātpraṇipatya kṣamāpayet 41| evaṃ kṛte tu yatpuṇyaṃ tathā sāṃkrāṃtikaiśca yat | saṃvatsarākhya dīpasya tatphalaṃ prāpyate naraiḥ 42| māsavrataiśca yatpuṇyaṃ tatpuṇyaṃ prāpyate naraiḥ | saṃvatsarasya dīpasya vratena caritena ca 43| dānavratairyathāsaṃkhyairyaśca yogavrataistathā | tatphalaṃ samavāpnoti dīpe sāṃvatsare kṛte 44| gobhūhiraṇyadānāni gṛhādīnāṃ viśeṣataḥ | yatphalaṃ labhate vidvāntatphalaṃ dīpado bhavet 45| dīpadaḥ kāṃtimāpnoti dīpado dhanamakṣayam | dīpado jñānamāpnoti dīpadaḥ paramaṃ sukham 46| dīpadānācca saubhāgyaṃ vidyāmatyaṃtanirmalām | ārogyaṃ paramāmṛddhiṃ labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ 47| dīpadaḥ subhagāṃ bhāryāṃ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutām | putrānpautrānprapautrāṃśca saṃtatiṃ cākṣayā labhet 48| brāhmaṇaḥ paramaṃ jñānaṃ kṣatriyo rājyamuttamam | vaiśyo dhanapaśūnsarvāñchūdraḥ sukhamavāpnuyāt 49| kumārī cāpi bhartāraṃ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutam | prāpnoti paramāyuśca putrānpautrāṃśca puṣkalān 6.30.50| vaidhavyaṃ naiva yuvatī kadācidapi paśyati | na viyogamavāpnoti dīpadānaprabhāvataḥ 51| nādhayo vyādhayaścaiva jāyaṃte dīpadānataḥ | bhayātpramucyate bhīto baddho mucyeta baṃdhanāt 52| brahmahatyādibhiḥ pāpairdīpavrataparāyaṇaḥ | mucyate nātra saṃdeho brahmaṇo vacanaṃ yathā 54| cāṃdrāyaṇāni kṛcchrāṇi caritāni na saṃśayaḥ | yena sāṃvatsaro dīpo bodhitaḥ śāśvato hareḥ 55| te dhanyāste mahātmānastaiḥ prāptaṃ janmanaḥ phalam | yaiḥ saṃpūjya hariṃ bhaktyā dīpaḥsāṃvatsaraḥ kṛtaḥ 56| ye'pi saṃvarttayaṃtīha dīpavartivilokanāḥ | te yāṃti paramaṃ sthānaṃ yatsurairapi durlabham 57| yena tailaṃ ca vartiṃ ca yathāśaktyā pradīpake | prakṣepayaṃti satataṃ te yāṃti paramāṃ gatim 58| gacchaṃtaṃ dīpakaṃ śāṃtiṃ na śaknoti prabodhitum | kathayatyanyalokānāṃ te'pi tatphalabhāginaḥ 59| stokaṃ stokaṃ ca bhikṣitvā tailaṃ dīpārthameva ca | karoti dīpakaṃ viṣṇoḥ puṇyaṃ tenāpi labhyate 60| dīpaṃ prajvālyamānaṃ tu yaḥ paśyatyadhamo naraḥ | kṛtāṃjalipuṭo viṣṇorviṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt 61| dīpaprajvālane buddhiṃ yo dadyātkurute svayam | sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt 62| atrāpyudāharaṃtīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | yasya śravaṇamātreṇa mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ 63| sarasvatyāstaṭe ramye siddhāśrama iti śrutaḥ | tatrovāsa dvijaḥ pūrvaṃ kapilo nāma vedavit 64| vratopavāsanirato daridra śroḥtriyastathā | bhikṣāvṛttyā ca kurute kuṭuṃba paripālanam 65| vratopavāsaniyamairviṣṇumārādhayatyasau | viṣṇuṃ saṃpūjya vidhivaddīpaṃ bodhayate sadā 66| samādāya ca tattailaṃ svagṛhe pūjya keśavam | dīpaṃ bhaktyā ca parayā bodhayeddharituṣṭaye 67| evaṃ pravarttamānasya kapilasya mahātmanaḥ | mārjārastīkṣṇaṃdaṃṣṭrastu mūṣakānbhakṣayetsadā 68| tatrāgacchati bhakṣyārthaṃ mūṣakānāmaharniśam | kṛtvā dhyānaṃ sa bhakṣyārthaṃ nityaṃ nārāyaṇāgrataḥ 69| bhakṣitā