Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 11
Source।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। भगवन्प्रष्टुमिच्छामि त्वामहं विनयान्वितः ।। तद्व्रतं ब्रूहि मे मर्त्यो मृत्युं येन न पश्यति ।। १ ।। ।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। यदि पृच्छसि विप्रेन्द्र व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् ।। व्रतं यमद्वितीयाख्यं शृणु त्वं मृत्युनाशनम् ।। २ ।। कार्तिके मासि शुद्धायां द्वितीयायां मुनीश्वर ।। कर्तव्यं तद्विधानेन सर्वमृत्युनिवारणम् ।। ३ ।। ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते चोप्थाय द्वितीयायां मुनीश्वर ।। मनसा चिंतयेदात्महितं नैवाऽहितं स्मरेत् ।। ४ ।। प्रातःस्नानं ततः कुर्याद्दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् ।। ततः शुक्लांबरधरः शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनः ।। ५।। कृतनित्यक्रियो हृष्टः कुण्डलांगदभूषितः ।। औदुम्बर तरुं गत्वा कृत्वा मण्डलमुत्तमम् ।। ६ ।। पद्ममष्टदलं कृत्वा तस्मिन्नौदुम्बरे शुभे।। ।। विधिं विष्णुं च रुद्रं च वरदां च सरस्वतीम् ।। ७ ।। वीणापुस्तकसंयुक्तां पूजयेत्स्वस्थमानसः ।। चन्दनागरुकस्तूरीकुंकुमैर्द्विजसत्तम ।। ८ ।। पुष्पैर्धूपैश्च नैवेद्यैर्नारिकेलफलादिभिः ।। ततो मृत्युविनाशाथ सालंकारां पयस्विनीम् ।। ९ ।। विप्राय वेदविदुषे गां दद्याच्च सवत्सकाम् ।। अपमृत्युविनाशार्थं संसारार्णवतारकाम् ।। 2.4.11.१० ।। हे विप्र ते त्विमां सौम्यां धेनुं संप्रददाम्यहम् ।। इति मंत्रेण गां दद्याद्विप्राय ब्रह्मवादिने ।। ११ ।। तदलाभे तु विप्राय भक्त्या दद्यादुपानहौ ।। ततः पूजां समाप्याथ भक्तिमान्पुरुषोत्तमे ।। १२ ।। ज्ञातिश्रेष्ठान्वयोवृद्धान्सम्यग्भक्त्याऽभिवादयेत् ।। नानाविधैः फलै रम्यैस्तर्प्पयेत्स्वजनानपि ।।१३।। ततः सोदरसंपन्ना भगिनी या भवेन्मुने ।। तस्या गृहं समागत्य सम्यग्भक्त्याऽभिवादयेत् ।। १४ ।। भगिनि सुभगे भद्रे त्वदंघ्रिसरसीरुहम् ।। श्रेयसेऽथ नमस्कर्तुमागतोऽस्मि तवालयम् ।। १९ ।। इत्युक्त्वा भगिनीं तां तु विष्णुबुद्ध्याऽभिवादयेत् ।। तदा तु भगिनी श्रुत्वा भ्रातुर्वचनमुत्तमम् ।। १६ ।। भगिन्या भ्रातरं वाक्यं वक्तव्यं प्रति नारद ।। अद्य भ्रातरहं जाता त्वत्तो धन्याऽस्मि मंगला ।। १७ ।। भोक्तव्यं तेऽद्य मद्गेहे स्वायुषे कुलदीपक ।। कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षस्य द्वितीयायां सहोदर ।। १८ ।। यमो यमुनया पूर्वं भोजितः स्वगृहेर्चितः ।। अस्मिन्दिने यमेनाऽपि नारकीयाश्च मोचिताः ।। अपि बद्धाः कर्मपाशैः स्वेच्छया पर्यटंति ते ।। १९ ।। स्वसुर्नरो वेश्मनि यो न भुंक्ते यमद्वितीयादिनमत्र लब्ध्वा ।। तं पापिनं प्राप्य वयं सुहृष्टाः प्रभक्षयामोऽद्य च भक्ष्यहीनाः।। 2.4.11.२० ।। इति पापा रटंतीह ब्रह्महत्यादयस्तथा ।। तस्माद्भ्रातर्मद्गृहे तु भोजनं कुरु कार्तिके ।। २१ ।। शुक्लायां तु द्वितीयायां विश्रुतायां जगत्त्रये ।। अस्यां निजगृहे पुत्र भुज्यते न बुधैरपि ।। २२ ।। इत्युक्तः स तथेत्युक्ता भगिनीं पूजयेद्व्रती ।। प्रहर्षास्तुमहाभाग वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः ।। २३ ।। अग्रजामभिवंद्याऽथ आशिषं च प्रगृह्य च ।। सर्वा भगिन्यः संतोष्या वस्त्रालंकारदानतः ।। २४ ।। अभावे स्वस्य तु स्वसुः पितृव्याः स्वपितुः स्वसा ।। तस्या गृहं समागत्य कुर्याद्भोजनमादरात् ।। २५ ।। एवं यः कुरुते पुत्र द्वितीयां यमनामिकाम् ।। अपमृत्युविनिर्मुक्तः पुत्रपौत्रादिभिर्वृतः ।। २६ ।। इह भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान्भोगानन्यान्यथेप्सितान् ।। अंते मोक्षमवाप्नोति नान्यथा मद्वचो भवेत् ।। २७ ।। व्रतान्येतानि सर्वाणि दानानि विविधानि च ।। गृहस्थस्यैव युज्यंते तस्माद्गार्हस्थ्यमाश्रयेत् ।। २८ ।। कथां यमद्वितीयाया व्रतस्थः शृणुयान्नरः ।। तस्य सर्वाणि पापानि नश्यंतीत्याह माधवः ।। २९ ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। कार्तिके च द्वितीयायां पूर्वाह्णे यममर्चयेत् ।। भानुजायां नरः स्नात्वा यमलोकं न पश्यति ।। ।। 