Padma Ekadashi of Bhadrapada Shukla

Verse 1 (padma.6.57.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच - नभस्यस्य सिते पक्षे किंनामैकादशी भवेत् । को देवः को विधिस्तस्य एतदाख्याहि केशव

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca - nabhasyasya site pakṣe kiṁnāmaikādaśī bhavet ko devaḥ ko vidhistasya etadākhyāhi keśava

Yudhishthira said: Which Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada [Nabhasya]? Who is its deity, what is its rite - tell me this, O Keshava.

Verse 2 (padma.6.57.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- कथयामि महीपाल कथामाश्चर्यकारिणीम् । कथयामास यां ब्रह्मा नारदाय महात्मने

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- kathayāmi mahīpāla kathāmāścaryakāriṇīm kathayāmāsa yāṁ brahmā nāradāya mahātmane

Sri Krishna said: O king of the earth, I shall tell that wondrous tale, which Brahma once told to the great-souled Narada.

Verse 3 (padma.6.57.3)

नारद उवाच- कथयस्व प्रसादेन चतुर्मुख नमोऽस्तु ते । नभस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु किं नामैकादशी भवेत् । एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विष्णोराराधनाय वै

nārada uvāca- kathayasva prasādena caturmukha namo'stu te nabhasya śuklapakṣe tu kiṁ nāmaikādaśī bhavet etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ viṣṇorārādhanāya vai

Narada said: O four-faced one, kindly tell me, salutations to you. Which Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of Nabhasya? I wish to hear this only for the worship of Vishnu.

Verse 4 (padma.6.57.4)

ब्रह्मोवाच- वैष्णवोऽसि मुनिश्रेष्ठ साधुपृष्टं किल त्वया । नातः परतरा लोके पवित्रा हरिवासरात्

brahmovāca- vaiṣṇavo'si muniśreṣṭha sādhupṛṣṭaṁ kila tvayā nātaḥ paratarā loke pavitrā harivāsarāt

Brahma said: O foremost of sages, you are truly a Vaishnava; you have asked well indeed. In this world there is nothing more sacred than Hari's day.

Verse 5 (padma.6.57.5)

पद्मा नामेति विख्याता नभस्यैकादशी सिता । हृषीकेशः पूज्यतेऽस्यां कर्त्तव्यं व्रतमुत्तमम्

padmā nāmeti vikhyātā nabhasyaikādaśī sitā hṛṣīkeśaḥ pūjyate'syāṁ karttavyaṁ vratamuttamam

This bright-fortnight Ekadashi of Nabhasya is renowned by the name Padma; on it Hrishikesha is worshipped, and this excellent vow should be observed.

Verse 6 (padma.6.57.6)

कथयामि तवाग्रेऽहं कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापापं प्रणश्यति

kathayāmi tavāgre'haṁ kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa mahāpāpaṁ praṇaśyati

I shall tell you that auspicious Puranic tale, by merely hearing which even the gravest sin is destroyed.

Verse 7 (padma.6.57.7)

मांधाता नाम राजर्षिर्विवस्वद्वंशसंभवः । बभूव चक्रवर्ती स सत्यसंधः प्रतापवान्

māṁdhātā nāma rājarṣirvivasvadvaṁśasaṁbhavaḥ babhūva cakravartī sa satyasaṁdhaḥ pratāpavān

There was a royal sage named Mandhata, born in the solar dynasty, an emperor true to his word and mighty in valor.

Verse 8 (padma.6.57.8)

धर्मतः पालयामास प्रजाः पुत्रानिवौरसान् । न तस्य राज्ये दुर्भिक्षं नाधयो व्याधयस्तथा

dharmataḥ pālayāmāsa prajāḥ putrānivaurasān na tasya rājye durbhikṣaṁ nādhayo vyādhayastathā

He cherished his subjects righteously, as though they were his own children. In his kingdom there was never any famine, nor any affliction of mind or body.

