How Somasharma Became a Brahmin: Hospitality and the Ekadashi Vow

Verse 1 (padma.2.18.1)

सोमशर्मोवाच- पूर्वजन्मकृतं पापं त्वयाख्यातं च मे मुने । शूद्रत्वेन तु विप्रेन्द्र मयैव परिवर्जितम्

somaśarmovāca- pūrvajanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tvayākhyātaṁ ca me mune śūdratvena tu viprendra mayaiva parivarjitam

Somasharma said: 'The sin done in my former birth has been declared to me by you, O sage; but the state of being a shudra, O foremost of brahmins, has surely been left behind by me.'

Verse 2 (padma.2.18.2)

विप्रत्वं हि मया प्राप्तं तत्कथं द्विजसत्तम । तत्सर्वं कारणं ब्रूहि ज्ञानविज्ञानपंडित

vipratvaṁ hi mayā prāptaṁ tatkathaṁ dvijasattama tatsarvaṁ kāraṇaṁ brūhi jñānavijñānapaṁḍita

'The state of a brahmin has indeed been attained by me — how, O worthy brahmin? Tell me the entire reason for that, O one learned in knowledge and discernment.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.18.3)

वसिष्ठ उवाच-। यत्त्वया चेष्टितं पूर्वं कर्मधर्माश्रितंद्विज । तदहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां यदि मन्यसे

vasiṣṭha uvāca- yattvayā ceṣṭitaṁ pūrvaṁ karmadharmāśritaṁdvija tadahaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi śrūyatāṁ yadi manyase

Vasishtha said: 'That which was done by you before, resting upon righteous action, O brahmin — that I shall now relate; hear it, if you think fit.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.18.4)

ब्राह्मणः कश्चिदनघः सदाचारः सुपंडितः । विष्णुभक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा नित्यं विष्णुपरायणः

brāhmaṇaḥ kaścidanaghaḥ sadācāraḥ supaṁḍitaḥ viṣṇubhaktastu dharmātmā nityaṁ viṣṇuparāyaṇaḥ

'A certain sinless brahmin, of good conduct, greatly learned, a devotee of Vishnu, a righteous soul, ever devoted wholly to Vishnu—'

Verse 5 (padma.2.18.5)

यात्राव्याजेन तीर्थानां भ्रमत्येकः समेदिनीम् । अटमानः समायातस्तव गेहं महामतिः

yātrāvyājena tīrthānāṁ bhramatyekaḥ samedinīm aṭamānaḥ samāyātastava gehaṁ mahāmatiḥ

—'wandered the earth alone, under the pretext of pilgrimage to sacred fords; wandering thus, that great-minded one came to your house.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.18.6)

याचितं स्थानमेकं वै वासार्थं द्विजसत्तम । तवैव भार्यया दत्तं त्वया च सह पुत्रकैः

yācitaṁ sthānamekaṁ vai vāsārthaṁ dvijasattama tavaiva bhāryayā dattaṁ tvayā ca saha putrakaiḥ

'A single place was requested by him for lodging, O worthy brahmin; it was given by your own wife, and by you together with your sons.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.18.7)

एयतामेयतां ब्रह्मन्सुखेन सुगृहे मम । वैष्णवं ब्राह्मणं पुण्यमित्युवाच पुनः पुनः

eyatāmeyatāṁ brahmansukhena sugṛhe mama vaiṣṇavaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ puṇyamityuvāca punaḥ punaḥ

'"Come, come, O brahmin, and stay comfortably in my good house" — thus you said again and again to that meritorious Vaishnava brahmin.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.18.8)

सुखेन स्थीयतामत्र गृहोयं तव सुव्रत । अद्य धन्योस्म्यहं पुण्यमद्य तीर्थमहं गतः

sukhena sthīyatāmatra gṛhoyaṁ tava suvrata adya dhanyosmyahaṁ puṇyamadya tīrthamahaṁ gataḥ

'"Stay here in comfort; this house is yours, O one of good vows." The brahmin replied: "Today I am blessed indeed; today I have attained merit, today I have reached a tirtha—"'

Verse 9 (padma.2.18.9)

अद्य तीर्थफलं प्राप्तं तवांघ्रिद्वयदर्शनात् । गवां स्थानं वरं पुण्यं निवासाय निवेदितम्

adya tīrthaphalaṁ prāptaṁ tavāṁghridvayadarśanāt gavāṁ sthānaṁ varaṁ puṇyaṁ nivāsāya niveditam

—'"today the fruit of pilgrimage has been obtained, through the sight of your two feet." A fine, meritorious place, a cow-shed, was offered for his dwelling—'

Verse 10 (padma.2.18.10)

अंगसंवाहनं कृत्वा पादौ चैव प्रमर्दितौ । क्षालितौ चपुनस्तोयैः स्नातः पादोदकेन हि

aṁgasaṁvāhanaṁ kṛtvā pādau caiva pramarditau kṣālitau capunastoyaiḥ snātaḥ pādodakena hi

—'his limbs were massaged, and his two feet were rubbed; they were washed again with water, and you yourself bathed with the very water of his feet.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.18.11)

सद्यो घृतं दधिक्षीरमन्नं तक्रं प्रदत्तवान् । तस्मै च ब्राह्मणायैव भवानित्थं महात्मने

sadyo ghṛtaṁ dadhikṣīramannaṁ takraṁ pradattavān tasmai ca brāhmaṇāyaiva bhavānitthaṁ mahātmane

'You gave at once ghee, curd, milk, food, and buttermilk to that very brahmin, that great soul, in this manner.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.18.12)

एवं संतोषितो विप्रस्त्वया च सह भार्यया । पुत्रैः सार्धं महाभागो वैष्णवो ज्ञानपंडितः

evaṁ saṁtoṣito viprastvayā ca saha bhāryayā putraiḥ sārdhaṁ mahābhāgo vaiṣṇavo jñānapaṁḍitaḥ

'Thus was that brahmin, that greatly fortunate Vaishnava, learned in knowledge, made content, by you together with your wife and sons.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.18.13)

अथ प्रभाते संप्राप्ते दिने पुण्ये सुभाग्यदे । आषाढस्य तु शुद्धस्यैकादशी पापनाशनी

atha prabhāte saṁprāpte dine puṇye subhāgyade āṣāḍhasya tu śuddhasyaikādaśī pāpanāśanī

'Then, when morning came, on that meritorious, most fortunate day — the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, destroyer of sin—'

Verse 14 (padma.2.18.14)

तस्मिन्दिने सुसंप्राप्ता सर्वपातकनाशिनी । यस्यां देवो हृषीकेशो योगनिद्रां प्रगच्छति

tasmindine susaṁprāptā sarvapātakanāśinī yasyāṁ devo hṛṣīkeśo yoganidrāṁ pragacchati

—'on that very day, which had truly arrived, the destroyer of all sins, on which the god Hrishikesha enters his yogic sleep—'

Verse 15 (padma.2.18.15)

तां प्राप्य च ततो लोकास्तत्यजुर्बुद्धिपंडिताः । गृहस्य सर्वकर्माणि विष्णुध्यानरता द्विज

tāṁ prāpya ca tato lokāstatyajurbuddhipaṁḍitāḥ gṛhasya sarvakarmāṇi viṣṇudhyānaratā dvija

—'reaching that day, the wise and learned people then abandoned all household duties, devoted instead to meditation on Vishnu, O brahmin.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.18.16)

उत्सवं परमं चक्रुर्गीतमंगलवादनैः । स्तुवंति ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे वेदैः स्तोत्रैः सुमंगलैः

utsavaṁ paramaṁ cakrurgītamaṁgalavādanaiḥ stuvaṁti brāhmaṇāḥ sarve vedaiḥ stotraiḥ sumaṁgalaiḥ

'They made a supreme festival with songs, auspicious music, and instruments; all the brahmins offered praise with Vedic hymns and auspicious stotras.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.18.17)

एवं महोत्सवं प्राप्य स च ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । तस्मिन्दिने स्थितस्तत्र संप्राप्तं समुपोषणम्

evaṁ mahotsavaṁ prāpya sa ca brāhmaṇasattamaḥ tasmindine sthitastatra saṁprāptaṁ samupoṣaṇam

'Having witnessed this great festival, that worthy brahmin, remaining there on that day, undertook the fast that had come about.'

