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Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 13

Chapter 13

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Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 13

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।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। श्रियः पतिमथामंत्र्य गते देवर्षिसत्तमे ।। हर्षोत्फुल्लाऽऽनना सत्या वासुदेवमथाऽब्रवीत् ।। १ ।। ।। सत्यभामोवाच ।। ।। धन्यास्मि कृतकृत्याऽस्मि सफलं जीवितं मम ।। दानं व्रतं तपो वाऽपि किं नु पूर्वं कृतं मया ।। २।। येनाऽहं मर्त्यजा देव तवांगार्द्धहराऽभवम् ।। भवांतरे च किंशीला काचाऽहं कस्य कन्यका ।। तवाऽहं वल्लभा जाता तद्वदस्व ममाऽखिलम् ।। ३ ।। ।। श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ।। ।। शृणुष्वैकमना कांते यथा त्वं पूर्वजन्मनि ।। ४ ।। पुण्यव्रतं कृतवती तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते ।। आसीत्कृतयुगस्यांते मायापुर्यां द्विजोत्तमः ।। ५ ।। आत्रेयो देवशर्मेति वेदवेदांगपारगः ।। तस्यातिवयसश्चाऽऽसीन्नाम्ना गुणवती सुता ।। ६ ।। अपुत्रः स स्वशिष्याय चंद्रनाम्ने ददौ सुताम्।। तमेव पुत्रवन्मेने स च तं पितृवद्वशी ।। ७।। तौ कदाचिद्वनं यातौ कुशेध्माहरणार्थिनौ ।। निहतौ रक्षसा तौ च कृतांतसमरूपिणा ।। ८ ।। स्वस्वपुण्य प्रभावेन विष्णुलोकं गतावुभौ ।। ततो गुणवती श्रुत्वा रक्षसा निहतावुभौ ।। ९ ।। पितृभर्तृजदुःखार्ता कारुण्यं पर्यदेवयत् ।। सा गृहोपस्करा न्सर्वान्विक्रीयाशु च कर्मं तत् ।।2.4.13.१० ।। तयोश्चक्रे यथाशक्ति पारलौकीं ततः क्रियाम् ।। तस्मिन्नेव पुरे चक्रे वासं सा मृतजीविनी ।। ११ ।। व्रतद्वयं तया सम्यगाजन्ममरणात्कृतम् ।। एकादशीव्रतं सम्यक्सेवनं कार्तिकस्य च ।। १२ ।। इत्थं गुणवती सम्यक्प्रत्यब्द व्रतिनी ह्यभूत् ।। कदाचित्सरुजा साऽथ कृशांगी ज्वरपीडिता ।। १३ ।। स्नातुं गंगां गता कांते कथंचिच्छनकैस्तदा ।। यावज्जलांतरगता कंपिता शीतपीडिता ।। ।। १४ ।। तावत्सा विह्वलाऽपश्यद्विमानं यातमंबरात् ।। अथ सा तद्विमानस्था वैकुण्ठभुवनं ययौ ।। १५ ।। कार्तिकव्रतपुण्येन मत्सान्निध्यं गताऽभवत् ।। अथ ब्रह्मादिदेवानां यदा प्रार्थनया भुवम् ।। १६ ।। आगतोऽहं गणाः सर्वे यातास्तेऽपि मया सह ।। एते हि यादवाः सर्वे मद्गणा एव भामिनि ।। १७ ।। पिता ते देवशर्माऽभूत्सत्राजिदभिधो ह्ययम् ।। यश्चंद्रनामाऽसोऽक्रूरस्त्वं सा गुणवती शुभा ।। १८ ।। कार्तिकव्रतपुण्येन बहु मत्प्रीतिदायिनी ।। मद्द्वारि यत्त्वया पूर्वं तुलसीवाटिका कृता ।। १९ ।। तस्मादयं कल्पवृक्षस्तवांगणगतः शुभे ।। आजन्ममरणात्पूर्वं यत्कृतं कार्तिकव्रतम् ।। 