Kamika Ekadashi of Shravana Krishna

Verse 1 (padma.6.54.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच- श्रावणस्य सिते पक्षे किंनामैकादशीभवेत् । तन्नः कथय गोविंद वासुदेव नमोऽस्तु ते

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- śrāvaṇasya site pakṣe kiṁnāmaikādaśībhavet tannaḥ kathaya goviṁda vāsudeva namo'stu te

Yudhishthira said: Which Ekadashi falls in the dark fortnight of Shravana? O Govinda, tell us this. O Vasudeva, salutations to you.

Verse 2 (padma.6.54.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि आख्यानं पापनाशनम् । यत्प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वं पृच्छते नारदाय वै

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi ākhyānaṁ pāpanāśanam yatproktaṁ brahmaṇā pūrvaṁ pṛcchate nāradāya vai

Sri Krishna said: O king, listen, I shall tell that sin-destroying tale, which Brahma once told to Narada, who had asked him.

Verse 3 (padma.6.54.3)

नारद उवाच- भगवन्श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तोऽहं कमलासन । श्रावणस्यासिते पक्षे किं नामैकादशी भवेत्

nārada uvāca- bhagavanśrotumicchāmi tvatto'haṁ kamalāsana śrāvaṇasyāsite pakṣe kiṁ nāmaikādaśī bhavet

Narada said: O Lord, O one seated upon the lotus, I wish to hear from you. Which Ekadashi falls in the dark fortnight of Shravana?

Verse 4 (padma.6.54.4)

को देवः को विधिस्तस्याः किं पुण्यं कथय प्रभो । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्

ko devaḥ ko vidhistasyāḥ kiṁ puṇyaṁ kathaya prabho iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā brahmā vacanamabravīt

Who is its deity, what is its rite, what is its merit, O Lord - tell me. Having heard his words, Brahma gave this answer -

Verse 5 (padma.6.54.5)

ब्रह्मोवाच- शृणु नारद ते वच्मि लोकानां हितकाम्यया । श्रावणैकादशी कृष्णा कामिका नाम नामतः

brahmovāca- śṛṇu nārada te vacmi lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā śrāvaṇaikādaśī kṛṣṇā kāmikā nāma nāmataḥ

Brahma said: Listen, O Narada, I shall tell you for the welfare of all people. The dark-fortnight Ekadashi of Shravana is known by the name Kamika.

Verse 6 (padma.6.54.6)

अस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं लभेत् । अस्यां यजति देवेशं शंखचक्रगदाधरम्

asyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa vājapeyaphalaṁ labhet asyāṁ yajati deveśaṁ śaṁkhacakragadādharam

By merely hearing it, one obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. On this day the Lord of gods, bearer of the conch, discus and mace, is worshipped.

Verse 7 (padma.6.54.7)

श्रीधराख्यं हरिं विष्णुं माधवं मधुसूदनम् । पूजयेद्ध्यायते यो वै तस्य पुण्यंफलं शृणु

śrīdharākhyaṁ hariṁ viṣṇuṁ mādhavaṁ madhusūdanam pūjayeddhyāyate yo vai tasya puṇyaṁphalaṁ śṛṇu

Whoever worships or meditates upon Hari, Vishnu, Madhava, and Madhusudana under the name Shridhara, listen to that man's meritorious fruit.

Verse 8 (padma.6.54.8)

न गंगायां न काश्यां च नैमिषे न च पुष्करे । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति यत्फलं कृष्णपूजनात्

na gaṁgāyāṁ na kāśyāṁ ca naimiṣe na ca puṣkare tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti yatphalaṁ kṛṣṇapūjanāt

Not at the Ganga, not at Kashi, not at Naimisha, and not even at Pushkara does one obtain that fruit which comes from the worship of Krishna.

Verse 9 (padma.6.54.9)

गोदावर्यां गुरौ सिंहे व्यतीपाते च दंडके । यत्फलं समवाप्नोति तत्फलं कृष्णपूजनात्

godāvaryāṁ gurau siṁhe vyatīpāte ca daṁḍake yatphalaṁ samavāpnoti tatphalaṁ kṛṣṇapūjanāt

The fruit obtained at the Godavari when Jupiter is in Leo, during the Vyatipata yoga, and in the Dandaka forest - that same fruit is obtained from the worship of Krishna.

Verse 10 (padma.6.54.10)

ससागरवनोपेतां यो ददाति वसुंधराम् । कामिकाव्रतकारी च ह्युभौ समफलौ स्मृतौ

sasāgaravanopetāṁ yo dadāti vasuṁdharām kāmikāvratakārī ca hyubhau samaphalau smṛtau

Whoever gives the earth together with its oceans and forests, and whoever observes the vow of Kamika - both are declared to obtain an equal fruit.

