Devashayani Ekadashi of Ashadha Shukla

Verse 1 (padma.6.53.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच- आषाढस्य सिते पक्षे का च एकादशी भवेत् । किं नाम को विधिस्तस्या एतद्विस्तरतो वद

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- āṣāḍhasya site pakṣe kā ca ekādaśī bhavet kiṁ nāma ko vidhistasyā etadvistarato vada

Yudhishthira said: Which Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of Ashadha? What is its name, what is its rite - tell me this in full detail.

Verse 2 (padma.6.53.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- कथयामि महापुण्यां स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायिनीम् । शयनीं नामनामेति सर्वपापहरां पराम्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- kathayāmi mahāpuṇyāṁ svargamokṣapradāyinīm śayanīṁ nāmanāmeti sarvapāpaharāṁ parām

Sri Krishna said: I shall tell of that most meritorious Ekadashi, bestowing both heaven and liberation, whose name is Shayani, and which is the supreme Ekadashi that removes every sin.

Verse 3 (padma.6.53.3)

यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं लभेत् । सत्यं सत्यं मया प्रोक्तं नातः परतरं नृणाम्

yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa vājapeyaphalaṁ labhet satyaṁ satyaṁ mayā proktaṁ nātaḥ parataraṁ nṛṇām

By merely hearing it, one obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. I speak the truth, and the truth again - for men there is nothing greater than this.

Verse 4 (padma.6.53.4)

पापिनां पापनाशाय सृष्टा धात्रा महोत्तमा । अतः परा न राजेंद्र वर्त्तते मोक्षदायिनी

pāpināṁ pāpanāśāya sṛṣṭā dhātrā mahottamā ataḥ parā na rājeṁdra varttate mokṣadāyinī

The Creator fashioned it as most excellent, for the destruction of the sins of sinners. O lord of kings, no other Ekadashi surpasses it in granting liberation.

Verse 5 (padma.6.53.5)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्श्रूयतां गतिरुत्तमा । भवेन्नराणां श्रोतॄणां कथायाः श्रवणादपि

etasmātkāraṇādrājanśrūyatāṁ gatiruttamā bhavennarāṇāṁ śrotṝṇāṁ kathāyāḥ śravaṇādapi

For this very reason, O king, listen to its supreme destination - even men who merely hear this tale attain it.

Verse 6 (padma.6.53.6)

ते सदा वैष्णवा राजन्मम भक्तिपरायणाः । आषाढे वामनश्चैव पूज्यते परमेश्वरः

te sadā vaiṣṇavā rājanmama bhaktiparāyaṇāḥ āṣāḍhe vāmanaścaiva pūjyate parameśvaraḥ

O king, they become forever Vaishnavas, devoted to my bhakti. In Ashadha the supreme Lord Vamana is worshipped.

Verse 7 (padma.6.53.7)

वामनः पूजितो येन कमलैः कमलेक्षणः । आषाढस्य सिते पक्षे कामिकाया दिने तथा

vāmanaḥ pūjito yena kamalaiḥ kamalekṣaṇaḥ āṣāḍhasya site pakṣe kāmikāyā dine tathā

Whoever worships the lotus-eyed Vamana with lotuses, on the day of Kamika, in the bright fortnight of Ashadha,

Verse 8 (padma.6.53.8)

तेनार्चितं जगत्सर्वं त्रयो देवाः सनातनाः । कृता चैकादशी येन हरिवासरमुत्तमम्

tenārcitaṁ jagatsarvaṁ trayo devāḥ sanātanāḥ kṛtā caikādaśī yena harivāsaramuttamam

by him the entire world and the three eternal gods are honored. He who has established this excellent day of Hari as Ekadashi,

Verse 9 (padma.6.53.9)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच- संशयोऽस्ति महान्मेऽत्र श्रूयतां पुरुषोत्तम । कथं सुप्तोऽसि देवेश कथं च बलिमाश्रितः

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- saṁśayo'sti mahānme'tra śrūyatāṁ puruṣottama kathaṁ supto'si deveśa kathaṁ ca balimāśritaḥ

[obtains that fruit]. Yudhishthira said: O Purushottama, I have a great doubt about this - listen. O Lord of gods, how do you sleep, and how do you take refuge with Bali?