2.4.11.३० ।। कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वितीयायां तु शौनक ।। यमो यमुनया पूर्वं भोजितः स्वगृहेऽर्चितः ।। ३१ ।। द्वितीयायां महोत्सर्गो नारकीयाश्च तर्पिताः ।। पापेभ्यो विप्रयुक्तास्ते मुक्ताः सर्वे निबंधनात् ।। ३२ ।। अत्राऽऽशिताश्च संतुष्टाः स्थिताः सर्वे यदृच्छया ।। तेषां महोत्सवो वृत्तो यमराष्ट्रसुखावहः ।। ३३।। अतो यमद्वितीयेयं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता ।। तस्मान्निजगृहे विप्र न भोक्तव्यं ततो बुधैः ।। ३४ ।। स्नेहेन भगिनीहस्ताद्भोक्तव्यं बलवर्धनम् ।। ऊर्जे शुक्लद्वितीयायां पूजितस्तर्पितो यमः ।। ३९ ।। महिषासनमारूढो दंडमुद्गरभृत्प्रभुः ।। वेष्टितः किंकरैर्हृष्टैस्तस्मै याम्यात्मने नमः ।। ३६ ।। यैर्भगिन्यः सुवासिन्यो वस्त्रदानादितोषिताः ।। न तेषां वत्सरं यावत्कलहो न रिपोर्भयम् ।। ३७ ।। धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं धर्मकामार्थसाधनम्।। व्याख्यातं सकलं पुत्र सरहस्यं मयाऽनघ ।। ३८ ।। यस्यां तिथौ यमुनया यमराजदेवः संभोजितः प्रतितिथौ स्वसृसौहृदेन ।। तस्मात्स्वसुः करतलादिह यो भुनक्ति प्राप्नोति वित्तशुभसंपदमुत्तमां सः ।। ३९ ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। विशेषश्चात्र संप्रोक्तो वालखिल्यैर्महर्षिभिः ।। तदहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं मुनिसत्तमाः ।। 2.4.11.४० ।। ।। वालखिल्या ऊचुः ।। ।। कार्तिकस्य सिते पक्षे द्वितीया यमसंज्ञिता ।। तत्राऽपराह्ने कर्तव्यं सर्वथैव यमार्चनम् ।। ४१ ।। प्रत्यहं यमुनाऽऽगत्य यमं संप्रार्थयत्पुरा ।। भ्रातर्मम गृहे याहि भोजनार्थं गणावृतः ।। ४२ ।। अद्यश्वो वा परश्वो वा प्रत्यहं वदते यमः ।। कार्यव्याकुलचित्तानामवकाशो न जायते ।। ४३ ।। तदैकदा यमुनया बलात्कारान्निमंत्रितः ।। स गतः कार्तिके मासि द्वितीयायां मुनीश्वराः ।। ४४ ।। नारकीयजनान्मुक्त्वा गणैः सह रवेः सुतः ।। कृताऽऽतिथ्यो यमुनया नानापाकाः कृताः खग ।। ४५ ।। कृताभ्यंगो यमुनया तैलैर्गंधमनोहरैः ।। उद्वर्तनं लापयित्वा स्नापितः सूर्यनंदनः ।। ४६ ।। ततोऽलंकारकं दत्तं नानावस्त्राणि चंदनम् ।। माल्यानि च प्रदत्तानि मंचोपरि उपाविशत् ।। ४७ ।। पक्वान्नानि विचित्राणि कृत्वा सा स्वर्णभाजने ।। यमायाभोजयद्देवी यमुना प्रीतमानसा ।।४८।। भुक्त्वा यमोऽपि भगिनीमलंकारैः समर्चयत् ।। नानावस्त्रैस्ततः प्राह वरं वरय भामिनि ।। इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा यमुना वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ४९ ।। ।।यमुनोवाच ।। ।। प्रतिवर्षं समागच्छ भोजनार्थं तु मद्गृहे ।। 2.4.11.५० ।। अद्य सर्वे मोचनीयाः पापिनो नरकाद्यम ।। येऽद्यैव भगिनीहस्तात्करिष्यंति च भोजनम् ।। तेषां सौख्यं प्रदेहि त्वमेतदेव वृणोम्यहम् ।। ५१ ।। ।। यम उवाच ।। ।। यमुनायां तु यः स्नात्वा संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः ।। ५२ ।। भुंक्ते च भगिनीगेहे भगिनीं पूजयेदपि ।। कदाचिदपि मद्वारं न स पश्यति भानुजे ।। ५३ ।। वीरेशैशानदिग्भागे यमतीर्थं प्रकीर्तितम् ।। तत्र स्नात्वा च विधिवत्संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः ।। ५४ ।। पठेदेतानि नामानि आमध्याह्नं नरोत्तमः ।। सूर्यस्याभिमुखो मौनी हृतचित्तः स्थिरासनः ।। ५५ ।। यमो निहंता पितृधर्मराजो वैवस्वतो दंडधरश्च कालः ।। भूताधिपो दत्तकृतानुसारी कृतांतमेतद्दशभिर्जपंति ।।५६।। ततो यमेश्वरं पूज्य भगिनीगृहमाव्रजेत् ।। मंत्रेणाऽनेन च तया भोजितः पूर्वमादरात् ।।५७।। भ्रातस्तवानुजाताऽहं भुंक्ष्व भक्तमिदं शुभम् ।। प्रीतये यमराजस्य यमुनाया विशेषतः ।। ५८ ।। ततः संतोष्य भगिनीं वस्त्रालंकरणादिभिः ।। स्वप्नेऽपि यमलोकस्य भविष्यति न दर्शनम्।। ५९।। नृपैः कारागृहे ये च स्थापिता मम वासरे ।। अवश्यं ते प्रेषणीया भोजनार्थं स्वसुर्गृहे ।। 2.4.11.