Putrada (Pavitraropani) Ekadashi of Shravana Shukla

Verse 1 (padma.6.55.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। श्रावणस्य सिते पक्षे किं नामैकादशीभवेत् । कथयस्व प्रसादेन ममाग्रे मधुसूदन

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca śrāvaṇasya site pakṣe kiṁ nāmaikādaśībhavet kathayasva prasādena mamāgre madhusūdana

Yudhishthira said: Which Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of Shravana? O Madhusudana, kindly tell me.

Verse 2 (padma.6.55.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्कथां पापहरां पराम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं भवेत्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājankathāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa vājapeyaphalaṁ bhavet

Sri Krishna said: O king, listen attentively to that supreme, sin-destroying tale, by merely hearing which one obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.

Verse 3 (padma.6.55.3)

द्वापरस्य युगस्यादौ पुरा माहिष्मती पुरे । राजा महीजिदाख्यातो राज्यं पालयति स्वकम्

dvāparasya yugasyādau purā māhiṣmatī pure rājā mahījidākhyāto rājyaṁ pālayati svakam

At the beginning of the Dvapara age, long ago, in the city of Mahishmati, a king named Mahijit ruled over his kingdom.

Verse 4 (padma.6.55.4)

पुत्रहीनस्य तस्यैव न तद्राज्यं सुखप्रदम् । अपुत्रस्य सुखं नास्ति इहलोके परत्र च

putrahīnasya tasyaiva na tadrājyaṁ sukhapradam aputrasya sukhaṁ nāsti ihaloke paratra ca

Being without a son, that kingdom of his gave him no happiness; one without a son finds no comfort, neither in this world nor the next.

Verse 5 (padma.6.55.5)

चिंतयास्य सुतस्यैवं कालो बहुतरो गतः । न प्राप्तश्च सुतो राज्ञा सर्वसौख्यप्रदो नृणाम्

ciṁtayāsya sutasyaivaṁ kālo bahutaro gataḥ na prāptaśca suto rājñā sarvasaukhyaprado nṛṇām

Thus, brooding over a son, much time passed for him, yet the king never obtained that son who brings every happiness to men.

Verse 6 (padma.6.55.6)

दृष्ट्वात्मानं प्रवयसं राजा चिंतापरोऽभवत् । तदागतः प्रजामध्ये इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

dṛṣṭvātmānaṁ pravayasaṁ rājā ciṁtāparo'bhavat tadāgataḥ prajāmadhye idaṁ vacanamabravīt

Beholding himself grown old, the king fell into deep anxiety; then, coming among his subjects, he spoke these words -

Verse 7 (padma.6.55.7)

इहजन्मनि भो लोका न मया पातकं कृतम् । अन्यायोपार्जितं वित्तं क्षिप्तं कोशे मया न हि

ihajanmani bho lokā na mayā pātakaṁ kṛtam anyāyopārjitaṁ vittaṁ kṣiptaṁ kośe mayā na hi

'O my people, in this birth I have committed no sin; never have I placed unjustly acquired wealth into my treasury.

Verse 8 (padma.6.55.8)

ब्रह्मस्वं देवद्रविणं न गृहीतं मया क्वचित् । न्यासापहारो न कृतः परस्य बहुपापदः । पुत्रवत्पालितो लोको धर्मेण विजिता मही

brahmasvaṁ devadraviṇaṁ na gṛhītaṁ mayā kvacit nyāsāpahāro na kṛtaḥ parasya bahupāpadaḥ putravatpālito loko dharmeṇa vijitā mahī

Never have I taken the wealth of brahmins or the property of the gods, nor have I ever committed the great sin of misappropriating another's trust. I have cherished my subjects as my own children, and have conquered the earth righteously.

Verse 9 (padma.6.55.9)

दुष्टेषु पातितो दंडो बंधुपुत्रोपमेष्वपि । शिष्टास्तु पूजिता नित्यं न द्वेष्याश्च मया जनाः

duṣṭeṣu pātito daṁḍo baṁdhuputropameṣvapi śiṣṭāstu pūjitā nityaṁ na dveṣyāśca mayā janāḥ

Even those wicked ones as dear to me as kin or son have been duly punished; the virtuous have always been honored, and I have never harbored hatred toward anyone.