Verse 18 (padma.2.18.18)

एकादश्यास्तु माहात्म्यं पठितं ब्राह्मणेन वै । भार्या पुत्रैः सुतैः सार्द्धं श्रुतं धर्ममनुत्तमम्

ekādaśyāstu māhātmyaṁ paṭhitaṁ brāhmaṇena vai bhāryā putraiḥ sutaiḥ sārddhaṁ śrutaṁ dharmamanuttamam

'The greatness of Ekadashi was recited by that brahmin; that supreme dharma was heard by you together with your wife and sons.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.18.19)

श्रुते तस्मिन्महापुण्ये भार्या पुत्रैस्तु प्रेरितः । संसर्गादस्य विप्रस्य व्रतमेतत्समाचर

śrute tasminmahāpuṇye bhāryā putraistu preritaḥ saṁsargādasya viprasya vratametatsamācara

'When that great merit had been heard, urged on by your wife and sons: "Through association with this brahmin, undertake this very vow yourself"—'

Verse 20 (padma.2.18.20)

तदाकर्ण्य महद्वाक्यं सर्वपुण्यप्रदायकम् । व्रतमेतं करिष्यामि इति निश्चितमानसः

tadākarṇya mahadvākyaṁ sarvapuṇyapradāyakam vratametaṁ kariṣyāmi iti niścitamānasaḥ

—'hearing that great word, the bestower of every merit, you resolved in your mind: "I shall undertake this very vow."'

Verse 21 (padma.2.18.21)

भार्या पुत्रैः समं गत्वा नद्यां स्नानं कृतं त्वया । हृष्टेन मनसा विप्र पूजितो मधुसूदनः

bhāryā putraiḥ samaṁ gatvā nadyāṁ snānaṁ kṛtaṁ tvayā hṛṣṭena manasā vipra pūjito madhusūdanaḥ

'Going together with your wife and sons, you bathed in the river; with a joyful mind, O brahmin, Madhusudana was worshipped—'

Verse 22 (padma.2.18.22)

सर्वोपहारैः पुण्यैश्च गंधधूपादिभिस्तथा । रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा नृत्यगीतादिभिस्तथा

sarvopahāraiḥ puṇyaiśca gaṁdhadhūpādibhistathā rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā nṛtyagītādibhistathā

—'with every meritorious offering, and with sandal-paste, incense and the rest; at night a vigil was kept, with dance, song, and the like.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.18.23)

ब्राह्मणस्य प्रसंगेन नद्यां स्नानं पुनः कृतम् । पूजितो देवदेवेशः पुष्पधूपादिमंगलैः

brāhmaṇasya prasaṁgena nadyāṁ snānaṁ punaḥ kṛtam pūjito devadeveśaḥ puṣpadhūpādimaṁgalaiḥ

'On the occasion of that brahmin's presence, another bath was taken in the river; the lord of gods was worshipped once more, with flowers, incense, and other auspicious things.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.18.24)

भक्त्या प्रणम्य गोविंदं स्नापयित्वा पुनः पुनः । निर्वापं तादृशं दत्तं ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने

bhaktyā praṇamya goviṁdaṁ snāpayitvā punaḥ punaḥ nirvāpaṁ tādṛśaṁ dattaṁ brāhmaṇāya mahātmane

'Bowing to Govinda with devotion, bathing him again and again, such an offering of food and water was given to that great-souled brahmin.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.18.25)

भक्त्या प्रणम्य तं विप्रं दत्ता तस्मै सुदक्षिणा । कृतवान्पारणं विप्र पुत्रैर्भार्यादिभिः समम्

bhaktyā praṇamya taṁ vipraṁ dattā tasmai sudakṣiṇā kṛtavānpāraṇaṁ vipra putrairbhāryādibhiḥ samam

'Bowing to that brahmin with devotion, a fine gift was given to him; you then broke your fast, O brahmin, together with your sons and wife.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.18.26)

प्रेषितो भक्तिपूर्वेण सद्भावेन त्वयैव सः । एवं व्रतं समाचीर्णं त्वया वै द्विजसत्तम

preṣito bhaktipūrveṇa sadbhāvena tvayaiva saḥ evaṁ vrataṁ samācīrṇaṁ tvayā vai dvijasattama