६० ।। विमोक्तव्या मया पापा नरकेभ्योऽद्य वासरे ।। येऽद्य बंदी करिष्यंति ते ताड्या मम सर्वथा ।। ६१ ।। कनीयसी स्वसा नास्ति तदा ज्येष्ठागृहं व्रजेत्।। तदभावे सपत्यायाः पितृव्यजागृहे ततः ।। ६२।। तदभावे मातृष्वसुर्मातुलस्याऽऽत्मजा तथा ।। सापत्नगोत्रसंबंधैः कल्पयेदथवा क्रमम्।। ६३ ।। सर्वाऽभावे माननीया भगिनी काचिदेव हि ।। गोनद्याद्यथवा तस्या अभावे सति कारयेत् ।। ६४ ।। तदभावेप्यरण्यानीं कल्पयित्वा सहोदराम् ।। अस्यां निजगृहे देवि न भोक्तव्यं कदाचन ।। ६५ ।। ये भुंजते दुराचारा नरके ते पतंति च ।। एवमुक्त्वा धर्मराजो ययौ संयमिनीं ततः ।। ६६ ।। तस्मादृषिवराः सर्वे कार्तिकव्रतकारिणः ।। भुंजते भगिनीहस्तात्सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः ।। ६७ ।। यमद्वितीयां यः प्राप्य भगिनीगृहभोजनम् ।। न कुर्याद्वर्षजं पुण्यं नश्यतीति रवेः श्रुतिः ।। ६८ ।। या तु भोजयते नारी भ्रातरं भ्रातृके तिथौ ।। अर्चयेच्चाऽपि तांबूलैर्न सा वैधव्यमाप्नुयात् ।। ६९ ।। भ्रातुरायुःक्षयो नूनं न भवेत्तत्र कर्हिचित् ।। अपराह्नव्यापिनी सा द्वितीया भ्रातृभोजने ।। 2.4.11.७० ।। अज्ञानाद्यदि वा मोहान्न भुक्तं भगिनीगृहे ।। प्रवासिना ह्यभावाद्वा ज्वरितेनाऽथ बंदिना ।। ।। ७१ ।। एतदाख्यानकं श्रुत्वा भोजनस्य फलं भवेत् ।। कार्तिके तु विशेषेण धात्रीछायां समाश्रितः ।।७२।। भोजनं कुरुते यस्तु स वैकुंठमवाप्नुयात् ।। ७३ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे कार्तिकमासमाहात्म्ये यमद्वितीयामाहात्म्यवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः ।। ११ ।। छ ।। टीका अथ यमद्वितीयाविधानमाह-यदीति । यमद्वितीयाख्यायाः प्रयोजनं वक्तुमन्यासामप्याह पाद्मे- 'स्कंदैतास्तिथयो नूनं द्वितीयाद्याश्च विश्रुताः ।। मासैश्चतुर्भिश्च ततः प्रावृट्काले सुखावहाः ।। प्रथमा श्रावणे मासि तथा भाद्रपदेऽपरा ।। तृतीयाऽश्वयुजे मासि चतुर्थी कार्तिके भवेत् ।। कलुषा श्रावणे मासि तथा भाद्रपदेऽमला ।। आश्विने प्रेतसंचारा कार्तिके याम्यका मता ।। पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते प्राप्तराज्ये पुरंदरे ।। ब्रह्महत्यापनोदार्थमश्वमेधः प्रकीर्तितः ।। क्रोधादिंद्रेण वज्रेण ब्रह्महत्या निषूदिता ।। षड्विधा सा क्षितौ क्षिप्ता वृक्षतोयमहीतले ।। नार्या भ्रूणहने वह्नौ संविभज्य यथाक्रमम् ।। तत्पापश्रवणात्पूर्वं द्वितीयाया दिनेऽनघ ।। नारीवृक्षनदीभूमिवह्निभूणहनस्तथा ।। कलुषीभवनं जाता ह्यतोऽर्थ कलुषा स्मृता ।। मधुकैटभयो रक्ते पुरा मग्ना तु मेदिनी ।। अष्टांऽगुला पवित्रा सा नारीणां तु रजो मलम् ।। नद्यः प्रावृण्मलाः सर्वा वह्नेरूर्ध्वं मषी मलः ।। निर्यासमलिनो वृक्षाः संगाद्भ्रूणहनो मलाः ।। कलुषाणि चरंत्यस्यां तेनैषा कलुषा मता ।। देवर्षिपितृधर्माणां निंदका नास्तिकाः शठाः ।। तेषां सा वाङ्मलात्पूता द्वितीया तेन निर्मला ।। अनध्यायेषु शास्त्राणि पाठयंति पठंति च ।। सांख्यकास्तार्किकाः श्रौतास्तेषां शब्दाऽपशब्दजात् ।। मलात्पूता द्वितीयायां ततोऽर्थे निर्मला च सा ।। कृष्णस्य जन्मना वत्स त्रैलोक्यं पावितं भवेत् ।। नभस्येतेन निर्दिष्टा निर्मला सा तिथिर्बुधैः ।। अग्निष्वात्ता बर्हिषद आज्यपाः सोमपास्तथा ।। पितॄन्पितामहान्प्रेतसंचरात्प्रेतसंचरा ।। प्रेतास्तु पितरः प्रोक्तास्तेषां तस्यां तु संचरः ।। पुत्रपौत्रैस्तु दौहित्रैः स्वधामंत्रैस्तु पूजिताः ।। श्राद्धदानमखैस्तृप्ता यांत्यतः प्रेतसंचरा ।। महालये तु प्रेतानां संचारो भुवि दृश्यते ।। तेनैषा प्रेतसंचारा कीर्तिता शिखिवाहन ।। यमस्य क्रियते पूजा यतोऽस्यां पावके नरैः ।। तेनैषा याम्यका प्रोक्ता सत्यंसत्यं मयोदितम् ।। '' इति । सनत्कुमारसंहितायाम्- अस्यां निजगृहे देवि न भोक्तव्यं कदाचन ।। ये भुंजते दुराचारा नरके ते पतंति च ।। श्रावणे तु पितृव्यस्य कन्याहस्तेन भोजनम् ।। मातुलस्य सुताहस्ताद्भोक्तव्यं भाद्रमासके ।। पितुर्भ्रातुः स्वसुः कन्ये आश्विने तु तयोः क्रमात् ।। अवश्यं कार्तिके मासि भोक्तव्यं भगिनीकरात् ।।।७ इति ।।
