Saphala Ekadashi of Pausha Krishna

Verse 1 (padma.6.40.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।पौषस्य कृष्णपक्षे तु किं नामैकादशी भवेत् । किं नाम को विधिस्तस्या एतद्विस्तरतो वद । एतदाख्याहि भो स्वामिन्को देवस्तत्र पूज्यते

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca pauṣasya kṛṣṇapakṣe tu kiṁ nāmaikādaśī bhavet kiṁ nāma ko vidhistasyā etadvistarato vada etadākhyāhi bho svāminko devastatra pūjyate

Yudhishthira said: What is the name of the Ekadashi that falls in the dark fortnight of Pausha? What is its procedure? Tell me this in detail. O Lord, tell me which god is worshipped therein.

Verse 2 (padma.6.40.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ।कथयिष्यामि राजेंद्र भवतः स्नेहबंधनात् । तुष्टिर्मे न तथा राजन्यज्ञैर्बहुलदक्षिणैः

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca kathayiṣyāmi rājeṁdra bhavataḥ snehabaṁdhanāt tuṣṭirme na tathā rājanyajñairbahuladakṣiṇaiḥ

Sri Krishna said: O king of kings, out of the bond of affection for you, I shall tell. O king, I am not so pleased by sacrifices with abundant gift-fees,

Verse 3 (padma.6.40.3)

यथा मे तुष्टिरायाति ह्येकादशीव्रतेन वै । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कर्त्तव्यो हरिवासरः

yathā me tuṣṭirāyāti hyekādaśīvratena vai tasmātsarvaprayatnena karttavyo harivāsaraḥ

as much as the satisfaction that comes to me through the Ekadashi vow. Therefore, the day sacred to Hari should be observed with the utmost diligence.

Verse 4 (padma.6.40.4)

सत्यमेतन्न वै मिथ्या धर्मिष्ठानां विशारद । पौषस्य कृष्णपक्षे या सफला नाम नामतः

satyametanna vai mithyā dharmiṣṭhānāṁ viśārada pauṣasya kṛṣṇapakṣe yā saphalā nāma nāmataḥ

O wise one, this is true, not false, for those established in dharma. The Ekadashi that falls in the dark fortnight of Pausha is known by the name 'Saphala'.

Verse 5 (padma.6.40.5)

तस्यां नारायणं देवं पूजयेच्च यथाविधि । पूर्वेणैव विधानेन कर्त्तव्यैकादशी शुभा

tasyāṁ nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ pūjayecca yathāvidhi pūrveṇaiva vidhānena karttavyaikādaśī śubhā

On it, the god Narayana should be worshipped according to the rite. This auspicious Ekadashi should be performed exactly as with the earlier procedure.

Verse 6 (padma.6.40.6)

नागानां च यथा शेषो पक्षिणां पन्नगाशनः । देवानां च यथा विष्णुर्द्विपदानां यथा द्विजः

nāgānāṁ ca yathā śeṣo pakṣiṇāṁ pannagāśanaḥ devānāṁ ca yathā viṣṇurdvipadānāṁ yathā dvijaḥ

As Shesha is the finest among serpents, as the serpent-eater (Garuda) is finest among birds, as Vishnu is finest among gods, as the twice-born is finest among bipeds,

Verse 7 (padma.6.40.7)

व्रतानां च यथा राजन्श्रेष्ठा चैकादशी तिथिः । ते जनाश्चैव भो राजन्पूज्या वै सर्वदा मम

vratānāṁ ca yathā rājanśreṣṭhā caikādaśī tithiḥ te janāścaiva bho rājanpūjyā vai sarvadā mama

O king, so too the Ekadashi tithi is the finest among vows. O king, those people are ever worthy of my worship,

Verse 8 (padma.6.40.8)

हरिवासरसंलीनाः कुर्वंत्येकादशीव्रतम् । इहैव धनसंयुक्ता मृता मोक्षं लभंति ते

harivāsarasaṁlīnāḥ kurvaṁtyekādaśīvratam ihaiva dhanasaṁyuktā mṛtā mokṣaṁ labhaṁti te

who, absorbed in the day sacred to Hari, perform the Ekadashi vow; endowed with wealth in this very world, upon death they attain liberation.