bahavastena mūṣakā dvijaveśmani | ye ye tailārthamāyāṃti vartyapāharaṇāya ca 70| tāṃstāṃstu bhakṣayatyeva mūṣakāndhyānatatparaḥ | evaṃ pravartamānasya kadācitkālaparyayāt 71| ekādaśyāṃ sa kapilo brāhmaṇaḥ svagṛhe śuciḥ | sopavāsaḥ sapatnīkaḥ pūjayāmāsa cācyutam 72| tato jāgaraṇaṃ cakre stutinṛtyaparāyaṇaḥ | arddharātre tu saṃprāpte nidrayā mohito dvijaḥ 73| mārjāraścāgatastatra tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭro laghukramaḥ | lakṣayāmāsa naivedyaṃ gṛhakoṇe sthitaḥ sadā 74| adrākṣīnmūṣikāṃ kṣudrā tailapānārthamāgatām | maṃdatejasi dīpe tu vartyapāharaṇocitām 75| samutpatya padākramya tadā sā bilamāviśat | tasyāḥ pādena vai vartyā dīpaḥ saṃbodhito bhṛśam 76| tailapātraṃ ca namitaṃ suprakāśo'bhavattadā | brāhmaṇo'pi jajāgāra tyaktvā nidrāṃ vimohinīm 77| mārjāro'pi ca tāṃ rātrīmajāgraccākhubhakṣakaḥ | tataḥ prabhāte vimale kṛtvā nityakriyāṃ dvijaḥ 78| tataśca pāraṇaṃ cakre vipro baṃdhujanaiḥ saha | evaṃ pravarttamānasya kapilasya mahātmanaḥ 79| babhūvuḥ putrapautrāśca dhanadhānyamanuttamam | ārogyaṃ paramāmṛddhimavāpa mahatīṃ śriyam 80| dīpavrataprabhāvena kapilo mokṣamāgataḥ | saṃbhedya maṃḍalaṃ puṇyaṃ savituḥ śaśinastathā 81| dīpajyotiḥsvarūpeṇa paramātmā niyuktavān | mūṣikāpi ca kālena mamāra bilamadhyataḥ 82| vimānavaramāsādya viṣṇulokaṃ jagāma sā | mārjāro'pi ca kālāṃte mṛtaḥ svargaṃ jagāma saḥ 82| vimānavaramāruhya devagaṃdharvasevitam | apsarobhiḥ parivṛto vidyādharagaṇairyutaḥ 83| stūyamāno mahātejā jayaśabdādi maṃgalaiḥ | stūyamānaḥ sa vai nāgairviṣṇulokaṃ jagāma saḥ 84| kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi kalpakoṭiśatāni ca | bhuktvā ca vipulānbhogāntato rājābhavadbhuvi 85| sudharmā nāma dharmātmā devabrāhmaṇapūjakaḥ | rūpavānsubhagaścaiva mahābalaparākramaḥ 86| tasya priyatamā bhāryā sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutā | bhartṛbhaktā tathā śīlā nāmnā sā rūpasuṃdarī 87| sarvāsāṃ caiva nārīṇāṃ madhye sā subhagābhavat | putrāśca bahavo jātāstathā duhitaro ghanāḥ 88| evaṃ viharatostadvaddaṃpatyoḥ prītipūrvakam | āgataḥ kārttiko māso harinetrāvabodhakṛt 89| tasmindīpāḥ prabodhyaṃte nārāyaṇaparāyaṇaiḥ | kṛcchracāṃdrāyaṇādīni vratāni niyamāstathā 90| kriyaṃte viṣṇubhaktaiśca saṃsārabhayabhīrubhiḥ | atha prabodhinīṃ prāpya rājā rājñīmathābravīt 91| bhadre prabodhinī puṇyā viṣṇornābhisaroruhe | kariṣyāmyadya pūjāṃ ca sopavāso jiteṃdriyaḥ 92| snātvā ca puṣkare tīrthe puṃḍarīkākṣamacyutam | pūjayiṣyāmi deveśaṃ lakṣmyā saha janārdanam 93| iti sā vāṃchitaṃ śrutvā bhartuḥ priyahite ratā | uvāca vacanaṃ guhyaṃ bharttāraṃ cāruhāsinī 94| rūpasuṃdaryuvāca- mamāpi hṛdaye kāmaḥ samutpanno narādhipa | rūpasauṃdaryavāṃchā ca hṛdaye mama varttate 95| puṣkaraṃ prathamaṃ tīrthaṃ gaṃtumicche tvayā saha | tato rājā tayā sārddhamāgataḥ puṣkaraṃ tadā 96| hastyaśvarathavṛṃdaiśca samāgatya purohitaiḥ | tataḥ snātvā tathā dhyāyantarpayanpitṛdevatāḥ 97| pūjayāmāsa deveśaṃ puṃḍarīkākṣamacyutam | dīpamālākule tatra sarvataḥ sumanohare 98| dadarśa likhitaṃ tatra mārjāraṃ devatālaye | taṃ dṛṣṭvā prākṛtaṃ karma janma smṛtvā nṛpastadā 99| mukhapaṃkajamālokya priyāyāḥ prajahāsa ca | rūpasuṃdaryuvāca- mama sanmukhamālokya bhartaḥ kiṃ smitakāraṇam 6.30.100| kathayāmāsa hṛṣṭātmā prāktanaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam | rājovāca- ahamāsaṃ purā devi mārjāro brāhmaṇālaye 101| bhakṣitā mūṣakāstatra mayā śatasahasraśaḥ | tato nārāyaṇasyāgre dīpaḥ saṃrakṣito yataḥ 102| vyājenāpi mayā deviprāptaṃ tatkarmaṇaḥ phalam | viṣṇulokamanuprāpya rājyaṃ prāptaṃ mayādhunā 103| rūpasuṃdaryuvāca-| mamāpi smaraṇaṃ jātaṃ prākṛtasya ca janmanaḥ | mūṣikā cāhamapyāsaṃ kṣudrā brāhmaṇaveśmani 104| kārtike ca prabodhinyāṃ maṃdībhūte ca dīpake | vartyagrāharaṇārthāya nirgatāhaṃ tadā bilāt 105| dṛṣṭvā nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ pūjitaṃ kusumaistathā | nidrābhibhūtaṃ vipraṃ ca varttiḥ kṛṣṭā mayā tadā 106| utthitastvaṃ yadā tatra māṃ gṛhītuṃ kṛtakṣaṇaḥ | dṛṣṭvā tvaṃ ca praṇaṣṭāhaṃ praviṣṭā bilamadhyataḥ 107| viśaṃtyā mama pādena dīpavarttirvijṛṃbhitā | tailapātraṃ ca namitaṃ tenāhaṃ sukhabhāginī 108| tanmayā rājarājeṃdra dīpaṃ caiva prakāśitam | idānīṃ ca mayā prāptaṃ rūpalāvaṇyamuttamam 109| tvaṃ ca bharttā tathā rājyaṃ putrāścaivaṃvidhaṃ sukham | dīpaprabodhanājjātaṃ jñānamatyaṃta durllabham 110| tasmātsarvaprayatnena dīpavratamanuttamam | āvāṃ hi parayā bhaktyā kurvaścaiva viśeṣataḥ 111| tadetatkarmaṇaḥ prāptaṃ phalaṃ rājyādisaṃpadaḥ | pūrvajanmasmṛtaṃ cāpi sarvapāpakṣayastathā 112| tasmātsarvaprayatnena vidhimaṃtrādipūrvakam | dīpavrataṃ kṛtaṃ puṃbhiḥ puṇyaṃ caṃdrārkatārakam 113| iti śrutvā vaco rājā cakre dīpavrataṃ tadā | priyayā saha devarṣe samyakśraddhāsamanvitaḥ 114| tasmiṃstu puṣkare tīrthe kṛtvā dīpavrataṃ tu tau | avāpatuḥ parāṃ muktiṃ devadānavadurllabhām 115| etaddīpasya māhātmyaṃ ye śṛṇvaṃti narā bhuvi | sarvapāpavinirmuktāḥ prayāṃti harimaṃdiram 116| ye ca kurvaṃti puruṣāḥ striyo vā bhaktitatparāḥ | te sarve pāpanirmuktā yāṃti brahmasanātanam 117| dīpavratamidaṃ vidvankathitaṃ te vimuktidam | sarvasaukhyapradaṃ dhanyaṃ mahāvratamidaṃ tava 117| netrarogā vinaśyaṃti yathā pāpaprabhāvajāḥ | ādhayo vyādhayaḥ sarve naśyaṃte hi kṛtekṣaṇāt 118| na dāridryaṃ na śokaṃ ca na moho na ca vibhramaḥ | gṛhe lakṣmīḥ samāyāti janmajanmani vāḍava 119| iti śrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsahasrasaṃhitāyāṃ uttarakhaṇḍe umāpatināradasaṃvāde dīpavratamāhātmyaṃnāma triṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 30|
English translation
Nārada said :
1-2. O Śiva , tell me the importance of the vow, the best among all vows, the excellent rite of the lamp called Saṃvat - sara , by (doing) which all other vows are undoubtedly practised, all desires are satisfied and all sin would perish.
Mahādeva said :