Verse 10 (padma.6.55.10)

इत्येवं ब्रुवतो मार्गं धर्मयुक्तं द्विजोत्तमाः । कस्मान्मम गृहे पुत्रो न जातस्तद्विमृश्यताम्

ityevaṁ bruvato mārgaṁ dharmayuktaṁ dvijottamāḥ kasmānmama gṛhe putro na jātastadvimṛśyatām

Even while walking thus upon the path of dharma, O foremost of brahmins, why has no son been born in my house - consider this and tell me.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.55.11)

इति वाक्यं द्विजाः श्रुत्वा सप्रजाः सपुरोहिताः । मंत्रयित्वा नृपहितं जग्मुस्ते गहनं वनम्

iti vākyaṁ dvijāḥ śrutvā saprajāḥ sapurohitāḥ maṁtrayitvā nṛpahitaṁ jagmuste gahanaṁ vanam

Hearing these words, the brahmins, the people, and the priests, all together, deliberating for the king's welfare, went into the dense forest.

Verse 12 (padma.6.55.12)

इतस्ततश्च पश्यंत आश्रमानृषिसेवितान् । नृपतेर्हितमिच्छंतो ददृशुर्मुनिसत्तमम्

itastataśca paśyaṁta āśramānṛṣisevitān nṛpaterhitamicchaṁto dadṛśurmunisattamam

Looking here and there, seeking hermitages attended by sages, wishing the king's welfare, they beheld an excellent sage,

Verse 13 (padma.6.55.13)

तप्यमानं तपो घोरं निरालंबं निरामयम् । निराहारं जितात्मानं जितक्रोधं सनातनम्

tapyamānaṁ tapo ghoraṁ nirālaṁbaṁ nirāmayam nirāhāraṁ jitātmānaṁ jitakrodhaṁ sanātanam

who was practicing terrible austerity, without any support, free from illness, without food, with senses and anger conquered, and eternal in nature,

Verse 14 (padma.6.55.14)

लोमशं धर्मतत्वज्ञं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम् । दीर्घायुषं महात्मानं सकेशं ब्रह्मसंमितम्

lomaśaṁ dharmatatvajñaṁ sarvaśāstraviśāradam dīrghāyuṣaṁ mahātmānaṁ sakeśaṁ brahmasaṁmitam

that sage named Lomasha, knower of the essence of dharma, skilled in all the scriptures, of long life, great of soul, bearing his hair, and comparable to Brahma himself.

Verse 15 (padma.6.55.15)

कल्पेकल्पे गते तस्य एकं लोम विशीर्यते । अतो लोमशनामायं त्रिकालज्ञो महामुनिः

kalpekalpe gate tasya ekaṁ loma viśīryate ato lomaśanāmāyaṁ trikālajño mahāmuniḥ

With the passing of each kalpa, one hair of his falls away; for this very reason he is known by the name Lomasha, the great sage who knows the three times.

Verse 16 (padma.6.55.16)

तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षिताः सर्वे आजग्मुस्तस्य सन्निधिम् । यथान्यायं यथार्हं ते नमश्चक्रुर्यथोदितम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣitāḥ sarve ājagmustasya sannidhim yathānyāyaṁ yathārhaṁ te namaścakruryathoditam

Beholding him, all were filled with joy and drew near to him; they offered him salutations, duly and as was fitting.

Verse 17 (padma.6.55.17)

विनयावनताः सर्वे ऊचुस्ते च परस्परम् । अस्मद्भाग्यवशादेव प्राप्तोऽयं मुनिसत्तमः । तास्तथा स प्रजा वीक्ष्य उवाच ऋषिसत्तमः

vinayāvanatāḥ sarve ūcuste ca parasparam asmadbhāgyavaśādeva prāpto'yaṁ munisattamaḥ tāstathā sa prajā vīkṣya uvāca ṛṣisattamaḥ

Bowed in humility, they said to one another: 'By our own good fortune alone have we obtained this excellent sage.' Beholding them thus, that foremost of sages said -

Verse 18 (padma.6.55.18)

लोमश उवाच- किमर्थमिह संप्राप्तः कथयध्वं सकारणम् । दर्शनाद्धृष्टमनसः स्तुवंतश्चैव मां किमु

lomaśa uvāca- kimarthamiha saṁprāptaḥ kathayadhvaṁ sakāraṇam darśanāddhṛṣṭamanasaḥ stuvaṁtaścaiva māṁ kimu

Lomasha said: For what purpose have you come here - tell me the reason. Your minds are gladdened at the sight of me, and you are even praising me - why is this?