Verse 9 (padma.6.40.9)

सफलायां फलै राजन्पूजयेन्नामतो हरिम् । नारिकेलफलैश्चैव क्रमुकैर्बीजपूरकैः

saphalāyāṁ phalai rājanpūjayennāmato harim nārikelaphalaiścaiva kramukairbījapūrakaiḥ

O king, on the day of Saphala, Hari should be worshipped by name with fruits — with coconuts, areca nuts, and citrons,

Verse 10 (padma.6.40.10)

जंबीरैर्दाडिमैश्चैव तथा धात्रीफलैः शुभैः । लवंगैर्बदरीभिश्च तथाम्रैश्च विशेषतः

jaṁbīrairdāḍimaiścaiva tathā dhātrīphalaiḥ śubhaiḥ lavaṁgairbadarībhiśca tathāmraiśca viśeṣataḥ

with lemons, pomegranates, and auspicious amla fruit; with cloves, jujube berries, and especially with mangoes.

Verse 11 (padma.6.40.11)

पूजयेद्देवदेवेशं धूपदीपैस्तथैव च । सफलायां विशेषेण दीपदानं तु कारयेत्

pūjayeddevadeveśaṁ dhūpadīpaistathaiva ca saphalāyāṁ viśeṣeṇa dīpadānaṁ tu kārayet

The God of gods should be worshipped with incense and lamp as well. On the day of Saphala, the gift of a lamp should especially be made.

Verse 12 (padma.6.40.12)

रात्रौ जागरणं चैव कर्त्तव्यं सह वैष्णवैः । यावन्निमेषो नेत्रस्य तावज्जागर्ति यो निशि

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ caiva karttavyaṁ saha vaiṣṇavaiḥ yāvannimeṣo netrasya tāvajjāgarti yo niśi

At night, a vigil should be kept together with the Vaishnavas. Whoever keeps vigil at night, even for as long as a blink of the eye,

Verse 13 (padma.6.40.13)

एकाग्रमनसो राजन्तस्य पुण्यं शृणुष्व हि । तत्समो नास्ति यज्ञो वै तीर्थं वा तत्समं नहि

ekāgramanaso rājantasya puṇyaṁ śṛṇuṣva hi tatsamo nāsti yajño vai tīrthaṁ vā tatsamaṁ nahi

O king, hear the merit of that one-pointed-minded person — there is no sacrifice equal to it, there is no tirtha equal to it.

Verse 14 (padma.6.40.14)

सर्वव्रतानि राजेंद्र कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम् । एवं वर्षसहस्राणि तपसा नैव यत्फलम्

sarvavratāni rājeṁdra kalāṁ nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm evaṁ varṣasahasrāṇi tapasā naiva yatphalam

O king of kings, all other vows are not equal even to the sixteenth part of it. Whatever fruit is not obtained even by a thousand years of austerity,

Verse 15 (padma.6.40.15)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति यः करोति हि जागरम् । श्रूयतां राजशार्दूल सफलायाः कथा शुभा

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti yaḥ karoti hi jāgaram śrūyatāṁ rājaśārdūla saphalāyāḥ kathā śubhā

that fruit is obtained by one who keeps the night-vigil. O tiger among kings, listen to the auspicious tale of Saphala.

Verse 16 (padma.6.40.16)

चंपावतीति विख्याता पुरी माहिष्मतस्य च । बभूवुस्तस्य राजर्षेः पुत्राः पंच कुमारकाः

caṁpāvatīti vikhyātā purī māhiṣmatasya ca babhūvustasya rājarṣeḥ putrāḥ paṁca kumārakāḥ

There was a city famed by the name Champavati, belonging to Mahishmata; that royal sage had five young princes.