Verse 11 (padma.6.54.11)

प्रसूयमानां यो धेनुं दद्यात्सोपस्करां नरः । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति कामिकाव्रतकारकः

prasūyamānāṁ yo dhenuṁ dadyātsopaskarāṁ naraḥ tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti kāmikāvratakārakaḥ

Whatever fruit a man obtains by giving a newly-calved cow together with all its accessories, that same fruit comes to one who observes the Kamika vow.

Verse 12 (padma.6.54.12)

श्रावणे श्रीधरं देवं पूजयेद्यो नरोत्तमः । तेनैव पूजिता देवा गंधर्वोरगपन्नगाः

śrāvaṇe śrīdharaṁ devaṁ pūjayedyo narottamaḥ tenaiva pūjitā devā gaṁdharvoragapannagāḥ

Whatever excellent man worships the god Shridhara in Shravana, by him the gods, gandharvas, and serpents too are honored.

Verse 13 (padma.6.54.13)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कामिकादिवसे हरिः । पूजनीयो यथाशक्ति मानुषैः पापभीरुभिः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāmikādivase hariḥ pūjanīyo yathāśakti mānuṣaiḥ pāpabhīrubhiḥ

Therefore men who fear sin should worship Hari on the day of Kamika, according to their means, with every effort.

Verse 14 (padma.6.54.14)

ये संसारार्णवे मग्नाः पापपंकसमाकुले । तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय कामिकाव्रतमुत्तमम्

ye saṁsārārṇave magnāḥ pāpapaṁkasamākule teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya kāmikāvratamuttamam

This excellent Kamika vow exists solely to rescue those sunk in the ocean of worldly existence, filled with the mire of sin.

Verse 15 (padma.6.54.15)

नातः परतरा काचित्पवित्रा पापहारिणी । एवं नारद जानीहि स्वयमाह परो हरिः

nātaḥ paratarā kācitpavitrā pāpahāriṇī evaṁ nārada jānīhi svayamāha paro hariḥ

No other Ekadashi is more pure or more sin-removing than this one. O Narada, know it thus - this the supreme Hari has himself declared.

Verse 16 (padma.6.54.16)

अध्यात्मविद्या निरतैर्यत्फलं प्राप्यते नरैः । ततो बहुतरं विद्धि कामिकाव्रतसेविनाम्

adhyātmavidyā niratairyatphalaṁ prāpyate naraiḥ tato bahutaraṁ viddhi kāmikāvratasevinām

Whatever fruit men absorbed in spiritual knowledge attain, know that those who observe the Kamika vow attain far more than that.

Verse 17 (padma.6.54.17)

रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा कामिकाव्रतकृन्नरः । न पश्यति यमं रौद्रं नैव गच्छति दुर्गतिम्

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā kāmikāvratakṛnnaraḥ na paśyati yamaṁ raudraṁ naiva gacchati durgatim

A man who observes the Kamika vow, keeping the night-vigil, does not behold the terrible Yama, nor does he attain an evil state.

Verse 18 (padma.6.54.18)

न पश्यति कुयोनिं च कामिकाव्रतसेवनात् । कामिकाया व्रते चीर्णे कैवल्यं योगिनो गताः

na paśyati kuyoniṁ ca kāmikāvratasevanāt kāmikāyā vrate cīrṇe kaivalyaṁ yogino gatāḥ

By observing the Kamika vow he does not behold a lower birth either. Having completed the vow of Kamika, yogis attain kaivalya [liberation].

Verse 19 (padma.6.54.19)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कर्तव्या नियतात्मभिः । तुलसीप्रभवैः पत्रैः यो नरः पूजयेद्धरिम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kartavyā niyatātmabhiḥ tulasīprabhavaiḥ patraiḥ yo naraḥ pūjayeddharim

Therefore the self-restrained should observe it with every effort. Whatever man worships Hari with the leaves of tulasi,

Verse 20 (padma.6.54.20)

न लिप्यते स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवांभसा । सुवर्णभारमेकं तु रजतं च चतुर्गुणम्

na lipyate sa pāpena padmapatramivāṁbhasā suvarṇabhāramekaṁ tu rajataṁ ca caturguṇam

he remains untouched by sin, just as a lotus-leaf remains untouched by water. The fruit obtained by giving one bhara of gold, and four times that of silver -

Verse 21 (padma.6.54.21)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति तुलसीदलपूजनात् । रत्न मौक्तिक वैडूर्य प्रवालादिभिरर्चितः