|| nārada uvāca || || bhagavanpraṣṭumicchāmi tvāmahaṃ vinayānvitaḥ || tadvrataṃ brūhi me martyo mṛtyuṃ yena na paśyati || 1 || || brahmovāca || || yadi pṛcchasi viprendra vratānāmuttamaṃ vratam || vrataṃ yamadvitīyākhyaṃ śṛṇu tvaṃ mṛtyunāśanam || 2 || kārtike māsi śuddhāyāṃ dvitīyāyāṃ munīśvara || kartavyaṃ tadvidhānena sarvamṛtyunivāraṇam || 3 || brāhme muhūrte copthāya dvitīyāyāṃ munīśvara || manasā ciṃtayedātmahitaṃ naivā'hitaṃ smaret || 4 || prātaḥsnānaṃ tataḥ kuryāddantadhāvanapūrvakam || tataḥ śuklāṃbaradharaḥ śuklamālyānulepanaḥ || 5|| kṛtanityakriyo hṛṣṭaḥ kuṇḍalāṃgadabhūṣitaḥ || audumbara taruṃ gatvā kṛtvā maṇḍalamuttamam || 6 || padmamaṣṭadalaṃ kṛtvā tasminnaudumbare śubhe|| || vidhiṃ viṣṇuṃ ca rudraṃ ca varadāṃ ca sarasvatīm || 7 || vīṇāpustakasaṃyuktāṃ pūjayetsvasthamānasaḥ || candanāgarukastūrīkuṃkumairdvijasattama || 8 || puṣpairdhūpaiśca naivedyairnārikelaphalādibhiḥ || tato mṛtyuvināśātha sālaṃkārāṃ payasvinīm || 9 || viprāya vedaviduṣe gāṃ dadyācca savatsakām || apamṛtyuvināśārthaṃ saṃsārārṇavatārakām || 2.4.11.10 || he vipra te tvimāṃ saumyāṃ dhenuṃ saṃpradadāmyaham || iti maṃtreṇa gāṃ dadyādviprāya brahmavādine || 11 || tadalābhe tu viprāya bhaktyā dadyādupānahau || tataḥ pūjāṃ samāpyātha bhaktimānpuruṣottame || 12 || jñātiśreṣṭhānvayovṛddhānsamyagbhaktyā'bhivādayet || nānāvidhaiḥ phalai ramyaistarppayetsvajanānapi ||13|| tataḥ sodarasaṃpannā bhaginī yā bhavenmune || tasyā gṛhaṃ samāgatya samyagbhaktyā'bhivādayet || 14 || bhagini subhage bhadre tvadaṃghrisarasīruham || śreyase'tha namaskartumāgato'smi tavālayam || 19 || ityuktvā bhaginīṃ tāṃ tu viṣṇubuddhyā'bhivādayet || tadā tu bhaginī śrutvā bhrāturvacanamuttamam || 16 || bhaginyā bhrātaraṃ vākyaṃ vaktavyaṃ prati nārada || adya bhrātarahaṃ jātā tvatto dhanyā'smi maṃgalā || 17 || bhoktavyaṃ te'dya madgehe svāyuṣe kuladīpaka || kārtike śuklapakṣasya dvitīyāyāṃ sahodara || 18 || yamo yamunayā pūrvaṃ bhojitaḥ svagṛhercitaḥ || asmindine yamenā'pi nārakīyāśca mocitāḥ || api baddhāḥ karmapāśaiḥ svecchayā paryaṭaṃti te || 19 || svasurnaro veśmani yo na bhuṃkte yamadvitīyādinamatra labdhvā || taṃ pāpinaṃ prāpya vayaṃ suhṛṣṭāḥ prabhakṣayāmo'dya ca bhakṣyahīnāḥ|| 2.4.11.20 || iti pāpā raṭaṃtīha brahmahatyādayastathā || tasmādbhrātarmadgṛhe tu bhojanaṃ kuru kārtike || 21 || śuklāyāṃ tu dvitīyāyāṃ viśrutāyāṃ jagattraye || asyāṃ nijagṛhe putra bhujyate na budhairapi || 22 || ityuktaḥ sa tathetyuktā bhaginīṃ pūjayedvratī || praharṣāstumahābhāga vastrālaṃkārabhūṣaṇaiḥ || 23 || agrajāmabhivaṃdyā'tha āśiṣaṃ ca pragṛhya ca || sarvā bhaginyaḥ saṃtoṣyā vastrālaṃkāradānataḥ || 24 || abhāve svasya tu svasuḥ pitṛvyāḥ svapituḥ svasā || tasyā gṛhaṃ samāgatya kuryādbhojanamādarāt || 25 || evaṃ yaḥ kurute putra dvitīyāṃ yamanāmikām || apamṛtyuvinirmuktaḥ putrapautrādibhirvṛtaḥ || 26 || iha bhuktvā tu vipulānbhogānanyānyathepsitān || aṃte mokṣamavāpnoti nānyathā madvaco bhavet || 27 || vratānyetāni sarvāṇi dānāni vividhāni ca || gṛhasthasyaiva yujyaṃte tasmādgārhasthyamāśrayet || 28 || kathāṃ yamadvitīyāyā vratasthaḥ śṛṇuyānnaraḥ || tasya sarvāṇi pāpāni naśyaṃtītyāha mādhavaḥ || 29 || || sūta uvāca || || kārtike ca dvitīyāyāṃ pūrvāhṇe yamamarcayet || bhānujāyāṃ naraḥ snātvā yamalokaṃ na paśyati || || 2.4.11.30 || kārtike śuklapakṣe tu dvitīyāyāṃ tu śaunaka || yamo yamunayā pūrvaṃ bhojitaḥ svagṛhe'rcitaḥ || 31 || dvitīyāyāṃ mahotsargo nārakīyāśca tarpitāḥ || pāpebhyo viprayuktāste muktāḥ sarve nibaṃdhanāt || 32 || atrā''śitāśca saṃtuṣṭāḥ sthitāḥ sarve yadṛcchayā || teṣāṃ mahotsavo