Skandapurana 2.4.7

Nārada said:

O Lord, I have fulfilled my duty by taking refuge at your feet;

There is nothing more to be heard by me here, O best of gods. (1)

Even so, O Lord, something residing in my heart must be asked;

Having drunk the nectar of your words, I find no satiety at all. (2)

I wish to hear from you, O master, the greatness of the gift of lamps,

And by whom it was given in ancient times; tell me that, O four-faced one. (3)

Brahmā said:

Having bathed in the morning and become pure, one should diligently give a lamp;

By that, sins are destroyed, like darkness at the rising of the sun. (4)

Whatever sin has been committed from birth, whether by a woman or by a man,

All that goes to destruction from the gift of a lamp in Kārtika. (5)

Here I will narrate to you an ancient legend,

Which destroys all sins upon hearing, and bestows the fruit of the gift of a lamp. (6)

Formerly in the Draviḍa country there was a brahmin named Buddha;

His wife was wicked, devoted to improper conduct, O sage. (7)

Through the fault of association with her, his life was exhausted and he met death.

Even when her husband had died, that wife, especially in improper conduct, (8)

Remained engaged; nor indeed did she feel shame from public reproach.

Bereft of sons and kinsmen, she constantly ate food obtained by begging, (9)

Not eating even a little cooked food [from sacrificial rituals], eating stale food,

Ever devoted to food cooked by others, devoid of pilgrimages to sacred fords and the like; (10)

And hearing sacred stories was never heard by her, O twice-born.

Once, a certain brahmin intent on pilgrimages to sacred fords, (11)

A learned man named Kutsa, came to her house.

Having seen her engaged in improper conduct, that best of brahmin seers,

With his eyes red with anger, addressed that unchaste woman: (12)

Kutsa said:

I shall speak now, O foolish woman; pay heed to my words! (13)

This body, a cause of misery, filled with pus and blood,

and consisting of the five gross elements—why do you nourish it, O female messenger?

The body comes to destruction, certainly, like a water bubble.

Relying on this impermanent body, you think it permanent in your heart.

Therefore, O foolish woman, abandon by discernment the delusion residing within!

Remember God, the highest of all, and listen [to his tales] with devotion!

When the month of Kārtika arrives, perform ritual ablutions, charitable giving, and so forth.

Likewise, offer a lamp to please Dāmodara.

Offer a hundred thousand wicks and so forth, as well as a hundred thousand lotuses and so forth,

circumambulation of God, and homage likewise.

Observe fasting and the breaking of the fast with devotion in Kārtika.

This vow is for widows, and likewise for women whose husbands are alive.

It pacifies all sins and destroys all afflictions.

Even then, in the month of Kārtika, let an excellent lamp be offered.

A lamp is certainly pleasing to Hari in the month of Kārtika.

Even one who has committed a great sin is liberated by the gift of a lamp.

Formerly there was an eminent twice-born named Harikara.

Addicted to unrighteous sense-objects, the twice-born was constantly devoted to a courtesan.

He caused the destruction of his father's wealth; he was an axe to the cutting down of his lineage.

Once, O widow, through association with wicked men,

his father's great wealth was lost by him in gambling; then he became sorrowful.

Once, through the association with holy men, on the occasion of a pilgrimage to sacred fords,

the twice-born, who had committed great sins, came to Ayodhyā, O child.

Arriving in the month of Kārtika at the house of a prosperous twice-born,

he quickly offered a lamp before Hari under the pretext of gambling.

Then in the course of time the brahmin died and attained liberation.

Even though he had committed great sins, he went to fearless Hari.

Therefore, in the month of Kārtika, do offer a lamp,

and make other gifts as well, endowed with devotion!

Having thus instructed her, the twice-born Kutsa then went to another house.

Hearing Kutsa's words, she too was filled with repentance,

and resolved: 'I will certainly perform the vow in the month of Kārtika.'

At the hour of sunrise in Kārtika, [she performed] ritual ablution in the water;

she performed the offering of lamps and the vow for one whole month.

Then, in the course of time, her lifespan ended and she met her death.

By the māhātmya of the gift of a lamp, even though she had committed great sins,

that woman went on the path to heaven, and in time attained liberation.