2.4.13.२० ।। कदाचिदपि तेन त्वं मद्वियोगं न यास्यसि ।। ।। सत्योवाच ।। ।। मासानां तु कथं नाम स मासः कार्तिको वरः ।। २१ ।। प्रियस्ते देवदेवेश कारणं तत्र कथ्यताम् ।। ।। श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ।। ।। साधु पृष्टं त्वया कांते शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसा ।। २२ ।। पृथोर्वैन्यस्य संवादं महर्षेर्नारदस्य च ।। एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो नारदः पृथुनाब्रवीत् ।। २३ ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। शंखनामाऽभवत्पूर्वमसुरः सागरात्मजः ।। इन्द्रादिलोकपालानामधिकाराञ्जहार ह ।। २४ ।। सुवर्णाद्रिगुहादुर्गसंस्थितास्त्रिदशादयः ।। तद्वीक्षयांबभूवुस्ते तदा दैत्यो व्यचारयत् ।। २५ ।। हृताधिकारास्त्रिदशा मया यद्यपि निर्जिताः ।। लक्ष्यंते बलयुक्तास्ते करणीयं मयाऽत्र किम् ।। २६ ।। ज्ञातं तत्तु मया देवा वेदमन्त्रबलान्विताः ।। तान्हरिष्ये ततः सर्वे बलहीना भवंति वै ।। २७ ।। इति मत्वा ततो दैत्यो विष्णुमालक्ष्य निद्रितम्।। सत्यलोकाज्जहाराशु वेदानादिस्वयंभुवः ।। २८ ।। नीतास्तु तेन ते वेदास्तद्भयात्ते निराक्रमन् ।। तोयानि विविशुर्यज्ञमंत्रबीजसमन्विताः ।। २९ ।। तान्मार्गमाणः शंखोऽपि समुद्रांतर्गतो भ्रमन् ।। न ददर्श तदा दैत्यः क्वचिदेकत्र संस्थितान् ।। अथ देवैः स्तुतो विष्णुर्बोधितस्तानुवाच ह ।। ।। 2.4.13.३० ।। ।। विष्णुरुवाच ।। ।। वरदोऽहं सुरगणा गीतवाद्यादिमंगलैः ।। ३१ ।। ऊर्जस्य शुक्लैकादश्यां भवद्भिः प्रतिबोधितः ।। अतश्चैषा तिथिर्मान्या साऽतीव प्रीतिदा मम ।। ३२ ।। वेदाः शंखहृताः सर्वे तिष्ठंत्युदकसंस्थिताः ।। तानानयाम्यहं देवा हत्वा सागरनंदनम् ।। ३३ ।। अद्यप्रभृति वेदास्तु मंत्रबीजसमन्विताः ।। प्रत्यब्दं कार्तिके मासि विश्रमंत्वप्सु सर्वदा ।। ३४ ।। कालेऽस्मिन्ये प्रकुर्वंति प्रातःस्नानं नरोत्तमाः ।। ते सर्वे यज्ञाऽवभृथैः सुस्नाताः स्युर्न संशयः ।। ३५ ।। अद्यप्रभृत्यहमपि भवामि जलमध्यगः ।। भवन्तोऽपि मया सार्द्धमायांतु समुनीश्वराः ।। ३६ ।। कातिकव्रतिनां चेंद्र रक्षा कार्या त्वया सदा ।। इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्विष्णुः शफरीतुल्यरूपधृक् ।। खात्पपात जले विंध्यवासिनः कस्य पश्यतः ।। ३७ ।। हत्वा शंखासुरं विष्णुर्बदरीवनमागमत् ।। तत्राऽऽहूय ऋषीन्सर्वानिदमाज्ञापयत्प्रभुः ।। ३८ ।। विष्णुरुवाच ।। ।। जलांतरविशीर्णांस्तान्यूयं वेदान्प्रमार्गथ ।। आनयध्वं च त्वरिताः सागरस्य जलांतरात् ।। तावत्प्रयागं तिष्ठामि देवतागणसंयुतः।। ।। ३९ ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। ततस्तैस्सर्वमुनिभिस्तपोबलसमन्वितैः ।। 