'He was then sent off by you with devoted, sincere respect. Thus was the vow observed by you, O worthy brahmin.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.18.27)

संगत्या ब्राह्मणस्यैव विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादतः । भवान्ब्राह्मणतां प्राप्तः सत्यधर्मसमन्वितः

saṁgatyā brāhmaṇasyaiva viṣṇoścaiva prasādataḥ bhavānbrāhmaṇatāṁ prāptaḥ satyadharmasamanvitaḥ

—'through the company of that very brahmin, and by the grace of Vishnu, you attained the state of a brahmin, joined with truth and dharma.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.18.28)

तस्य व्रतस्य भावेन त्वया प्राप्तं महत्कुलम् । भूसुराणां महाप्राज्ञं सत्यधर्मसमाविलम्

tasya vratasya bhāvena tvayā prāptaṁ mahatkulam bhūsurāṇāṁ mahāprājñaṁ satyadharmasamāvilam

'By the power of that very vow, you attained a great lineage — that of the earthly gods, the brahmins, O greatly wise one, filled with truth and dharma.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.18.29)

तस्मै तु ब्राह्मणायैव वैष्णवाय महात्मने । श्रद्धया सत्यभावेन दत्तमन्नं सुसंस्कृतम्

tasmai tu brāhmaṇāyaiva vaiṣṇavāya mahātmane śraddhayā satyabhāvena dattamannaṁ susaṁskṛtam

'To that very brahmin, that great-souled Vaishnava, well-prepared food was given with faith and sincerity.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.18.30)

तस्य दानस्य भावेन मिष्टान्नमुपतिष्ठति । महामोहैः प्रमुग्धो हि तृष्णया व्यापितं मनः

tasya dānasya bhāvena miṣṭānnamupatiṣṭhati mahāmohaiḥ pramugdho hi tṛṣṇayā vyāpitaṁ manaḥ

'By the power of that gift, sweet food comes readily to you now. Yet in your former life you were utterly bewildered by great delusions, your mind pervaded by craving.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.18.31)

पूर्वजन्मनि ते विप्र अर्थमेव प्रसंचितम् । न दत्तं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हि दीनेष्वन्येषु वै त्वया

pūrvajanmani te vipra arthameva prasaṁcitam na dattaṁ brāhmaṇebhyo hi dīneṣvanyeṣu vai tvayā

'In your former birth, O brahmin, wealth alone was amassed by you; it was never given to brahmins, nor to other needy persons by you.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.18.32)

दारेषु पुत्रलोभेन म्रियमाणेन वै तदा । तस्य पापस्य भावेन दारिद्रं त्वामुपाविशत्

dāreṣu putralobhena mriyamāṇena vai tadā tasya pāpasya bhāvena dāridraṁ tvāmupāviśat

'Out of greed for a son through your wife, even as you lay dying then — by the power of that sin, poverty came to dwell upon you.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.18.33)

पुत्रलोभं परित्यज्य स्नेहं त्यक्त्वा प्रदूरतः । अपुत्रवान्भवाञ्जातस्तस्य पापस्य वै फलम्

putralobhaṁ parityajya snehaṁ tyaktvā pradūrataḥ aputravānbhavāñjātastasya pāpasya vai phalam

'Having cast off the affection of longing for a son, casting it far away, you were born without sons — that indeed is the fruit of that sin.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.18.34)

सुपुत्रं च कुलं विप्र धनधान्यवरस्त्रियः । सुजन्ममरणं चैव सुभोगाः सुखमेव च

suputraṁ ca kulaṁ vipra dhanadhānyavarastriyaḥ sujanmamaraṇaṁ caiva subhogāḥ sukhameva ca

'A good son, a good lineage, O brahmin, wealth, grain, an excellent wife, a good birth and a good death, fine enjoyments, and happiness itself—'

Verse 35 (padma.2.18.35)

राज्यं स्वर्गश्च मोक्षश्च यद्यद्दुर्लभमेव च । प्रसादात्तस्य देवस्य विष्णोश्चैव महात्मनः

rājyaṁ svargaśca mokṣaśca yadyaddurlabhameva ca prasādāttasya devasya viṣṇoścaiva mahātmanaḥ

