Kamada Ekadashi of Chaitra Shukla

Verse 1 (padma.6.47.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच- वासुदेव नमस्तुभ्यं कथयस्व ममाग्रतः । चैत्रस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु किं नामैकादशी भवेत्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- vāsudeva namastubhyaṁ kathayasva mamāgrataḥ caitrasya śuklapakṣe tu kiṁ nāmaikādaśī bhavet

Yudhishthira said: Salutations to you, O Vasudeva. Tell me, which Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of Chaitra?

Verse 2 (padma.6.47.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- शृणुष्वैकमना राजन्कथां पुण्यां पुरातनीम् । वसिष्ठो यामकथयत्प्राग्दिलीपाय पृच्छते

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- śṛṇuṣvaikamanā rājankathāṁ puṇyāṁ purātanīm vasiṣṭho yāmakathayatprāgdilīpāya pṛcchate

Sri Krishna said: O king, listen with a single-pointed mind to that ancient, meritorious tale, which Vasishtha once told to Dilipa, who had asked him.

Verse 3 (padma.6.47.3)

दिलीप उवाच- भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि कथयस्व प्रसादतः । चैत्रमासि सिते पक्षे किंनामैकादशी भवेत्

dilīpa uvāca- bhagavañchrotumicchāmi kathayasva prasādataḥ caitramāsi site pakṣe kiṁnāmaikādaśī bhavet

Dilipa said: O Lord, I wish to hear this; kindly tell me. Which Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra?

Verse 4 (padma.6.47.4)

वसिष्ठ उवाच- साधु पृष्टं त्वया राजन्कथयामि तवाग्रतः । चैत्रस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु कामदा नाम नामतः

vasiṣṭha uvāca- sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā rājankathayāmi tavāgrataḥ caitrasya śuklapakṣe tu kāmadā nāma nāmataḥ

Vasishtha said: O king, you have asked a good question; I shall tell you. The Ekadashi that falls in the bright fortnight of Chaitra is known by the name Kamada.

Verse 5 (padma.6.47.5)

एकादशी पुण्यतमा पापेंधनदवानलः । शृणु राजन्कथामेतां पापघ्नीं पुण्यदायिनीम्

ekādaśī puṇyatamā pāpeṁdhanadavānalaḥ śṛṇu rājankathāmetāṁ pāpaghnīṁ puṇyadāyinīm

That most meritorious Ekadashi is like a forest-fire to the fuel of sin. O king, listen to this sin-destroying, merit-bestowing tale.

Verse 6 (padma.6.47.6)

पुरा नागपुरे रम्ये हेमरत्नविभूषिते । पुंडरीकमुखा नागा निवसंति महोत्कटाः

purā nāgapure ramye hemaratnavibhūṣite puṁḍarīkamukhā nāgā nivasaṁti mahotkaṭāḥ

Long ago, in the delightful city of Nagapura, adorned with gold and gems, there dwelt exceedingly fierce serpents led by Pundarika.

Verse 7 (padma.6.47.7)

तस्मिन्पुरे पुंडरीको राजा राज्यं चकार सः । गन्धर्वैः किन्नरैश्चैव अप्सरोभिश्च सेव्यते

tasminpure puṁḍarīko rājā rājyaṁ cakāra saḥ gandharvaiḥ kinnaraiścaiva apsarobhiśca sevyate

In that city ruled the king Pundarika, who was attended upon by gandharvas, kinnaras, and apsaras.

Verse 8 (padma.6.47.8)

वराप्सरास्तु ललिता गंधर्वो ललितस्तथा । उभौ रागेण संरक्तौ दंपती कामपीडितौ

varāpsarāstu lalitā gaṁdharvo lalitastathā ubhau rāgeṇa saṁraktau daṁpatī kāmapīḍitau

There lived an excellent apsara named Lalita and a gandharva named Lalita as well. Both were a couple, dyed in mutual passion and afflicted by desire.

Verse 9 (padma.6.47.9)

रेमाते स्वगृहे रम्ये धनधान्ययुते तदा । ललितायाश्च हृदये पतिर्वसति सर्वदा

remāte svagṛhe ramye dhanadhānyayute tadā lalitāyāśca hṛdaye patirvasati sarvadā

The two of them took their delight in their own beautiful home, filled with wealth and grain. In Lalita's heart her husband dwelt always.

Verse 10 (padma.6.47.10)

हृदये तस्य ललिता नित्यं वसति भामिनी । एकदा पुंडरीकोऽथ क्रीडते सदसि स्थितः

hṛdaye tasya lalitā nityaṁ vasati bhāminī ekadā puṁḍarīko'tha krīḍate sadasi sthitaḥ

In that lovely woman's heart, her Lalita dwelt always. Once King Pundarika was seated at his court, engaged in entertainment.