vṛtto yamarāṣṭrasukhāvahaḥ || 33|| ato yamadvitīyeyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā || tasmānnijagṛhe vipra na bhoktavyaṃ tato budhaiḥ || 34 || snehena bhaginīhastādbhoktavyaṃ balavardhanam || ūrje śukladvitīyāyāṃ pūjitastarpito yamaḥ || 39 || mahiṣāsanamārūḍho daṃḍamudgarabhṛtprabhuḥ || veṣṭitaḥ kiṃkarairhṛṣṭaistasmai yāmyātmane namaḥ || 36 || yairbhaginyaḥ suvāsinyo vastradānāditoṣitāḥ || na teṣāṃ vatsaraṃ yāvatkalaho na riporbhayam || 37 || dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ dharmakāmārthasādhanam|| vyākhyātaṃ sakalaṃ putra sarahasyaṃ mayā'nagha || 38 || yasyāṃ tithau yamunayā yamarājadevaḥ saṃbhojitaḥ pratitithau svasṛsauhṛdena || tasmātsvasuḥ karatalādiha yo bhunakti prāpnoti vittaśubhasaṃpadamuttamāṃ saḥ || 39 || || sūta uvāca || || viśeṣaścātra saṃprokto vālakhilyairmaharṣibhiḥ || tadahaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṃ munisattamāḥ || 2.4.11.40 || || vālakhilyā ūcuḥ || || kārtikasya site pakṣe dvitīyā yamasaṃjñitā || tatrā'parāhne kartavyaṃ sarvathaiva yamārcanam || 41 || pratyahaṃ yamunā''gatya yamaṃ saṃprārthayatpurā || bhrātarmama gṛhe yāhi bhojanārthaṃ gaṇāvṛtaḥ || 42 || adyaśvo vā paraśvo vā pratyahaṃ vadate yamaḥ || kāryavyākulacittānāmavakāśo na jāyate || 43 || tadaikadā yamunayā balātkārānnimaṃtritaḥ || sa gataḥ kārtike māsi dvitīyāyāṃ munīśvarāḥ || 44 || nārakīyajanānmuktvā gaṇaiḥ saha raveḥ sutaḥ || kṛtā''tithyo yamunayā nānāpākāḥ kṛtāḥ khaga || 45 || kṛtābhyaṃgo yamunayā tailairgaṃdhamanoharaiḥ || udvartanaṃ lāpayitvā snāpitaḥ sūryanaṃdanaḥ || 46 || tato'laṃkārakaṃ dattaṃ nānāvastrāṇi caṃdanam || mālyāni ca pradattāni maṃcopari upāviśat || 47 || pakvānnāni vicitrāṇi kṛtvā sā svarṇabhājane || yamāyābhojayaddevī yamunā prītamānasā ||48|| bhuktvā yamo'pi bhaginīmalaṃkāraiḥ samarcayat || nānāvastraistataḥ prāha varaṃ varaya bhāmini || iti tadvacanaṃ śrutvā yamunā vākyamabravīt || 49 || ||yamunovāca || || prativarṣaṃ samāgaccha bhojanārthaṃ tu madgṛhe || 2.4.11.50 || adya sarve mocanīyāḥ pāpino narakādyama || ye'dyaiva bhaginīhastātkariṣyaṃti ca bhojanam || teṣāṃ saukhyaṃ pradehi tvametadeva vṛṇomyaham || 51 || || yama uvāca || || yamunāyāṃ tu yaḥ snātvā saṃtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ || 52 || bhuṃkte ca bhaginīgehe bhaginīṃ pūjayedapi || kadācidapi madvāraṃ na sa paśyati bhānuje || 53 || vīreśaiśānadigbhāge yamatīrthaṃ prakīrtitam || tatra snātvā ca vidhivatsaṃtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ || 54 || paṭhedetāni nāmāni āmadhyāhnaṃ narottamaḥ || sūryasyābhimukho maunī hṛtacittaḥ sthirāsanaḥ || 55 || yamo nihaṃtā pitṛdharmarājo vaivasvato daṃḍadharaśca kālaḥ || bhūtādhipo dattakṛtānusārī kṛtāṃtametaddaśabhirjapaṃti ||56|| tato yameśvaraṃ pūjya bhaginīgṛhamāvrajet || maṃtreṇā'nena ca tayā bhojitaḥ pūrvamādarāt ||57|| bhrātastavānujātā'haṃ bhuṃkṣva bhaktamidaṃ śubham || prītaye yamarājasya yamunāyā viśeṣataḥ || 58 || tataḥ saṃtoṣya bhaginīṃ vastrālaṃkaraṇādibhiḥ || svapne'pi yamalokasya bhaviṣyati na darśanam|| 59|| nṛpaiḥ kārāgṛhe ye ca sthāpitā mama vāsare || avaśyaṃ te preṣaṇīyā bhojanārthaṃ svasurgṛhe || 2.4.11.60 || vimoktavyā mayā pāpā narakebhyo'dya vāsare || ye'dya baṃdī kariṣyaṃti te tāḍyā mama sarvathā || 61 || kanīyasī svasā nāsti tadā jyeṣṭhāgṛhaṃ vrajet|| tadabhāve sapatyāyāḥ pitṛvyajāgṛhe tataḥ || 62|| tadabhāve mātṛṣvasurmātulasyā''tmajā tathā || sāpatnagotrasaṃbaṃdhaiḥ kalpayedathavā kramam|| 63 || sarvā'bhāve mānanīyā bhaginī kācideva hi || gonadyādyathavā tasyā abhāve sati kārayet || 64 || tadabhāvepyaraṇyānīṃ kalpayitvā sahodarām || asyāṃ nijagṛhe devi na bhoktavyaṃ kadācana || 65 || ye bhuṃjate durācārā narake te pataṃti ca || evamuktvā dharmarājo yayau saṃyaminīṃ tataḥ || 66 || tasmādṛṣivarāḥ sarve kārtikavratakāriṇaḥ || bhuṃjate bhaginīhastātsatyaṃ satyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ || 67 || yamadvitīyāṃ yaḥ prāpya bhaginīgṛhabhojanam || na kuryādvarṣajaṃ puṇyaṃ naśyatīti raveḥ śrutiḥ || 68 || yā tu bhojayate nārī bhrātaraṃ bhrātṛke tithau || arcayeccā'pi tāṃbūlairna sā vaidhavyamāpnuyāt || 69 || bhrāturāyuḥkṣayo nūnaṃ na bhavettatra karhicit || aparāhnavyāpinī sā dvitīyā bhrātṛbhojane || 2.4.11.70 || ajñānādyadi vā mohānna bhuktaṃ bhaginīgṛhe || pravāsinā hyabhāvādvā jvaritenā'tha baṃdinā || || 71 || etadākhyānakaṃ śrutvā bhojanasya phalaṃ bhavet || kārtike tu viśeṣeṇa dhātrīchāyāṃ samāśritaḥ ||72|| bhojanaṃ kurute yastu sa vaikuṃṭhamavāpnuyāt || 73 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe kārtikamāsamāhātmye yamadvitīyāmāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāmaikādaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 11 || cha || ṭīkā atha yamadvitīyāvidhānamāha-yadīti | yamadvitīyākhyāyāḥ prayojanaṃ vaktumanyāsāmapyāha pādme- 'skaṃdaitāstithayo nūnaṃ dvitīyādyāśca viśrutāḥ || māsaiścaturbhiśca tataḥ prāvṛṭkāle sukhāvahāḥ || prathamā śrāvaṇe māsi tathā bhādrapade'parā || tṛtīyā'śvayuje māsi caturthī kārtike bhavet || kaluṣā śrāvaṇe māsi tathā bhādrapade'malā || āśvine pretasaṃcārā kārtike yāmyakā matā || purā vṛtravadhe vṛtte prāptarājye puraṃdare || brahmahatyāpanodārthamaśvamedhaḥ prakīrtitaḥ || krodhādiṃdreṇa vajreṇa brahmahatyā niṣūditā || ṣaḍvidhā sā kṣitau kṣiptā vṛkṣatoyamahītale || nāryā bhrūṇahane vahnau saṃvibhajya yathākramam || tatpāpaśravaṇātpūrvaṃ dvitīyāyā dine'nagha || nārīvṛkṣanadībhūmivahnibhūṇahanastathā || kaluṣībhavanaṃ jātā hyato'rtha kaluṣā smṛtā || madhukaiṭabhayo rakte purā magnā tu medinī || aṣṭāṃ'gulā pavitrā sā nārīṇāṃ tu rajo malam || nadyaḥ prāvṛṇmalāḥ sarvā vahnerūrdhvaṃ maṣī malaḥ || niryāsamalino vṛkṣāḥ saṃgādbhrūṇahano malāḥ || kaluṣāṇi caraṃtyasyāṃ tenaiṣā kaluṣā matā || devarṣipitṛdharmāṇāṃ niṃdakā nāstikāḥ śaṭhāḥ || teṣāṃ sā vāṅmalātpūtā dvitīyā tena nirmalā || anadhyāyeṣu śāstrāṇi pāṭhayaṃti paṭhaṃti ca || sāṃkhyakāstārkikāḥ śrautāsteṣāṃ śabdā'paśabdajāt || malātpūtā dvitīyāyāṃ tato'rthe nirmalā ca sā || kṛṣṇasya janmanā vatsa trailokyaṃ pāvitaṃ bhavet || nabhasyetena nirdiṣṭā nirmalā sā tithirbudhaiḥ || agniṣvāttā barhiṣada ājyapāḥ somapāstathā || pitṝnpitāmahānpretasaṃcarātpretasaṃcarā || pretāstu pitaraḥ proktāsteṣāṃ tasyāṃ tu saṃcaraḥ || putrapautraistu dauhitraiḥ svadhāmaṃtraistu pūjitāḥ || śrāddhadānamakhaistṛptā yāṃtyataḥ pretasaṃcarā || mahālaye tu pretānāṃ saṃcāro bhuvi dṛśyate || tenaiṣā pretasaṃcārā kīrtitā śikhivāhana || yamasya kriyate pūjā yato'syāṃ pāvake naraiḥ || tenaiṣā yāmyakā proktā satyaṃsatyaṃ mayoditam || '' iti | sanatkumārasaṃhitāyām- asyāṃ nijagṛhe devi na bhoktavyaṃ kadācana || ye bhuṃjate durācārā narake te pataṃti ca || śrāvaṇe tu pitṛvyasya kanyāhastena bhojanam || mātulasya sutāhastādbhoktavyaṃ bhādramāsake || piturbhrātuḥ svasuḥ kanye āśvine tu tayoḥ kramāt || avaśyaṃ kārtike māsi bhoktavyaṃ bhaginīkarāt |||7 iti ||
English translation
Nārada said :
