The Glory of Hari's Sacred Day (Ekadashi)

Verse 1 (padma.4.15.1)

शौनक उवाच । कथयस्व महाभाग माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् । एकादश्याः फलं किं वा किल्बिषं स्यादकुर्वतः ।

śaunaka uvāca kathayasva mahābhāga māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam ekādaśyāḥ phalaṁ kiṁ vā kilbiṣaṁ syādakurvataḥ

Shaunaka said: Tell me, O fortunate one, the sin-destroying glory of Ekadashi; what is its fruit, and what sin befalls one who fails to observe it?

Verse 2 (padma.4.15.2)

सूत उवाच । एकादश्यास्तु माहात्म्यं किमहं वच्मि सांप्रतम् । श्रुत्वा चैकादशीनाम यमदूताश्च शंकिताः ।

sūta uvāca ekādaśyāstu māhātmyaṁ kimahaṁ vacmi sāṁpratam śrutvā caikādaśīnāma yamadūtāśca śaṁkitāḥ

Suta said: What indeed shall I now say of the glory of Ekadashi? Merely hearing the name "Ekadashi," even Yama's messengers grow fearful —

Verse 3 (padma.4.15.3)

भवंति नात्र संदेहो सर्वप्राणिभयंकराः । व्रतानां चैव सर्वेषां श्रेष्ठां चैकादशीं शुभाम् ।

bhavaṁti nātra saṁdeho sarvaprāṇibhayaṁkarāḥ vratānāṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ śreṣṭhāṁ caikādaśīṁ śubhām

— there is no doubt of it — terrifying though they are to all beings, they themselves grow afraid. Of all vows, this auspicious Ekadashi is supreme.

Verse 4 (padma.4.15.4)

उपोष्य जागृयाद्विष्णोः कुर्य्याच्च मंडनं महत् । तुलसीदलैस्तु यो मर्त्यो हरिपूजां करोति वै ।

upoṣya jāgṛyādviṣṇoḥ kuryyācca maṁḍanaṁ mahat tulasīdalaistu yo martyo haripūjāṁ karoti vai

One should fast, keep vigil for Vishnu, and offer him elaborate adornment. Whatever mortal worships Hari with tulasi leaves,

Verse 5 (padma.4.15.5)

दलेनैकेन लभते कोटियज्ञफलं द्विज । अगम्यागमने चैव यत्पापं समुदाहृतम् ।

dalenaikena labhate koṭiyajñaphalaṁ dvija agamyāgamane caiva yatpāpaṁ samudāhṛtam

— obtains, with a single leaf, the fruit of a hundred million sacrifices, O Brahmin. Whatever sin is declared for union with the forbidden,

Verse 6 (padma.4.15.6)

तत्पापं याति विलयं चैकादश्यामुपोषणात् । घृतपूर्णं प्रदीपं यो दद्याद्विष्णुदिने द्विज ।

tatpāpaṁ yāti vilayaṁ caikādaśyāmupoṣaṇāt ghṛtapūrṇaṁ pradīpaṁ yo dadyādviṣṇudine dvija

— that sin is dissolved through the fast of Ekadashi. Whoever offers a ghee-filled lamp on the day of Vishnu, O Brahmin,

Verse 7 (padma.4.15.7)

अंते विष्णुपुरं याति तमो हत्वा स्वतेजसा । धन्या जनपदास्ते वै धन्यः स च महीपतिः ।

aṁte viṣṇupuraṁ yāti tamo hatvā svatejasā dhanyā janapadāste vai dhanyaḥ sa ca mahīpatiḥ

— destroys darkness by his own radiance and goes, at the end, to Vishnu's city. Blessed are those lands, and blessed is that king,

Verse 8 (padma.4.15.8)

हरेर्दिने यस्य राज्ये चैकादश्या महोत्सवः । नारायणस्य शयने पार्श्वस्य परिवर्त्तने ।

harerdine yasya rājye caikādaśyā mahotsavaḥ nārāyaṇasya śayane pārśvasya parivarttane

— in whose kingdom, on Hari's day, there is a great festival of Ekadashi! At Narayana's reclining (Shayani) and his turning to the other side (Parivartini),

Verse 9 (padma.4.15.9)

विशेषेण प्रबोधिन्या निराहारा भवंति ये । मदंति कं नानयध्वंप्राणिनःपुण्यभागिनः ।

viśeṣeṇa prabodhinyā nirāhārā bhavaṁti ye madaṁti kaṁ nānayadhvaṁprāṇinaḥpuṇyabhāginaḥ

— and especially on the Prabodhini Ekadashi, those who remain without food rejoice — how could such fortunate beings not be led onward?

