Kamala Ekadashi of Purushottama Masa

Verse 1 (padma.6.62.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच - भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । सर्वपापहरं विष्णोः फलदं व्रतिनां च यत्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca - bhagavañchrotumicchāmi vratānāmuttamaṁ vratam sarvapāpaharaṁ viṣṇoḥ phaladaṁ vratināṁ ca yat

Yudhishthira said: O Lord, I wish to hear of the most excellent among all vows, which removes every sin and grants fruit to Vishnu's devotees.

Verse 2 (padma.6.62.2)

पुरुषोत्तममासस्य कथां ब्रूहि जनार्दन । को विधिः किं फलं तस्य को देवस्तत्र पूज्यते

puruṣottamamāsasya kathāṁ brūhi janārdana ko vidhiḥ kiṁ phalaṁ tasya ko devastatra pūjyate

O Janardana, tell me the story of the Purushottama month. What is its rite, what is its fruit, and which deity is worshipped there?

Verse 3 (padma.6.62.3)

अधिमासे च संप्राप्ते व्रतं ब्रूहि जनार्दन । कस्य दानस्य किं पुण्यं किं कर्त्तव्यं नृभिः प्रभो

adhimāse ca saṁprāpte vrataṁ brūhi janārdana kasya dānasya kiṁ puṇyaṁ kiṁ karttavyaṁ nṛbhiḥ prabho

O Janardana, when the intercalary month arrives, tell me its vow. O Lord, what merit lies in what gift, and what should men do?

Verse 4 (padma.6.62.4)

कथं स्नानं च किं जाप्यं कथं पूजाविधिः स्मृतः । किं भोज्यमुत्तमं चान्नं मासेऽस्मिन्पुरुषोत्तमे

kathaṁ snānaṁ ca kiṁ jāpyaṁ kathaṁ pūjāvidhiḥ smṛtaḥ kiṁ bhojyamuttamaṁ cānnaṁ māse'sminpuruṣottame

How should one bathe, what japa should be done, what is the rite of worship declared to be? What is the most excellent food to eat in this Purushottama month?

Verse 5 (padma.6.62.5)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- कथयिष्यामि राजेंद्र भवतः स्नेहकारणात् । पुरुषोत्तममासस्य माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- kathayiṣyāmi rājeṁdra bhavataḥ snehakāraṇāt puruṣottamamāsasya māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam

Sri Krishna said: O lord of kings, out of my affection for you, I shall tell the sin-destroying glory of the Purushottama month.

Verse 6 (padma.6.62.6)

अधिमासे तु संप्राप्ते भवेदेकादशी तु या । कमला नाम सा नाम्ना तिथीनामुत्तमा तिथिः

adhimāse tu saṁprāpte bhavedekādaśī tu yā kamalā nāma sā nāmnā tithīnāmuttamā tithiḥ

The Ekadashi that falls when the intercalary month arrives is known by the name Kamala, and it is the most excellent among all tithis.

Verse 7 (padma.6.62.7)

तस्या व्रतप्रभावेन कमलाभिमुखी भवेत् । ब्राह्मे मुहूर्त्ते चोत्थाय संस्मृत्य पुरुषोत्तमम्

tasyā vrataprabhāvena kamalābhimukhī bhavet brāhme muhūrtte cotthāya saṁsmṛtya puruṣottamam

By the power of that vow, a man comes to stand before Kamala [Lakshmi]. Rising in the Brahma-muhurta and remembering Purushottama,

Verse 8 (padma.6.62.8)

स्नात्वा चैव विधानेन नियमं कारयेद्व्रती । गृहे त्वेकगुणं जाप्यं नद्यां तु द्विगुणं स्मृतम्

snātvā caiva vidhānena niyamaṁ kārayedvratī gṛhe tvekaguṇaṁ jāpyaṁ nadyāṁ tu dviguṇaṁ smṛtam

having bathed according to the rite, the observer of the vow should take up the discipline. Chanting done at home is reckoned single, and in a river, double.

Verse 9 (padma.6.62.9)

गवां गोष्ठे सहस्रोर्ध्वमग्न्यागारे शतान्वितम् । शिवक्षेत्रेषु तीर्थेषु देवतानां च सन्निधौ

gavāṁ goṣṭhe sahasrordhvamagnyāgāre śatānvitam śivakṣetreṣu tīrtheṣu devatānāṁ ca sannidhau

In a cow-pen it is a thousandfold, in a fire-hall a hundredfold, in Shiva's sacred fields, at sacred crossings, and in the presence of deities,

Verse 10 (padma.6.62.10)

लक्षं तुलस्याः सांनिध्ये ह्यनंतं विष्णुसन्निधौ । अवंत्यामभवत्कश्चिच्छिवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः

lakṣaṁ tulasyāḥ sāṁnidhye hyanaṁtaṁ viṣṇusannidhau avaṁtyāmabhavatkaścicchivaśarmā dvijottamaḥ

near tulasi a hundred-thousandfold, and near Vishnu, infinite [in its fruit]. In the city of Avanti there lived an excellent brahmin named Shivasharma.

