Indira Ekadashi of Ashvina Krishna

Verse 1 (padma.6.58.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच- कथयस्व प्रसादेन ममाग्रे मधुसूदन । इषस्य कृष्णपक्षे तु किंनामैकादशीभवेत्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- kathayasva prasādena mamāgre madhusūdana iṣasya kṛṣṇapakṣe tu kiṁnāmaikādaśībhavet

Yudhishthira said: O Madhusudana, kindly tell me. Which Ekadashi falls in the dark fortnight of Ashvina [Isha]?

Verse 2 (padma.6.58.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- आश्विने कृष्णपक्षे तु इंदिरा नाम नामतः । तस्या व्रतप्रभावेन महापापं प्रणश्यति

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- āśvine kṛṣṇapakṣe tu iṁdirā nāma nāmataḥ tasyā vrataprabhāvena mahāpāpaṁ praṇaśyati

Sri Krishna said: The Ekadashi of the dark fortnight of Ashvina is known by the name Indira. By the power of its vow, even the gravest sin is destroyed.

Verse 3 (padma.6.58.3)

अधोयोनि गतानां च पितॄणां गतिदायिनी । शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्कथां पापहरां पराम्

adhoyoni gatānāṁ ca pitṝṇāṁ gatidāyinī śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājankathāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām

It bestows a good destiny even upon ancestors who have fallen into a lower state. O king, listen attentively to that supreme, sin-destroying tale,

Verse 4 (padma.6.58.4)

यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं लभेत् । पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्बभूव नृपनंदनः

yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa vājapeyaphalaṁ labhet purā kṛtayuge rājanbabhūva nṛpanaṁdanaḥ

by merely hearing which one obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. O king, long ago, in the Krita age, there was born a king's son,

Verse 5 (padma.6.58.5)

इंद्रसेन इति ख्यातः पुरा माहिष्मतीपतिः । स राजा पालयामास धर्मेण यशसान्वितः

iṁdrasena iti khyātaḥ purā māhiṣmatīpatiḥ sa rājā pālayāmāsa dharmeṇa yaśasānvitaḥ

who was renowned by the name Indrasena, lord of Mahishmati in ancient times. That king cherished his subjects righteously, endowed with fame.

Verse 6 (padma.6.58.6)

पुत्रपौत्रसमायुक्तो धनधान्यसमन्वितः । माहिष्मत्यधिपो राजा विष्णुभक्तिपरायणः

putrapautrasamāyukto dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ māhiṣmatyadhipo rājā viṣṇubhaktiparāyaṇaḥ

He was blessed with sons and grandsons, and rich in wealth and grain; that king, lord of Mahishmati, was devoted to Vishnu-bhakti.

Verse 7 (padma.6.58.7)

जपन्गोविंदनामानि मुक्तिदानि नराधिपः । कालं नयति विधिवदध्यात्मध्यानचिंतकः

japangoviṁdanāmāni muktidāni narādhipaḥ kālaṁ nayati vidhivadadhyātmadhyānaciṁtakaḥ

That king passed his time according to due order, chanting the liberation-granting names of Govinda, engaged in spiritual contemplation.

Verse 8 (padma.6.58.8)

एकस्मिन्दिवसे राज्ञि सुखासीने सदो गते । अवतीर्यागमत्तत्र ह्यंबरान्नारदो मुनिः

ekasmindivase rājñi sukhāsīne sado gate avatīryāgamattatra hyaṁbarānnārado muniḥ

One day, as the king sat happily in his court, the sage Narada, descending from the sky, arrived there.

Verse 9 (padma.6.58.9)

तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य प्रत्युत्थाय कृतांजलि । पूजयित्वाथ विधिना चासने संन्यवेशयत्

tamāgatamabhiprekṣya pratyutthāya kṛtāṁjali pūjayitvātha vidhinā cāsane saṁnyaveśayat

Beholding him arrive, the king rose up, and with joined palms he duly worshipped him and seated him upon a seat.

Verse 10 (padma.6.58.10)

सुखोपविष्टं स मुनिं प्रत्युवाच नृपोत्तमः । राजोवाच-। त्वत्प्रसादान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वं च कुशलं मम

sukhopaviṣṭaṁ sa muniṁ pratyuvāca nṛpottamaḥ rājovāca- tvatprasādānmuniśreṣṭha sarvaṁ ca kuśalaṁ mama

To that sage, comfortably seated, the excellent king spoke - The king said: O foremost of sages, by your grace all is well with me.