Verse 10 (padma.4.15.10)

अहर्निशं पितृपतिः समादिशति दूतकान् । एकादशी जगन्नाथ वल्लभा पुण्यवर्धिनी ।

aharniśaṁ pitṛpatiḥ samādiśati dūtakān ekādaśī jagannātha vallabhā puṇyavardhinī

Day and night Yama instructs his messengers thus: "Ekadashi, beloved of the Lord of the universe, increases merit —

Verse 11 (padma.4.15.11)

विष्णुर्देहं दोहत्येव तस्यामन्नस्य भक्षणे । तेषां धिग्जीवनं संपत्धिक्सौंदर्यं च वर्तनम् ।

viṣṇurdehaṁ dohatyeva tasyāmannasya bhakṣaṇe teṣāṁ dhigjīvanaṁ saṁpatdhiksauṁdaryaṁ ca vartanam

"— on this day, Vishnu himself, as it were, milks (draws away the vitality of) the body of one who eats food. Shame on the life, shame on the wealth, shame on the beauty and conduct —"

Verse 12 (padma.4.15.12)

येऽन्नमश्नंति पापिष्ठाश्चैकादश्यां हि विड्भुजः । एकादश्यां द्विजश्रेष्ठ भुक्तिमाश्रित्य केवलम् ।

ye'nnamaśnaṁti pāpiṣṭhāścaikādaśyāṁ hi viḍbhujaḥ ekādaśyāṁ dvijaśreṣṭha bhuktimāśritya kevalam

"— of those most sinful ones who eat food on Ekadashi, as if feeding on filth! O best of Brahmins, for one who clings merely to the pleasure of eating on Ekadashi,"

Verse 13 (padma.4.15.13)

बहूनि विविधान्येव तिष्ठंति दुरितानि च । अमावास्यां यथा स्त्रीणां संगमे कलुषं महत् ।

bahūni vividhānyeva tiṣṭhaṁti duritāni ca amāvāsyāṁ yathā strīṇāṁ saṁgame kaluṣaṁ mahat

"— many and various sins take root. Just as there is great impurity in union with a woman on the new-moon day,"

Verse 14 (padma.4.15.14)

एकादश्यां तथैवान्नभक्षणे वृजिनं भवेत् । रोगिणश्च तथा खंज काससोदरकुष्ठकाः ।

ekādaśyāṁ tathaivānnabhakṣaṇe vṛjinaṁ bhavet rogiṇaśca tathā khaṁja kāsasodarakuṣṭhakāḥ

"— so too there is sin in eating food on Ekadashi. The diseased, the lame, those with cough, dropsy, and leprosy —"

Verse 15 (padma.4.15.15)

भवंति प्राणिनस्ते वै तस्यामन्नस्य भक्षणे । ग्रामशूकरतां यांति दारिद्र्यं च प्रयांति वै ।

bhavaṁti prāṇinaste vai tasyāmannasya bhakṣaṇe grāmaśūkaratāṁ yāṁti dāridryaṁ ca prayāṁti vai

"— such beings become so through eating food on that day. They attain the state of a village pig, and fall into poverty,"

Verse 16 (padma.4.15.16)

राजबद्धा द्विजश्रेष्ठ तस्यामन्नस्य भक्षणे । संसारे यानि पापानि तानि विप्र हरेर्दिने ।

rājabaddhā dvijaśreṣṭha tasyāmannasya bhakṣaṇe saṁsāre yāni pāpāni tāni vipra harerdine

"— or, O best of Brahmins, are imprisoned by the king, on account of eating food that day. Whatever sins exist in this world, O Brahmin, on Hari's day —"

Verse 17 (padma.4.15.17)

भुक्तिमाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति जलभक्षणमाज्ञया । कुर्वतां सर्वपापानि नरकान्निष्कृतिर्भवेत् ।

bhuktimāśritya tiṣṭhaṁti jalabhakṣaṇamājñayā kurvatāṁ sarvapāpāni narakānniṣkṛtirbhavet

