The glory of the month of Karttika

1. Thus, О leading king, at the behest of his father, Dharmangada ruled over the kingdom on the earth, observing fast on the day of Hari.

2. There was no such man as was not stabilised in virtue, no one was unhappy, no one was devoid of issues, О king, there was no leper in the kingdom.

3. The Earth yielded treasures to the people who were joyous and well-nourished. О king, even after the calves were fully satisfied, the cows yielded pots full of milk.

4. In every leafy cup there was honey; every tree yielded a Drona measure of honey? The earth being highly delighted, all kinds of grains were produced.

5-14. It was the Dvaparayuga at the end of Treta but it vied with Krta age (in piety). The danger due to clouds disappeared; the sky and the house became free from clouds or impurities. The fragrant Sali rice grains had ripened. The star canopus (Agastya) surveyed the world (was in ascendancy).

Everywhere the rivers had medium flow of water currents (neither too much nor too little). With the white Kasa flowers growing on the banks, the rivers appeared like whitehaired ladies, the whole world was whitened by the rays of the moon, the sun was not very fierce; the people in variegated dresses and features thronged rivers and tanks for their holy ablutions; everywhere the kings were eager to go on campaigns of conquests; at the end of Alvina month, during the period of wakening of Vishnu, the preceptor of the Universe, Mohini the beautiful lady who had delighted the king with nice feelings and different kinds of pleasures (acts of service) was oppressed by mental yearnings. She delighted the king in the forests, on the peaks of mountains, in the confluences of rivers, in the different kinds of lakes, abounding in lotus flowers, on the mountains of Malaya, Mandara, Vindhya, Mahendra, the abode of the Devas, the Sahya, the Himalayas and the auspicious mountain of the sky-clad (naked) God viz. Shiva — i.e. Shiva’s mountain of Kailasa. She gave delight to the king in the heavenly abodes, and other places. О leading king, assuming her divine form, she delighted him day by day. On obtaining Mohini, the king forsook all holy rites but not the observance on the day of Hari (i.e. the Ekadashi) that is destructive of births and deaths. Though excessively enamoured of her, the king did not forsake this Vrata.

15-16. The king used to eschew sexual dalliance for three days beginning with Dashami (the tenth day). Even as he sported like this, one full year elapsed and the auspicious month of Karttika, the most excellent one in the view of those who know time, arrived once again. This month is highly meritorious, because it puts an end to the slumber of Vishnu.

17. О king (Mandhata), whatever is done in this month is meritorious; the holy rites performed by those men who are the devotees of Vishnu shall yield everlasting benefits; they take one to Vishnu’s world.

18. There is no other month equal to Karttika; there is no other Yuga equal to Kpta; there is no other holy rite that is equal to mercifulness; there is no other Jyotis (luminary) equal to the eye.

19. There is no sacred text equal to the Vedaf; there is no holy river equal to Ganga; there is no other charitable gift equal to that of lands; no other pleasure is equal to that derived from one’s wife.

20. There is no other valuable possession equal to agricultural lands; there is no other profitable acquisition equal to a good cow; there is no greater austerity than abstaining from taking food; there is no other auspicious thing on a par with self control.

21. No other gratification is equal to that of the palate; no one is equal to a Brahmana; there is no other friend on a par with Dharma (virtue) and there is no other fame equal to that of truthfulness.

22. No other Aisvarya (prosperity and glory) can be equal to the freedom from ailments, no other deity greater than Keshava. The learned and wise men know of no other thing as sacred as the month of Karttika in this world.

23-24. Karttika is the most excellent of all months of which God Vishnu is always fond. He who passes this favourite month of Damodara without the observance of holy rites, is reborn in the wombs of animals and other creatures. He is excluded from all holy religious rites.

25-26. О sage, when the month of Karttika arrived, how did king Rukmangada enjoy MohinI of highly fascinating features? Tell me. The excellent king was a devotee of Vishnu, a follower of the Vedas and the foremost among kings. What did he do in that holiest month?

27. On seeing that the month of Karttika had arrived for the awakening of Hari, the excessively enamoured prominent king spoke these words to MohinI.

28. О gentle lady, I have had sexual dalliance with you for many years, but nothing against you had been mentioned to by me so far because I had been afraid of being disrespected by you.

29. I am desirous of telling you now. О splendid fair-faced lady, know it. О gentle lady, many Karttika months have gone by since my infatuation over you.

30. I did not observe any holy rite except the single holy vow of the day of Hari. But now I wish to observe the holy vow of the month of Karttika.

31. If mortal beings spend the Karttika [month without observing the holy vows, О daughter of Brahma, all their righteous activities and the IsfapQrtas (charitable rites such as digging wells, tanks etc. and sacrificial rites) are futile.

32. О blessed lady, even those kings, who are addicted to non-vegetarian diet and who are too much engaged in hunting have eschewed meat in the month of Karttika and have gone to Vishnu’s abode.

33. If the aspirant abstains from those foodstuffs to which he is addicted in the month of Karttika, certainly he attains the form of Vishnu.