Verse 11 (padma.6.58.11)

अद्य क्रतुक्रियाः सर्वाः सफलास्तव दर्शनात् । प्रसादं कुरु देवर्षे ब्रूह्यागमनकारणम्

adya kratukriyāḥ sarvāḥ saphalāstava darśanāt prasādaṁ kuru devarṣe brūhyāgamanakāraṇam

Today, by the sight of you, all my sacrificial acts have borne fruit. O divine sage, be gracious, tell me the reason for your coming.

Verse 12 (padma.6.58.12)

नारद उवाच- श्रूयतां नृपशार्दूल मद्वचो विस्मयप्रदम् । ब्रह्मलोकादहं प्राप्तो यमलोकं नृपोत्तम

nārada uvāca- śrūyatāṁ nṛpaśārdūla madvaco vismayapradam brahmalokādahaṁ prāpto yamalokaṁ nṛpottama

Narada said: O tiger among kings, listen to these astonishing words of mine. O best of kings, I went from Brahmaloka to the realm of Yama.

Verse 13 (padma.6.58.13)

शमनेनार्चितो भक्त्या उपविष्टो वरासने । धर्मशीलः सत्यवांस्तु भास्करिं समुपासते

śamanenārcito bhaktyā upaviṣṭo varāsane dharmaśīlaḥ satyavāṁstu bhāskariṁ samupāsate

There, worshipped with devotion by Shamana [Yama], I sat upon an excellent seat. There, while the righteous and truthful son of the Sun [Yama] was being attended upon,

Verse 14 (padma.6.58.14)

बहुपुण्यप्रकर्त्ता च व्रतवैकल्यदोषतः । सभायां श्राद्धदेवस्य मया दृष्टः पिता तव

bahupuṇyaprakarttā ca vratavaikalyadoṣataḥ sabhāyāṁ śrāddhadevasya mayā dṛṣṭaḥ pitā tava

I saw there, in Yama's assembly, your father, one who had performed abundant merit, yet [afflicted] by the fault of some flaw in a vow.

Verse 15 (padma.6.58.15)

कथितस्तेन संदेशस्तं निबोध जनेश्वर । इंद्रसेन इति ख्यातो राजा माहिष्मतीपतिः

kathitastena saṁdeśastaṁ nibodha janeśvara iṁdrasena iti khyāto rājā māhiṣmatīpatiḥ

He conveyed a message through me - O lord of men, hear it. 'To the king renowned by the name Indrasena, lord of Mahishmati -

Verse 16 (padma.6.58.16)

तस्याग्रे कथयब्रह्मन्स्थितं मां यमसंनिधौ । केनापि चांतरायेण पूर्वजन्मोद्भवेन च

tasyāgre kathayabrahmansthitaṁ māṁ yamasaṁnidhau kenāpi cāṁtarāyeṇa pūrvajanmodbhavena ca

O Brahmin, tell him this before him - that I remain here in Yama's presence, because of some obstacle arising from a former birth.

Verse 17 (padma.6.58.17)

स्वर्गं प्रेषय मां पुत्र इंदिरा पुण्य दानतः । इत्युक्तोऽहं समायातः समीपं तव पार्थिव

svargaṁ preṣaya māṁ putra iṁdirā puṇya dānataḥ ityukto'haṁ samāyātaḥ samīpaṁ tava pārthiva

O son, by the meritorious gift of Indira [Ekadashi], send me to heaven' - having been told this, O king, I have come into your presence.

Verse 18 (padma.6.58.18)

पितुः स्वर्गकृते राजन्निंदिरा व्रतमाचर । तेन व्रतप्रभावेन स्वर्गं यास्यति ते पिता

pituḥ svargakṛte rājanniṁdirā vratamācara tena vrataprabhāvena svargaṁ yāsyati te pitā

O king, for your father's attainment of heaven, observe the vow of Indira; by the power of that vow, your father shall attain heaven.