3-8a. O divine sage , I shall tell you the secret which destroys sins, and listening to which he who has killed a brāhmaṇa , or a cow or a friend, (so also) he who has molested his preceptor’s wife, who has been a traitor, who has been cruel, obtains eternal salvation , and having emancipated a hundred families goes to Viṣṇu ’s world. I shall (now) tell (you) that excellent vow of the lamp lasting for a year, so also the mode of practising it and its greatness. On the auspicious eleventh day of the first month of Mārgaśīrṣa , a man, free from anger and having restrained himself, should, after having got up in the early part of the day, bathe at the holy places on the confluence of rivers or in tanks and rivers or in his (own) house .
8b-10. (He should then recite this hymn:) ‘I have taken bath at all the sacred places. Always give me that bath (only).’ This is the hymn to be recited at the time of bathing. He, having gratified gods and men, having muttered (the hymns) and with his senses controlled, should worship the lord, the god Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa . Having bathed (the image of the deity ) with pañcāmṛta and then with sandal and water (he should say): ‘God of gods, O lord of the world, you have bathed with Lakṣmī . Emancipate me, O chief of gods, from this fearful bondage of the worldly existence.’
11-15. After that he should devoutly worship Viṣṇu with Lakṣmī by means of Vaidika , so also Paurāṇic hymns. (Then) with the words: ‘Therefore, O god, sandal etc. (is offered)’ or with the man-composed (hymn like) ‘Salutation to Matsya (i.e. the Fish -incarnation), to god, to Kūrmadeva (i.e. the the Tortoise-incarnation), Varāhadeva (i.e. the Boar -incarnation), to Narasiṃhadeva (i.e. to the Narasiṃha -incarnation), to Buddhadeva , so also salutation to Kalki ’ he should worship (the lord). ‘Salutation to god Rāma , to you god Viṣṇu; salutation to you the soul of all’, with this he should worship his head. There are (also other) names like Keśava etc. He may worship Viṣṇu with them. ‘O god of gods, this is the divine sap. It is fragrant and has perfume and is pure. This is incense . Salutation to you. Accept it’.
16-17. This is the hymn to be recited at the time of offering incense. ‘The lamp destroys darkness. The lamp gives lustre. Therefore, may Viṣṇu be pleased by this offering of the lamp.’ This is the hymn to be recited at the time of offering the lamp. ‘O god of gods,O lord of the world, this is an offering of eatables like food etc. Along with Lakṣmī accept it which is the excellent and best nectar.’
18-19. This is the hymn to be recited at the time of offering eatables. Having thus meditated upon Viṣṇu, and having taken water with a fruit, his hand or a conch, he should then devoutly offer materials of worship. ‘May all that sin which I committed during a thousand existences, perish due to your favour, O Viṣṇu.’