"— take hold of one who relies on ordinary eating; only the drinking of water is enjoined that day. For those who commit every manner of sin, release from hell remains possible,"

Verse 18 (padma.4.15.18)

न निष्कृतिर्भवेन्नॄणां भुंजतां च हरेर्दिने । नरा यावंति चान्नानि भुंजते च हरेर्दिने ।

na niṣkṛtirbhavennṝṇāṁ bhuṁjatāṁ ca harerdine narā yāvaṁti cānnāni bhuṁjate ca harerdine

"— but for men who eat on Hari's day, there is no such release. However many morsels of food a man eats on Hari's day,"

Verse 19 (padma.4.15.19)

प्रत्यन्नं च ब्रह्महत्याकोटिजं वृजिनं भवेत् । पुनर्वच्मि पुनर्वच्मि श्रूयतां श्रूयतां नराः ।

pratyannaṁ ca brahmahatyākoṭijaṁ vṛjinaṁ bhavet punarvacmi punarvacmi śrūyatāṁ śrūyatāṁ narāḥ

"— for every morsel a sin equal to a hundred million Brahmin-killings accrues to him. Again I say it, again I say it — hear this, O people, hear it!"

Verse 20 (padma.4.15.20)

न भोक्तव्यं न भोक्तव्यं न भोक्तव्यं हरेर्दिने । गंगादिषु च तीर्थेषु स्नात्वा यत्फलमाप्यते ।

na bhoktavyaṁ na bhoktavyaṁ na bhoktavyaṁ harerdine gaṁgādiṣu ca tīrtheṣu snātvā yatphalamāpyate

"One must not eat, must not eat, must not eat on Hari's day!" Whatever fruit is obtained by bathing in the Ganga and other sacred waters,

Verse 21 (padma.4.15.21)

चंद्रसूर्योपरागे च चैकादश्यामुपोषितः । अर्चित्वोत्पलमालाभिस्तस्यां च कमलापतिम् ।

caṁdrasūryoparāge ca caikādaśyāmupoṣitaḥ arcitvotpalamālābhistasyāṁ ca kamalāpatim

during a solar or lunar eclipse, that same fruit is obtained by one who fasts on Ekadashi. Worshipping the Lord of Lakshmi that day with garlands of blue lotus,

Verse 22 (padma.4.15.22)

विधिवत्पारणं कृत्वा न मातुर्गर्भभाजनम् । एकादश्यां हरेर्गेहे करोति मंडनं द्विज ।

vidhivatpāraṇaṁ kṛtvā na māturgarbhabhājanam ekādaśyāṁ harergehe karoti maṁḍanaṁ dvija

and duly breaking the fast, one is not again subject to a mother's womb. Whoever performs the adornment of Hari's house on Ekadashi, O Brahmin,

Verse 23 (padma.4.15.23)

परमां गतिमासाद्य तिष्ठेद्विष्णुनिकेतने । एकादशीं समासाद्य निराहारा भवंति ये ।

paramāṁ gatimāsādya tiṣṭhedviṣṇuniketane ekādaśīṁ samāsādya nirāhārā bhavaṁti ye

attains the supreme state and dwells in Vishnu's abode. Whoever, upon Ekadashi, remains without food,

Verse 24 (padma.4.15.24)

तेषां विष्णुपुरे शश्वन्निवासोऽपि न संशयः । तुलसीभक्तिसंलीनं मनो येषां विराजते ।

teṣāṁ viṣṇupure śaśvannivāso'pi na saṁśayaḥ tulasībhaktisaṁlīnaṁ mano yeṣāṁ virājate

has a dwelling in Vishnu's city assured forever, without doubt. Those whose minds remain absorbed in devotion to tulasi,

Verse 25 (padma.4.15.25)

ते यांति परमं विष्णोः स्थानमेव न संशयः । परद्रव्येष्वभिरुचिर्येषां चैव न विद्यते ।

te yāṁti paramaṁ viṣṇoḥ sthānameva na saṁśayaḥ paradravyeṣvabhiruciryeṣāṁ caiva na vidyate

go, without doubt, to the supreme abode of Vishnu itself. Those who have not even the slightest desire for another's wealth,

Verse 26 (padma.4.15.26)