Verse 9 (padma.6.57.9)

निरातंकाः प्रजास्तस्य धनधान्यसमेधिताः । न्यायेनोपार्जितं वित्तं तस्य कोशे महीपते

nirātaṁkāḥ prajāstasya dhanadhānyasamedhitāḥ nyāyenopārjitaṁ vittaṁ tasya kośe mahīpate

His subjects were fearless and prospered in wealth and grain. O king, in his treasury there remained only wealth acquired justly.

Verse 10 (padma.6.57.10)

स्वस्वधर्मे प्रवर्त्तंते सर्वे वर्णाश्रमास्तथा । कामधेनुसमाभूमिस्तस्य राज्ये महीपतेः

svasvadharme pravarttaṁte sarve varṇāśramāstathā kāmadhenusamābhūmistasya rājye mahīpateḥ

All the varnas and ashramas remained engaged in their own respective dharma. In that king's realm the very earth was like the wish-fulfilling cow, Kamadhenu.

Verse 11 (padma.6.57.11)

तस्यैवं कुर्वतो राज्यं बहुवर्षगणा गताः । अथैकस्मिंश्च संप्राप्ते विपाकः कर्मणः खलु

tasyaivaṁ kurvato rājyaṁ bahuvarṣagaṇā gatāḥ athaikasmiṁśca saṁprāpte vipākaḥ karmaṇaḥ khalu

Thus, as he ruled, many years passed by. Then, on one occasion, the fruit of some past deed of his came to light,

Verse 12 (padma.6.57.12)

वर्षत्रयं तद्विषये न ववर्ष बलाहकः । तेन भग्नाः प्रजास्तस्य बभूवुः क्षुधयार्दिताः

varṣatrayaṁ tadviṣaye na vavarṣa balāhakaḥ tena bhagnāḥ prajāstasya babhūvuḥ kṣudhayārditāḥ

for three years the clouds did not rain over that land; because of this his subjects were broken and tormented by hunger.

Verse 13 (padma.6.57.13)

स्वाहा स्वधा वषट्कार वेदाध्ययनवर्जिताः । बभूव विषयस्तस्या भाग्येन दैवपीडितः । अथ प्रजाः समागम्य राजानमिदमब्रुवन्

svāhā svadhā vaṣaṭkāra vedādhyayanavarjitāḥ babhūva viṣayastasyā bhāgyena daivapīḍitaḥ atha prajāḥ samāgamya rājānamidamabruvan

Svaha, svadha, vashatkara, and Vedic study - all these vanished from that land, afflicted by fate. Then the subjects gathered together and came before the king and spoke thus -

Verse 14 (padma.6.57.14)

प्रजा ऊचुः - श्रोतव्यं नृपशार्दूल प्रजानां वचनं त्वया । आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ताः पुराणेषु मनीषिभिः

prajā ūcuḥ - śrotavyaṁ nṛpaśārdūla prajānāṁ vacanaṁ tvayā āpo nārā iti proktāḥ purāṇeṣu manīṣibhiḥ

The people said: O tiger among kings, you must listen to the words of your subjects. The wise have said in the Puranas that the waters are called 'nara',

Verse 15 (padma.6.57.15)

अयनं भगवतस्तस्मान्नारायण इति स्मृतः । पर्जन्यरूपो भगवान्विष्णुः सर्वगतः स्थितः

ayanaṁ bhagavatastasmānnārāyaṇa iti smṛtaḥ parjanyarūpo bhagavānviṣṇuḥ sarvagataḥ sthitaḥ

and thus, being the dwelling-place of the Lord, he is called Narayana. The Lord Vishnu himself, taking the form of the rain-cloud, dwells all-pervading.

Verse 16 (padma.6.57.16)

स एवं कुरुते वृष्टिं वृष्टेरन्नं ततः प्रजाः । तदभावे नृपश्रेष्ठ क्षयं गच्छंति वै प्रजाः । तथा कुरु नृपश्रेष्ठ योगः क्षेमो यथा भवेत्

sa evaṁ kurute vṛṣṭiṁ vṛṣṭerannaṁ tataḥ prajāḥ tadabhāve nṛpaśreṣṭha kṣayaṁ gacchaṁti vai prajāḥ tathā kuru nṛpaśreṣṭha yogaḥ kṣemo yathā bhavet

He it is who thus brings the rain; from the rain comes food, and by that the people are sustained. In its absence, O best of kings, the people perish - therefore act in such a way that their well-being may be preserved.