Verse 11 (padma.6.47.11)

गीतं गानं प्रकुरुते ललितो दयितां विना । पदबंधस्खलज्जिह्वो बभूव ललितां स्मरन्

gītaṁ gānaṁ prakurute lalito dayitāṁ vinā padabaṁdhaskhalajjihvo babhūva lalitāṁ smaran

Lalita began to sing his song without his beloved present; remembering Lalita, his tongue faltered in the arrangement of the verses.

Verse 12 (padma.6.47.12)

मनोभावं विदित्वास्य कर्कटो नागसत्तमः । पदबंधच्युतिं तस्य पुंडरीके न्यवेदयत्

manobhāvaṁ viditvāsya karkaṭo nāgasattamaḥ padabaṁdhacyutiṁ tasya puṁḍarīke nyavedayat

Perceiving the state of his mind, Karkata, foremost among the nagas, reported his lapse in verse to Pundarika.

Verse 13 (padma.6.47.13)

श्रुत्वा कर्कोटकवचः पुंडरीको भुजंगराट् । क्रोधसंरक्तनयनो बभूवातिभयंकरः

śrutvā karkoṭakavacaḥ puṁḍarīko bhujaṁgarāṭ krodhasaṁraktanayano babhūvātibhayaṁkaraḥ

Hearing Karkotaka's words, the serpent-king Pundarika, his eyes reddened with fury, became exceedingly terrible.

Verse 14 (padma.6.47.14)

शशाप ललितं तत्र गायंतं मदनातुरम् । राक्षसो भव दुर्बुद्धे क्रव्यादः पुरुषादकः

śaśāpa lalitaṁ tatra gāyaṁtaṁ madanāturam rākṣaso bhava durbuddhe kravyādaḥ puruṣādakaḥ

There he cursed Lalita, who was singing, overcome with longing: 'O foolish one, become a rakshasa, a devourer of flesh, an eater of men.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.47.15)

यतः पत्नीवशोपेतो गायमानो ममाग्रतः । वचनात्तस्य राजेंद्र रक्षोरूपो बभूव सः

yataḥ patnīvaśopeto gāyamāno mamāgrataḥ vacanāttasya rājeṁdra rakṣorūpo babhūva saḥ

'Because, subject to your wife, you continued to sing before me.' O lord of kings, by his very word Lalita took on the form of a rakshasa.

Verse 16 (padma.6.47.16)

रौद्राननो विरूपाक्षो दृष्टमात्रो भयंकरः । बाहूयोजनविस्तीर्णौ मुखं कंदरसन्निभम्

raudrānano virūpākṣo dṛṣṭamātro bhayaṁkaraḥ bāhūyojanavistīrṇau mukhaṁ kaṁdarasannibham

His face became terrible and his eyes distorted; the very sight of him inspired fear; his arms extended a full yojana, and his mouth was like a great cavern.

Verse 17 (padma.6.47.17)

चंद्रसूर्यनिभे नेत्रे ग्रीवापर्वतसंनिभा । नासारंध्रे तु विवरे अधरौ योजनायतौ

caṁdrasūryanibhe netre grīvāparvatasaṁnibhā nāsāraṁdhre tu vivare adharau yojanāyatau

His eyes shone like the moon and sun, his neck resembled a mountain; his nostrils were like caverns, and each of his lips stretched a full yojana.

Verse 18 (padma.6.47.18)

शरीरं तस्य राजेंद्र उत्थितं योजनाष्टकम् । ईदृशो राक्षसो भूत्वा भुंजानः कर्मणः फलम्

śarīraṁ tasya rājeṁdra utthitaṁ yojanāṣṭakam īdṛśo rākṣaso bhūtvā bhuṁjānaḥ karmaṇaḥ phalam

O lord of kings, his body rose to a height of eight yojanas. Having become such a rakshasa, he began to suffer the fruit of his own deed.

Verse 19 (padma.6.47.19)

ललिता तु तथालोक्य स्वपतिं विकृताकृतिम् । चिंतयामास मनसा दुःखेन महतार्दिता

lalitā tu tathālokya svapatiṁ vikṛtākṛtim ciṁtayāmāsa manasā duḥkhena mahatārditā

Lalita, beholding her husband in this disfigured form, afflicted by great sorrow, pondered within her mind -

Verse 20 (padma.6.47.20)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि पतिः शापेन पीडितः । इति संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य मनसा शर्म नालभत्

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi patiḥ śāpena pīḍitaḥ iti saṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya manasā śarma nālabhat

'What shall I do, where shall I go? My husband has been afflicted by a curse.' Thinking thus again and again, she found no peace of mind.