2.4.13.४० ।। उद्धृताश्च सबीजास्ते वेदा यज्ञसमन्विताः ।। तेषु यावन्मितं येन लब्धं तावद्धि तस्य तत् ।। ४१ ।। स स एव ऋषिर्जातस्तत्तत्प्रभृति पार्थिव ।। अथ सर्वेऽपि संगम्य प्रयागं मुनयो ययुः ।। ४२ ।। विष्णवे सविधात्रे ते लब्धान्वेदान्न्यवेदयन् ।। लब्ध्वा वेदान्समग्रांस्तु ब्रह्मा हर्षसमन्वितः ।। ४३ ।। अयजद्वाजिमेधेन देवर्षिगणसंयुतः ।। यज्ञांऽते देवताः सर्वे विज्ञप्तिं चक्रुरंजसा ।। ४४ ।। ।। देवा ऊचुः ।। ।। देवदेव जगन्नाथ विज्ञप्तिं शृणु नः प्रभो ।। हर्षकालोऽयमस्माकं तस्मात्त्वं वरदो भव ।। ४५ ।। स्थानेऽस्मिन्द्रुहिणो वेदान्नष्टान्प्राप पुनस्त्वयम् ।। यज्ञभागान्वयं प्राप्तास्त्वत्प्रसादाद्रमापते ।। ४६ ।। स्थानमेतद्धि नः श्रेष्ठं पृथिव्यां पुण्यवर्धनम् ।। भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं चाऽस्तु प्रसादाद्भवतः सदा ।। ४७ ।। कालोऽप्ययं महापुण्यो ब्रह्मघ्नाऽऽदिविशुद्धिकृत्।। दत्ताऽक्षयकरं चाऽस्तु वरमेवं ददस्व नः ।। ४८ ।। ।। विष्णुरुवाच ।। ।। ममाप्येतद्वृतं देवा यद्भवद्भिरुदाहृतम् ।। तथास्तु सुलभं त्वेतद्ब्रह्मक्षेत्रमितिप्रथम् ।। ४९ ।। सूर्यवंशोद्भवो राजा गंगामत्रानयिष्यति ।। सा सूर्यकन्यया चात्र कालिंद्या योगमेष्यति ।। 2.4.13.५० ।। यूयं च सर्वे ब्रह्माद्या निवसंतु मया सह ।। तीर्थराजेति विख्यातं तीर्थमेतद्भविष्यति ।। ५१ ।। सर्वपापानि नश्यंति तीर्थराजस्य दर्शनात् ।। सूर्ये मकरगे प्राप्ते स्नायिनां पापनाशनः ।। ५२ ।। कालोऽप्येष महापुण्यफलदोऽस्तु सदा नृणाम् ।। सालोक्यादिफलं स्नानैर्माघे मकरगे रवौ ।। ५३ ।। ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। एवं देवान्देवदेवस्तदुक्त्वा तत्रैवांतर्धानमागात्सवेधाः ।। देवाः सर्वेप्यंशकैस्तेऽप्यतिष्ठंश्चांतर्धानं प्रापुरिंद्रादयस्ते ।।५४।। 167a कार्तिके तुलसीमूले योऽर्चयेद्धरिमीश्वरम् ।। भुक्त्वेह निखिलान्भोगानंते विष्णुपुरं व्रजेत् ।। ५५ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे कार्तिकमासमाहात्म्ये सत्यभामापूर्वजन्मवृत्तांतकथनपूर्वक प्रयागतीर्थप्रशंसाप्रसंगवर्णनंनाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः ।। १३ ।। ।। छ ।।