Verse 17 (padma.6.57.17)

राजोवाच-। सत्यमुक्तं भवद्भिश्च न मिथ्याभिहितं क्वचित् । अन्नं ब्रह्म यतः प्रोक्तमन्ने सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

rājovāca- satyamuktaṁ bhavadbhiśca na mithyābhihitaṁ kvacit annaṁ brahma yataḥ proktamanne sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam

The king said: What you have said is true; your words are never false. Food is called Brahman, for in food alone is everything established.

Verse 18 (padma.6.57.18)

अन्नाद्भवंति भूतानि जगदन्नेन वर्तते । इत्येवं श्रूयते लोके पुराणे बहुविस्तरे

annādbhavaṁti bhūtāni jagadannena vartate ityevaṁ śrūyate loke purāṇe bahuvistare

From food alone do beings arise, and the world subsists on food alone - so it is heard in the world, in the Puranas, at great length.

Verse 19 (padma.6.57.19)

नृपाणामपचारेण प्रजानां पीडनं भवेत् । नाहं पश्याम्यात्मकृतमेवं बुद्ध्या विचारयन्

nṛpāṇāmapacāreṇa prajānāṁ pīḍanaṁ bhavet nāhaṁ paśyāmyātmakṛtamevaṁ buddhyā vicārayan

It is by the fault of kings that their subjects suffer affliction - this I know; yet, reflecting with my own reason, I see no fault of my own doing.

Verse 20 (padma.6.57.20)

तथापि प्रयतिष्यामि प्रजानां हितकाम्यया । इति कृत्वा मतिं राजा परिमेयपरिच्छदः

tathāpi prayatiṣyāmi prajānāṁ hitakāmyayā iti kṛtvā matiṁ rājā parimeyaparicchadaḥ

'Nonetheless, for the welfare of my subjects, I shall make the effort' - resolving thus, the king, taking with him only a limited retinue,

Verse 21 (padma.6.57.21)

नमस्कृत्य विधातारं जगाम गहनं वनम् । चचार मुनिमुख्यांश्च आश्रमान्तापसैः श्रितान्

namaskṛtya vidhātāraṁ jagāma gahanaṁ vanam cacāra munimukhyāṁśca āśramāntāpasaiḥ śritān

bowed to the Creator and went into the dense forest, and there he wandered among the hermitages of excellent sages, dwelt in by ascetics.

Verse 22 (padma.6.57.22)

ददर्शाथ ब्रह्मसुतमृषिमांगिरसं नृपः । तेजसा द्योतितदिशं द्वितीयमिव पद्मजम्

dadarśātha brahmasutamṛṣimāṁgirasaṁ nṛpaḥ tejasā dyotitadiśaṁ dvitīyamiva padmajam

Then the king beheld the sage Angiras, son of Brahma, who was illuminating the directions with his splendor, as though a second lotus-born Brahma.

Verse 23 (padma.6.57.23)

तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षितो राजा अवतीर्य स्ववाहनात् । नमश्चक्रेऽस्य चरणौ कृतांजलिपुटो वशी

taṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣito rājā avatīrya svavāhanāt namaścakre'sya caraṇau kṛtāṁjalipuṭo vaśī

Beholding him, the king, filled with joy, descended from his vehicle and, with joined palms and restrained bearing, bowed to his feet.

Verse 24 (padma.6.57.24)

मुनिस्तमभिनंद्याथ स्वस्तिवाचनपूर्वकम् । पप्रच्छ कुशलं राज्ये सप्तस्वंगेषु भूपतेः

munistamabhinaṁdyātha svastivācanapūrvakam papraccha kuśalaṁ rājye saptasvaṁgeṣu bhūpateḥ

The sage too welcomed him and, after a benediction, inquired about the well-being of the seven constituent elements of the king's realm.