Verse 17 (padma.6.40.17)

तेषां मध्ये तु ज्येष्ठो वै महापापरतः सदा । परदाराभिचारी च वेश्यासक्तश्च मद्यपः

teṣāṁ madhye tu jyeṣṭho vai mahāpāparataḥ sadā paradārābhicārī ca veśyāsaktaśca madyapaḥ

Among them, the eldest was ever given to great sin — an adulterer, addicted to courtesans, and a drinker of wine.

Verse 18 (padma.6.40.18)

पितुर्द्रव्यं तु तेनैव गमितं पापकर्मणा । असद्वृत्तिरतो नित्यं भूसुराणां तु निंदकः

piturdravyaṁ tu tenaiva gamitaṁ pāpakarmaṇā asadvṛttirato nityaṁ bhūsurāṇāṁ tu niṁdakaḥ

That very sinner squandered his father's wealth as well; he was ever given to bad conduct, a reviler of brahmins.

Verse 19 (padma.6.40.19)

वैष्णवानां च देवानां नित्यं निंदां करोति सः । ईदृशं तु ततो दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं माहिष्मतो नृपः

vaiṣṇavānāṁ ca devānāṁ nityaṁ niṁdāṁ karoti saḥ īdṛśaṁ tu tato dṛṣṭvā putraṁ māhiṣmato nṛpaḥ

He always reviled the Vaishnavas and the gods. Seeing his son thus, King Mahishmata,

Verse 20 (padma.6.40.20)

नाम्ना तु लुंपक इति राजपुत्रेषु चापठत् । राज्यान्निष्कासितस्तेन पित्रा चैव तु बंधुभिः

nāmnā tu luṁpaka iti rājaputreṣu cāpaṭhat rājyānniṣkāsitastena pitrā caiva tu baṁdhubhiḥ

who was known among the princes by the name 'Lumpaka', was driven out of the kingdom by his father and kinsmen.

Verse 21 (padma.6.40.21)

स चैवं परिवारैस्तु त्यक्तश्च परिपंथिवत् । लुंपकोऽपि तथा त्यक्तश्चिंतयामास वै तदा

sa caivaṁ parivāraistu tyaktaśca paripaṁthivat luṁpako'pi tathā tyaktaściṁtayāmāsa vai tadā

Thus abandoned even by his own family, as if he were an enemy, Lumpaka, likewise cast off, thought thus —

Verse 22 (padma.6.40.22)

त्यक्तोऽहं बांधवैः पित्रा राज्यान्निष्कासितः किल । इति संचिंत्यमानोऽसौ मतिं पापे तदाकरोत्

tyakto'haṁ bāṁdhavaiḥ pitrā rājyānniṣkāsitaḥ kila iti saṁciṁtyamāno'sau matiṁ pāpe tadākarot

'I have been abandoned by my kinsmen and my father, driven out of the kingdom.' Thinking thus, he set his mind upon sin itself.

Verse 23 (padma.6.40.23)

मया गंतव्यमेवास्तु दारुणे गहने वने । तस्माच्चैव पुरं सर्वं लुंपयिष्यामि वै पितुः

mayā gaṁtavyamevāstu dāruṇe gahane vane tasmāccaiva puraṁ sarvaṁ luṁpayiṣyāmi vai pituḥ

'I must surely go to the terrible, dense forest; and from there I shall plunder my father's entire city.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.40.24)

इत्येवं स मतिं कृत्वा लुंपको दैवयोगतः । निर्जगाम पुरात्तस्माद्गतोऽसौ गहने वने

ityevaṁ sa matiṁ kṛtvā luṁpako daivayogataḥ nirjagāma purāttasmādgato'sau gahane vane

Having resolved thus, Lumpaka, by the workings of destiny, departed from that city and went into the dense forest.