संतुष्टमनसो येऽपि तेषां विष्णुपुरं ध्रुवम् । दुर्भिक्षकालमासाद्य प्राणिभ्यो ये नरोत्तमाः ।

saṁtuṣṭamanaso ye'pi teṣāṁ viṣṇupuraṁ dhruvam durbhikṣakālamāsādya prāṇibhyo ye narottamāḥ

and whose minds are contented, for them too Vishnu's city is certain. Those best of men who, in a time of famine,

Verse 27 (padma.4.15.27)

ददत्यन्नं हरेः सद्म तेषां चैव न संशयः । गवां द्विजानां त्राणाय स्वामिनो योषितस्तथा ।

dadatyannaṁ hareḥ sadma teṣāṁ caiva na saṁśayaḥ gavāṁ dvijānāṁ trāṇāya svāmino yoṣitastathā

give food to living beings, for them too Hari's abode is assured, without doubt. Whatever mortals give up their lives for the protection of cows, Brahmins, a master, or women —

Verse 28 (padma.4.15.28)

प्राणान्मुंचंति ये मर्त्त्यास्तेषां विष्णुपुरं ध्रुवम् । प्राणिभिर्दशमीविद्धा न चोपोष्या कदाचन ।

prāṇānmuṁcaṁti ye marttyāsteṣāṁ viṣṇupuraṁ dhruvam prāṇibhirdaśamīviddhā na copoṣyā kadācana

— for them Vishnu's city is certain. A tenth tithi touched by living activity should never be observed as the fast day —

Verse 29 (padma.4.15.29)

परिहार्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ दुर्जनस्यांतिकं यथा । अरुणोदयवेलायां दशमी संगता यदि ।

parihāryaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha durjanasyāṁtikaṁ yathā aruṇodayavelāyāṁ daśamī saṁgatā yadi

— O best of Brahmins, it should be avoided just as the company of a wicked person is avoided. If the tenth tithi coincides with the dawn hour —

Verse 30 (padma.4.15.30)

तत्रोपोष्या द्वादशी स्यात्त्रयोदश्यां तु पारणम् । दशमीशेषसंयुक्तो यदि स्यादरुणोदयः ।

tatropoṣyā dvādaśī syāttrayodaśyāṁ tu pāraṇam daśamīśeṣasaṁyukto yadi syādaruṇodayaḥ

— then the twelfth should be kept as the fast day, and the breaking of the fast should occur on the thirteenth. If the remainder of the tenth extends into the dawn hour —

Verse 31 (padma.4.15.31)

वैष्णवेन न कर्त्तव्यं तद्दिनैकादशीव्रतम् । चतस्रो घटिकाः प्रातररुणोदय उच्यते ।

vaiṣṇavena na karttavyaṁ taddinaikādaśīvratam catasro ghaṭikāḥ prātararuṇodaya ucyate

— then a Vaishnava should not observe the Ekadashi vow that day. The four ghatikas at dawn are called "arunodaya" —

Verse 32 (padma.4.15.32)

यतीनां स्नानकालोयं गंगांभः सदृशः स्मृतः । अरुणोदयकाले तु दशमी यदि दृश्यते ।

yatīnāṁ snānakāloyaṁ gaṁgāṁbhaḥ sadṛśaḥ smṛtaḥ aruṇodayakāle tu daśamī yadi dṛśyate

— this is remembered as the ascetics' bathing time, held sacred as the very waters of the Ganga. If, at the time of dawn, the tenth tithi is still seen,

Verse 33 (padma.4.15.33)

न तत्रैकादशी कार्या धर्मकामार्थनाशिनी । स्वल्पां च दशमीविद्धां त्यजेदेकादशीं बुधः ।

na tatraikādaśī kāryā dharmakāmārthanāśinī svalpāṁ ca daśamīviddhāṁ tyajedekādaśīṁ budhaḥ

— then Ekadashi should not be observed there, for it would destroy dharma, kama and artha. A wise man should abandon even an Ekadashi only slightly touched by the tenth,

Verse 34 (padma.4.15.34)

सुराबिंदोस्तु संपर्कात्घृतकुंभं त्यजेद्यथा । संपूर्णैकादशी यत्र द्वादश्यां पुनरेव सा ।

surābiṁdostu saṁparkātghṛtakuṁbhaṁ tyajedyathā saṁpūrṇaikādaśī yatra dvādaśyāṁ punareva sā

just as a pot filled with ghee is discarded on contact with even a drop of liquor. Where a complete Ekadashi extends also into the twelfth,

