The Glory of Dvadashi

Verse 1 (padma.6.234.1)

पार्वत्युवाच- भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि द्वादश्याश्च विधानकम् । विष्णोः पूजाविधानं च कर्त्तव्यं तत्र वै प्रभो ।

pārvatyuvāca bhagavañchrotumicchāmi dvādaśyāśca vidhānakam viṣṇoḥ pūjāvidhānaṁ ca karttavyaṁ tatra vai prabho

Parvati said: O Lord, O Master, I wish to hear the rules of Dvadashi, and the manner in which Vishnu's worship must be performed on it.

Verse 2 (padma.6.234.2)

एकादश्याः प्रभावं च सर्वपापहरंनृणाम् । आचक्ष्व विस्तरेणैव मयि प्रीत्या महेश्वर ।

ekādaśyāḥ prabhāvaṁ ca sarvapāpaharaṁnṛṇām ācakṣva vistareṇaiva mayi prītyā maheśvara

And out of love for me, O Maheshvara, tell me in full detail the power of Ekadashi, which removes all the sins of men.

Verse 3 (padma.6.234.3)

महादेव उवाच- शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वादश्याश्च विधानकम् । तस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण संतुष्टः स्याज्जनार्दनः ।

mahādeva uvāca śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi dvādaśyāśca vidhānakam tasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa saṁtuṣṭaḥ syājjanārdanaḥ

Mahadeva said: Listen, O Goddess, I shall tell the rules of Dvadashi. By the mere remembrance of it, Janardana becomes satisfied.

Verse 4 (padma.6.234.4)

एकादश्यां तु प्राप्तायां समुपोष्येह मानवः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता यांति विष्णोः परम्पदम् ।

ekādaśyāṁ tu prāptāyāṁ samupoṣyeha mānavaḥ sarvapāpavinirmuktā yāṁti viṣṇoḥ parampadam

When Ekadashi arrives, the man who fasts here becomes freed from all sin and reaches the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Verse 5 (padma.6.234.5)

सप्तजन्मार्जितं पाप ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतः कृतम् । क्षणादेव लयं याति द्वादश्यां हरिपूजनात् ।

saptajanmārjitaṁ pāpa jñānato'jñānataḥ kṛtam kṣaṇādeva layaṁ yāti dvādaśyāṁ haripūjanāt

Sin accumulated over seven births, whether committed knowingly or unknowingly, is destroyed in a single instant through the worship of Hari on Dvadashi.

Verse 6 (padma.6.234.6)

अश्वमेधसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च । एकादश्युपवासस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम् ।

aśvamedhasahasrāṇi vājapeyaśatāni ca ekādaśyupavāsasya kalāṁ nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm

A thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices are not worth even a sixteenth part of the Ekadashi fast.

Verse 7 (padma.6.234.7)

धर्म्मदा ह्यर्थदा चैव कामदा मोक्षदा किल । सर्व्वकामदुघा नॄणां द्वादशी वरवर्णिनी ।

dharmmadā hyarthadā caiva kāmadā mokṣadā kila sarvvakāmadughā nṝṇāṁ dvādaśī varavarṇinī

O fair one, Dvadashi grants dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation — it is like the wish-fulfilling cow that satisfies all of a man's desires.

Verse 8 (padma.6.234.8)

एकादशी समं किंचित्पापत्राणं न विद्यते । एकादशीसमंकिचिद्व्रतं नास्ति शुभेक्षणे ।

ekādaśī samaṁ kiṁcitpāpatrāṇaṁ na vidyate ekādaśīsamaṁkicidvrataṁ nāsti śubhekṣaṇe

There is no protection from sin equal to Ekadashi; O one of auspicious glance, there is no vow equal to Ekadashi.