Verse 21 (padma.6.47.21)

चचार पतिना सार्द्धं ललिता गहने वने । बभ्राम विपिने दुर्गे कामरूपी स राक्षसः

cacāra patinā sārddhaṁ lalitā gahane vane babhrāma vipine durge kāmarūpī sa rākṣasaḥ

Lalita began to wander with her husband through the dense forest; that rakshasa, whose form was born of desire, roamed through that impenetrable wilderness.

Verse 22 (padma.6.47.22)

निर्घृणः पापनिरतो विरूपः पुरुषादकः । न सुखं लभते रात्रौ न दिवा पापपीडितः

nirghṛṇaḥ pāpanirato virūpaḥ puruṣādakaḥ na sukhaṁ labhate rātrau na divā pāpapīḍitaḥ

He had become merciless, sunk in sin, disfigured, and a devourer of men; tormented by sin, he found no comfort by night nor by day.

Verse 23 (padma.6.47.23)

ललिता दुःखितातीव पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम् । बभ्राम तेन सार्द्धं सा रुदती गहने वने

lalitā duḥkhitātīva patiṁ dṛṣṭvā tathāvidham babhrāma tena sārddhaṁ sā rudatī gahane vane

Lalita, beholding her husband in this state, became exceedingly sorrowful; weeping, she wandered with him through the dense forest.

Verse 24 (padma.6.47.24)

दृष्ट्वाश्रमपदं रम्यं मुनिं संशांतविग्रहम् । शीघ्रं जगाम ललिता नमस्कृत्याग्रतः स्थिता

dṛṣṭvāśramapadaṁ ramyaṁ muniṁ saṁśāṁtavigraham śīghraṁ jagāma lalitā namaskṛtyāgrataḥ sthitā

Beholding a delightful hermitage-site where a sage of tranquil form dwelt, Lalita quickly went there and, having bowed to him, stood before him.

Verse 25 (padma.6.47.25)

तां दृष्ट्वा स मुनिः प्राह दुःखितां हि दयापरः । का त्वं कस्मादिहायाता सत्यं वद ममाग्रतः

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā sa muniḥ prāha duḥkhitāṁ hi dayāparaḥ kā tvaṁ kasmādihāyātā satyaṁ vada mamāgrataḥ

Beholding her sorrowful, that compassionate sage said: 'Who are you, and from where have you come? Tell me the truth before me.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.47.26)

ललितोवाच- वीरधन्वेति गंधर्वः सुता तस्य महात्मनः । ललितां नाम मां विद्धि पत्यर्थमिह चागताम्

lalitovāca- vīradhanveti gaṁdharvaḥ sutā tasya mahātmanaḥ lalitāṁ nāma māṁ viddhi patyarthamiha cāgatām

Lalita said: Know me as the daughter of the great gandharva named Viradhanva, by the name Lalita; I have come here for my husband's sake.

Verse 27 (padma.6.47.27)

भर्ता मे पापदोषेण राक्षसोऽभून्महामुने । रौद्ररूपो दुराचारस्तं दृष्ट्वा नास्ति मे सुखम्

bhartā me pāpadoṣeṇa rākṣaso'bhūnmahāmune raudrarūpo durācārastaṁ dṛṣṭvā nāsti me sukham

O great sage, by the fault of sin my husband has become a rakshasa. Beholding his fierce form and evil conduct, I find no happiness whatever.

Verse 28 (padma.6.47.28)

सांप्रतं शाधि मां ब्रह्मन्यत्कृत्यं तद्वद प्रभो । कुरुष्व तद् व्रतं भद्रे विधिपूर्वं मयोदितम्

sāṁprataṁ śādhi māṁ brahmanyatkṛtyaṁ tadvada prabho kuruṣva tad vrataṁ bhadre vidhipūrvaṁ mayoditam

Now, O Brahmin, instruct me; tell me what I must do. [The sage said:] O gentle one, perform, according to the rite, the vow that I shall tell you.

Verse 29 (padma.6.47.29)

ऋषिरुवाच- चैत्रमासस्य रंभोरु शुक्लपक्षोऽस्ति सांप्रतम् । कामदैकादशीनाम पापघ्नी ललिते परा

ṛṣiruvāca- caitramāsasya raṁbhoru śuklapakṣo'sti sāṁpratam kāmadaikādaśīnāma pāpaghnī lalite parā

The sage said: O fair-thighed one, the bright fortnight of Chaitra is now under way. O Lalita, in it falls the supreme, sin-destroying Ekadashi named Kamada.

