Yogini Ekadashi of Ashadha Krishna

Verse 1 (padma.6.52.1)

युधिष्ठिरउवाच- आषाढकृष्णपक्षे तु किं वै एकादशी भवेत् । कथयस्व प्रसादेन वासुदेव ममाग्रतः

yudhiṣṭhirauvāca- āṣāḍhakṛṣṇapakṣe tu kiṁ vai ekādaśī bhavet kathayasva prasādena vāsudeva mamāgrataḥ

Yudhishthira said: Which Ekadashi falls in the dark fortnight of Ashadha? O Vasudeva, kindly tell me.

Verse 2 (padma.6.52.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- व्रतानामुत्तमं राजन्कथयामि तवाग्रतः । सर्वपापक्षयकरं सर्वमुक्तिप्रदायकम्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- vratānāmuttamaṁ rājankathayāmi tavāgrataḥ sarvapāpakṣayakaraṁ sarvamuktipradāyakam

Sri Krishna said: O king, I shall tell you the most excellent among all vows, one that destroys every sin and grants liberation to all.

Verse 3 (padma.6.52.3)

आषाढस्यासिते पक्षे योगिनी नाम नामतः । एकादशी नृपश्रेष्ठ महापातकनाशिनी

āṣāḍhasyāsite pakṣe yoginī nāma nāmataḥ ekādaśī nṛpaśreṣṭha mahāpātakanāśinī

O best of kings, the Ekadashi that falls in the dark fortnight of Ashadha is known by the name Yogini, and it destroys the gravest sins.

Verse 4 (padma.6.52.4)

संसारार्णवमग्नानां पोतभूता सनातनी । जगत्त्रये सारभूता योगिनी व्रतकारिणाम्

saṁsārārṇavamagnānāṁ potabhūtā sanātanī jagattraye sārabhūtā yoginī vratakāriṇām

It is eternal, like a boat for those sunk in the ocean of worldly existence; it is the very essence of the three worlds, and it is a helper (yogini) to those who observe its vow.

Verse 5 (padma.6.52.5)

कथयामि तवाग्रेऽहं कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । अलकायां राजराजः शिवभक्तिपरायणः

kathayāmi tavāgre'haṁ kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām alakāyāṁ rājarājaḥ śivabhaktiparāyaṇaḥ

I shall tell you that auspicious Puranic tale. In Alakapuri there was the king of kings [Kubera], devoted to Shiva-bhakti,

Verse 6 (padma.6.52.6)

तस्यासीत्पुष्पबटुको हेममालीति नामतः । तस्य पत्नी सुरूपा च विशालाक्षीति नामतः

tasyāsītpuṣpabaṭuko hemamālīti nāmataḥ tasya patnī surūpā ca viśālākṣīti nāmataḥ

and there was in his service a flower-attendant named Hemamali. His wife was of exceeding beauty, and her name was Vishalakshi.

Verse 7 (padma.6.52.7)

स तस्यां चासक्तमना कामपाशवशं गतः । मानसात्पुष्पनिचयमानीय स्वगृहे स्थितः

sa tasyāṁ cāsaktamanā kāmapāśavaśaṁ gataḥ mānasātpuṣpanicayamānīya svagṛhe sthitaḥ

He was utterly attached to her in mind and had fallen under the sway of the noose of desire. Having brought a collection of flowers from Lake Manasa, he remained lingering at his own home.

Verse 8 (padma.6.52.8)

पत्नीप्रेमरसासक्तो न कुबेरालयं गतः । कुबेरो देवसदने करोति शिवपूजनम्

patnīpremarasāsakto na kuberālayaṁ gataḥ kubero devasadane karoti śivapūjanam

Lost in the delight of his wife's love, he did not go to Kubera's palace. Kubera at that time was performing the worship of Shiva in the abode of the gods.

Verse 9 (padma.6.52.9)

मध्याह्नसमये राजन्पुष्पागमसमीक्षकः । हेममाली स्वभवने रमते कांतया सह

madhyāhnasamaye rājanpuṣpāgamasamīkṣakaḥ hemamālī svabhavane ramate kāṁtayā saha

O king, at midday, while Kubera awaited the arrival of the flowers, Hemamali was taking his pleasure with his beloved at his own home.

