Chapter 200 - Vow of giving a gift of lamp (dīpa-dāna-vrata)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1-5. I shall describe the vow of making a gift of a lamp [i.e., dīpadāna-vrata] that would yield enjoyment and emancipation. One who gives a lamp to the abode of a deity or a house of a brahmin is rewarded with everything for a year. (One who does so) for four months would reach the world of Viṣṇu, and (giving) in kārttika would reach heaven. There is nothing greater than the gift of a lamp [i.e., dīpa-dāna], neither there was, nor there would be. One gets longevity, eyesight, fortune and progeny etc. by giving a lamp. One who gives a lamp enjoys in heaven after getting fortune. Lalitā, the daughter of the king of Vidarbha, the beautiful and faithful spouse of a king became the foremost among hundreds of wives (of the king) by giving a lamp. That chaste lady used to give thousand lamps to the temple of Viṣṇu. When enquired about the greatness of the lamp she said to her co-wives as follows:

Lalitā said:

6-18. In olden days Maitreya was the priest of the king of Sauvīra. He caused a temple to be built for lord Viṣṇu on the banks of Devikā. He gave a lamp (for that temple) in kārttika. (The lamp) which was about to be extinguished was kindled with the wick by me as a mouse with my mouth (taking shelter there) on account of being afraid of a cat. After the death I was born as the daughter of a king and became a queen among the hundred (of the king’s wives). The fruit of that act of kindling the lamp of the temple of Viṣṇu, even though not resolved, is enjoyed by me. Because I remember my past birth. I give lamps day and night. One who gives a lamp on the eleventh day rejoices in heaven in a vehicle. One who steals a lamp would become dumb or dull or fall into the dark hell difficult to be crossed. Seeing the crying men, the servant of the God of Death said to them:

“Enough of your wailing. What use of your wailing over misdeeds wantonly done by you before? One is born as a man after a cycle of thousand births. O Extremely stupid fellow! Why do you run after pleasures even in that (life)? The result of enjoying according to one’s desire is that of coming here and wailing. You are enjoying the fruits of your past deed. Why have you not thought about it? The embrace of the breasts of other women for your pleasure has given you grief. The worldly enjoyment for a while causes grief many crores of years. O Seducer of other’s wives! Why do you cry "O Mother!? What would be very heavy (to bear) when the name of Hari is repeated with the tongue? Fire can be had always with a wick and oil at low cost. The lamp has been stolen by you not showing inclination for giving. That is the cause of your grief. What use in wailing now? You bear that which has happened.

Fire-god said:

19. After hearing what was told by Lalitā, (the other wives) reached heaven after giving a lamp [i.e., dīpadāna]. Hence there would be great benefit by the gift of a lamp.