Skandapurana 2.4.5

Nārada said:

When should the bath be performed, and how should one conduct oneself until the end of the day?

Explain that daily duty in detail, O grandfather! 1

Brahmā said:

When the fourth part of the night remains, the observant person should always rise.

Having praised Viṣṇu with many hymns, he should reflect upon the duties of the day. 2

In the south-western quarter of the village, according to rule, for the evacuation of feces,

placing the sacred thread on the right ear, facing north there, 3

covering the ground with grass, wrapping his head with a cloth,

restraining his mouth with a garment, unattached, having a water vessel, 4

he should pass urine and feces, but facing south if at night.

Then, having risen, he should indeed come near the water jar. 5

He should perform purification with earth, which removes smell and smear.

One [application] on the penis, three on the hand, and two on both [hands] are prescribed. 6

This is to be known for purification after urination; hear now the purification after defecation:

five on the anus, or seven, and ten on the left hand; 7

seven should be applied to both [hands], and three applications of earth to the feet.

This is the purification for a householder; twice as much for a celibate student, 8

thrice as much for a forest dweller, and four times as much for ascetics.

This purification is prescribed for the day; at night he should perform half. 9

For a traveler on the road it should be half of that, and for women and śūdras half of that.

For one lacking the rite of purification, all religious acts are fruitless. 10

Then, without negligence, he should cleanse his teeth and tongue.

'Longevity, strength, fame, radiance, progeny, livestock, and wealth,

spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence—give us these, O lord of the forest!' 11–12

He should take a tooth-stick measuring twelve finger-breadths. 12

One should not take from a milky tree, nor likewise from cotton,

nor from a thorny tree, nor indeed from a burnt tree. 13

The tooth-cleanser should initially be pleasantly scented and very soft. 14

On a fast day, on the ninth, on the sixth, on a śrāddha day, on Sunday,

during an eclipse, on the first day of the fortnight, and on the new moon, he should not clean his teeth.

When cleaning the teeth is forbidden, he should rinse his mouth twelve times. 15

Having cleaned his teeth properly and washed his face with water,

having applied the vertical mark on the forehead and sipped water,

especially in a temple, on a riverbank, or on a royal highway,

and then having offered a sky-lamp in the presence of Tulasī— 17

Taking the materials for worship, one should go to the temple of one's chosen deity.

Then, having performed the worship, the wise person should sing and dance.

Having recited the names of Viṣṇu, he should perform the waving of lights for Hari. / When two nāḍīs remain of the night, he should go to a reservoir of water.

There, the observer of the Kārtika vow should perform ritual ablution according to the prescribed rule;

wringing out his clothes, he should also apply the tilaka mark.

Then he should perform the twilight devotion according to the method prescribed by his own Sūtra.

Next, the recitation of the goddess should be performed until the rising of the sun.

This is declared to be the duty for the remainder of the night; now the daily duty is stated,

by performing which this entire Kārtika [observance] becomes fruitful.

Then, at the end of the twilight devotion, he should recite the Thousand Names of Viṣṇu and the like.

Coming to the temple, he should begin worship once again.

He should spend one prahara of the day in activities such as dancing and singing;

then he should duly listen to the Purāṇa for half a watch.

Having performed the worship of the reciter of the Purāṇa and likewise the worship of Tulasī,

and having performed the midday duties, he should eat [food] free from pulses.

The mortal who eats only after making the bali offering, / the vaiśvadeva offering, and offering food to guests—that [food] is indeed pure nectar.

Whatever mortal eats after having prepared [it], that is verily nothing but nectar.

According to one's capacity, brahmins should be fed daily or on holy days.

One should eat sacrificial food and completely avoid meat.

He should eat a tulasī leaf with holy water for purification of the mouth;

he should complete the remainder of the day with worldly affairs.

In the evening, he should go again to the temple of Viṣṇu;

having performed the evening devotion, he should arrange lamps there according to his ability.

Having bowed down to Viṣṇu and performed an auspicious waving of lights for Hari,

and keeping vigil during the first watch while reciting hymns and the like,

when the first watch has passed, the prudent person should sleep.

He should observe the vow of celibacy, though he may approach his wife during her fertile period;

or if desired by her, he may approach his wife without incurring fault.

Thus he should act every day according to rule for the entire month.

Whoever performs this supreme vow in the month of Kārtika in this manner,

freed from all sin, goes to the world of Viṣṇu.

It dispels disease, destroys great sins, grants true wisdom, and brings sons, wealth, and other blessings;

there is no other primary cause of liberation on earth than the vow of Kārtika, which is dear to Viṣṇu.

Thus ends the fifth chapter, named the Description of Daily Duties, in the Praise of the Month of Kārtika, in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a compendium of eighty-one thousand [verses].