Verse 11 (padma.6.62.11)

तस्यात्मजास्तु पंचासन्कनिष्ठो दोषवानभूत् । तदा पित्रा परित्यक्तस्त्यक्तः स्वजनबांधवैः

tasyātmajāstu paṁcāsankaniṣṭho doṣavānabhūt tadā pitrā parityaktastyaktaḥ svajanabāṁdhavaiḥ

He had five sons, and the youngest among them was flawed; then he was cast off by his father, and abandoned by his own kinsmen too.

Verse 12 (padma.6.62.12)

कुकर्मणः प्रभावेन गतो दूरतरं वनम् । एकदा दैवयोगेन तीर्थराजं समागतः

kukarmaṇaḥ prabhāvena gato dūrataraṁ vanam ekadā daivayogena tīrtharājaṁ samāgataḥ

By the power of his own misdeeds, he went far away into the forest. Once, by divine chance, he arrived at Tirtharaja [Prayaga].

Verse 13 (padma.6.62.13)

क्षुत्क्षामो दीनवदनस्त्रिवेण्यां स्नानमाचरत् । मुनीनामाश्रमांस्तत्र विचिन्वन्क्षुधयार्दितः

kṣutkṣāmo dīnavadanastriveṇyāṁ snānamācarat munīnāmāśramāṁstatra vicinvankṣudhayārditaḥ

Emaciated by hunger and with a wretched face, he bathed at the Triveni; tormented by hunger, he began to search for the hermitages of sages.

Verse 14 (padma.6.62.14)

हरिमित्रमुनेस्तत्र ददर्शाश्रममुत्तमम् । पुरुषोत्तममासे वै जनानां च समागमे

harimitramunestatra dadarśāśramamuttamam puruṣottamamāse vai janānāṁ ca samāgame

There he beheld the excellent hermitage of the sage Harimitra, filled at that time, in the month of Purushottama, with a great gathering of people.

Verse 15 (padma.6.62.15)

तत्राश्रमे कथयतां कथां कल्मषनाशिनीम् । ब्राह्मणानां मुखात्तेन श्रद्धया कमला श्रुता

tatrāśrame kathayatāṁ kathāṁ kalmaṣanāśinīm brāhmaṇānāṁ mukhāttena śraddhayā kamalā śrutā

In that hermitage a sin-destroying tale was being told; from the mouths of the brahmins he heard, with faith, of Kamala [Ekadashi] -

Verse 16 (padma.6.62.16)

एकादशी पुण्यतमा भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी । जयशर्मा विधानेन श्रुत्वेमां कमला तिथिम्

ekādaśī puṇyatamā bhuktimuktipradāyinī jayaśarmā vidhānena śrutvemāṁ kamalā tithim

'This Ekadashi is most meritorious, granting both worldly enjoyment and liberation.' Jayasharma, having heard of this Kamala tithi according to the rite,

Verse 17 (padma.6.62.17)

एकादशीपुण्यतमा भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी । व्रतं कृतं च तैः सार्द्धं स्थित्वा शून्यालये तदा

ekādaśīpuṇyatamā bhuktimuktipradāyinī vrataṁ kṛtaṁ ca taiḥ sārddhaṁ sthitvā śūnyālaye tadā

- this Ekadashi being most meritorious and granting both worldly enjoyment and liberation - he performed that vow together with those brahmins, lodging at that time in an empty house.