Verse 10 (padma.6.53.10)

कथं च भूमौ संवेशः किं कुर्वंति जनाः परे । एतद्वद महाप्राज्ञ संशयोऽस्ति महान्मम

kathaṁ ca bhūmau saṁveśaḥ kiṁ kurvaṁti janāḥ pare etadvada mahāprājña saṁśayo'sti mahānmama

How do you lie down upon the earth, and what do other people do [during that time]? O most wise one, tell me this, for I have a great doubt about it.

Verse 11 (padma.6.53.11)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच - श्रूयतां राजशार्दूल कथां पापहरां पराम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca - śrūyatāṁ rājaśārdūla kathāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet

Sri Krishna said: O tiger among kings, listen to that supreme, sin-destroying tale, by merely hearing which every sin is destroyed.

Verse 12 (padma.6.53.12)

बलिनामा पूर्वमासीद्दैत्यस्त्रेतायुगे नृप । पूजयंश्चैव मां नित्यं मद्भक्तो मत्परायणः

balināmā pūrvamāsīddaityastretāyuge nṛpa pūjayaṁścaiva māṁ nityaṁ madbhakto matparāyaṇaḥ

O king, in the Treta age there once was a demon named Bali, who was my devotee, ever worshipping me alone and devoted to me.

Verse 13 (padma.6.53.13)

यज्ञैस्तु विधिवद्दैत्यो यजते मां सनातनम् । भक्त्या च परया राजन्यज्ञकृद्व्रतकृत्तथा

yajñaistu vidhivaddaityo yajate māṁ sanātanam bhaktyā ca parayā rājanyajñakṛdvratakṛttathā

That demon worshipped me, the eternal one, through sacrifices performed according to the rite. O king, with supreme devotion he was both a performer of sacrifices and a keeper of vows.

Verse 14 (padma.6.53.14)

परं विचार्य बहुधा मघोना चैव सूक्तिभिः । गुरुणा दैवतैः सार्द्धं बहुधा पूजितोऽप्यहम्

paraṁ vicārya bahudhā maghonā caiva sūktibhiḥ guruṇā daivataiḥ sārddhaṁ bahudhā pūjito'pyaham

With Indra and the other gods, and with their teacher [Brihaspati] too, I was worshipped many times over with various hymns; yet they pondered long and much,

Verse 15 (padma.6.53.15)

ततो वामनरूपेण अवतारे च पंचमे । अत्युग्ररूपेण तदा सर्वब्रह्मांडरूपिणा

tato vāmanarūpeṇa avatāre ca paṁcame atyugrarūpeṇa tadā sarvabrahmāṁḍarūpiṇā

and then I took the form of Vamana, in my fifth incarnation, and, in that most awesome form, assumed the shape of the entire universe.

Verse 16 (padma.6.53.16)

वाक्छलेन जिता दैत्याः सत्यमाश्रित्य संस्थितः । शुक्रस्तं वारयामास यन्नारायण इत्ययम्

vākchalena jitā daityāḥ satyamāśritya saṁsthitaḥ śukrastaṁ vārayāmāsa yannārāyaṇa ityayam

By a stratagem of words I conquered the demons, [Bali] remaining steadfast in truth. Shukracharya tried to stop him, [knowing] that this [petitioner] was Narayana himself.

Verse 17 (padma.6.53.17)

याचिता वसुधा राजन्सार्द्धत्रयपदी मया । संकल्पोदकमात्रे तु करे तेनैव चार्पिते

yācitā vasudhā rājansārddhatrayapadī mayā saṁkalpodakamātre tu kare tenaiva cārpite

O king, I asked for two and a half paces of land; with the mere water of the ritual vow, he offered it to me into my hand.

Verse 18 (padma.6.53.18)

रूपमीदृग्विधं राजंस्तदा शृणु मया कृतम् । भूर्लोके चरणौ न्यस्य भुवर्लोके तु जानुनी

rūpamīdṛgvidhaṁ rājaṁstadā śṛṇu mayā kṛtam bhūrloke caraṇau nyasya bhuvarloke tu jānunī

Then I took on such a form, O king, listen - in Bhurloka I placed my feet, in Bhuvarloka my two knees,

Verse 19 (padma.6.53.19)