Verse 9 (padma.6.234.9)

एकादशीं परित्यज्य यो ह्यन्यद्व्रतमाचरेत् । स करस्थं महाराज्यं त्यक्त्वा भैक्ष्यं तु याचते ।

ekādaśīṁ parityajya yo hyanyadvratamācaret sa karasthaṁ mahārājyaṁ tyaktvā bhaikṣyaṁ tu yācate

He who forsakes Ekadashi for some other vow is like one who abandons a great kingdom already in his grasp and goes begging for alms.

Verse 10 (padma.6.234.10)

एकादशेंद्रियैः पापं यत्कृतं भवति प्रिये । एकादश्युपवासेन तत्सर्वं विलयं व्रजेत् ।

ekādaśeṁdriyaiḥ pāpaṁ yatkṛtaṁ bhavati priye ekādaśyupavāsena tatsarvaṁ vilayaṁ vrajet

Whatever sin, O beloved, is committed through the eleven senses, all of it is destroyed by the fast of Ekadashi.

Verse 11 (padma.6.234.11)

रटंतीह पुराणानि भूयोभूयो वरानने । न भोक्तव्यं न भोक्तव्यं संप्राप्ते हरिवासरे ।

raṭaṁtīha purāṇāni bhūyobhūyo varānane na bhoktavyaṁ na bhoktavyaṁ saṁprāpte harivāsare

The Puranas repeat this again and again, O beautiful-faced one: one must not eat, must not eat at all, when the day of Hari has come.

Verse 12 (padma.6.234.12)

अभक्ष्यं सर्वदा प्रोक्तं किं पुनः शुक्लकृष्णयोः । वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च सर्वेषां वरवर्णिनी ।

abhakṣyaṁ sarvadā proktaṁ kiṁ punaḥ śuklakṛṣṇayoḥ varṇānāmāśramāṇāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ varavarṇinī

Eating is declared forbidden always — how much more so for the Ekadashi of either fortnight, bright or dark. This rule applies, O fair one, to every varna and ashrama alike.

Verse 13 (padma.6.234.13)

एकादश्युपवासस्तु कर्त्तव्यो नात्र संशयः । एकादश्यां च प्राप्तायां मातापित्रोर्मृतेऽहनि ।

ekādaśyupavāsastu karttavyo nātra saṁśayaḥ ekādaśyāṁ ca prāptāyāṁ mātāpitrormṛte'hani

The Ekadashi fast must certainly be observed — there is no doubt of this. And if Ekadashi falls on the day appointed for the parents' shraddha —

Verse 14 (padma.6.234.14)

द्वादश्यां तु प्रदातव्यं नोपवासदिने क्वचित् । गर्हितान्नं न वाश्नंति पितरश्च दिवौकसः ।

dvādaśyāṁ tu pradātavyaṁ nopavāsadine kvacit garhitānnaṁ na vāśnaṁti pitaraśca divaukasaḥ

then the shraddha should be given on Dvadashi, never on the fasting day itself — for neither the ancestors nor the dwellers of heaven eat food that is condemned.

Verse 15 (padma.6.234.15)

एकादश्यां न भोक्तव्यं सुरां वा न पिबेत्क्वचित् । ब्राह्मणं नैव हन्यात्तु सममेतत्त्रयं मतम् ।

ekādaśyāṁ na bhoktavyaṁ surāṁ vā na pibetkvacit brāhmaṇaṁ naiva hanyāttu samametattrayaṁ matam

One must not eat on Ekadashi, nor ever drink liquor, nor slay a Brahmin — these three are held to be of equal weight.