34. О fair-complexioned lady, let alone the charitable gifts involving the expense of great amounts of wealth and causing great mental strain, one can go to heaven merely by means of the charitable gift of lamps.

35. If that is not available, О blessed lady, one shall kindle the lights offered by others with great devotion. It is superior to all charitable gifts.

36. If one were to weigh all the charitable gifts placed on one side and the charitable gift of lamps on the other side, Lord Karttikeya has said that the charitable gifts of lamps and the kindling of lamps are on a par with each other.

37-38a. This kindling of lights must be performed with the feelings of devotion. Then it is superior to all kinds of charitable gifts. There is no doubt about this that, by observing the holy rite (by fasting etc.) on the full moon day in the month of Karttika, in the holy centre of the umbilical lotus of Vishnu (i.e. Puskara), one is liberated from the sins committed ever since the birth.

38b-39a. He who observes holy vows, fasts and other restraints throughout the month of Karttika shall become a

39b-41a. Hence, О Mohini, eschew your delusion and fascination over me; command me immediately. I shall perform the holy rite of Karttika Vrata. О lotus-eyed lady, I shall desist from the worship of your breasts and I shall observe the vows for the worship of Hari.

4lb-43. Narrate in detail the greatness of Karttika. О excellent king, this month is said to be the receptacle of all merits. О highly intelligent one, what are the special features mentioned and where? After hearing about the greatness of Karttika, I shall perform it as desired.

44. О fair-faced lady, I shall tell you the greatness of this month,1 whereby you will have devotion (engendered in you) for the performance of the worship of Hari.

45-46. The man who performs the Krcchra penance or the Prajapatya rite2 in the month of Karttika or observes fast on alternate days or once in three days, or for ten days, or for a fortnight or for the whole of the month, О fair-complexioned lady attains the greatest region of Vishnu.

1. The month of Karttika is regarded as the holiest month, holier than all Tirthas (sacred places) and great sacrifices. The glory of Karttika is detailed in Pd. P. VI. Ghs. 92-95. A number of vratas are prescribed for performance in this month, vide CG. Vrata II. 769-784, Smfti-Kaustubha 358-427, Nirpaya Sindhu 192-208. For their alphabetic list HD V. 1. 283285.

2. The Prdjdpatya Vrata consists of donation of a cow at the end of Krcckra penance and feeding Brahmanas according to one’s ability. Fruit — a place in god Shiva’s region.

It may be noted that this Vrata is different from Prajdpati Vrata which (according to Prafnopatrifad I. 15) means 'indulging in sexual intercourse only at night.

47. If in this month one takes only one meal per day or takes food at night only, or takes only what is received unsolicited, the whole Earth consisting of a series of continents is obtained by the vow-observing men.

48. This month is said to be the bestower of devotion through Vratas, charitable gifts, worship etc. especially in the holy centre of Puskara, the city of Dvaravatl and in Saukara (Soron on the Ganga near Itah).

49-50a. In this month the day of Hari is sacred; so also the five days called Bhismapaficaka1 (i.e. from the eleventh day to the full moon day of the Karttika). If the PrabodhinI (wakening, the eleventh day or Ekadashi called the “wakening of the Lord”) day is spent by observing fast alongwith keeping awake at night, even a sinful man will never stay in the womb of a mother.

50b-51a. О fair lady, a person who sees a Mandala (halo, disc of the sun) on that day attains the greatest region without having recourse to the systems of Samkhya and Yoga.

51b-52a. О auspicious lady, by seeing Mandala in the month of Karttika, or Shukara in the holy centre of Saukara or by seeing Kokavaraha (the Boar incarnation of Vishnu) one does not become a son once again (i.e. one attains Moksha).

52b-53. О lady of unsteady side glances by seeing Mandala or Shridhara in Kubjaka, men are liberated from the three types of sins. One shall avoid oil and honey in the month of Karttika.

1. Bhipna-paficaka is a special Vrata to be performed for five days from the Karttika Su. 11 to the Full moon day. The performer has to take three baths per day, perform Tarpaqa, Japas or 108 times repetition of the mantra, От namo bhagaoaU Vasudevdya, worship of Vishnu and Нота with the mantra От namo Viftiave and partake of the five components of PaFica- gavya respectively on each day of the Vrata: feeding of Brahma^as and giving of religious fees.

2. Abstinence from flesh-eating in Karttika is regarded as equivalent to performance of severe penance for one hundred years (Krtya Ratndkara 397-99). Abstinence of meat-eating during the Bhi?ma paficaka period is called Baka-Pagcaka <Kftya-ratndkara 425).

54-55. One should avoid meat in the month of Karttika,2 one shall also abstain from women in the month of Karttika. О gentle lady, in the month of Karttika a person devoted to Vishnu shall avoid Nispava (? the bran blown away by the winnowing siev). He shall instantaneously be liberated from the sins committed in the course of the year. By taking a meal once a day the devotee attains royal womb (i.e. is born in a royal family).

56. The foolish person who partakes a bacon in the month of Karttika is cooked (or roasted) in the Raurava hell for sixty thousand years.