Verse 10 (padma.6.52.10)

यक्षराट्प्रत्युवाचाथ कालातिक्रमकोपितः । कस्मान्नायाति भो यक्षा हेममाली दुरात्मवान् । निश्चयः क्रियतामस्य इत्युवाच पुनः पुनः

yakṣarāṭpratyuvācātha kālātikramakopitaḥ kasmānnāyāti bho yakṣā hemamālī durātmavān niścayaḥ kriyatāmasya ityuvāca punaḥ punaḥ

Angered by the passing of time, the lord of yakshas said: 'O yakshas, why has that wicked Hemamali not come? A decision must be made about him at once' - so he said again and again.

Verse 11 (padma.6.52.11)

यक्षा ऊचुः - वनिताकामुको गेहे रमते स्वेच्छया नृप । तेषां वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कुबेरः कोपपूरितः

yakṣā ūcuḥ - vanitākāmuko gehe ramate svecchayā nṛpa teṣāṁ vākyaṁ samākarṇya kuberaḥ kopapūritaḥ

The yakshas said: O king, that lecher of a woman is taking his pleasure at home by his own will. Hearing their words, Kubera was filled with fury.

Verse 12 (padma.6.52.12)

आह्वयामास तं तूर्णं बटुकं हेममालिनम् । ज्ञात्वा कालात्ययं सोऽपि भयव्याकुललोचनः

āhvayāmāsa taṁ tūrṇaṁ baṭukaṁ hemamālinam jñātvā kālātyayaṁ so'pi bhayavyākulalocanaḥ

He immediately summoned that attendant Hemamali. Knowing that the appointed time had passed, Hemamali's eyes grew wild with fear.

Verse 13 (padma.6.52.13)

अस्नात एव आगत्य कुबेरस्याग्रतः स्थितः । तं दृष्ट्वा धनदः क्रुद्धः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः

asnāta eva āgatya kuberasyāgrataḥ sthitaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā dhanadaḥ kruddhaḥ krodhasaṁraktalocanaḥ

He came without even having bathed and stood before Kubera. Beholding him, the bestower of wealth [Kubera] grew furious, his eyes red with rage,

Verse 14 (padma.6.52.14)

प्रत्युवाच रुषाविष्टः कोपप्रस्फुरिताधरः । धनद उवाच- आः पाप दुष्ट दुर्वृत्त कृतवान्देवहेलनम्

pratyuvāca ruṣāviṣṭaḥ kopaprasphuritādharaḥ dhanada uvāca- āḥ pāpa duṣṭa durvṛtta kṛtavāndevahelanam

and, overcome with anger, his lips quivering with rage, he spoke thus - The bestower of wealth said: 'O sinner, wicked, ill-behaved one, you have insulted the god.

Verse 15 (padma.6.52.15)

अष्टादशकुष्ठवृतो वियुक्तः कांतया तया । अस्मात्स्थानादपध्वस्तो गच्छ स्वप्नमथाधम

aṣṭādaśakuṣṭhavṛto viyuktaḥ kāṁtayā tayā asmātsthānādapadhvasto gaccha svapnamathādhama

May you become afflicted with the eighteen kinds of leprosy, and be separated from that beloved of yours. Cast down from this place, O wretch, go away, perish as though in a dream.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.52.16)

इत्युक्ते वचने तस्य तस्मात्स्थानात्पपात सः । महादुःखाभिभूतश्च कुष्ठैः पीडितविग्रहः

ityukte vacane tasya tasmātsthānātpapāta saḥ mahāduḥkhābhibhūtaśca kuṣṭhaiḥ pīḍitavigrahaḥ

No sooner had he spoken these words than Hemamali fell from that place, overwhelmed by great suffering, his body afflicted with leprosy.

Verse 17 (padma.6.52.17)

न सुखं दिवसे तस्य न निद्रां लभते निशि । छायायां पीडिततनुर्निदाघेऽत्यंतपीडितः

na sukhaṁ divase tasya na nidrāṁ labhate niśi chāyāyāṁ pīḍitatanurnidāghe'tyaṁtapīḍitaḥ

He found no comfort by day, nor sleep by night. Even in the shade his body suffered, and in the heat he was tormented beyond measure.