Verse 19 (padma.6.58.19)

राजोवाच- कथयस्व प्रसादेन भगवन्निंदिरा व्रतम् । विधिना केन कर्त्तव्यं कस्मिन्पक्षे तिथौ तथा

rājovāca- kathayasva prasādena bhagavanniṁdirā vratam vidhinā kena karttavyaṁ kasminpakṣe tithau tathā

The king said: O Lord, kindly tell me about the vow of Indira. By what rite, in which fortnight, and on which tithi should it be observed?

Verse 20 (padma.6.58.20)

नारदउवाच- शृणु राजेंद्र ते वच्मि व्रतस्यास्य विधिं शुभम् । आश्विनस्यासिते पक्षे दशमी दिवसे शुभे

nāradauvāca- śṛṇu rājeṁdra te vacmi vratasyāsya vidhiṁ śubham āśvinasyāsite pakṣe daśamī divase śubhe

Narada said: O lord of kings, listen, I shall tell you the auspicious rite of this vow. In the dark fortnight of Ashvina, on the auspicious day of Dashami,

Verse 21 (padma.6.58.21)

प्रातःस्नानं प्रकुर्वीत श्रद्धायुक्तेन चेतसा । ततो मध्याह्नसमये स्नानं कृत्वा समाहितः

prātaḥsnānaṁ prakurvīta śraddhāyuktena cetasā tato madhyāhnasamaye snānaṁ kṛtvā samāhitaḥ

one should bathe at dawn with a heart full of faith. Then, at the time of midday, having bathed with self-restraint,

Verse 22 (padma.6.58.22)

पितॄणां प्रीतये श्राद्धं कुर्याच्छ्रद्धा समन्वितः । एकभक्तं ततः कृत्वा रात्रौ भूमौ शयीत च । प्रभाते विमले जाते प्राप्ते चैकादशी दिने

pitṝṇāṁ prītaye śrāddhaṁ kuryācchraddhā samanvitaḥ ekabhaktaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā rātrau bhūmau śayīta ca prabhāte vimale jāte prāpte caikādaśī dine

one should perform shraddha with faith for the satisfaction of the ancestors; then, having eaten but once, one should lie upon the ground at night. When the clear morning comes, upon the arrival of the day of Ekadashi,

Verse 23 (padma.6.58.23)

मुख प्रक्षालनं कुर्याद्दंतधावन वर्जितम् । उपवासस्य नियमं गृह्णीयाद्भक्तिभावतः

mukha prakṣālanaṁ kuryāddaṁtadhāvana varjitam upavāsasya niyamaṁ gṛhṇīyādbhaktibhāvataḥ

one should wash the mouth, without cleaning the teeth; with devotion one should take up the rule of the fast.

Verse 24 (padma.6.58.24)

अद्यस्थित्वा निराहारः सर्वभोग विवर्जितः । श्वो भोक्ष्ये पुंडरीकाक्ष शरणं मे भवाच्युत

adyasthitvā nirāhāraḥ sarvabhoga vivarjitaḥ śvo bhokṣye puṁḍarīkākṣa śaraṇaṁ me bhavācyuta

'Today I shall remain without food, free from all enjoyments; tomorrow I shall eat, O lotus-eyed one, O Achyuta - be my refuge.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.58.25)

इत्येवं नियमं कृत्वा मध्याह्न समये तथा । शालग्राम शिलाग्रे तु स्नानं कुर्याद्यथाविधि

ityevaṁ niyamaṁ kṛtvā madhyāhna samaye tathā śālagrāma śilāgre tu snānaṁ kuryādyathāvidhi

Having taken this vow thus, then at the time of midday one should bathe according to the rite before the Shaligrama stone.

Verse 26 (padma.6.58.26)

पूजयित्वा हृषीकेशं धूप गंधादिभिस्तथा । रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यात्केशवस्य समीपतः

pūjayitvā hṛṣīkeśaṁ dhūpa gaṁdhādibhistathā rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryātkeśavasya samīpataḥ

Having worshipped Hrishikesha with incense, fragrant paste and the like, one should keep the night-vigil near Keshava.