Verse 25 (padma.6.57.25)

निवेदयित्वा कुशलं पप्रच्छानामयं नृपः । दत्तासनो गृहीतार्घ्य उपविष्टोऽस्य संनिधौ

nivedayitvā kuśalaṁ papracchānāmayaṁ nṛpaḥ dattāsano gṛhītārghya upaviṣṭo'sya saṁnidhau

The king, having reported his own well-being, in turn inquired after the sage's; having been offered a seat and having received arghya, he sat down near him.

Verse 26 (padma.6.57.26)

प्रत्युवाच मुनिं राजा पृष्टो ह्यागमकारणम्

pratyuvāca muniṁ rājā pṛṣṭo hyāgamakāraṇam

When asked the reason for his coming, the king gave the sage his reply.

Verse 27 (padma.6.57.27)

राजोवाच- भगवन्धर्मविधिना मम पालयतो महीम् । अनावृष्टिश्च संवृत्ता नाहं वेद्म्यत्र कारणम्

rājovāca- bhagavandharmavidhinā mama pālayato mahīm anāvṛṣṭiśca saṁvṛttā nāhaṁ vedmyatra kāraṇam

The king said: O Lord, though I have protected the earth in accordance with dharma, a drought has come upon this land; I do not know the reason for it.

Verse 28 (padma.6.57.28)

संशयच्छेदनायात्र आगतोऽहं तवांतिके । योगक्षेमविधानेन प्रजानां कुरु निर्वृतिम्

saṁśayacchedanāyātra āgato'haṁ tavāṁtike yogakṣemavidhānena prajānāṁ kuru nirvṛtim

It is only to resolve this doubt that I have come into your presence. By the means proper to their well-being, grant peace to my subjects.

Verse 29 (padma.6.57.29)

ऋषिरुवाच- एतत्कृतयुगं राजन्युगानामुत्तमं मतम् । अत्र ब्रह्मपरा लोका धर्मश्चात्र चतुष्पदः

ṛṣiruvāca- etatkṛtayugaṁ rājanyugānāmuttamaṁ matam atra brahmaparā lokā dharmaścātra catuṣpadaḥ

The sage said: O king, this is the Krita age, held to be the most excellent among the ages. In it, people are devoted to Brahman, and dharma too stands here upon all four of its feet [in full].

Verse 30 (padma.6.57.30)

अस्मिन्युगे तपोयुक्ता ब्राह्मणा नेतरा जनाः । विषये तव राजेंद्र वृषलोऽयं तपस्यति

asminyuge tapoyuktā brāhmaṇā netarā janāḥ viṣaye tava rājeṁdra vṛṣalo'yaṁ tapasyati

In this age only brahmins engage in austerity, not people of other varnas. O lord of kings, in your realm a shudra is performing austerity.

Verse 31 (padma.6.57.31)

एतस्मात्कारणाच्चैव न वर्षति बलाहकः । कुरु तस्य वधे यत्नं येन दोषः प्रशाम्यति

etasmātkāraṇāccaiva na varṣati balāhakaḥ kuru tasya vadhe yatnaṁ yena doṣaḥ praśāmyati

For this very reason the clouds are not raining. Make an effort toward his execution, by which this fault may be pacified.

Verse 32 (padma.6.57.32)

राजोवाच- नाहमेनं वधिष्यामि तपस्यंतमनागसम् । धर्मोपदेशं कथय उपसर्गविनाशनम्

rājovāca- nāhamenaṁ vadhiṣyāmi tapasyaṁtamanāgasam dharmopadeśaṁ kathaya upasargavināśanam

The king said: I shall not slay this blameless man while he performs austerity. Tell me instead some teaching of dharma that might destroy this calamity.