Verse 18 (padma.6.52.18)

शिवपूजाप्रभावेन स्मृतिस्तस्य न लुप्यते । पातकेनाभिभूतोऽपि पूर्वं कर्म स्मरत्यसौ

śivapūjāprabhāvena smṛtistasya na lupyate pātakenābhibhūto'pi pūrvaṁ karma smaratyasau

By the power of his [past] worship of Shiva, his memory was not lost; though overwhelmed by sin, he remembered his former deeds.

Verse 19 (padma.6.52.19)

भ्रममाणस्ततो गच्छन्हिमाद्रिं पर्वतोत्तमम् । तत्रापश्यन्मुनिवरं मार्कंडेयं तपोनिधिम्

bhramamāṇastato gacchanhimādriṁ parvatottamam tatrāpaśyanmunivaraṁ mārkaṁḍeyaṁ taponidhim

Wandering thus, he went toward the Himalaya, the foremost of mountains. There he beheld the excellent sage Markandeya, a treasury of austerity,

Verse 20 (padma.6.52.20)

यस्यायुर्विद्यते राजन्ब्रह्मणो वयसा समम् । ववंदे चरणौ तस्य दूरतः पापकर्मकृत्

yasyāyurvidyate rājanbrahmaṇo vayasā samam vavaṁde caraṇau tasya dūrataḥ pāpakarmakṛt

O king, whose lifespan is declared to equal that of Brahma himself. That doer of sinful deeds bowed to his feet from a distance.

Verse 21 (padma.6.52.21)

मार्कंडेयो मुनिवरो दृष्ट्वा तं कंपितं तथा । परोपकरणार्थाय समाहूयेदमब्रवीत्

mārkaṁḍeyo munivaro dṛṣṭvā taṁ kaṁpitaṁ tathā paropakaraṇārthāya samāhūyedamabravīt

The excellent sage Markandeya, beholding him trembling thus, called him near out of a spirit of helping others, and said -

Verse 22 (padma.6.52.22)

कस्मात्कुष्ठाभिभूतस्त्वं कुतो निंद्यतरो ह्यसि । इत्युक्तः स प्रत्युवाच मार्कंडेयं महामुनिम्

kasmātkuṣṭhābhibhūtastvaṁ kuto niṁdyataro hyasi ityuktaḥ sa pratyuvāca mārkaṁḍeyaṁ mahāmunim

'For what reason are you afflicted with leprosy, for what reason are you so despised?' Thus asked, he gave this answer to the great sage Markandeya -

Verse 23 (padma.6.52.23)

हेममाल्युवाच- राजराजस्यानुचरो हेममालीति नामतः । मानसात्पद्मनिचयमानीय प्रत्यहं मुने

hemamālyuvāca- rājarājasyānucaro hemamālīti nāmataḥ mānasātpadmanicayamānīya pratyahaṁ mune

Hemamali said: I am a servant of the king of kings [Kubera], known by the name Hemamali. O sage, every day I would bring a collection of lotuses from Lake Manasa,

Verse 24 (padma.6.52.24)

शिवपूजनवेलायां कुबेराय समर्पये । एकस्मिन्दिवसे चैव कालश्चाविदितो मया

śivapūjanavelāyāṁ kuberāya samarpaye ekasmindivase caiva kālaścāvidito mayā

and offer them to Kubera at the time of Shiva's worship. On a single day the appointed time passed by, of which I remained unaware,

Verse 25 (padma.6.52.25)

पत्नीसौख्यप्रसक्तेन शोकव्याकुलचेतसा । ततः क्रुद्धेन शप्तोऽस्मि राजराजेन वै मुने

patnīsaukhyaprasaktena śokavyākulacetasā tataḥ kruddhena śapto'smi rājarājena vai mune

because, absorbed in my wife's happiness, my mind had become troubled with a certain grief. Then, in his anger, O sage, the king of kings cursed me.