1. O Lord, I wish to ask you humbly about that Vrata [1] whereby man does not meet with death.
Brahmā said :
2. If, O great Brāhmaṇa , you ask me about the most excellent Vrata, listen to the Vrata named Yama - dvitīyā . It is destructive of Mṛtyu (Death).
3. O great sage, it is to be performed on the second day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika in accordance with the injunctions. It prevents the death of all.
4. After getting up in the Brāhma Muhūrta (i.e. an hour before the dawn) on the Dvitīyā day the devotee should think about what is conducive to his welfare. He should not think of anything harmful to himself.
5-10. After cleansing the teeth he should take his early morning bath. Then he should wear white cloth and white garlands. He should smear himself with unguents. He should finish his daily routine of duties. With great delight he should adorn himself with ear-rings and armlets. He should go near an Auduṃbara (wild fig) tree and there draw the excellent mystic diagram with eight-petalled lotus. There, with calm mind, he should with sandal, agallochum, musk and saffron, with flowers, incense and with Naivedya of coconut fruits etc. worship Brahmā , Viṣṇu , Rudra and Sarasvatī the bestower of boons having the lute and the book (in her hands).
Thereafter, for the purpose of preventing death, he should give a milch cow along with her calf, to a Brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas . The cow should be richly adorned and gifted away for the prevention of premature death as well as for being taken across the ocean of worldly existence.
11. He should give the cow to the Brāhmaṇa exponent of the Vedas, repeating this Mantra : “O Brāhmaṇa, I am giving this gentle-natured cow to you.”
12-14. If a cow is not available, he should devoutly give a pair of shoes to the Brāhmaṇa. Then he should conclude the worship with great devotion to Puruṣottama . He should make obeisance to the elderly members of the family and excellent kinsmen with great devotion. He should propitiate his own relatives with different kinds of beautiful coconut fruits. Then, O sage, he should go to the house of his own uterine sister and salute her with great devotion.
15. “O gentle lady, O my sister of good fortune, I have come to your abode in order to make obeisance to your lotus-like feet.”
16-18. After saying this to his sister, he should salute her, thinking her to be Viṣṇu.
Then, on hearing the excellent words of her brother, O Nārada , the following words should be addressed by the sister to the brother:
“O my brother, today I have become blessed and auspicious, thanks to you. O lamp of the family, today you should take your food in my house for my longevity, O brother, on the second day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika.
19. On this day formerly Yama was fed by Yamunā in her house and was duly honoured by her. Hell-dwellers were set free on this day by Yama. Those who are fettered with the cords of Karma too, are roaming about as they please.
20-22. The sins beginning with that of the slaughter of a Brāhmaṇa shout thus: ‘We are very glad on receiving that sinful man who does not take his food in the house of his sister, even on Yamadvitīyā day. We have been without food (for a long time). We shall devour him today.’
Hence, O my brother, take food in my house today, the second day in the bright half of Kārttika well-known in all the three worlds . O brother, learned men do not take food in their own house on this day.”
23. On being told thus, the devotee should worship his sister with garments, ornaments and embellishments with great delight, O highly fortunate one.
24. If the sister is elder to him, he should make obeisance to her and get blessings from her. All the sisters should be satisfied by gifts of garments and ornaments.
25. In the absence of one’s own sister, one should go to the house of the sister of one’s father with respect and take food there.
26-27. O son, he who observes this rite of the Dvitīyā named after Yama, shall be liberated from premature death surrounded by sons, grandsons etc. He will enjoy abundant pleasures as he pleases and in the end attain salvation. My words shall not be otherwise.
28-29. These Vratas and all rites of charitable gifts of various kinds are proper only for a householder. Hence one should take up the householder’s life. One who adheres to the Vrata of Yamadvitīyā should listen to the story thereof. Mādhava says that all his sins will perish.
Sūta said :
30. On the second day of Kārttika one should worship Yama in the forenoon. By taking his holy bath in Yamunā, one does not see the world of Yama.
31 -32. O Śaunaka , on the second day in the bright half of Kārttika, formerly Yama was fed and honoured by Yamunā in her own house. The conclusion of the festival too is on the Dvitīyā day. Hell-dwellers too were satisfied. They were rid of their sins and all of them were set free from bondage.
33. Here they were all fed. They became delighted. They all stayed there as they pleased. They celebrated a great festival causing great happiness to the kingdom of Yama.
34-36. Hence this Yamadvitīyā is well-known in the three worlds. So no wise man should take his food in his own house, O Brāhmaṇa. He must take food from the loving hands of his sister. It is conducive to the increase of his strength.