Verse 33 (padma.6.57.33)

ऋषिरुवाच- यद्येवं तर्हि नृपते कुरुष्वैकादशीव्रतम् । नभस्यस्य सिते पक्षे पद्मा नामेति विश्रुता

ṛṣiruvāca- yadyevaṁ tarhi nṛpate kuruṣvaikādaśīvratam nabhasyasya site pakṣe padmā nāmeti viśrutā

The sage said: If that is so, O king, observe the vow of Ekadashi. In the bright fortnight of Nabhasya there is an Ekadashi renowned by the name Padma.

Verse 34 (padma.6.57.34)

तस्या व्रतप्रभावेन सुवृष्टिर्भविता ध्रुवम् । सर्वसिद्धिप्रदा ह्येषा सर्वोपद्रवनाशिनी

tasyā vrataprabhāvena suvṛṣṭirbhavitā dhruvam sarvasiddhipradā hyeṣā sarvopadravanāśinī

By the power of that vow, good rain shall certainly come. It bestows every accomplishment and destroys every calamity.

Verse 35 (padma.6.57.35)

अस्या व्रतं कुरु नृप सप्रजः सपरिच्छदः । इति वाक्यमृषेः श्रुत्वा राजा स्वगृहमागतः

asyā vrataṁ kuru nṛpa saprajaḥ saparicchadaḥ iti vākyamṛṣeḥ śrutvā rājā svagṛhamāgataḥ

'O king, observe its vow together with your subjects and your household.' Hearing the sage's words, the king returned to his own home.

Verse 36 (padma.6.57.36)

भाद्रमासे सिते पक्षे पद्माव्रतमथाकरोत् । प्रजाभिः सह सर्वाभिश्चातुर्वर्ण्यसमन्वितः

bhādramāse site pakṣe padmāvratamathākarot prajābhiḥ saha sarvābhiścāturvarṇyasamanvitaḥ

In the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada he performed the Padma vow, together with all his subjects and the four varnas.

Verse 37 (padma.6.57.37)

एवं व्रते कृते राजन्प्रववर्ष बलाहकः । जलेन प्लाविता भूमिरभवत्सस्यशालिनी

evaṁ vrate kṛte rājanpravavarṣa balāhakaḥ jalena plāvitā bhūmirabhavatsasyaśālinī

O king, when the vow was thus observed, the clouds rained abundantly; the earth, flooded with water, became rich with crops.

Verse 38 (padma.6.57.38)

ऋषीश्वरप्रभावेन लोकाः सौख्यं प्रपेदिरे । एतस्मात्कारणादेवं कर्त्तव्यं व्रतमुत्तमम्

ṛṣīśvaraprabhāvena lokāḥ saukhyaṁ prapedire etasmātkāraṇādevaṁ karttavyaṁ vratamuttamam

By the power of that excellent sage the people attained happiness. For this very reason, this excellent vow must surely be observed.

Verse 39 (padma.6.57.39)

दध्योदनयुतं तस्यां जलपूर्णं घटं द्विजे । वस्त्रसंवेष्टितं दत्त्वा छत्रोपानहमेव च

dadhyodanayutaṁ tasyāṁ jalapūrṇaṁ ghaṭaṁ dvije vastrasaṁveṣṭitaṁ dattvā chatropānahameva ca

On that day, having given to a brahmin a water-filled vessel together with curd-rice, wrapped in cloth, along with an umbrella and sandals,

Verse 40 (padma.6.57.40)

नमो नमस्ते गोविंद बुधश्रवणसंज्ञक । अघौघसंक्षयं कृत्वा सर्वसौख्यप्रदो भव

namo namaste goviṁda budhaśravaṇasaṁjñaka aghaughasaṁkṣayaṁ kṛtvā sarvasaukhyaprado bhava

[one should say:] 'Salutations, salutations to you, O Govinda, known by the name of the wise one's own constellation! Having destroyed the whole mass of sin, be the giver of every happiness to us.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.57.41)

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदश्चैव लोकानां सुखदायकः । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

bhuktimuktipradaścaiva lokānāṁ sukhadāyakaḥ paṭhanācchravaṇādrājansarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

It grants people both worldly enjoyment and liberation, and bestows happiness. O king, by merely reading or hearing it, a man becomes freed from every sin.