Verse 35 (padma.4.15.35)

उत्तरा यतिभिः कार्या पूर्वामुपवसेद्गृही । एकादशीकला यत्र द्वादशीपरतो न चेत् ।

uttarā yatibhiḥ kāryā pūrvāmupavasedgṛhī ekādaśīkalā yatra dvādaśīparato na cet

ascetics should fast on the latter day while householders fast on the former. Where the portion of Ekadashi does not extend into the twelfth at all,

Verse 36 (padma.4.15.36)

तत्र क्रतुशतं पुण्यं त्रयोदश्यां तु पारणम् । एकादशी विलुप्ता चेत्परतो द्वादशीयुता ।

tatra kratuśataṁ puṇyaṁ trayodaśyāṁ tu pāraṇam ekādaśī viluptā cetparato dvādaśīyutā

the merit of a hundred sacrifices is gained there, and the fast is broken on the thirteenth. If Ekadashi is nearly obliterated and followed by the twelfth,

Verse 37 (padma.4.15.37)

उपोष्या द्वादशी पूर्णा यदीच्छेत्परमां गतिम् । संपूर्णैऽकादशी यत्र प्रभाते पुनरेव सा ।

upoṣyā dvādaśī pūrṇā yadīcchetparamāṁ gatim saṁpūrṇai'kādaśī yatra prabhāte punareva sā

one who desires the supreme state should observe the complete twelfth as the fast. Where a complete Ekadashi again extends into the following morning,

Verse 38 (padma.4.15.38)

सर्वैरेवोत्तरा कार्या परतो द्वादशी यदि । एकादशीव्रते येषां मनः संलीयते नृणाम् ।

sarvairevottarā kāryā parato dvādaśī yadi ekādaśīvrate yeṣāṁ manaḥ saṁlīyate nṛṇām

all should observe the twelfth as the fast day, if it extends that far. Those men whose minds become absorbed in the vow of Ekadashi,

Verse 39 (padma.4.15.39)

तेषां स्वर्गो हि वासोऽथ यांति ते सदनं हरेः । एकादश्याः परं नास्ति परलोकस्य साधनम् ।

teṣāṁ svargo hi vāso'tha yāṁti te sadanaṁ hareḥ ekādaśyāḥ paraṁ nāsti paralokasya sādhanam

have their dwelling in heaven itself; they go to the abode of Hari. There is no means to the other world greater than Ekadashi.

Verse 40 (padma.4.15.40)

बहुपापसमायुक्तः करोति हरिवासरम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स याति हरिमंदिरम् ।

bahupāpasamāyuktaḥ karoti harivāsaram sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ sa yāti harimaṁdiram

Even a man laden with many sins, by observing Hari's sacred day, becomes freed of every sin and goes to the temple of Hari.

Verse 41 (padma.4.15.41)

पतिसहिता या योषित्करोति हरिवासरम् । सुपुत्रा स्वामिसुभगा याति प्रेत्य हरेर्गृहम् ।

patisahitā yā yoṣitkaroti harivāsaram suputrā svāmisubhagā yāti pretya harergṛham

Whatever woman observes Hari's sacred day together with her husband, blessed with good children and beloved of her husband, goes after death to Hari's abode.

Verse 42 (padma.4.15.42)

यो यच्छति हरेरग्रे प्रदीपं भक्तिभावतः । हरेर्द्दिने र्द्विजश्रेष्ठ पुण्यसंख्या न विद्यते ।

yo yacchati hareragre pradīpaṁ bhaktibhāvataḥ harerddine rdvijaśreṣṭha puṇyasaṁkhyā na vidyate

Whoever offers a lamp before Hari with devotion, on Hari's day, O best of Brahmins — the measure of his merit cannot be counted.

Verse 43 (padma.4.15.43)

यांगना भर्तृसहिता कुरुते जागरं हरेः । हरेर्निकेतने तिष्ठेच्चिरं पत्या सह द्विज ।

yāṁganā bhartṛsahitā kurute jāgaraṁ hareḥ harerniketane tiṣṭhecciraṁ patyā saha dvija

Whatever woman, together with her husband, keeps vigil for Hari, O Brahmin, dwells long in Hari's abode together with her husband.