स्वर्लोके च कटिं न्यस्य महर्लोके तथोदरम् । जनलोके च हृदयं तपोलोके तु कंठकम्

svarloke ca kaṭiṁ nyasya maharloke tathodaram janaloke ca hṛdayaṁ tapoloke tu kaṁṭhakam

in Svarloka my waist, in Maharloka my belly, in Janaloka my heart, in Tapoloka my throat,

Verse 20 (padma.6.53.20)

सत्यलोके मुखं स्थाप्य मस्तकं च तदूर्द्ध्वकम् । चंद्रसूर्यग्रहाश्चैव नक्षत्राणि तथैव च

satyaloke mukhaṁ sthāpya mastakaṁ ca tadūrddhvakam caṁdrasūryagrahāścaiva nakṣatrāṇi tathaiva ca

and in Satyaloka my face, and above that my head. The moon, the sun, the planets, and the stars too,

Verse 21 (padma.6.53.21)

देवाः सेंद्राश्च नागाश्च यक्षगंधर्वकिन्नराः । स्तुवंतो वेदसंभूतैः सूक्तैश्च विविधैस्तथा

devāḥ seṁdrāśca nāgāśca yakṣagaṁdharvakinnarāḥ stuvaṁto vedasaṁbhūtaiḥ sūktaiśca vividhaistathā

the gods with Indra, the serpents, yakshas, gandharvas and kinnaras - all began to praise me with various Vedic hymns.

Verse 22 (padma.6.53.22)

करे गृहीत्वा च बलिं त्रिपदैः पूरिता मही । अर्द्धं च तस्य पृष्ठे च पदं न्यस्तं मया तदा

kare gṛhītvā ca baliṁ tripadaiḥ pūritā mahī arddhaṁ ca tasya pṛṣṭhe ca padaṁ nyastaṁ mayā tadā

Taking Bali by the hand, I filled the earth with three strides; upon his half [remaining stride's worth] and upon his back I then placed my [third] foot.

Verse 23 (padma.6.53.23)

गतो रसातलं राजन्दानवो मम पूजकः । क्षिप्तोऽधो दानवश्चैव किमकुर्वं ततः परम्

gato rasātalaṁ rājandānavo mama pūjakaḥ kṣipto'dho dānavaścaiva kimakurvaṁ tataḥ param

O king, that demon, my devotee, went down to Rasatala [the netherworld]. I cast that demon downward - what did I do after that?

Verse 24 (padma.6.53.24)

विनयेनानतोसौ वै सुप्रसन्नो जनार्दनः । आषाढशुक्लपक्षे तु कामिका हरिवासरः

vinayenānatosau vai suprasanno janārdanaḥ āṣāḍhaśuklapakṣe tu kāmikā harivāsaraḥ

With that one bowed in humility, Janardana [I myself] became exceedingly pleased. In the bright fortnight of Ashadha, Kamika [Ekadashi] is Hari's day.

Verse 25 (padma.6.53.25)

तस्यामेका च मूर्तिर्मे बलिमाश्रित्य तिष्ठति । द्वितीया शेषपृष्ठे वै क्षीरसागरमध्यतः

tasyāmekā ca mūrtirme balimāśritya tiṣṭhati dvitīyā śeṣapṛṣṭhe vai kṣīrasāgaramadhyataḥ

On that day one form of mine remains established in Bali's presence, and another rests upon the back of Shesha, in the midst of the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 26 (padma.6.53.26)

स्वपित्येव महाराज यावदागामि कार्तिकी । तावद्भवेत्सुधर्मात्मा सर्वधर्मोत्तमोत्तमः

svapityeva mahārāja yāvadāgāmi kārtikī tāvadbhavetsudharmātmā sarvadharmottamottamaḥ

O great king, I sleep in this manner until the arrival of Kartika. In that time, whoever is of true righteous soul becomes the most excellent among all the dharmic,

Verse 27 (padma.6.53.27)

व्रतं च कुरुते मर्त्यः स याति परमां गतिम् । एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्कर्त्तव्या च प्रयत्नतः

vrataṁ ca kurute martyaḥ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim etasmātkāraṇādrājankarttavyā ca prayatnataḥ

and the man who performs this vow attains the supreme state. For this very reason, O king, it must be observed with diligent effort.

Verse 28 (padma.6.53.28)

नातः परतरा काचित्पवित्रा पापनाशिनी । यस्यां स्वपिति देवेशः शंखचक्रगदाधरः

nātaḥ paratarā kācitpavitrā pāpanāśinī yasyāṁ svapiti deveśaḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ

No other Ekadashi is more pure or more sin-destroying than this one, on which the Lord of gods, bearer of the conch, discus and mace, himself lies down to sleep.