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti tulasīdalapūjanāt ratna mauktika vaiḍūrya pravālādibhirarcitaḥ

that very fruit is obtained from the worship offered with a tulasi leaf. Even when worshipped with gems, pearls, cat's-eye, and coral,

Verse 22 (padma.6.54.22)

न तुष्यति तथा विष्णुस्तुलसीदलतो यथा । तुलसीमंजरीभिश्च पूजितो येन केशवः

na tuṣyati tathā viṣṇustulasīdalato yathā tulasīmaṁjarībhiśca pūjito yena keśavaḥ

Vishnu is not so pleased as he is by a single tulasi leaf. He who has worshipped Keshava with tulasi's blossoms -

Verse 23 (padma.6.54.23)

या दृष्टा निखिलाघसंघशमनी स्पृष्टा वपुः पावनी। रोगाणामभिवंदितानि रसिनी सिक्तांतकत्रासिनी । प्रत्यासत्तिविधायिनी भगवतः कृष्णस्य संरोपिता। न्यस्ता तच्चरणे विमुक्तिफलदा तस्यै तुलस्यै नमः

yā dṛṣṭā nikhilāghasaṁghaśamanī spṛṣṭā vapuḥ pāvanī rogāṇāmabhivaṁditāni rasinī siktāṁtakatrāsinī pratyāsattividhāyinī bhagavataḥ kṛṣṇasya saṁropitā nyastā taccaraṇe vimuktiphaladā tasyai tulasyai namaḥ

[Praise of Tulasi:] 'She whose very sight pacifies the whole mass of sin, whose touch purifies the body, who removes diseases and is worthy of praise, full of sap, who, when watered, strikes even fear into Death itself, who brings the devotee into nearness with Lord Krishna, who was planted by him and placed at his own feet, who bestows the fruit of liberation - to that Tulasi, salutations.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.54.24)

दीपं ददाति यो मर्त्यो दिवारात्रं हरेर्दिने । तस्य पुण्यस्य संख्यातुं चित्रगुप्तो न वेत्त्यलम्

dīpaṁ dadāti yo martyo divārātraṁ harerdine tasya puṇyasya saṁkhyātuṁ citragupto na vettyalam

A man who keeps a lamp burning day and night on Hari's day - even Chitragupta himself is not capable of reckoning that man's merit.

Verse 25 (padma.6.54.25)

कृष्णाग्रे दीपको यस्य ज्वलत्येकादशीदिने । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति अमृतेन दिवि स्थिताः

kṛṣṇāgre dīpako yasya jvalatyekādaśīdine pitarastasya tṛpyaṁti amṛtena divi sthitāḥ

Whoever keeps a lamp burning before Krishna on the day of Ekadashi - his ancestors, established in heaven, are satisfied with the nectar of immortality.

Verse 26 (padma.6.54.26)

घृतेन दीपं प्रज्वाल्य तिलतैलेन वा पुनः । प्रयाति सूर्यलोकं च दीपकोटिशतार्चितः

ghṛtena dīpaṁ prajvālya tilatailena vā punaḥ prayāti sūryalokaṁ ca dīpakoṭiśatārcitaḥ

Having kindled a lamp with ghee or with sesame oil, honored as though with hundreds of crores of lamps, he attains the realm of the Sun.

Verse 27 (padma.6.54.27)

अयं तवाग्रे कथितः कामिकामहिमा मया । अतो नरैः प्रकर्त्तव्या सर्वपातकहारिणी

ayaṁ tavāgre kathitaḥ kāmikāmahimā mayā ato naraiḥ prakarttavyā sarvapātakahāriṇī

This glory of Kamika I have told you here. Therefore men must surely perform this vow, which removes every sin.

Verse 28 (padma.6.54.28)

ब्रह्महत्यापहरणी भ्रूणहत्याविनाशिनी । वैष्णवस्थानदात्री च महापुण्यफलप्रदा

brahmahatyāpaharaṇī bhrūṇahatyāvināśinī vaiṣṇavasthānadātrī ca mahāpuṇyaphalapradā

It removes the sin of killing a brahmin, destroys the sin of killing an unborn child, bestows the Vaishnava state, and grants the fruit of great merit.

Verse 29 (padma.6.54.29)

श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमेतस्या नरः श्रद्धासमन्वितः । विष्णुलोकमवाप्नोति सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

śrutvā māhātmyametasyā naraḥ śraddhāsamanvitaḥ viṣṇulokamavāpnoti sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

A man endowed with faith, having heard this glory, attains the realm of Vishnu and is freed from every sin.