Verse 30 (padma.6.47.30)

कुरुष्व तद्व्रतं भद्रे विधिपूर्वं मयोदितम् । अस्य व्रतस्य यत्पुण्यं तत्स्वभर्त्रे प्रदीयताम्

kuruṣva tadvrataṁ bhadre vidhipūrvaṁ mayoditam asya vratasya yatpuṇyaṁ tatsvabhartre pradīyatām

O gentle one, perform, according to the rite, that vow which I have told you. Whatever merit comes from this vow, offer it to your own husband.

Verse 31 (padma.6.47.31)

दत्ते पुण्येक्षणात्तस्य शापदोषः प्रयास्यति । इति श्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं ललिता हर्षिताभवत्

datte puṇyekṣaṇāttasya śāpadoṣaḥ prayāsyati iti śrutvā munervākyaṁ lalitā harṣitābhavat

'The moment that merit is offered, the fault of his curse shall depart.' Hearing the sage's words, Lalita was filled with joy.

Verse 32 (padma.6.47.32)

उपोष्यैकादशीं राजन्द्वादशीदिवसे तथा । विप्रस्यैव समीपे तद्वासुदेवस्य चाग्रतः

upoṣyaikādaśīṁ rājandvādaśīdivase tathā viprasyaiva samīpe tadvāsudevasya cāgrataḥ

O king, she observed the fast of Ekadashi, and on the day of Dvadashi, in the presence of a brahmin and before Vasudeva,

Verse 33 (padma.6.47.33)

वाक्यमुवाच ललिता स्वपत्युस्तारणाय वै । मया तु तद्व्रतं चीर्णं कामदाया उपोषणम्

vākyamuvāca lalitā svapatyustāraṇāya vai mayā tu tadvrataṁ cīrṇaṁ kāmadāyā upoṣaṇam

Lalita spoke these words for the deliverance of her husband: 'I have performed this vow of Kamada, this fast,

Verse 34 (padma.6.47.34)

तस्य पुण्यप्रभावेन गच्छत्वस्य पिशाचता । ललितावचनादेव वर्त्तमानोऽपि तत्क्षणे

tasya puṇyaprabhāvena gacchatvasya piśācatā lalitāvacanādeva varttamāno'pi tatkṣaṇe

by the power of its merit, may his state as a ghoul [rakshasa] depart.' At the very moment of Lalita's words, in that very instant,

Verse 35 (padma.6.47.35)

गतपापः स ललितो दिव्यदेहो बभूव ह । राक्षसत्वं गतं तस्य प्राप्ता गंधर्वता पुनः

gatapāpaḥ sa lalito divyadeho babhūva ha rākṣasatvaṁ gataṁ tasya prāptā gaṁdharvatā punaḥ

that Lalita, freed of sin, obtained a divine body; his state as a rakshasa departed, and he regained once more his gandharva nature.

Verse 36 (padma.6.47.36)

हेमरत्नसमाकीर्णो रेमे ललितया सह । विमानवरमारूढौ पूर्वरूपाधिकौ च तौ

hemaratnasamākīrṇo reme lalitayā saha vimānavaramārūḍhau pūrvarūpādhikau ca tau

Adorned with gold and gems, he began to take his pleasure with Lalita once more; more beautiful even than their former forms, the two mounted an excellent celestial chariot.

Verse 37 (padma.6.47.37)

दंपती अत्यशोभेतां कामदायाः प्रभावतः । इति ज्ञात्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ कर्तव्यैषा प्रयत्नतः

daṁpatī atyaśobhetāṁ kāmadāyāḥ prabhāvataḥ iti jñātvā nṛpaśreṣṭha kartavyaiṣā prayatnataḥ

That couple shone forth with the greatest splendor by the power of Kamada. O best of kings, knowing this, this vow should surely be observed with careful effort.

Verse 38 (padma.6.47.38)

लोकानां तु हितार्थाय तवाग्रे कथिता मया । ब्रह्महत्यादि पापघ्नी पिशाचत्वविनाशनी

lokānāṁ tu hitārthāya tavāgre kathitā mayā brahmahatyādi pāpaghnī piśācatvavināśanī

I have told this to you here only for the welfare of the people - it removes sins even up to the killing of a brahmin, and it destroys the state of being a ghoul.

Verse 39 (padma.6.47.39)

नातः परतरा काचित्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन्वाजपेयफलं लभेत्

nātaḥ paratarā kācittrailokye sacarācare paṭhanācchravaṇādrājanvājapeyaphalaṁ labhet

In the three worlds of moving and unmoving beings, none surpasses this Ekadashi. O king, by merely reading or hearing it, one obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.