Verse 44 (padma.4.15.44)

यत्किञ्चिद्धरये वस्तु भक्त्या यच्छति यो द्विज । हरेर्दिने तस्य पुण्यमक्षयं चैव सर्वदा ।

yatkiñciddharaye vastu bhaktyā yacchati yo dvija harerdine tasya puṇyamakṣayaṁ caiva sarvadā

Whatever thing, however small, a Brahmin offers to Hari with devotion on Hari's day, that merit remains imperishable for him forever.

Verse 45 (padma.4.15.45)

पुरासीद्वल्लभो नाम्ना नगरे कांचनाह्वये । धनेन पुष्कलेनापि राजते स धनेश्वरः ।

purāsīdvallabho nāmnā nagare kāṁcanāhvaye dhanena puṣkalenāpi rājate sa dhaneśvaraḥ

Formerly, in a city named Kanchana, there lived a man named Vallabha, resplendent, like a lord of wealth, in his abundant riches.

Verse 46 (padma.4.15.46)

तस्य प्रिया महारूपा नाम्ना हेमप्रभा द्विज । गरीयान्मुखरस्तत्र बाधते च कलेर्गुणः ।

tasya priyā mahārūpā nāmnā hemaprabhā dvija garīyānmukharastatra bādhate ca kalerguṇaḥ

His wife, of great beauty, was named Hemaprabha, O Brahmin — but she was harsh of speech, afflicted by the taint of Kali.

Verse 47 (padma.4.15.47)

सा सदा कलहं कुर्यात्पत्या सह तपोधन । शश्वद्गुरुजनान्कामं भर्त्सनान्नीचभाषया ।

sā sadā kalahaṁ kuryātpatyā saha tapodhana śaśvadgurujanānkāmaṁ bhartsanānnīcabhāṣayā

She would constantly quarrel with her husband, O ascetic,

Verse 48 (padma.4.15.48)

पाकपात्रे सदाश्नीयात्गुप्ता सैकांतिकेमला । उच्छिष्टं गुरुजनेभ्यश्च दद्याद्वै प्रतिवासरम् ।

pākapātre sadāśnīyātguptā saikāṁtikemalā ucchiṣṭaṁ gurujanebhyaśca dadyādvai prativāsaram

forever rebuking her elders with base words; secretly, in private, she would eat first from the cooking-vessel, defiling it,

Verse 49 (padma.4.15.49)

जारे सदा स्थितं चित्तमहं साध्वीति सा वदेत् । स्वामिनः कलहैर्ब्रह्मन्मनोद्वेगकरा सदा ।

jāre sadā sthitaṁ cittamahaṁ sādhvīti sā vadet svāminaḥ kalahairbrahmanmanodvegakarā sadā

and gave only its leftovers to her elders, day after day. Her heart remained ever fixed on another man, though she still claimed, "I am virtuous."

Verse 50 (padma.4.15.50)

एकदा चागतां दृष्ट्वा चकार भर्त्सनां च ताम् । भर्त्ता तस्याः प्रहारं च सर्वपापयुतां द्विज ।

ekadā cāgatāṁ dṛṣṭvā cakāra bhartsanāṁ ca tām bharttā tasyāḥ prahāraṁ ca sarvapāpayutāṁ dvija

Her constant quarrels kept her husband in ceaseless anguish of mind, O Brahmin. One day, seeing her thus, he rebuked her,

Verse 51 (padma.4.15.51)

सैव रोषसमायुक्ता गता शून्यगृहे तु वै । सुप्ताऽज्ञाता स्थिता कस्मिन्जलान्नं न चखाद ह ।

saiva roṣasamāyuktā gatā śūnyagṛhe tu vai suptā'jñātā sthitā kasminjalānnaṁ na cakhāda ha

and even struck that woman, laden with every sin, O Brahmin. Filled with rage, she went off to an empty house,

Verse 52 (padma.4.15.52)

दैवात्तत्र दिने विष्णोः पार्श्वस्य परिवर्त्तनम् । एकादशीव्रतं विप्र सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ।

daivāttatra dine viṣṇoḥ pārśvasya parivarttanam ekādaśīvrataṁ vipra sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

and lay there, unnoticed by anyone, taking neither food nor water. By chance, that day was Vishnu's Parivartini Ekadashi, the day of his turning to his side —