Verse 19 (padma.6.55.19)

असंशयं करिष्यामि भवतां यद्धितं भवेत् । परोपकृतये जन्म मादृशानां न संशयः

asaṁśayaṁ kariṣyāmi bhavatāṁ yaddhitaṁ bhavet paropakṛtaye janma mādṛśānāṁ na saṁśayaḥ

Whatever is good for you, I shall certainly do; those such as I are born only for the sake of helping others - of this there is no doubt.

Verse 20 (padma.6.55.20)

जना ऊचुः - श्रूयतामभिधास्यामो वयं स्वागमकारणम् । संशयच्छेदनार्थाय तव सान्निध्यमागताः

janā ūcuḥ - śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmo vayaṁ svāgamakāraṇam saṁśayacchedanārthāya tava sānnidhyamāgatāḥ

The people said: Listen, we shall tell you the reason for our coming; we have come into your presence only to resolve a certain doubt.

Verse 21 (padma.6.55.21)

पद्मयोनेः परतरस्त्वत्तः श्रेष्ठो न विद्यते । अतः कार्यवशात्प्राप्ताः समीपं भवतो वयम्

padmayoneḥ paratarastvattaḥ śreṣṭho na vidyate ataḥ kāryavaśātprāptāḥ samīpaṁ bhavato vayam

There is none greater than yourself, save the one born of the lotus [Brahma]; for this reason, driven by some purpose, we have come near to you.

Verse 22 (padma.6.55.22)

महीजिन्नाम राजासौ पुत्रहीनोऽस्ति सांप्रतम् । वयं तस्य प्रजा ब्रह्मन्पुत्रवत्तेन पालिताः

mahījinnāma rājāsau putrahīno'sti sāṁpratam vayaṁ tasya prajā brahmanputravattena pālitāḥ

There is a king named Mahijit who is at present without a son; O Brahmin, we are his subjects, and he has cherished us as his own children.

Verse 23 (padma.6.55.23)

तं पुत्ररहितं दृष्ट्वा तस्य दुःखेन दुःखिताः । तपः कर्तुमिहायाता मतिं कृत्वा तु नैष्ठिकीम्

taṁ putrarahitaṁ dṛṣṭvā tasya duḥkhena duḥkhitāḥ tapaḥ kartumihāyātā matiṁ kṛtvā tu naiṣṭhikīm

Beholding him without a son, and grieving at his sorrow, we came here, with firm resolve, to perform austerity.

Verse 24 (padma.6.55.24)

तस्य भाग्येन दृष्टोऽसि ह्यस्माभिस्त्वं द्विजोत्तम । महतां दर्शनेनैव कार्यसिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्

tasya bhāgyena dṛṣṭo'si hyasmābhistvaṁ dvijottama mahatāṁ darśanenaiva kāryasiddhirbhavennṛṇām

O best of the twice-born, it is by his very fortune that we have obtained sight of you; by the mere sight of the great, the purposes of men are fulfilled.

Verse 25 (padma.6.55.25)

उपदेशं वद मुने राज्ञः पुत्रो यथा भवेत् । इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा मुहूर्त्तं ध्यानमास्थितः । प्रत्युवाच मुनिर्ज्ञात्वा तस्य जन्म पुरातनम्

upadeśaṁ vada mune rājñaḥ putro yathā bhavet iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā muhūrttaṁ dhyānamāsthitaḥ pratyuvāca munirjñātvā tasya janma purātanam

O sage, give us that instruction by which the king might obtain a son. Hearing their words, the sage remained absorbed in meditation for a moment, and, having perceived his previous birth, gave this reply -

Verse 26 (padma.6.55.26)

लोमश उवाच- पुरा जन्मनि वैश्योऽयं धनहीनो नृशंसकृत् । वाणिज्यकर्मनिरतो ग्रामाद्ग्रामांतरं भ्रमन्

lomaśa uvāca- purā janmani vaiśyo'yaṁ dhanahīno nṛśaṁsakṛt vāṇijyakarmanirato grāmādgrāmāṁtaraṁ bhraman

Lomasha said: In his former birth, this king was a merchant, without wealth and given to cruel deeds; engaged in trade, he wandered from village to village.

Verse 27 (padma.6.55.27)

ज्येष्ठे मासि सिते पक्षे दशमी दिवसे तथा । मध्यगे द्युमणौ प्राप्ते ग्रामसीम्नि जलाशयम्

jyeṣṭhe māsi site pakṣe daśamī divase tathā madhyage dyumaṇau prāpte grāmasīmni jalāśayam

On the tenth day [Dashami] of the bright fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha, when the sun had reached its zenith, at the boundary of a village, a water-source -

Verse 28 (padma.6.55.28)

कूपिकां सजलां दृष्ट्वा जलपाने मनोदधे । सद्यस्ततः सवत्सा च धेनुस्तत्र समागता

kūpikāṁ sajalāṁ dṛṣṭvā jalapāne manodadhe sadyastataḥ savatsā ca dhenustatra samāgatā

seeing a small well filled with water, his mind longed to drink; at that very moment a cow together with her calf arrived there.