20-24. This is the hymn to be recited at the time of offering materials of worship. Then in front of Lakṣmī and Viṣṇu he should take a new white pitcher full of ghee or oil. On it he should put a vessel made of copper or of clay. In that vessel he should offer a wick having nine threads. Having put the pitcher very steadily, he should light the lamp. Then being pure and having worshipped the deity, he should resolve with (the recital of) this hymn in chambers having no breeze, O divine sage: ‘This Kama (i.e. Cupid) shines as the only emperor of what there was and what there will be. I have employed this lamp for a year. O Viṣṇu, may the unceasing sacred fire please you.’
25-28a. Then having curbed his senses and being intent on sacred knowledge , he should not talk to sinful and heretical persons. At night he should keep awake, should have songs and (should keep awake) with dancing , musical instruments etc., so also auspicious texts, various accounts and fasts. Then in the morning, after having performed the rites of the morning, he should devoutly feed brāhmaṇas and worship them according to his capacity. Having himself broken the fast, he should salute them and dismiss them.
28b-3la. In this way (he should be) of a firm vow for day and night. The lamp should be of (the weight of) one pala of gold or half of it. The wick is said to be made of silver . It should be of the weight of two palas , or more than that by half a pala . A devout man, desiring the gate to salvation, should prepare the pitcher full of ghee and along with the copper vessel; so also he should fashion with gold (the image of) the deity Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa according to his capacity.
3lb-36a. Then the wise one should invite best brāhmaṇas. The best alternative is (to invite) twelve (brāhmaṇas). As the middle alternative (he should invite) six (brāhmaṇas). Or he should employ three or (even) one brāhmaṇa who would perform the rite (for him). Having honoured a brāhmaṇa with his wife, who is calm, who performs rites, who especially knows historical accounts and Purāṇas , who is conversant with religion, and having worshipped devoutly Lakṣmī- Nārāyaṇa as before with the lamp-wicks placed in the copper-vessel and with the pitcher full of ghee, he should give (these things) to a brāhmaṇa after having meditated upon the highest Viṣṇu to the accompaniment of this hymn, O divine sage.
36b-39. I (shall) tell you the hymn: ‘O sinless one, I have offered this lamp, since it destroys sins in this mundane existence pervaded by the darkness of ignorance, since it gives knowledge and gives salvation.’ This is the hymn (to be recited at the time of offering) the lamp. Having given presents with devotion to the brāhmaṇa, he should then feed the brāhmaṇas with ghee, sweetened milk and sweetmeats. Then he should cover the brāhmaṇa with his wife with garments, and should give him a bed with furniture and a cow with a calf.
40-45. He should give them presents according to his wealth. Similarly he should honour his friends, kinsmen and relatives . Thus he should celebrate a great festival at the time of the end of the vow of the lamp. Then he should dismiss (the deity) and having saluted (it) he should apologise. Men, when they do thus, obtain that fruit—that religious merit—of the lamp maintained for a year which they would get by the Saṃkrānti -rites. By means of observing the vow of the lamp maintained for a year men get the same religious merit as is obtained by monthly rites. When the lamp is maintained for a year, a man gets that fruit which he obtains by vows of giving gifts and vows of abstract meditation , according to their number.
46-47. A man who offers a lamp to the deity gets the same fruit which a learned man would obtain by means of gifts of cows, land, gold and especially of houses . The giver of a lamp gets brilliance; the giver of a lamp gets inexhaustible wealth; the giver of a lamp obtains knowledge; the giver of a lamp gets supreme happiness. There is no doubt that by offering a lamp a man secures good fortune, very pure knowledge, health and great prosperity .
48-49. A man who offers a lamp would obtain a lovely wife having all (auspicious) marks, sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and undying progeny. A brāhmaṇa (who offers a lamp) would obtain great knowledge, a kṣatriya (who offers a lamp) would obtain excellent kingdom, a vaiśya (offering a lamp would obtain) all (kinds of) wealth and beasts , and a śūdra (offering a lamp would obtain) happiness.