Verse 29 (padma.6.53.29)

तस्यां च पूजयेद्देवं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् । रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा भक्त्या चैव विशेषतः

tasyāṁ ca pūjayeddevaṁ śaṁkhacakragadādharam rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā bhaktyā caiva viśeṣataḥ

On that day that god, bearer of the conch, discus and mace, should be worshipped, keeping the night-vigil, with special devotion.

Verse 30 (padma.6.53.30)

नास्याः पुण्यस्य संख्यानं कर्तुं शक्तश्चतुर्मुखः । एवं यः कुरुते राजन्नेकादश्या व्रतोत्तमम्

nāsyāḥ puṇyasya saṁkhyānaṁ kartuṁ śaktaścaturmukhaḥ evaṁ yaḥ kurute rājannekādaśyā vratottamam

Even the four-faced Brahma himself is not capable of reckoning the merit of this vow. O king, whoever thus observes this excellent vow of Ekadashi -

Verse 31 (padma.6.53.31)

सर्वपापहरं चैव भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् । स च लोके मम सदा श्वपचोऽपि प्रियंकरः

sarvapāpaharaṁ caiva bhuktimuktipradāyakam sa ca loke mama sadā śvapaco'pi priyaṁkaraḥ

this vow removes every sin and bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation. Such a person is ever dear to me, even were he an outcaste.

Verse 32 (padma.6.53.32)

दीपदानेन पालाशपत्रे भुक्त्या व्रतेन च । चातुर्मास्यं नयंतीह ते नरा मम वल्लभाः

dīpadānena pālāśapatre bhuktyā vratena ca cāturmāsyaṁ nayaṁtīha te narā mama vallabhāḥ

Those men who offer a lamp on a palasha leaf, keep restraint in their eating, and thus pass the four months of Chaturmasya under vow - they are dear to me.

Verse 33 (padma.6.53.33)

चातुर्मास्ये हरौ सुप्ते भूमिशायी भवेन्नरः । श्रावणे वर्जयेच्छाकं दधि भाद्रपदे तथा

cāturmāsye harau supte bhūmiśāyī bhavennaraḥ śrāvaṇe varjayecchākaṁ dadhi bhādrapade tathā

During Chaturmasya, when Hari sleeps, a man should lie upon the ground. In Shravana one should give up leafy greens, in Bhadrapada, curd,

Verse 34 (padma.6.53.34)

दुग्धमाश्वयुजि त्याज्यं कार्तिके द्विदलं त्यजेत् । अथवा ब्रह्मचर्यस्थः स याति परमां गतिम्

dugdhamāśvayuji tyājyaṁ kārtike dvidalaṁ tyajet athavā brahmacaryasthaḥ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

in Ashvina, milk should be given up, and in Kartika, split lentils should be given up. Or whoever remains established in celibacy attains the supreme state.

Verse 35 (padma.6.53.35)

एकादश्या व्रतेनैव पुमान्पापैर्विमुच्यते । कर्तव्या सर्वदा राजन्विस्मर्तव्या न कर्हिचित्

ekādaśyā vratenaiva pumānpāpairvimucyate kartavyā sarvadā rājanvismartavyā na karhicit

By the vow of Ekadashi alone a man is freed from his sins. O king, it should be observed always, and never at any time forgotten.

Verse 36 (padma.6.53.36)

शयनी बोधिनी मध्ये या कृष्णैकादशीभवेत् । सैवोपोष्या गृहस्थस्य नान्या कृष्णा कदाचन

śayanī bodhinī madhye yā kṛṣṇaikādaśībhavet saivopoṣyā gṛhasthasya nānyā kṛṣṇā kadācana

Whatever dark-fortnight Ekadashi falls between Shayani and Bodhini [Ekadashi], that alone should be observed as a fast by the householder, and no other dark-fortnight Ekadashi at any time.

Verse 37 (padma.6.53.37)

शृणुयाच्चैव यो राजन्कथां पापहरां पराम् । अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः

śṛṇuyāccaiva yo rājankathāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām aśvamedhasya yajñasya phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

O king, whoever hears this supreme, sin-destroying tale, that man obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.