Verse 27 (padma.6.58.27)

ततः प्रभातसमये प्राप्ते वै द्वादशी दिने । अर्चयित्वा हरिं भक्त्या श्राद्धं कुर्याद्यथाविधि

tataḥ prabhātasamaye prāpte vai dvādaśī dine arcayitvā hariṁ bhaktyā śrāddhaṁ kuryādyathāvidhi

Thereafter, at dawn, when the day of Dvadashi arrives, having worshipped Hari with devotion, one should perform shraddha according to the rite,

Verse 28 (padma.6.58.28)

पितॄणां प्रीतये श्राद्धं कुर्याच्छ्रद्धा समन्वितः । गोधूम चूर्णैर्यछ्राद्धं कृतं मेध्यकृतं भवेत्

pitṝṇāṁ prītaye śrāddhaṁ kuryācchraddhā samanvitaḥ godhūma cūrṇairyachrāddhaṁ kṛtaṁ medhyakṛtaṁ bhavet

one should perform shraddha with faith for the satisfaction of the ancestors. Shraddha performed with wheat flour is held to be especially pure.

Verse 29 (padma.6.58.29)

यवैर्व्रीहितिलैर्माषैर्गोधूमैश्चणकैस्तथा । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्राजन् दक्षिणाभिः प्रपूजितान्

yavairvrīhitilairmāṣairgodhūmaiścaṇakaistathā brāhmaṇānbhojayedrājan dakṣiṇābhiḥ prapūjitān

Having provided food consisting of barley, rice, sesame, black gram, wheat, and chickpeas, O king, brahmins honored with gifts should be fed.

Verse 30 (padma.6.58.30)

बंधु दौहित्र पुत्राद्यैः स्वयं भुंजीत वाग्यतः । अनेन विधिना राजन्कुरुव्रतमतंद्रितः

baṁdhu dauhitra putrādyaiḥ svayaṁ bhuṁjīta vāgyataḥ anena vidhinā rājankuruvratamataṁdritaḥ

After that, one should eat oneself in silence, together with kinsmen, grandsons through a daughter, sons and others. O king, observe the vow with vigilance according to this very rite.

Verse 31 (padma.6.58.31)

विष्णुलोकं प्रयास्यंति पितरस्तव भूपते । इत्युक्त्वा नृपतिं राजन्मुनिरंतरधीयत

viṣṇulokaṁ prayāsyaṁti pitarastava bhūpate ityuktvā nṛpatiṁ rājanmuniraṁtaradhīyata

'Your father, O king, shall go to the realm of Vishnu.' Having said this to the king, O king, the sage vanished.

Verse 32 (padma.6.58.32)

यथोक्त विधिना राजा चकार व्रतमुत्तमम् । अंतःपुरेण सहितः पुत्रभृत्य समन्वितः

yathokta vidhinā rājā cakāra vratamuttamam aṁtaḥpureṇa sahitaḥ putrabhṛtya samanvitaḥ

The king performed that excellent vow according to the rite that had been told, together with his royal household, his sons, and his servants.

Verse 33 (padma.6.58.33)

कृते व्रते तु कौंतेय पुष्पवृष्टिरभूद्दिवः । तत्पिता गरुडारूढो जगाम हरिमंदिरम्

kṛte vrate tu kauṁteya puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūddivaḥ tatpitā garuḍārūḍho jagāma harimaṁdiram

O son of Kunti, when the vow was complete, a shower of flowers fell from the sky; his father, mounted upon Garuda, went to the abode of Hari.

Verse 34 (padma.6.58.34)

इंद्रसेनोऽपिराजर्षिः कृत्वा राज्यमकंटकम् । राज्ये निवेश्य तनयं जगाम त्रिदिवं स्वयम्

iṁdraseno'pirājarṣiḥ kṛtvā rājyamakaṁṭakam rājye niveśya tanayaṁ jagāma tridivaṁ svayam

The royal sage Indrasena too, having made his kingdom free of thorns and having established his own son in that kingdom, himself went to heaven.

Verse 35 (padma.6.58.35)

इंदिरा व्रत माहात्म्यं तवाग्रे कथितं मया । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन् सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

iṁdirā vrata māhātmyaṁ tavāgre kathitaṁ mayā paṭhanācchravaṇādrājan sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

O king, I have told you here this glory of the Indira vow. By merely reading or hearing it, a man becomes freed from every sin,

Verse 36 (padma.6.58.36)

भुक्त्वेह निखिलान्भोगान् विष्णुलोके वसेच्चिरम्

bhuktveha nikhilānbhogān viṣṇuloke vasecciram

and, having enjoyed every worldly pleasure in this world, he dwells for a long time in the realm of Vishnu.