On the second day in the bright half of Kārttika Yama was honoured and propitiated. Yama is seated on his vehicle, the buffalo. The Lord holds his staff and the mallet. He is surrounded by his delighted servants. Obeisance to the Ātman pertaining to Yama.
37. Sisters of good residential facilities should be propitiated by gifts of garments. If this is done, they need not be afraid of their enemies. They will never be involved in any quarrel till the end of the year.
38-40. O sinless son, everything has been expounded by me, along with its esoteric secret. It is conducive to wealth, fame and longevity. It is a means of achieving virtue, wealth and love.
It was on this day that Lord Yama was fed by Yamunā with all the love of a sister. On that day, if a person takes food from the hands of a sister, he attains excellent wealth and splendid prosperity.
Sūta said :
Some more special details were mentioned by Vālakhilya sages which I shall recount. Listen to them, O excellent sages.
Vālakhilyas said :
41. The second day in the bright half of Kārttika is named after Yama. Then in the afternoon the worship of Yama should by all means be performed.
42-43. Formerly Yamunā used to come to Yama everyday with the request, “O brother, come to my house for food in the company of your attendants.” Everyday Yama used to reply that he would go “today or tomorrow or the day after.” There is no leisure to persons with minds engrossed in their duties.
44-46. Then once, he was invited with persistent solicitation, O great sages, on the Dvitīyā day in the month of Kārttika. He went there after setting free all the residents of hells. Accompanied by his attendants, the son of Sun was received with great hospitality by Yamunā. O bird, different kinds of dishes were prepared. He was anointed with oil by Yamunā and sweet-smelling, fascinating unguents were smeared upon his body. The son of Sun was bathed duly.
47-49. Then ornaments were presented to him along with different kinds of clothes, sandal paste, garlands etc. He was made to sit on a cot.
The gentle lady Yamunā cooked in gold vessels sweet rice dishes of various kinds with delighted mind and fed Yama.
After taking food, Yama honoured his sister with ornaments and different kinds of clothes. Then he said, “Q beautiful lady, choose your boon.” On hearing his words Yamunā spoke these words:
Yamunā said :
50-51. Come to my house for food every year. O Yama, all sinners are to be set free from hell today. Those who take food today from the hands of their sisters, should be happy. Grant them happiness. I choose only this.
Yama said :
52-53. O Yamunā, he who takes his bath in Yamunā and offers libations to Pitṛs and Devas , he who takes food in the house of his sister and worships her, shall never see the entrance to my abode.
54-56. Yamatīrtha on the north-east of Vīreśa (a deity at Kāśī ) is glorified. There the excellent man should take his holy bath and duly offer libations to the Pitṛs and Devas. Then till midday he should repeat these (following) names, facing the Sun with controlled mind. He should have steady posture and remain silent. The devotees repeat these names of Yama: “Yama, Nihantā (Annihilator), Pitṛdharmarāja, Vaivasvata (son of Sun), Daṇḍadhara (Holder of rod of punishment), Kāla , Bhūtādhipa (overlord of all beings), Dattānusārī (one who follows what is given), Kṛtānusārī (one who follows what is done) and Kṛtānta .”
57-59. After worshipping Yameśvara he should go to the house of his sister. With the following Mantra he should be respectfully fed at the outset by her:
“O brother, I am your younger sister. Eat this splendid food for the delight of Yamarāja and Yamunā in particular.”
He should then propitiate his sister with garments, ornaments etc. Thereby, he will not see the world of Yama even in dreams.
60-65. Those who are detained as prisoners by kings should necessarily be sent to their sister’s abodes on my day for taking their food.
The sinners should be released by me from Narakas (hells) on this day. Those who keep persons imprisoned today, should be beaten by me by all means.
If one has no younger sister, [2] one shall go to the elder sister’s house. If she too does not exist, he should go to the abode of the married daughter of his paternal uncle.
In her absence, to the house of mother’s sister or to that of the maternal uncle’s daughter. The order of precedence shall be fixed on the basis of the relationships as the children of co-wives or of the same Gotra .
In the absence of all these, some lady should be considered as a sister. If she too is not available, one should make a cow or a river as his sister, in the absence thereof, the devotee should make a forest his sister’s house. O gentle lady, one must not take one’s food in one’s own house on this day.
66. Those men of evil deeds who take food (in their own house), fall into hell.
After saying this Dharmarāja went to his capital Saṃyaminī .
67. Hence, O excellent sages, all those who perform the Kārttika Vrata should eat from the hands of their sisters. It is true. It is true. There is no doubt (about it).
68. If a person does not take food in the house of his sister on the Yarnadvitīyā day, the merit accrued to him during the year perishes. This is the statement heard from Sun-god.
69. The woman who feeds her brother on the Tithi pertaining to brother and adores him with betel-leaves will never have widowhood.
70. The span of life of the brother too shall not decrease at all. In regard to the feeding of the brother, the Dvitīyā should extend to the afternoon.
71-73. If out of ignorance or out of delusion, food is not taken in the sister’s house because the brother happened to be touring abroad, or sick or had been imprisoned, or if there is no sister, one shall get the benefit of taking food there by listening to this story.
In the month of Kārttika particularly, if one resorts to the shade of Emblica officinalis and takes food, one shall attain Vaikuṇṭha .
[1]: [1] : This is a touchingly affectionate occasion of meeting of brothers and sisters once a year on, the 2nd day of Kārttika. ‘ Vrata ’ is a dry Purāṇic term for this family meeting. The Vrata is described in vv 2-40 with all the formalities of an orthodox religious observance.
[2]: [2] : VV 62-65: The substitutes for a sister in the case of a sisterless person. A person should accept food in the house of sisters as per priority given here buī should not eat in his own house on this day (Yama Dvitīyā day).
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14236, revision 293742 (2020-11-21T02:37:57Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371652.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.