Verse 26 (padma.6.52.26)

कुष्ठाभिभूतः संजातो वियुक्तः कांतया तया । अधुना तव सान्निध्यं प्राप्तोऽस्मि शुभकर्मणा

kuṣṭhābhibhūtaḥ saṁjāto viyuktaḥ kāṁtayā tayā adhunā tava sānnidhyaṁ prāpto'smi śubhakarmaṇā

I became afflicted with leprosy and was also separated from that beloved of mine. Now, through the fruit of some good deed, I have obtained your presence.

Verse 27 (padma.6.52.27)

सतां स्वभावतश्चित्तं परोपकरणे क्षमम् । इति ज्ञात्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ मां प्रशाधि कृतागसम्

satāṁ svabhāvataścittaṁ paropakaraṇe kṣamam iti jñātvā muniśreṣṭha māṁ praśādhi kṛtāgasam

It is the very nature of the virtuous that their hearts are ever capable of helping others - knowing this, O foremost of sages, show grace to me, though I have committed an offense.

Verse 28 (padma.6.52.28)

मार्कंडेय उवाच- त्वया सत्यमिह प्रोक्तं नासत्यं भाषितं यतः । अतो व्रतोपदेशं ते कथयामि शुभप्रदम्

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca- tvayā satyamiha proktaṁ nāsatyaṁ bhāṣitaṁ yataḥ ato vratopadeśaṁ te kathayāmi śubhapradam

Markandeya said: What you have spoken here is the truth, and no falsehood has been uttered by you. Therefore I shall give you instruction in a vow that bestows auspicious fruit.

Verse 29 (padma.6.52.29)

आषाढे कृष्णपक्षे तु योगिनीव्रतमाचर । अस्य व्रतस्य पुण्येन कुष्ठं यास्यति वै ध्रुवम्

āṣāḍhe kṛṣṇapakṣe tu yoginīvratamācara asya vratasya puṇyena kuṣṭhaṁ yāsyati vai dhruvam

Observe the vow of Yogini in the dark fortnight of Ashadha. By the merit of this vow, your leprosy shall surely depart.

Verse 30 (padma.6.52.30)

इति वाक्यमृषेः श्रुत्वा दंडवत्पतितो भुवि । उत्थापितः स मुनिना बभूवातीव हर्षितः

iti vākyamṛṣeḥ śrutvā daṁḍavatpatito bhuvi utthāpitaḥ sa muninā babhūvātīva harṣitaḥ

Hearing the sage's words, he fell prostrate to the ground like a rod. The sage raised him up, and he became exceedingly joyful.

Verse 31 (padma.6.52.31)

मार्कंडेयोपदेशेन व्रतं तेन कृतं यथा । अष्टादशेव कुष्ठानि गतानि तस्य सर्वशः

mārkaṁḍeyopadeśena vrataṁ tena kṛtaṁ yathā aṣṭādaśeva kuṣṭhāni gatāni tasya sarvaśaḥ

By Markandeya's instruction he performed that vow according to the rite; all eighteen forms of his leprosy departed completely.

Verse 32 (padma.6.52.32)

मुनेर्वाचा ततः सम्यग्व्रते चीर्णेऽभवत्सुखी । ईदृग्विधं नृपश्रेष्ठ कथितं योगिनीव्रतम्

munervācā tataḥ samyagvrate cīrṇe'bhavatsukhī īdṛgvidhaṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha kathitaṁ yoginīvratam

By the sage's word, having performed that vow well, he became happy. O best of kings, such is this Yogini vow that has been told.

Verse 33 (padma.6.52.33)

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि द्विजान्भोजयते तु यः । तत्समं फलमाप्नोति योगिनीव्रतकृन्नरः

aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi dvijānbhojayate tu yaḥ tatsamaṁ phalamāpnoti yoginīvratakṛnnaraḥ

A man who observes the vow of Yogini obtains a fruit equal to that of one who feeds eighty-eight thousand brahmins.

Verse 34 (padma.6.52.34)

महापापप्रशमनं महापुण्यफलप्रदम् । पठनाच्छ्रवणान्मर्त्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

mahāpāpapraśamanaṁ mahāpuṇyaphalapradam paṭhanācchravaṇānmartyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

It pacifies the gravest sins and bestows the fruit of great merit. By merely reading or hearing it too, a mortal becomes freed from all sin.