|| sūta uvāca || || śriyaḥ patimathāmaṃtrya gate devarṣisattame || harṣotphullā''nanā satyā vāsudevamathā'bravīt || 1 || || satyabhāmovāca || || dhanyāsmi kṛtakṛtyā'smi saphalaṃ jīvitaṃ mama || dānaṃ vrataṃ tapo vā'pi kiṃ nu pūrvaṃ kṛtaṃ mayā || 2|| yenā'haṃ martyajā deva tavāṃgārddhaharā'bhavam || bhavāṃtare ca kiṃśīlā kācā'haṃ kasya kanyakā || tavā'haṃ vallabhā jātā tadvadasva mamā'khilam || 3 || || śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca || || śṛṇuṣvaikamanā kāṃte yathā tvaṃ pūrvajanmani || 4 || puṇyavrataṃ kṛtavatī tatsarvaṃ kathayāmi te || āsītkṛtayugasyāṃte māyāpuryāṃ dvijottamaḥ || 5 || ātreyo devaśarmeti vedavedāṃgapāragaḥ || tasyātivayasaścā''sīnnāmnā guṇavatī sutā || 6 || aputraḥ sa svaśiṣyāya caṃdranāmne dadau sutām|| tameva putravanmene sa ca taṃ pitṛvadvaśī || 7|| tau kadācidvanaṃ yātau kuśedhmāharaṇārthinau || nihatau rakṣasā tau ca kṛtāṃtasamarūpiṇā || 8 || svasvapuṇya prabhāvena viṣṇulokaṃ gatāvubhau || tato guṇavatī śrutvā rakṣasā nihatāvubhau || 9 || pitṛbhartṛjaduḥkhārtā kāruṇyaṃ paryadevayat || sā gṛhopaskarā nsarvānvikrīyāśu ca karmaṃ tat ||2.4.13.10 || tayoścakre yathāśakti pāralaukīṃ tataḥ kriyām || tasminneva pure cakre vāsaṃ sā mṛtajīvinī || 11 || vratadvayaṃ tayā samyagājanmamaraṇātkṛtam || ekādaśīvrataṃ samyaksevanaṃ kārtikasya ca || 12 || itthaṃ guṇavatī samyakpratyabda vratinī hyabhūt || kadācitsarujā sā'tha kṛśāṃgī jvarapīḍitā || 13 || snātuṃ gaṃgāṃ gatā kāṃte kathaṃcicchanakaistadā || yāvajjalāṃtaragatā kaṃpitā śītapīḍitā || || 14 || tāvatsā vihvalā'paśyadvimānaṃ yātamaṃbarāt || atha sā tadvimānasthā vaikuṇṭhabhuvanaṃ yayau || 15 || kārtikavratapuṇyena matsānnidhyaṃ gatā'bhavat || atha brahmādidevānāṃ yadā prārthanayā bhuvam || 16 || āgato'haṃ gaṇāḥ sarve yātāste'pi mayā saha || ete hi yādavāḥ sarve madgaṇā eva bhāmini || 17 || pitā te devaśarmā'bhūtsatrājidabhidho hyayam || yaścaṃdranāmā'so'krūrastvaṃ sā guṇavatī śubhā || 18 || kārtikavratapuṇyena bahu matprītidāyinī || maddvāri yattvayā pūrvaṃ tulasīvāṭikā kṛtā || 19 || tasmādayaṃ kalpavṛkṣastavāṃgaṇagataḥ śubhe || ājanmamaraṇātpūrvaṃ yatkṛtaṃ kārtikavratam || 2.4.13.20 || kadācidapi tena tvaṃ madviyogaṃ na yāsyasi || || satyovāca || || māsānāṃ tu kathaṃ nāma sa māsaḥ kārtiko varaḥ || 21 || priyaste devadeveśa kāraṇaṃ tatra kathyatām || || śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca || || sādhu pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā kāṃte śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasā || 22 || pṛthorvainyasya saṃvādaṃ maharṣernāradasya ca || evameva purā pṛṣṭo nāradaḥ pṛthunābravīt || 23 || || nārada uvāca || || śaṃkhanāmā'bhavatpūrvamasuraḥ sāgarātmajaḥ || indrādilokapālānāmadhikārāñjahāra ha || 24 || suvarṇādriguhādurgasaṃsthitāstridaśādayaḥ || tadvīkṣayāṃbabhūvuste tadā daityo vyacārayat || 25 || hṛtādhikārāstridaśā mayā yadyapi nirjitāḥ || lakṣyaṃte balayuktāste karaṇīyaṃ mayā'tra kim || 26 || jñātaṃ tattu mayā devā vedamantrabalānvitāḥ || tānhariṣye tataḥ sarve balahīnā bhavaṃti vai || 27 || iti matvā tato daityo viṣṇumālakṣya nidritam|| satyalokājjahārāśu vedānādisvayaṃbhuvaḥ || 28 || nītāstu tena te vedāstadbhayātte nirākraman || toyāni