50-55a. A maiden (offering a lamp) obtains a husband endowed with all (auspicious) marks, a long life , and many sons and grandsons. A young woman (offering a lamp) will never experience widowhood. She does not get (i.e. sufer from) separation (from her husband) due to the prowess of the gift of a lamp. Maladies and diseases do not take place due to the gift of a lamp. A man who is frightened, becomes free from fear , and one that is bound gets freed from the bondage. There is no doubt that one devoted to the vow of (offering) a lamp is freed from the sins of (i.e. due to). the murder of a brāhmaṇa etc., for there is the statement of Brahmā to this effect.
55b-61. He who has constantly kept burning a lamp before Viṣṇu, has undoubtedly practised the vows like Cāndrāyaṇa and Kṛcchra . Those who having worshipped Viṣṇu, maintained the lamp for a year, are blessed, are magnanimous, and have obtained the fruit of their existence. Those also who see the wick of the lamp here, go to the highest place, difficult to be obtained even by gods; and those who put, according to their capacity, oil and wick into the lamp, go to the highest position. Those also who are unable to light the lamp that is going out, and inform others, enjoy the same fruit. He too who begging little oil only for (maintaining) the lamp, keeps the lamp for Viṣṇu, also obtains religious merit. (Even) a mean man who sees the lamp being lighted, and has the palms of his hands joined (in honour) of Viṣṇu, would obtain (i.e. go to) Viṣṇu’s world.
62-63. He who would give an idea (to others) to light a lamp (in honour of Viṣṇu), (or) he who himself would do so, is free from all sins, and would obtain (i.e. go to) Viṣṇu’s world. In this case also they narrate an ancient account , merely by hearing which a man is free from all sins.
64-72. On the charming bank of Sarasvatī there was (a hermitage ) known as Siddhāśrama . Formerly a brāhmaṇa named Kapila , a knower of the Vedas , lived there. He was engrossed in (the practice of) vows and fasts. He was poor and was learned. He maintained his family by begging. He propitiated Viṣṇu by means of vows, fasts and restraints. Having duly worshipped Viṣṇu, he always lighted the lamp. Having taken oil, having worshipped Viṣṇu in his own house, he would light the lamp with great devotion for pleasing Viṣṇu. When (that) magnanimous Kapila was getting along like this, a cat with sharp teeth would always eat mice. He (i.e. the cat) came there day and night to eat mice. He always remained meditating for getting a prey in front of (the image of) Viṣṇu. He ate many mice in the house of the brāhmaṇa. Intent upon meditation, he would eat those mice that came there to (drink) the oil and to take away the wick. When this was going on like this, after some time had elapsed, that pure brāhmaṇa Kapila along with his wife fasted and worshipped Viṣṇu in his house on an Ekādaśī (day).
73-81. Engaged in praising (Viṣṇu) and dancing (in front of his image) he kept awake. When it was midnight, the brāhmaṇa was overcome with sleep. The cat having sharp teeth and going quickly came there; and always remaining in a corner of the house he ate up the eatables offered to the deity. He saw a small female mouse that had come there to drink the oil, and that was used to take away the wick in the dim light. He jumped and attacked her with his foot. Then she entered a hole. Due to (the contact with) her foot the lamp became very bright. The oil-pot was bent and there was good light. The brāhmaṇa too abandoning his stupefying sleep got up. The cat that ate mice, also kept awake during that night. Then when it had dawned, the brāhmaṇa, having performed his daily rites, broke the fast along with his relatives. That magnanimous Kapila who was going along like this had sons and grandsons. He obtained wealth, grains, excellent health, great prosperity and abundant riches. Having broken through the auspicious orb of the sun, so also of the moon, Kapila came to (secure) salvation through the prowess of the vow of the lamp.
82-84. He got joined (i.e. he merged) in the form of a lustre into the highest soul. The female mouse also died in the hole in (course of) time. Getting into an excellent aeroplane, she went to the world of Viṣṇu. The cat too died after (some) time and went to heaven . Having got into an excellent aeroplane waited upon and surrounded by celestial nymphs, accompanied by hosts of vidyādharas , being praised with auspicious cries of victory by serpents he went to the world of Viṣṇu.