Verse 16 (padma.6.234.16)

तस्मादेकादशीं शुद्धामुपवासं समाचरेत् । अवस्थात्रितये यस्तु यत्नो वाक्कायकर्म्मभिः ।

tasmādekādaśīṁ śuddhāmupavāsaṁ samācaret avasthātritaye yastu yatno vākkāyakarmmabhiḥ

Therefore one should keep a pure fast on Ekadashi. In each of the three conditions, the effort made through speech, body, and action —

Verse 17 (padma.6.234.17)

दशमीमिश्रितां तां तु प्रयत्नेन विवर्ज्जयेत् । अरुणोदयवेलायां दशमीमिश्रिता भवेत् ।

daśamīmiśritāṁ tāṁ tu prayatnena vivarjjayet aruṇodayavelāyāṁ daśamīmiśritā bhavet

an Ekadashi mixed with the Dashami should be carefully avoided. If at the hour of dawn Ekadashi is found mixed with Dashami —

Verse 18 (padma.6.234.18)

तां त्यक्त्वा द्वादशीं शुद्धामुपोष्येहाविचारयन् । कलायां विद्यमानायां सूर्य्यस्योदयनं प्रति ।

tāṁ tyaktvā dvādaśīṁ śuddhāmupoṣyehāvicārayan kalāyāṁ vidyamānāyāṁ sūryyasyodayanaṁ prati

then, without hesitation, one should set it aside and fast instead on the pure Dvadashi. When even a fraction of Ekadashi remains at sunrise —

Verse 19 (padma.6.234.19)

त्रयोदश्यां तथा देवि द्वादशी परिविद्यते । तथा च द्वादशी शुद्धा ह्युपवासे विधीयते ।

trayodaśyāṁ tathā devi dvādaśī parividyate tathā ca dvādaśī śuddhā hyupavāse vidhīyate

and likewise, O Goddess, when Dvadashi is found extending into Trayodashi, then that same pure Dvadashi is the one prescribed for the fast.

Verse 20 (padma.6.234.20)

अरुणोदयवेलायां कृत्यं सर्वं समाचरेत् । कलायामपि द्वादश्यां पारणं तत्र चोदितम् ।

aruṇodayavelāyāṁ kṛtyaṁ sarvaṁ samācaret kalāyāmapi dvādaśyāṁ pāraṇaṁ tatra coditam

At the hour of dawn all the prescribed rites should be performed; even when only a fraction of Dvadashi remains, the breaking of the fast is enjoined there.

Verse 21 (padma.6.234.21)

शुद्धामेकादशीं चापि त्यजेदत्र न संशयः । कलाप्येकादशी यत्र द्वादश्यामुदिते रवौ ।

śuddhāmekādaśīṁ cāpi tyajedatra na saṁśayaḥ kalāpyekādaśī yatra dvādaśyāmudite ravau

Here even a pure Ekadashi should be set aside, without doubt — where, at sunrise on Dvadashi, even a fraction of Ekadashi still remains —

Verse 22 (padma.6.234.22)

सर्वामेकादशीं त्यक्त्वा तत्रैवोपवसेद्द्विजः । एवं विधिं विनिश्चित्य समुपोष्यं हरेर्द्दिनम् ।

sarvāmekādaśīṁ tyaktvā tatraivopavaseddvijaḥ evaṁ vidhiṁ viniścitya samupoṣyaṁ harerddinam

there the twice-born should abandon Ekadashi entirely and fast on that Dvadashi alone. Having thus determined the rule, the day of Hari should be kept with fasting.

Verse 23 (padma.6.234.23)

सायमाद्यंतयोरह्नोः सायंप्रातस्तु मध्यमे । तत्रोपवासं कुर्वीत त्यक्त्वा भुक्तिचतुष्टयम् ।

sāyamādyaṁtayorahnoḥ sāyaṁprātastu madhyame tatropavāsaṁ kurvīta tyaktvā bhukticatuṣṭayam

If it falls at the start or end of the day, the fast should center on evening; if in the middle, on both evening and morning — there the fast should be kept, giving up all four occasions of eating.

Verse 24 (padma.6.234.24)

दशम्यामेकभक्तस्तु नारीसंगमवर्जितः । अवनीतल्पशायी च परेऽहनि वसेच्छुचिः ।

daśamyāmekabhaktastu nārīsaṁgamavarjitaḥ avanītalpaśāyī ca pare'hani vasecchuciḥ

On Dashami one should eat only once, abstain from the company of women, sleep upon the ground, and remain pure through the following day.