Verse 25 (padma.6.40.25)

जीवघातरतो नित्यं स्तेयद्यूतकलानिधिः । सर्वं च नगरं तेन मुषितं पापकर्मणा

jīvaghātarato nityaṁ steyadyūtakalānidhiḥ sarvaṁ ca nagaraṁ tena muṣitaṁ pāpakarmaṇā

Ever given to the killing of living beings, skilled in the arts of theft and gambling, he plundered the entire city through sinful deeds.

Verse 26 (padma.6.40.26)

स्तेयाभिगामी नगरे गृहीतः स निशाचरैः । उवाच तान्सुतोऽहं वै राज्ञो माहिष्मतस्य च

steyābhigāmī nagare gṛhītaḥ sa niśācaraiḥ uvāca tānsuto'haṁ vai rājño māhiṣmatasya ca

Coming into the city intent on theft, he was seized by the night-watchmen; he told them, 'I am the son of King Mahishmata.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.40.27)

स तैर्मुक्तः पापकर्मा चागतो विपिनं पुनः । आमिषाभिरतो नित्यं तरोर्वै फलभक्षणे

sa tairmuktaḥ pāpakarmā cāgato vipinaṁ punaḥ āmiṣābhirato nityaṁ tarorvai phalabhakṣaṇe

They released that sinner, and he returned once more to the forest; he was ever given to eating flesh, and also ate the fruits of trees.

Verse 28 (padma.6.40.28)

आश्रमस्तस्य दुष्टस्य वासुदेवस्य संनिधौ । अश्वत्थो वर्त्तते तत्र जीर्णश्च बहुवार्षिकः

āśramastasya duṣṭasya vāsudevasya saṁnidhau aśvattho varttate tatra jīrṇaśca bahuvārṣikaḥ

That wicked one's dwelling place was near a shrine of Vasudeva; there stood an ashvattha (pipal) tree, decayed and many years old.

Verse 29 (padma.6.40.29)

देवत्वं तस्य वृक्षस्य विपिने वर्तते महत् । तत्रैव निवसंश्चैव लुंपकः पापबुद्धिमान्

devatvaṁ tasya vṛkṣasya vipine vartate mahat tatraiva nivasaṁścaiva luṁpakaḥ pāpabuddhimān

In that tree, in that forest, a great divinity dwelt. Dwelling right there, Lumpaka, of sinful mind,

Verse 30 (padma.6.40.30)

गते बहुतिथे काले कस्यचित्पुण्यसंचयात् । पौषस्य कृष्णपक्षे तु दशम्यां दिवसे तथा

gate bahutithe kāle kasyacitpuṇyasaṁcayāt pauṣasya kṛṣṇapakṣe tu daśamyāṁ divase tathā

after much time had passed, through some previously accumulated merit, on the day of Dashami in the dark fortnight of Pausha,

Verse 31 (padma.6.40.31)

फलानि भुक्त्वा वृक्षाणां रात्रौ शीतेन पीडितः । लुंपको नाम पापिष्ठो वस्त्रहीनो गतेक्षणः

phalāni bhuktvā vṛkṣāṇāṁ rātrau śītena pīḍitaḥ luṁpako nāma pāpiṣṭho vastrahīno gatekṣaṇaḥ

having eaten the fruits of trees, tormented by cold at night, without clothing, with dimmed sight, the sinner named Lumpaka,

Verse 32 (padma.6.40.32)

पीड्यमानोऽतिशीतेन हरिवृक्षसमीपतः । न निद्रा न सुखं तस्य गतप्राण इवाभवत्

pīḍyamāno'tiśītena harivṛkṣasamīpataḥ na nidrā na sukhaṁ tasya gataprāṇa ivābhavat

tormented by extreme cold, near the tree sacred to Hari, found neither sleep nor peace — he became as if lifeless.