57-58. Having been liberated from it, the sinner is born as a rural pig that eats faeces. No man shall eat fish or the flesh of a tortoise or a dear in the month of Karttika. О gentle lady, by eating flesh in the month of Karttika one is born as a Candala. Even if one observes a minor Vrata, Karttika destroys all sins.

59. The initiation undertaken in the month of Karttika is destructive of births of men. Hence, one shall assiduously undertake initiation in the month of Karttika.

60. О lady of beautiful thighs, every thing performed by one who has not undergone initiation is futile. A man devoid of initiation attains the womb of an animal.

61. The Karttika Vrata shall not be performed at home especially on the eleventh day of the Karttika month. A man who performs the Karttika Vrata in a holy centre attains the region ofHari.

62. A man shall observe fast on the eleventh day in the bright half of the month of Karttika and on the next day, in the morning, he should give auspicious pots whereby he attains the abode of Hari.

63-65. The conclusion of all the Vratas in the course of a year is laid down in smrtis in the month of Karttika. In the holy centre of Pu?kara marriages are seen performed even without insisting on Uttarayana (northern transit of the sun) and the auspiciousness of Lagna (astrological division of time) especially during these four days in this month, О lady of fair complexion. The connections entered into during that period cause the increase of sons and grandsons. Hence, О Mohini, I shall perform the holy rite in the montli of Karttika for the destruction of all sins and for the crease of your love”.

66-67. О The incomparable greatness of the month of Karttika has been described by you. Kindly recount the rules of procedure of the concluding rites of Caturmasya Vratas (holy rites during the four months of the rainy season) О Lord of the earth, whereby the Vratas shall be complete and there will not be any deficiency or omission in the Vrata or in the benefit, thereof.

68. О beloved wife, the devotee who performs the Nak- tavrata (i.e. taking food only at night) should feed a Brahmana with food-stuffs consisting of all the six tastes.

69. If he performs the rite of Ayacita (not begging for anything) he shall give a bull as gift along with gold. A person who does not eat flesh (meat) shall give a cow as gift alongwith Daksina.

70. In the rite of ablution with embylic myrobalan, the man should give curds and milk-puddings. If the person observes the vow of abstaining from fruits, О lady of good eyebrows, he should make gifts of fruits.

71. If one has eschewed oil, one shall make gifts of ghee and if one has eschewed ghee, one shall make gifts of milk. If there is a vow restricting the eating of grains, one should give Sali (rice) or the respective grains of corn.

72. If the vow is for laying down on the bare ground, he should make gift of a mattress filled with cotton alongwith four cowries as Daksina. If the devotee has vowed to take food on leaves, he shall give a vessel full of ghee.

73. If the devotee has vowed silence, he should give either a bell or gingelly seeds alongwith gold. He should feed a couple and give beds for both.

74. Theenjoyment of pleasures shall be alongwith Dakshi- nas for the sake of completion of the Vrata. If the rite is regular morning ablution, he should offer a horse; if the vow is for eschewing oily stuff, he shall offer ghee and barley.

75. If the rite is for growing nails and hair be should give a mirror as a gift. If the rite is for eschewing foot-wear he should give a pair of shoes.

76. If one has vowed to forsake salt, a good cow is to be given; if one has eschewed meat eating, one should give a tawny coloured cow with its calf.

77-78. If one has vowed the offering of the lighted lamp in one’s favourite temple every day, one should give a lamp made of gold or copper alongwith ghee. О beloved one, for the completion of the Vrata he should give an umbrella to a devotee of Vishnu alongwith a cloth. One who has undertaken fast on alternate days, should give silk-garment as a gift.

79. If one has undertaken fast once in three days one should give a fully bedecked bed accompanied by gold. In the fasts such as one for six successive days etc., one should give a palanquin alongwith umbrella.

80. If the vow is for a single meal per day, one should give stout bull alongwith a man to look after the same, or goats and sheep. If one has vowed for a fruitarian diet, one shall give gold as gift.

81. If one has vowed vegetable diet one shall give fruit as gift alongwith gold and ghee. If one has eschewed all tasty beverages, one shall give even what is not mentioned here as a gift.

82-84. One must give silver or gold vessel as gift in accordance with one’s capacity. If one does not follow the injunctions in the performance of these rites or if one does give things mentioned as gifts (one will incur sin). О beautiful lady of good eyebrows, one must abide by the advice of the Brah- mana priest and perform the rite with the remembrance of Vishnu. О auspicious lady, if one considers the statement (i.e. advice) of the B^ahmana futile and does not give Daksinas, one certainly falls into hell, if there is omission or deficiency in the Vrata the man becomes a leper and a blind fellow.

85-86. The heaven-dwellers, the group of holy centres, the sacrifices of all these are well established in the words of Brahmanas. О beautiful lady, who will transgress their words, if he desires welfare and if he is a sensible scholar and knowledgeable person.

87. This is the secret of Dharma (holy rites) that has been mentioned to you in the same manner as it had been mentioned to Brahma by Lord of Shri (Vishnu). It should not be divulged to others. It is beneficial and it is the cause of Madhava's satisfaction.

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