Verse 25 (padma.6.234.25)

धात्रीफलानुलिप्तांगः स्नानं संध्यां समाचरेत् । उपवासपरो भूत्वा रात्रौ संपूजयेद्धरिम् ।

dhātrīphalānuliptāṁgaḥ snānaṁ saṁdhyāṁ samācaret upavāsaparo bhūtvā rātrau saṁpūjayeddharim

Anointing the body with amla fruit, one should bathe and perform the evening rites; devoted to the fast, one should worship Hari at night.

Verse 26 (padma.6.234.26)

पाखंडिनं विकर्मस्थं पतितं श्वपचं तथा । नावलोकेन्न संभाषेन्न स्पृशेत्तत्र वैष्णवः ।

pākhaṁḍinaṁ vikarmasthaṁ patitaṁ śvapacaṁ tathā nāvalokenna saṁbhāṣenna spṛśettatra vaiṣṇavaḥ

A heretic, one engaged in forbidden acts, an outcast, and a dog-cooker — none of these should a Vaishnava look upon, converse with, or touch.

Verse 27 (padma.6.234.27)

अवैष्णवस्तु यो विप्रः स पाषण्डः प्रकीर्तितः । शिखोपवीतत्यागी च विकर्मस्थ इतीरितः ।

avaiṣṇavastu yo vipraḥ sa pāṣaṇḍaḥ prakīrtitaḥ śikhopavītatyāgī ca vikarmastha itīritaḥ

A Brahmin who is not a Vaishnava is called a heretic; and one who abandons the tuft of hair and the sacred thread is called one engaged in forbidden acts.

Verse 28 (padma.6.234.28)

महापापोपपापाभ्यां युक्तः पतित उच्यते । अंत्यजः श्वपचः प्रोक्तो वेदैस्तत्र सुनिर्णयः ।

mahāpāpopapāpābhyāṁ yuktaḥ patita ucyate aṁtyajaḥ śvapacaḥ prokto vedaistatra sunirṇayaḥ

One joined with great sins or lesser sins is called an outcast; the lowest-born is called a dog-cooker — this is clearly settled in the Vedas.

Verse 29 (padma.6.234.29)

रात्रौ संपूज्य देवेशं जागरं च समाचरेत् । गंधैः पुष्पैस्तथा दीपैर्वस्त्रैराभरणैः शुभैः ।

rātrau saṁpūjya deveśaṁ jāgaraṁ ca samācaret gaṁdhaiḥ puṣpaistathā dīpairvastrairābharaṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Having worshipped the Lord of gods at night, one should keep vigil — with fragrant substances, flowers, lamps, garments, and auspicious ornaments.

Verse 30 (padma.6.234.30)

जपैस्तोत्रैर्नमस्कारैः पूजयेन्निशि भक्तितः । ततः प्रभातसमये तुलसीमिश्रितैर्जलैः ।

japaistotrairnamaskāraiḥ pūjayenniśi bhaktitaḥ tataḥ prabhātasamaye tulasīmiśritairjalaiḥ

With japa, hymns of praise, and prostrations, one should worship devotedly through the night; then, at dawn, with water mixed with tulasi —

Verse 31 (padma.6.234.31)

स्नात्वा सम्यग्विधानेन संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः । पूजयेज्जगतामीशं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् ।

snātvā samyagvidhānena saṁtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ pūjayejjagatāmīśaṁ lakṣmyā saha janārdanam

having bathed properly according to rite and offered libations to the ancestors and gods, one should worship Janardana, Lord of the worlds, together with Lakshmi.