viviśuryajñamaṃtrabījasamanvitāḥ || 29 || tānmārgamāṇaḥ śaṃkho'pi samudrāṃtargato bhraman || na dadarśa tadā daityaḥ kvacidekatra saṃsthitān || atha devaiḥ stuto viṣṇurbodhitastānuvāca ha || || 2.4.13.30 || || viṣṇuruvāca || || varado'haṃ suragaṇā gītavādyādimaṃgalaiḥ || 31 || ūrjasya śuklaikādaśyāṃ bhavadbhiḥ pratibodhitaḥ || ataścaiṣā tithirmānyā sā'tīva prītidā mama || 32 || vedāḥ śaṃkhahṛtāḥ sarve tiṣṭhaṃtyudakasaṃsthitāḥ || tānānayāmyahaṃ devā hatvā sāgaranaṃdanam || 33 || adyaprabhṛti vedāstu maṃtrabījasamanvitāḥ || pratyabdaṃ kārtike māsi viśramaṃtvapsu sarvadā || 34 || kāle'sminye prakurvaṃti prātaḥsnānaṃ narottamāḥ || te sarve yajñā'vabhṛthaiḥ susnātāḥ syurna saṃśayaḥ || 35 || adyaprabhṛtyahamapi bhavāmi jalamadhyagaḥ || bhavanto'pi mayā sārddhamāyāṃtu samunīśvarāḥ || 36 || kātikavratināṃ ceṃdra rakṣā kāryā tvayā sadā || ityuktvā bhagavānviṣṇuḥ śapharītulyarūpadhṛk || khātpapāta jale viṃdhyavāsinaḥ kasya paśyataḥ || 37 || hatvā śaṃkhāsuraṃ viṣṇurbadarīvanamāgamat || tatrā''hūya ṛṣīnsarvānidamājñāpayatprabhuḥ || 38 || viṣṇuruvāca || || jalāṃtaraviśīrṇāṃstānyūyaṃ vedānpramārgatha || ānayadhvaṃ ca tvaritāḥ sāgarasya jalāṃtarāt || tāvatprayāgaṃ tiṣṭhāmi devatāgaṇasaṃyutaḥ|| || 39 || || nārada uvāca || || tatastaissarvamunibhistapobalasamanvitaiḥ || 2.4.13.40 || uddhṛtāśca sabījāste vedā yajñasamanvitāḥ || teṣu yāvanmitaṃ yena labdhaṃ tāvaddhi tasya tat || 41 || sa sa eva ṛṣirjātastattatprabhṛti pārthiva || atha sarve'pi saṃgamya prayāgaṃ munayo yayuḥ || 42 || viṣṇave savidhātre te labdhānvedānnyavedayan || labdhvā vedānsamagrāṃstu brahmā harṣasamanvitaḥ || 43 || ayajadvājimedhena devarṣigaṇasaṃyutaḥ || yajñāṃ'te devatāḥ sarve vijñaptiṃ cakruraṃjasā || 44 || || devā ūcuḥ || || devadeva jagannātha vijñaptiṃ śṛṇu naḥ prabho || harṣakālo'yamasmākaṃ tasmāttvaṃ varado bhava || 45 || sthāne'smindruhiṇo vedānnaṣṭānprāpa punastvayam || yajñabhāgānvayaṃ prāptāstvatprasādādramāpate || 46 || sthānametaddhi naḥ śreṣṭhaṃ pṛthivyāṃ puṇyavardhanam || bhuktimuktipradaṃ cā'stu prasādādbhavataḥ sadā || 47 || kālo'pyayaṃ mahāpuṇyo brahmaghnā''diviśuddhikṛt|| dattā'kṣayakaraṃ cā'stu varamevaṃ dadasva naḥ || 48 || || viṣṇuruvāca || || mamāpyetadvṛtaṃ devā yadbhavadbhirudāhṛtam || tathāstu sulabhaṃ tvetadbrahmakṣetramitipratham || 49 || sūryavaṃśodbhavo rājā gaṃgāmatrānayiṣyati || sā sūryakanyayā cātra kāliṃdyā yogameṣyati || 2.4.13.50 || yūyaṃ ca sarve brahmādyā nivasaṃtu mayā saha || tīrtharājeti vikhyātaṃ tīrthametadbhaviṣyati || 51 || sarvapāpāni naśyaṃti tīrtharājasya darśanāt || sūrye makarage prāpte snāyināṃ pāpanāśanaḥ || 52 || kālo'pyeṣa mahāpuṇyaphalado'stu sadā nṛṇām || sālokyādiphalaṃ snānairmāghe makarage ravau || 53 || || || nārada uvāca || || evaṃ devāndevadevastaduktvā tatraivāṃtardhānamāgātsavedhāḥ || devāḥ sarvepyaṃśakaiste'pyatiṣṭhaṃścāṃtardhānaṃ prāpuriṃdrādayaste ||54|| 167a kārtike tulasīmūle yo'rcayeddharimīśvaram || bhuktveha nikhilānbhogānaṃte viṣṇupuraṃ vrajet || 55 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe kārtikamāsamāhātmye satyabhāmāpūrvajanmavṛttāṃtakathanapūrvaka prayāgatīrthapraśaṃsāprasaṃgavarṇanaṃnāma trayodaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 13 || || cha ||