Verse 33 (padma.6.40.33)

आछाद्य दशनैरास्यमेवं नीता निशाखिला । भानूदयेऽपि पापिष्ठो न लेभे चेतनां तदा

āchādya daśanairāsyamevaṁ nītā niśākhilā bhānūdaye'pi pāpiṣṭho na lebhe cetanāṁ tadā

Covering his mouth with his teeth chattering, he passed the whole night thus; even at sunrise, that sinner did not regain consciousness.

Verse 34 (padma.6.40.34)

लुंपको गतसंज्ञस्तु सफलाया दिने तथा । रवौ मध्यंगते चैव संज्ञां लेभे स लुंपकः

luṁpako gatasaṁjñastu saphalāyā dine tathā ravau madhyaṁgate caiva saṁjñāṁ lebhe sa luṁpakaḥ

Lumpaka lay unconscious throughout that day of Saphala; only when the sun reached its midday point did Lumpaka regain his senses.

Verse 35 (padma.6.40.35)

इतस्ततो विलोक्याथ व्यथितश्च तदासनात् । स्खलत्पद्भ्यां प्रचलितः खंजन्निव मुहुर्मुहुः

itastato vilokyātha vyathitaśca tadāsanāt skhalatpadbhyāṁ pracalitaḥ khaṁjanniva muhurmuhuḥ

Looking about him, distressed, he rose from his place; with faltering feet, walking again and again as if lame.

Verse 36 (padma.6.40.36)

वनमध्ये गतस्तत्र क्षुत्क्षामः पीडितोऽभवत् । न शक्तिर्जीवघाते तु लुंपकस्य दुरात्मनः

vanamadhye gatastatra kṣutkṣāmaḥ pīḍito'bhavat na śaktirjīvaghāte tu luṁpakasya durātmanaḥ

Going into the depths of the forest, he became emaciated and afflicted by hunger; the evil-souled Lumpaka no longer had the strength even to kill a creature.

Verse 37 (padma.6.40.37)

फलानि च तदा राजन्नाजहार स लुंपकः । यावत्समागतस्तत्र तावदस्तं गतो रविः

phalāni ca tadā rājannājahāra sa luṁpakaḥ yāvatsamāgatastatra tāvadastaṁ gato raviḥ

O king, then Lumpaka could not even gather fruit; by the time he returned there, the sun had already set.

Verse 38 (padma.6.40.38)

किं भविष्यति तातेति स विलापं चकार ह । फलानि तत्र भूरीणि वृक्षमूले न्यवेशयत्

kiṁ bhaviṣyati tāteti sa vilāpaṁ cakāra ha phalāni tatra bhūrīṇi vṛkṣamūle nyaveśayat

Saying, 'What shall become of me now,' he lamented; he placed there, at the foot of the tree, a great many fruits.

Verse 39 (padma.6.40.39)

इत्युवाच फलैरेभिः श्रीपतिस्तुष्यतां हरिः । इत्युक्त्वा लुंपकश्चैव निद्रां लेभे न वै निशि

ityuvāca phalairebhiḥ śrīpatistuṣyatāṁ hariḥ ityuktvā luṁpakaścaiva nidrāṁ lebhe na vai niśi

He said: 'With these fruits, may Hari, the Lord of Shri, be pleased.' Having said this, Lumpaka found no sleep that night.

Verse 40 (padma.6.40.40)

रात्रौ जागरणं मेने विष्णुस्तस्य दुरात्मनः । फलैस्तु पूजनं मेने सफलायास्तथानघ

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ mene viṣṇustasya durātmanaḥ phalaistu pūjanaṁ mene saphalāyāstathānagha

Vishnu accepted that evil-souled man's act as a night-vigil, and, O sinless one, accepted this offering of fruits as the worship of Saphala.