Verse 53 (padma.4.15.53)

ततः प्रभाते रजनी द्वादशी श्रवणान्विता । आगता तत्र सा नारी रोषनिर्भरमानसा ।

tataḥ prabhāte rajanī dvādaśī śravaṇānvitā āgatā tatra sā nārī roṣanirbharamānasā

— O Brahmin, the vow of Ekadashi which destroys all sin. Then, at dawn, the night gave way to the twelfth, joined with the Shravana asterism —

Verse 54 (padma.4.15.54)

निराहारौ कृतौ द्वौ च निर्मला सा बभूव ह । रात्रौ च पंचतां याता जयंतीवासरे द्विज ।

nirāhārau kṛtau dvau ca nirmalā sā babhūva ha rātrau ca paṁcatāṁ yātā jayaṁtīvāsare dvija

— and that woman, her mind still full of rage, remained there in that same state. Having thus passed two days without food, she became pure, freed of sin,

Verse 55 (padma.4.15.55)

यमाज्ञया ततो दूता आगतास्तां तथाविधाम् । नेतुं भयंकरास्ते च पाशमुद्गरपाणयः ।

yamājñayā tato dūtā āgatāstāṁ tathāvidhām netuṁ bhayaṁkarāste ca pāśamudgarapāṇayaḥ

— and that night, on the very day of the festival, O Brahmin, she died. Then, by Yama's command, messengers —

Verse 56 (padma.4.15.56)

बद्ध्वा नेतुं मनश्चक्रे कृतांतसदनं यदा । तदागता विष्णुदूताः शंखचक्रगदाधराः ।

baddhvā netuṁ manaścakre kṛtāṁtasadanaṁ yadā tadāgatā viṣṇudūtāḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharāḥ

— terrifying, with nooses and clubs in hand, arrived to take her as she was. When, having bound her, they resolved to take her to the abode of Death,

Verse 57 (padma.4.15.57)

छित्त्वा पाशं ततो दिव्ये स्यंदने तां गतैनसम् । ते वै चारोहयामासु निर्मलां भवनं हरेः ।

chittvā pāśaṁ tato divye syaṁdane tāṁ gatainasam te vai cārohayāmāsu nirmalāṁ bhavanaṁ hareḥ

— just then Vishnu's own messengers, bearing conch, discus and mace, arrived there. Cutting the noose, they seated that woman, now cleansed of sin —

Verse 58 (padma.4.15.58)

गता तैर्वेष्टिता साथ दुर्ल्लभं निर्जरैः शुभम् । विष्णोर्दिवसमाहात्म्यं कथितं ते द्विजर्षभ ।

gatā tairveṣṭitā sātha durllabhaṁ nirjaraiḥ śubham viṣṇordivasamāhātmyaṁ kathitaṁ te dvijarṣabha

— upon a divine chariot, and, made pure, surrounded by them, she went to that auspicious abode of Hari, rare even for the immortals. This, O bull among Brahmins, is the glory of Vishnu's sacred day that I have told you.

Verse 59 (padma.4.15.59)

अनिच्छयापि यः कुर्यात्स याति हरिमंदिरम् । एकादश्यादिने मर्त्यो दीपं दातुं हरेर्गृहे ।

anicchayāpi yaḥ kuryātsa yāti harimaṁdiram ekādaśyādine martyo dīpaṁ dātuṁ harergṛhe

Whoever observes it even without wishing to, goes to the temple of Hari. Whatever mortal, on the day of Ekadashi, offers a lamp in Hari's house,

Verse 60 (padma.4.15.60)

गच्छेत्प्रतिपदं सोऽपि चाश्वमेधफलाधिकम् । शृण्वंति च पुराणानि पठंति च हरेर्दिने । प्रत्यक्षरं लभंते ते कपिलादानजं फलम् ।

gacchetpratipadaṁ so'pi cāśvamedhaphalādhikam śṛṇvaṁti ca purāṇāni paṭhaṁti ca harerdine pratyakṣaraṁ labhaṁte te kapilādānajaṁ phalam

— and continues to do so on the following day too, obtains a fruit even greater than that of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Those who hear or recite the Puranas on Hari's day obtain, for every syllable, the fruit born of the gift of a Kapila cow.