English translation

Sūta said :

1. When the excellent Celestial Sage took leave of the husband of Śrī and went away, Satyā (i.e. Satyabhāmā ) spoke to Vāsudeva with her face full-blown due to delight.

Satyabhāmā said :

2-3. I am blessed. I am contented. My life has become fruitful. I have (surely) done something good formerly by way of charitable gifts, holy rites or austerities, whereby, O Lord, I have become your wife, though born of mortals. In the previous birth, what had been my conduct? Who was I? Whose daughter? (How) did I become your beloved? Recount everything to me. [ see appendix 4 ]

Śrīkṛṣṇa replied :

4-6. O beloved, listen with concentration how you observed meritorious holy rites in your previous birth. I shall narrate everything to you.

There was an excellent Brāhmaṇa named Devaśarmā in Māyāpurī [1] towards the end of Kṛtayuga . He belonged to the Ātreya Gotra . He was master of Vedas and Vedāṅgas . When he had become pretty old, he begot a daughter named Guṇavatī .

7. He had no son. He gave his daughter (in marriage) to his disciple named Candra . He considered him his son and the disciple of perfect self-control (honoured him) like his own father.

8. Once those two went to a forest in order to bring Kuśa grass, sacrificial twigs and fuel. They were killed by a Rākṣasa as hideous in form as the god of Death.

9-11. Both of them went to the world of Viṣṇu due to the power of their respective merits.

On hearing that both of them had been killed by a Rākṣasa, Guṇavatī became extremely distressed, having been separated from her husband as well as her father. She lamented in a pitiable manner. She quickly sold all the furniture, utensils etc. and performed according to her capacity their obsequies and other holy rites for (their) happiness in the other world. Living like a dead person, she continued to stay in the same city.

12. Two Vratas were perfectly observed by her throughout her life till death, viz. the Vrata of Ekādaśī and the holy rite of Kārttika .

13-14. Thus Guṇavatī performed the Vratas every year. Once that slender-bodied one became afflicted with fever. She was in great physical pain. O my beloved, with great difficulty she went slowly to Gaṅgā for taking her bath. When she entered the water, she became distressed with chillness. She shivered.

15-16a. By that time the lady in distress saw an aerial chariot that had come from the sky. She got into that aerial chariot and went to the world of Vaikuṇṭha . Thanks to the merit of Kārttikavrata, she came to my presence.

16b-17. When I came to the earth at the request of the Devas headed by Brahmā , all those groups (of Devas) also came along with me. O beautiful lady, all these Yādavas are my own attendants.

18. Your father Devaśarmā now has the name Satrājit . He who had been called by the name Candra is Akrūra now and you are that splendid Guṇavatī. [2]

19-23. You gave me great delight, thanks to the merit of the Kārttikavrata.

Formerly a grove of Tulasī plants was made by you in front of my doorway. Hence, O splendid lady, the Kalpa tree (i.e. Pārijāta ) has come to your courtyard. Since formerly you performed the Kārttika Vrata throughout your life till death, you will never be separated from me.

Satyā asked :

How did the month of Kārttika come to be the most excellent of all the months? O Lord of chiefs of Devas, why is it your favourite? Let the reason thereof be mentioned.

Śrīkṛṣṇa said :

O my beloved, you have asked an excellent question. Listen to me with great concentration.

I recount the dialogue between Pṭthu, the son of Vena , and Nārada , the great sage. Nārada was formerly asked in the same way by Pṛthu and he spoke thus:

Nārada said :

24. Formerly there was an Asura named Śaṅkha . He was the son of Sāgara (Ocean). He usurped the powers of Indra and other Guardians of the Quarters.

25. The Devas and others hid themselves in the forts of the caves of the Golden Mountain ( Meru ). They watched (the activities of the Asura). Then the Daitya thought thus:

26. ‘Although the Devas have been vanquished by me and they have been divested of their powers, they appear to be strong. What should I do in this matter?

27. I know it now. The Devas have the power due to the Vedic Mantras . I shall take them away. Thereupon all of them will become powerless.’

28. The Daitya thought thus and, on seeing Viṣṇu asleep, he took away the Vedas from the primordial self-born Lord Brahmā from Satyaloka .