Verse 29 (padma.6.55.29)

तृष्णातुरा निदाघार्ता तस्यामंबुपपौ तु सा । पिबंतीं वारयित्वा तामसौ तोयं पपौ स्वयम्

tṛṣṇāturā nidāghārtā tasyāmaṁbupapau tu sā pibaṁtīṁ vārayitvā tāmasau toyaṁ papau svayam

Tormented by thirst and afflicted by the heat, she began to drink that water; stopping her as she drank, that merchant drank the water himself.

Verse 30 (padma.6.55.30)

कर्मणा तेन पापेन पुत्रहीनो नृपो भवेत् । कस्यापि जन्मनः पुण्यात्प्राप्तं राज्यमकंटकम्

karmaṇā tena pāpena putrahīno nṛpo bhavet kasyāpi janmanaḥ puṇyātprāptaṁ rājyamakaṁṭakam

By that very sinful deed, this man became a sonless king; only by the merit of some other former birth has he obtained this thorn-free kingdom.

Verse 31 (padma.6.55.31)

लोका ऊचुः - पुण्यात्पापं क्षयं याति पुराणे श्रूयते मुने । पुण्योपदेशं कथय येन पापक्षयो भवेत् । यथा भवत्प्रसादेन पुत्रो भवति भूपतेः

lokā ūcuḥ - puṇyātpāpaṁ kṣayaṁ yāti purāṇe śrūyate mune puṇyopadeśaṁ kathaya yena pāpakṣayo bhavet yathā bhavatprasādena putro bhavati bhūpateḥ

The people said: O sage, it is heard in the Puranas that sin is destroyed by merit. Tell us that meritorious teaching by which sin may be destroyed and, by your grace, the king may obtain a son.

Verse 32 (padma.6.55.32)

लोमश उवाच- श्रावणे शुक्लपक्षे तु पुत्रदा नाम विश्रुता । एकादशी वांच्छितदा कुरुध्वं तद्व्रतं जनाः

lomaśa uvāca- śrāvaṇe śuklapakṣe tu putradā nāma viśrutā ekādaśī vāṁcchitadā kurudhvaṁ tadvrataṁ janāḥ

Lomasha said: In the bright fortnight of Shravana there is an Ekadashi renowned by the name Putrada, which grants one's heart's desire; O people, observe that vow.

Verse 33 (padma.6.55.33)

इति श्रुत्वा नमस्कृत्य मुनिमेत्य पुरं व्रतम् । यथाविधियथान्यायं कृतं तैर्जागरान्वितम्

iti śrutvā namaskṛtya munimetya puraṁ vratam yathāvidhiyathānyāyaṁ kṛtaṁ tairjāgarānvitam

Hearing this, having bowed to the sage, they returned to the city and, according to the rite, duly, performed that vow together with the night-vigil.

Verse 34 (padma.6.55.34)

तस्य पुण्यं सुविमलं दत्तं नृपतये जनैः । दत्ते पुण्येऽथ सा राज्ञी गर्भमाधत्त शोभनम्

tasya puṇyaṁ suvimalaṁ dattaṁ nṛpataye janaiḥ datte puṇye'tha sā rājñī garbhamādhatta śobhanam

Those people offered that immaculate merit of theirs to the king; the moment that merit was offered, the queen conceived an auspicious child.

Verse 35 (padma.6.55.35)

प्राप्तो प्रसवकाले सा सुषुवे पुत्रमूर्जितम् । श्रावणस्य सिते पक्षे कर्कटस्थे दिवाकरे

prāpto prasavakāle sā suṣuve putramūrjitam śrāvaṇasya site pakṣe karkaṭasthe divākare

When the time of delivery came, she gave birth to a mighty son - in the bright fortnight of Shravana, when the sun stood in the sign of Karka [Cancer].