Therefore, O Nārada, who can describe the māhātmya of the gift of a lamp?

Offering a lamp in Kārtika yields the fruit of great religious merit.

A person who is devoted to the Kārtika vow and gives lamps and the like,

hearing this narrative of the gift of a lamp, will indeed attain liberation.

Who can declare the māhātmya of the gift of a lamp in this world?

Hear, O Nārada, the māhātmya of trimming or rekindling another's lamp!

Even in one's own lack of capacity, if one tends another's [lamp],

whoever should do so obtains that [fruit] as well; here there is no doubt.

He who gives a wick, oil, or a vessel for a lamp,

or provides assistance to those offering an excellent lamp,

he attains liberation; here there is no doubt.

Who indeed could describe the māhātmya of offering a lamp in Kārtika?

Even in one's own lack of capacity, one should rekindle another's lamp.

He too obtains that fruit; here there is no doubt.

There was a courtesan named Indumatī; in her house, a female mouse

attained very rare liberation by rekindling another's lamp.

Therefore, with every effort, one should rekindle another's lamp.

By that, one attains liberation just like the female mouse; there is no doubt.

Such is the fruit of rekindling another's lamp, O sage!

By whom can the māhātmya of the direct gift of a lamp be described?

Nārada said:

The māhātmya of the gift of a lamp in Kārtika has been heard by me,

and the māhātmya of rekindling another's lamp has also indeed been heard.

Now I wish to hear the grandeur of the sky-lamp.

Brahmā said:

Hear, O son, with a concentrated mind, the māhātmya of the sky-lamp,

by merely hearing which the mind is inclined toward offering a lamp.

When the month of Kārtika arrives, devoted to the morning ritual ablution,

I shall proclaim the religious merit of him who offers a sky-lamp.

Having become the sovereign of all worlds, endowed with all prosperity,

having enjoyed happiness in this world, at the end he attains liberation.

Preceded by the rites of ritual ablution and gifts, upon the roof of Hari's temple

a sky-lamp must be offered for one month during Kārtika.

And on the bright full-moon day of Kārtika, one should formally conclude it according to rule.

He who offers a lamp in the sky according to rule in Kārtika

has no return, even after hundreds of crores of kalpas.

In this regard, I shall narrate to you an ancient tale,

by merely hearing which one obtains the fruit of a sky-lamp.

Formerly there was a hunter named Niṣṭhura, a thorn to the world,

dwelling on the bank of the Yamunā, like another Death at the time of destruction.

Roaming in the forest, he made his living by killing all kinds of game.

Bearing a bow, he constantly harassed travelers by acting as a thief.

Once in the month of Kārtika, O sage, he went quickly to a certain village for theft.

In that city of Vidarbha, a king named Sukṛti,

wise, at the instruction of a brahmin named Candraśarman in Kārtika,

placed a sky-lamp upon the roof of Hari's temple.

Having offered the lamp with great devotion, he listened to the sacred story at night.

At that very time, [the hunter] arrived there in order to steal.

He stood for a moment beholding the sky-lamp offered by the king.

Just then, by the turn of fate, a swift vulture,

approaching swiftly, seized the oil-vessel along with the lamp.

Holding it in its beak, it flew up to the top of a tree.

Having drunk the oil there and placed the lamp down, that king of birds,

perched upon the top of the tree, remained there for a moment.

Just then, by the turn of fate, in order to seize that excellent bird,

a cat climbed the tree occupied by the bird.

Seeing the lamp in front of its face, [the cat] paused for a moment.

The māhātmya of the sky-lamp, narrated by Candraśarman

to the king named Sukṛti, the two of them heard for a moment.

There, due to their natural restlessness, both the bird and the cat [moved];

the cat seized the bird perched inside the branches.

Impelled by fate, both then fell from the tree onto a stone.

With broken limbs, both bird and cat died there upon the ground.

Endowed with divine bodies and mounted upon an aerial vehicle, they went to heaven.

Seeing all that, the hunter, who had come to steal,

turned away from his wicked disposition toward the sage narrating the story.