Verse 41 (padma.6.40.41)

अकस्माद्व्रतमेवैतत्कृतवान्वै स लुंपकः । तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन प्राप्तं राज्यमकंटकम्

akasmādvratamevaitatkṛtavānvai sa luṁpakaḥ tena puṇyaprabhāvena prāptaṁ rājyamakaṁṭakam

Unknowingly, Lumpaka had performed this very vow; through the power of that merit, he obtained an unimpeded kingdom.

Verse 42 (padma.6.40.42)

सूर्यस्योदयनं यावत्तावद्विष्णुर्जगाम ह । दिवि तत्कालमुत्पन्ना वागुवाचाशरीरिणी

sūryasyodayanaṁ yāvattāvadviṣṇurjagāma ha divi tatkālamutpannā vāguvācāśarīriṇī

Until the sun rose, Vishnu remained there; at that very moment, a bodiless voice arose in the sky —

Verse 43 (padma.6.40.43)

राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि पुत्रत्वं सफलायाः प्रसादतः। तथेत्युक्ते तु वचसि दिव्यरूपधरोऽभवत्

rājyaṁ prāpsyasi putratvaṁ saphalāyāḥ prasādataḥ tathetyukte tu vacasi divyarūpadharo'bhavat

'Through the grace of Saphala, you shall obtain the kingdom and the state of fatherhood.' As soon as this word was spoken, he began to take on a divine form.

Verse 44 (padma.6.40.44)

मतिरासीत्ततस्तस्य परमा वैष्णवी नृप । दिव्याभरणशोभाढ्यो लेभे राज्यमकंटकम्

matirāsīttatastasya paramā vaiṣṇavī nṛpa divyābharaṇaśobhāḍhyo lebhe rājyamakaṁṭakam

O king, then his intellect became supremely Vaishnava; adorned with divine ornaments, he obtained an unimpeded kingdom.

Verse 45 (padma.6.40.45)

कृतं राज्यं तु तेनैवं वर्षाणि दशपंच च । मनोदास्तस्यपुत्रास्तु दाराः कृष्णप्रसादतः

kṛtaṁ rājyaṁ tu tenaivaṁ varṣāṇi daśapaṁca ca manodāstasyaputrāstu dārāḥ kṛṣṇaprasādataḥ

Thus he ruled the kingdom for fifteen years; through Krishna's grace, he obtained the sons and wives he desired.

Verse 46 (padma.6.40.46)

आशु राज्यं परित्यज्य पुत्रे चैव समर्प्य च । गतः कृष्णस्य सांनिध्यं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति

āśu rājyaṁ parityajya putre caiva samarpya ca gataḥ kṛṣṇasya sāṁnidhyaṁ yatra gatvā na śocati

Then, soon abandoning the kingdom, having entrusted it to his son, he went to Krishna's own presence, having gone where none grieves.

Verse 47 (padma.6.40.47)

एवं यः कुरुते राजन्सफलाव्रतमुत्तमम् । इहलोके सुखं प्राप्य मृतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

evaṁ yaḥ kurute rājansaphalāvratamuttamam ihaloke sukhaṁ prāpya mṛto mokṣamavāpnuyāt

O king, thus whoever performs the excellent Saphala vow, having obtained happiness in this world, attains liberation upon death.

Verse 48 (padma.6.40.48)

धन्यास्ते मानवा लोके सफलायां च ये रताः । तेषां च सफलं जन्म नात्र कार्या विचारणा

dhanyāste mānavā loke saphalāyāṁ ca ye ratāḥ teṣāṁ ca saphalaṁ janma nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Those men are blessed in this world who remain devoted to Saphala; their birth becomes fruitful — no doubt need be entertained here.

Verse 49 (padma.6.40.49)

पठनाच्छ्रवणाच्चैव करणाच्च विशांपते । राजसूयस्य यज्ञस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः

paṭhanācchravaṇāccaiva karaṇācca viśāṁpate rājasūyasya yajñasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ

O lord of subjects, by reading, hearing, and performing this, a man obtains the fruit of the Rajasuya sacrifice.