29. While they were being carried away by him, the Vedas, out of fear of him, escaped and entered the waters along with the seeds of the Yajñamantras.

30. In search of them, Śaṅkha too entered the ocean. Wandering here and there the Daitya did not find them together anywhere. Then Viṣṇu, eulogized and awakened by the Devas, spoke to them:

Viṣṇu said :

31-32. O groups of Suras , I am the bestower of boons. On the eleventh day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika, I have been awakened by you all through the auspicious sounds of musical instruments and songs. [3] Hence this Tithi (Lunar day) should be honoured much.

It is exceedingly delightful to me.

33. All the Vedas carried away by Śaṅkha now lie submerged in the waters. O Devas, I shall bring them all after killing the son of the Ocean.

34. From this day onwards forever, let the Vedas along with the mystic seeds of Mantras take rest in the waters in the month of Kārttika every year.

35. During this period (Kārttika), those excellent men who take the holy bath in the morning, will all be as though they have taken the Avabhṛtha bath (valedictory bath after a sacrifice). There is no doubt about it.

36. From today onwards I shall be in the middle of the waters. All of you along with the leading sages may also come along with me.

37. O Indra, protection should always be accorded to those who observe Kārttikavrata, by you.

After saying this, Lord Viṣṇu assumed the form of a Śapharī fish and plunged into the water from the sky even as Brahmā staying on Vindhya was watching.

38. After killing Asura Śaṅkha Viṣṇu went to the forest of Badarī . There the Lord called together all the sages and commanded thus:

Viṣṇu said :

39. O you all, do search for the Vedas scattered within the waters. Bring them quickly from the midst of the waters of the sea. Till then I shall remain at Pravāga accompanied by the groups of Devas.

Nārada said :

40-42. Thereafter those Vedas along with their Bījas (seeds) and the Yajñas were redeemed by all those sages endowed with the power of penance. O king, the number of Mantras for each (sage) was as much as he redeemed or found. Since then he came to be regarded as the sage (seer) of those Mantras. Then all the sages joined together and went to Prayāga .

43. They submitted all the Vedas they recovered to Viṣṇu accompanied by Brahmā. After regaining the entire set of Vedas Brahmā became delighted.

44. Accompanied by the groups of Celestial Sages, he performed a horse-sacrifice. At the end of the Yajña all the Devas submitted their requests immediately.

The Devas said :

45. O Lord of Devas, O Lord of the universe, listen to our prayer and submission. This is the period of delight for us. Hence be the bestower of boons.

46. With your favour, O Lord of Ramā , Brahmā regained the lost Vedas in this place. We too got back our shares in the Yajñas.

47. With your favour let this spot be the bestower of worldly pleasures and salvation and one that increases merits. Let it be the most excellent place for us on the earth.

48. Let this time be highly meritorious. Let it be the sanctifier of even the murderer of a Brāhmaṇa. It should cause the increase of everything given. Let it have everlasting benefit. Grant this boon to us.

Viṣṇu said :

49. O Devas, this (place) has been chosen by me. What you all requested has been accepted by me. Let this spot be easily accessible. Let it be famous by the name Brahmakṣetra .

50. A king born of the solar race (viz. Bhagīratha ) will bring Gaṅgā here. It will be joined by Kālindī , the daughter of the Sun-god, here.

51. All of you including Brahmā should stay with me. This Tīrtha shall become well known as Tīrtharāja .

52-53. By mere sight of Tīrtharāja all the sins perish. It destroys the sins of those who take bath there when the Sun is in the Zodiac Capricorn. Let this period be the bestower of great merit unto men always. In the month of Māgha , when the Sun is in Capricorn, it shall grant the type of liberation called Sālokya .

Nārada said :

54. After saying this to Devas, the Lord of Devas vanished there itself along with Brahmā. All the Devas remained there partially. Indra and others then vanished.

55. He who worships Lord Hari at the root of Tulasī in Kārttika enjoys all pleasures here and goes to the city of Viṣṇu in the end.

[1]: [1] : Region including modern Haridwar, Māyāpurī and Kanakhala (De 129).

[2]: [2] : As noted above, rebirth is used as a motif in this tale which establishes the law of Karma. This story was not traceable in Mbh and BhP. But PdP repeats not only the episode but many verses from this text.

[3]: [3] : Hence this day is called Prabodhinī Ekādaśī .

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14168, revision 71256 (2016-06-14T08:39:01Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371654.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.