Addressing Candraśarman, he spoke these words:

“O Candraśarman, I who had come to steal saw

the charming sky-lamp offered by King Sukṛti.

Just then, by the turn of fate, a bird seized the vessel,

and having drunk the oil, placing that lovely vessel with the lamp

on the top of the tree, it stayed there for a moment.

A cat also came there to seize that excellent bird.

Impelled by fate, both rested on the branches.

Indeed, they listened for a moment to the story being narrated from your mouth.

Afterwards, through the fault of restlessness, the cat seized the bird.

Both fell from the tree and met their death in an instant.

Both, endowed with divine forms and mounted upon an aerial vehicle, went to heaven.

Having seen that wonder, I have come to ask you:

Who were that cat and bird in a previous life? Tell me that, O twice-born!

Born into an animal womb, by what action were they liberated?”

Hearing the hunter's words, Candraśarman then said:

“Listen, O hunter! I shall clearly tell you their story.

Even the cat was formerly a sinner born in the Śrīvatsa lineage.

Named Devaśarman, he was an embezzler of property belonging to the gods.

He obtained the office of priest for Ahobala-Nṛsiṃha.

The oil, wealth, and other offerings received in that temple,

he stole, and with that alone he supported his family.

Having spent his lifespan in this very manner, he then met his death.

Because of that sin, [he went] to Kālasūtra, Mahāraurava, and Raurava,

and having reached Nirucchvāsa and the forest of sword-leaves in succession,

he was hacked to pieces by the dreadful, gigantic messengers of Yama.

Having experienced all of them, he became a brahmarākṣasa.

Then, due to his evil deeds, he was born as a dog and then as a caṇḍāla.

Having thus undergone a hundred births, he became a cat upon the earth.

Now, by destiny, having heard the māhātmya of the sky-lamp,

freed entirely from all sin, he went to the temple of Hari.

This vulture, however, was previously a brahmin in Mithilā, a master of the Vedas,

celebrated by the name of Śaryāti in the world, a great lord.

He engaged in union with a female servant, and likewise union with a courtesan.

By that great fault, he then met his death.

Having remained in the most dreadful Kumbhīpāka for four yugas,

he then became a vulture on earth due to the residue of his karma.

Impelled by fate, the vulture came to drink the oil.

And having offered a sky-lamp, and heard the narrative of Hari,

his sins entirely eradicated, he went to the abode of Hari.

All this has been recounted. Hunter, go happily at will."

Hearing his words, the hunter also went to his own abode,

and performed the observance of the sky-lamp according to the rules, O sage.

Having spent the remainder of his life, he then went to the abode of Hari.

King Sunanda too was overcome with wonder.

He performed [the observance] properly for a month, according to the path described by Candraśarman.

Having bathed in the morning and become pure in the month of Kārtika, the king,

having thoroughly worshiped Janārdana with tender tulasī leaves,

would offer a sky-lamp at night with this mantra, O king:

"To Dāmodara, the universe, and the one who assumes the form of the universe,

having bowed, I will offer the sky-lamp dear to Hari.

Make it free of obstacles, O Lord of gods, until the month concludes.

By this observance, O Lord of gods, may devotion toward you increase!"

With this mantra, the king indeed performed the offering of the lamp.

And again in the brāhma-muhūrta, he offered the sky-lamp.

Worship of Viṣṇu was performed in the morning, and he took his morning bath.

Having performed the rite of dedication and concluded the lamp in the sky,

and having fed the brahmins, he dedicated the observance to Viṣṇu.

Through the power of that merit, that king, O best of sages,

enjoyed delightful pleasures here [on earth] for a hundred thousand autumns,

along with his wife, good sons, grandsons, and kin.

Then, at the end, O best of the twice-born, having mounted a magnificent aerial chariot

together with his wives, he went on the path to liberation, O sage.

Four-armed, clad in yellow garments, bearing the conch, discus, and mace,

in the realm of Viṣṇu, spoken of like Viṣṇu at all times by the immortals,

that high-minded king sported at his pleasure.

Therefore, having attained human birth, which is difficult to obtain, in the month of Kārtika,

the sky-lamp, dear to Hari, should be offered according to the prescribed rules.