Verse 36 (padma.6.55.36)

द्वादश्यां वासुदेवाय पवित्रारोपणं स्मृतम् । हेम रौप्य ताम्र क्षौमैः सूत्रैः कौशेयपद्मजैः

dvādaśyāṁ vāsudevāya pavitrāropaṇaṁ smṛtam hema raupya tāmra kṣaumaiḥ sūtraiḥ kauśeyapadmajaiḥ

On Dvadashi, the offering of the pavitra [sacred thread] to Vasudeva is enjoined - with threads of gold, silver, copper, silk, threads made of kausheya and lotus-fiber,

Verse 37 (padma.6.55.37)

कुशैः काशैश्च कार्पासैर्ब्राह्मण्या कर्तितैः शुभैः । स्नात्वा त्रिगुणितं सूत्रं त्रिगुणीकृत्य शोधयेत्

kuśaiḥ kāśaiśca kārpāsairbrāhmaṇyā kartitaiḥ śubhaiḥ snātvā triguṇitaṁ sūtraṁ triguṇīkṛtya śodhayet

of kusha grass, kasha grass, and cotton, auspicious threads spun by a brahmin woman; having bathed, one should purify the thread, tripled threefold.

Verse 38 (padma.6.55.38)

गोदोहांतरिते काले पूर्वेद्युरधिवासनम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य गुरुपादौ प्रणम्य च

godohāṁtarite kāle pūrvedyuradhivāsanam brāhmaṇebhyo namaskṛtya gurupādau praṇamya ca

In the interval of a cow's milking-time, having performed the adhivasana [preliminary consecration] the day before, having bowed to the brahmins and to the teacher's feet,

Verse 39 (padma.6.55.39)

गीतमंगलनिर्घोषः कुर्याज्जागरणं ततः । ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या भिल्लाः शूद्रास्तथैव च

gītamaṁgalanirghoṣaḥ kuryājjāgaraṇaṁ tataḥ brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā bhillāḥ śūdrāstathaiva ca

the night-vigil should be kept, with the sound of auspicious songs. Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, forest-dwellers, and shudras too -

Verse 40 (padma.6.55.40)

स्वधर्मावस्थिताः सर्वे भक्त्या कुर्युः पवित्रकम् । ततः पवित्रं गुरवे दद्याद्वै विधिपूर्वकम्

svadharmāvasthitāḥ sarve bhaktyā kuryuḥ pavitrakam tataḥ pavitraṁ gurave dadyādvai vidhipūrvakam

all, remaining established in their own dharma, should perform this pavitraka [sacred-thread rite] with devotion. After that, that sacred thread should be offered, according to the rite, to the teacher.

Verse 41 (padma.6.55.41)

ब्राह्मणान्वैष्णवांश्चैव गंधपुष्पादिनार्चयेत् । अतो देवेति मंत्रेण द्विजो विष्णौ निवेदयेत्

brāhmaṇānvaiṣṇavāṁścaiva gaṁdhapuṣpādinārcayet ato deveti maṁtreṇa dvijo viṣṇau nivedayet

Brahmins and Vaishnavas should be worshipped with fragrant paste, flowers, and the like. The twice-born should offer it to Vishnu with the mantra 'ato devāḥ'.

Verse 42 (padma.6.55.42)

शूद्रस्तु मूलमंत्रेण यथा विष्णौ तथा शिवे । वर्षेवर्षे प्रकर्त्तव्यं पवित्रारोपणं नरैः

śūdrastu mūlamaṁtreṇa yathā viṣṇau tathā śive varṣevarṣe prakarttavyaṁ pavitrāropaṇaṁ naraiḥ

The shudra should offer it with the root mantra alone, both to Vishnu and likewise to Shiva. This pavitraropana should be performed by men every single year.

Verse 43 (padma.6.55.43)

भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च इच्छद्भिः संसारे शोकसागरे । न करोति विधानेन पवित्रारोपणं तु यः

bhuktiṁ muktiṁ ca icchadbhiḥ saṁsāre śokasāgare na karoti vidhānena pavitrāropaṇaṁ tu yaḥ

Whoever, desiring both worldly enjoyment and liberation amid the sorrow-ocean of this world, does not perform this pavitraropana according to the rite,

Verse 44 (padma.6.55.44)

तस्य सांवत्सरी पूजा निष्फला वैष्णवस्य तु । श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमेतस्या नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते । इह पुत्रसुखं प्राप्य परत्र स्वर्गतिं भवेत्

tasya sāṁvatsarī pūjā niṣphalā vaiṣṇavasya tu śrutvā māhātmyametasyā naraḥ pāpātpramucyate iha putrasukhaṁ prāpya paratra svargatiṁ bhavet

that Vaishnava's entire yearly worship becomes fruitless. Having heard this glory, a man becomes freed from sin; obtaining the joy of a son in this world, he attains the path to heaven in the next.