Verse 18 (padma.6.62.18)

निशीथे समनुप्राप्ते लक्ष्मीस्तत्र समागता । वरं ददामि भो विप्र कमलायाः प्रभावतः

niśīthe samanuprāpte lakṣmīstatra samāgatā varaṁ dadāmi bho vipra kamalāyāḥ prabhāvataḥ

When midnight arrived, Lakshmi herself appeared there - 'O brahmin, by the power of Kamala, I grant you a boon.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.62.19)

जयशर्मोवाच - का त्वं कस्यासि रंभोरु प्रसन्ना च कथं मम । इंद्राणी सुरनाथस्य भवानी शंकरस्य वा

jayaśarmovāca - kā tvaṁ kasyāsi raṁbhoru prasannā ca kathaṁ mama iṁdrāṇī suranāthasya bhavānī śaṁkarasya vā

Jayasharma said: O fair-thighed one, who are you, whose are you, and how have you become pleased with me? Are you Indrani, wife of the lord of the gods, or are you Bhavani, wife of Shankara,

Verse 20 (padma.6.62.20)

गंधर्वी किन्नरी वाथ वधूर्वा चंद्रसूर्ययोः । त्वत्सदृक्षा न दृष्टा च न श्रुता च शुभानने

gaṁdharvī kinnarī vātha vadhūrvā caṁdrasūryayoḥ tvatsadṛkṣā na dṛṣṭā ca na śrutā ca śubhānane

or are you a gandharva-woman, a kinnara-woman, or the wife of the moon or the sun? O auspicious-faced one, none like you has ever been seen, nor ever heard of.

Verse 21 (padma.6.62.21)

लक्ष्मीरुवाच- प्रसन्ना सांप्रतं जाता वैकुंठादहमागता । प्रेरिता देवदेवेन कमलायाः प्रभावतः

lakṣmīruvāca- prasannā sāṁprataṁ jātā vaikuṁṭhādahamāgatā preritā devadevena kamalāyāḥ prabhāvataḥ

Lakshmi said: I have come here now, pleased, from Vaikuntha, sent by the God of gods, by the power of Kamala [Ekadashi].

Verse 22 (padma.6.62.22)

पुरुषोत्तममासस्य या पक्षे प्रथमे भवेत् । तस्या व्रतं त्वया चीर्णं प्रयागे मुनिसंनिधौ

puruṣottamamāsasya yā pakṣe prathame bhavet tasyā vrataṁ tvayā cīrṇaṁ prayāge munisaṁnidhau

The Ekadashi that falls in the first fortnight of the Purushottama month - its vow you have performed at Prayaga in the presence of the sage.

Verse 23 (padma.6.62.23)

व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेन वशगाहं न संशयः । तववंशे भविष्यंति मानवा द्विजसत्तम

vratasyāsya prabhāvena vaśagāhaṁ na saṁśayaḥ tavavaṁśe bhaviṣyaṁti mānavā dvijasattama

By the power of this vow I have come under your sway, without any doubt. O best of the twice-born, whatever men shall be born in your lineage,

Verse 24 (padma.6.62.24)

मत्प्रसादादवाप्स्यंति सत्यं ते व्याहृतं मया । ब्राह्मण उवाच- प्रसन्ना यदि मे पद्मे व्रतं विस्तरतो वद

matprasādādavāpsyaṁti satyaṁ te vyāhṛtaṁ mayā brāhmaṇa uvāca- prasannā yadi me padme vrataṁ vistarato vada

by my grace they shall obtain all this - I have spoken this truth to you. The brahmin said: O Padma, if you are pleased with me, then tell me this vow in detail,

Verse 25 (padma.6.62.25)

यत्कथासु प्रवर्तंते साधवो ये जना द्विजाः । लक्ष्मीरुवाच- श्रोतॄणां परमं श्राव्यं पवित्राणामनुत्तमम्

yatkathāsu pravartaṁte sādhavo ye janā dvijāḥ lakṣmīruvāca- śrotṝṇāṁ paramaṁ śrāvyaṁ pavitrāṇāmanuttamam

the vow in whose tales the virtuous and the brahmins remain engaged. Lakshmi said: This is the most excellent thing for listeners to hear, and the supreme among even the purest things,

Verse 26 (padma.6.62.26)

दुःस्वप्ननाशनं पुण्यं श्रोतव्यं यत्नतस्ततः । उत्तमः श्रद्धया युक्तः श्लोकं श्लोकार्द्धमेव वा

duḥsvapnanāśanaṁ puṇyaṁ śrotavyaṁ yatnatastataḥ uttamaḥ śraddhayā yuktaḥ ślokaṁ ślokārddhameva vā

this is a merit that destroys evil dreams, which should be heard with diligence. An excellent man endowed with faith, having recited even a single verse, or even half a verse,

Verse 27 (padma.6.62.27)

पठित्वा मुच्यते सद्यो महापातककोटिभिः । मासानां परमो मासः पक्षिणां गरुडो यथा

paṭhitvā mucyate sadyo mahāpātakakoṭibhiḥ māsānāṁ paramo māsaḥ pakṣiṇāṁ garuḍo yathā

becomes instantly freed from crores of the gravest sins. As the most excellent among months [is the Purushottama month], as Garuda is the foremost among birds,