Verse 32 (padma.6.234.32)

कोमलैस्तुलसीपत्रैः पुष्पैश्चैव सुगंधिभिः । दीपान्नीराजयेत्तत्र वारमष्टोत्तरं शतम् ।

komalaistulasīpatraiḥ puṣpaiścaiva sugaṁdhibhiḥ dīpānnīrājayettatra vāramaṣṭottaraṁ śatam

With tender tulasi leaves and fragrant flowers, one should wave lamps before him there, a hundred and eight times.

Verse 33 (padma.6.234.33)

शतपत्रकृतां मालां ताभ्यां सम्यङिनवेदयेत् । धूपं दीपं च नैवेद्यं तांबूलं च समर्प्पयेत् ।

śatapatrakṛtāṁ mālāṁ tābhyāṁ samyaṅinavedayet dhūpaṁ dīpaṁ ca naivedyaṁ tāṁbūlaṁ ca samarppayet

A garland of hundred-petalled lotus should be duly offered to them; incense, a lamp, a food-offering, and betel should also be presented.

Verse 34 (padma.6.234.34)

शर्करासहितं दिव्यं पायसान्नं समर्पयेत् । कर्पूरेण च संयुक्तं तांबूलं च निवेदयेत् ।

śarkarāsahitaṁ divyaṁ pāyasānnaṁ samarpayet karpūreṇa ca saṁyuktaṁ tāṁbūlaṁ ca nivedayet

A divine rice-pudding mixed with sugar should be offered, and betel joined with camphor should also be presented.

Verse 35 (padma.6.234.35)

प्रदक्षिणे नमस्कारं कृत्वा भक्त्या समन्वितः । आज्येन जुहुयाद्वह्नौ शतमष्टोत्तरं तथा ।

pradakṣiṇe namaskāraṁ kṛtvā bhaktyā samanvitaḥ ājyena juhuyādvahnau śatamaṣṭottaraṁ tathā

Having circumambulated and prostrated, filled with devotion, one should offer a hundred and eight oblations of ghee into the fire.

Verse 36 (padma.6.234.36)

प्रत्यृचं पुरुषसूक्तेन लक्ष्मीसूक्तेन पायसम् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या स्वयं भुंजीतवाग्यतः ।

pratyṛcaṁ puruṣasūktena lakṣmīsūktena pāyasam brāhmaṇānbhojayedbhaktyā svayaṁ bhuṁjītavāgyataḥ

With each verse of the Purusha-sukta and the Lakshmi-sukta, offering the rice-pudding, one should feed the Brahmins with devotion, and eat oneself in silence.

Verse 37 (padma.6.234.37)

पुराणादि प्रपाठेन क्षपयेत्तद्दिनं महत् । क्षितिशायी ब्रह्मचारी तस्यामेव निशि स्वपेत् ।

purāṇādi prapāṭhena kṣapayettaddinaṁ mahat kṣitiśāyī brahmacārī tasyāmeva niśi svapet

The great day should be passed in the recitation of the Puranas and such texts; sleeping on the ground and observing celibacy, one should sleep that same night.

Verse 38 (padma.6.234.38)

एवं संपूज्यमानं स द्वादश्यां कमलापतिः । क्षणात्प्रसन्नो भगवान्सर्वाभीष्टप्रदो ध्रुवम् ।

evaṁ saṁpūjyamānaṁ sa dvādaśyāṁ kamalāpatiḥ kṣaṇātprasanno bhagavānsarvābhīṣṭaprado dhruvam

Thus worshipped on Dvadashi, the Lord, the husband of Kamala, becomes pleased in an instant and surely grants every desired boon.

Verse 39 (padma.6.234.39)

इत्येतत्कथितं देवि द्वादशीव्रतमुत्तमम् । किमन्यच्छ्रोतुकामासि तद्वक्तव्यं ब्रवीम्यहम् ।

ityetatkathitaṁ devi dvādaśīvratamuttamam kimanyacchrotukāmāsi tadvaktavyaṁ bravīmyaham

Thus, O Goddess, this excellent vow of Dvadashi has been told to you. What else do you wish to hear? Speak, and I shall tell it.