—'kingship, heaven, and liberation, and whatever else is hard to attain — all these come through the grace of that god, the great soul Vishnu.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.18.36)

तस्मादाराध्य गोविन्दं नारायणमनामयम् । प्राप्स्यसि त्वं परं स्थानं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्

tasmādārādhya govindaṁ nārāyaṇamanāmayam prāpsyasi tvaṁ paraṁ sthānaṁ tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam

'Therefore, worshipping Govinda, Narayana, free of all affliction, you shall attain that supreme station, that highest abode of Vishnu.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.18.37)

सुपुत्र त्वं धनं धान्यं सुभोगान्सुखमेव च । पूर्वजन्मकृतं सर्वं यत्त्वया परिचेष्टितम्

suputra tvaṁ dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ subhogānsukhameva ca pūrvajanmakṛtaṁ sarvaṁ yattvayā pariceṣṭitam

'A good son, wealth, grain, fine enjoyments, and happiness itself — all this, whatever was done in your former birth by you—'

Verse 38 (padma.2.18.38)

तन्मया कथितं विप्र तवाग्रे परिनिष्ठितम् । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभाग नारायणपरो भव

tanmayā kathitaṁ vipra tavāgre pariniṣṭhitam evaṁ jñātvā mahābhāga nārāyaṇaparo bhava

—'has been fully declared by me before you, O brahmin. Knowing this, O greatly fortunate one, become devoted wholly to Narayana.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.18.39)

ब्रह्मात्मजेनापि महानुभावः स विप्रवर्यः परिबोधितो हि । हर्षेणयुक्तः स महानुभावो भक्त्या वसिष्ठं प्रणिपत्य तत्र

brahmātmajenāpi mahānubhāvaḥ sa vipravaryaḥ paribodhito hi harṣeṇayuktaḥ sa mahānubhāvo bhaktyā vasiṣṭhaṁ praṇipatya tatra

Thus was that excellent brahmin, of great spirit, fully instructed by the son of Brahma; filled with joy, that great-spirited one bowed there with devotion to Vasishtha—

Verse 40 (padma.2.18.40)

आमंत्र्य विप्रं स जगाम गेहं तां प्राप्य भार्यां सुमनां प्रहर्षः । सर्वं हि वृत्तं ममपूर्वचेष्टितं तेनैव विप्रेण तव प्रसादात्

āmaṁtrya vipraṁ sa jagāma gehaṁ tāṁ prāpya bhāryāṁ sumanāṁ praharṣaḥ sarvaṁ hi vṛttaṁ mamapūrvaceṣṭitaṁ tenaiva vipreṇa tava prasādāt

—and, taking leave of that brahmin, went to his home; reaching his wife Sumana, filled with joy, he said: 'All my former deeds — by that very brahmin's grace—'

Verse 41 (padma.2.18.41)

भद्रे वसिष्ठेन विकाशनीतमद्यैव मोहं परिनाशितं मे । आराधयिष्ये मधुसूदनं हि यास्यामि मोक्षं परमं पदं तत्

bhadre vasiṣṭhena vikāśanītamadyaiva mohaṁ parināśitaṁ me ārādhayiṣye madhusūdanaṁ hi yāsyāmi mokṣaṁ paramaṁ padaṁ tat

—'O gracious one, have been made known to me by Vasishtha; my delusion has this very day been utterly destroyed. I shall now worship Madhusudana, and go to that liberation, that supreme abode.'

Verse 42 (padma.2.18.42)

आकर्ण्य वाक्यं परमं महांतं सुमंगलं मंगलदायकं हि । हर्षेण युक्ता तमुवाच कांतं पुण्योसि विप्रेण विबोधितोऽसि

ākarṇya vākyaṁ paramaṁ mahāṁtaṁ sumaṁgalaṁ maṁgaladāyakaṁ hi harṣeṇa yuktā tamuvāca kāṁtaṁ puṇyosi vipreṇa vibodhito'si

Hearing this supreme, great, most auspicious, merit-bestowing word, she, filled with joy, said to her beloved husband: 'You are blessed — you have been fully awakened by that brahmin.'