85-91a. Having enjoyed many pleasures for thousands of crores of kalpas and hundreds of crores of kalpas he became a king on the earth by name Sudharman who was religious-minded, who worshipped gods and brāhmaṇas, who was handsome, who was fortunate and who was very mighty and brave. His wife, most dear to him, was endowed with all (auspicious) marks, was devoted to her husband, and was of a good character. Her name was Rūpasundarī. She was the most beautiful among all ladies. Many sons and many daughters were born (to them). When the couple was thus enjoying (in each other’s company ) with love, the month of Kārtika opening Viṣṇu’s eyes (i.e. making him awake) arrived. During that (month) lamps are lighted by those who are devoted to Viṣṇu. So also those devotees of Viṣṇu who are afraid of the worldly existence practise vows like Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa and restraints.
9lb-94. When the Prabodhinī (Ekādaśī) arrived, the king said to the queen : “O good one, in the lotus from the navel of Viṣṇu it is the auspicious Prabodhinī. With my senses controlled through fast, I shall today worship (Viṣṇu). Having bathed in the holy place of Puṣkara , I shall worship the imperishable lord of gods having lotus-like eyes, along with Lakṣmī.” Having heard these desired words, she who was engaged in the well being of her husband and who smiled charmingly, said (these) secret words to her husband:
Rūpasundarī said :
95-100a. O king, desire is also produced in my heart. I too have a desire for form and beauty. I desire to go with you to the best sacred place, Puṣkara.
Then the king, along with her, and with groups of elephants , horses and chariots and with family-priests came to Puṣkara. Then having bathed (there) he, meditating (on Viṣṇu) and gratifying manes and deities , worshipped the imperishable lord of gods, the lotus-eyed (Viṣṇu). There, in the very charming temple , full of rows of lights everywhere, he saw the cat drawn (in a picture). Seeing that, the king remembering his former deeds and existence, looked at the lotus-like face of his beloved, and smiled.
Rūpasundarī said :
100b-101a. O lord, why did you smile after looking at my face?
Seeing the fruit of his former deed, he said (to her):
The king said :
101b-103. O queen, formerly (i.e. in the previous existence) I was a cat in the house of a brāhmaṇa. There I ate hundreds and thousands of mice. Since, even under a pretext, I guarded the lamp in front of Viṣṇu, I got, O Queen, fruit of that deed. Having reached Viṣṇu’s world, I have now obtained the kingdom.
Rūpasundarī said :
104-108. I too had the recollection of my former deeds and existence. I too was a small female mouse in the house of the brāhmaṇa. On the Prabodhinī (Ekādaśī) in Kārtika, when the light had become dim, I went out of the hole to snatch the wick. Seeing (the image of) the god Viṣṇu worshipped with flowers , and the brāhmaṇa overcome with sleep, I then dragged the wick. When you, taking an opportunity to seize me, got up, I saw you and ran into the hole. With the foot of me who was entering (the hole) the wick of the lamp spread out, the oil-pot also bent down and I was happy.
109-115. O lord of great kings , since I brightened the lamp at that time, I have now secured excellent beauty; you are my husband, (I have obtained) kingdom, sons and (great) happiness like that. Due to my brightening the lamp I secured knowledge which is extremely difficult to obtain. Therefore, with all efforts and with great devotion, we have especially practised the vow of the lamp. So we have received the fruit of the deed, viz. the riches like the kingdom etc. We remembered our former existence and so also all our sins have perished. Therefore, men have practised with all efforts and proper rites and hymns the vow of the lamp which is auspicious and resembles the Sun, the Moon and stars.
Hearing this, O divine sage, the king full of faith properly practised the vow of the lamp with his wife. Having practised the vow of the lamp at the holy place of Puṣkara, the two obtained the great salvation difficult to be obtained by gods and demons.
116-120. Those men who on the earth listen to this greatness (of the vow) of the lamp, are free from all sins, and go to Viṣṇu’s abode. And those men or those women who being intent upon it, devoutly practise it are all free from sins and go to ancient Brahman . O learned one, I have told you about this vow of the lamp which gives salvation, which gives all happiness, which is virtuous, and which is a great vow. Diseases of the eye, so also maladies and (other) diseases of the body perish in a moment, when it is practised. O brāhmaṇa, there is no poverty, no grief, no delusion, no illusion. Prosperity comes to the house in every existence.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14450, revision 336298 (2022-04-21T04:59:53Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365461.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.