Verse 28 (padma.6.62.28)

नदीनां च यथा गंगा तिथीनां द्वादशी तिथिः । अद्यापि निर्जराः सर्वे भारते जन्मलिप्सवः

nadīnāṁ ca yathā gaṁgā tithīnāṁ dvādaśī tithiḥ adyāpi nirjarāḥ sarve bhārate janmalipsavaḥ

and as the Ganga is among rivers, as the Dvadashi tithi is among tithis [so is this month excellent]. Even today all the immortals desire to be born in Bharata,

Verse 29 (padma.6.62.29)

तमर्चयंति विविधा नारायणमनामयम् । ये यजंति सदा भक्त्या देवं नारायणं प्रभुम्

tamarcayaṁti vividhā nārāyaṇamanāmayam ye yajaṁti sadā bhaktyā devaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ prabhum

so that they might worship in various ways that flawless Narayana. Those who, ever with devotion, worship the Lord God Narayana,

Verse 30 (padma.6.62.30)

तानर्चयंति सततं ब्रह्माद्या देवतागणाः । येऽपि नामपरा ये च हरिकीर्त्तनतत्पराः

tānarcayaṁti satataṁ brahmādyā devatāgaṇāḥ ye'pi nāmaparā ye ca harikīrttanatatparāḥ

them the hosts of gods, led by Brahma, worship in return, without ceasing. Those who are devoted to his name, and those intent upon Hari-kirtan,

Verse 31 (padma.6.62.31)

हरिपूजापरा ये च ते कृतार्थाः कलौ युगेः । शुक्ले वा यदि वा कृष्णे भवेदेकादशी द्वयम्

haripūjāparā ye ca te kṛtārthāḥ kalau yugeḥ śukle vā yadi vā kṛṣṇe bhavedekādaśī dvayam

and those absorbed in the worship of Hari, are deemed to have fulfilled their purpose even in the Kali age. Whether bright or dark, in both fortnights there is an Ekadashi -

Verse 32 (padma.6.62.32)

गृहस्थानां भवेत्पूर्वा यतीनामुत्तरा स्मृता । एकादशी द्वादशी च रात्रिशेषे त्रयोदशी । तत्र क्रतुशतं पुण्यं त्रयोदश्यां तु पारणे

gṛhasthānāṁ bhavetpūrvā yatīnāmuttarā smṛtā ekādaśī dvādaśī ca rātriśeṣe trayodaśī tatra kratuśataṁ puṇyaṁ trayodaśyāṁ tu pāraṇe

the first is held for householders, and the second is declared for ascetics. Ekadashi, Dvadashi, and, in the last part of the night, Trayodashi - in that, breaking the fast on Trayodashi carries the merit of a hundred sacrifices.

Verse 33 (padma.6.62.33)

एकादश्यां निराहारः स्थित्वाहमपरेऽहंनि । भोक्ष्यामि पुंडरीकाक्ष शरणं मे भवाच्युत

ekādaśyāṁ nirāhāraḥ sthitvāhamapare'haṁni bhokṣyāmi puṁḍarīkākṣa śaraṇaṁ me bhavācyuta

'Remaining without food on Ekadashi, on the following day I shall eat, O lotus-eyed one, O Achyuta - be my refuge' -

Verse 34 (padma.6.62.34)

अमुं मंत्रं समुच्चार्य देवदेवस्य चक्रिणः । भक्तिभावेन तुष्टात्मा उपवासं समाचरेत्

amuṁ maṁtraṁ samuccārya devadevasya cakriṇaḥ bhaktibhāvena tuṣṭātmā upavāsaṁ samācaret

having recited this mantra, with a heart satisfied through devotion to the discus-bearing God of gods, the fast should be observed.

Verse 35 (padma.6.62.35)

कुर्याद्देवस्य पुरतो जागरं नियतो व्रती । गीतैर्वाद्यैश्च नृत्यैश्च पुराणपठनादिभिः

kuryāddevasya purato jāgaraṁ niyato vratī gītairvādyaiśca nṛtyaiśca purāṇapaṭhanādibhiḥ

The observer of the vow should keep vigil before the deity with self-restraint - with song, music, dance, and the recitation of the Puranas, and the like.

Verse 36 (padma.6.62.36)

ततः प्रातः समुत्थाय द्वादशीदिवसे व्रती । स्नात्वा विष्णुं समभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्प्रयतेंद्रियः

tataḥ prātaḥ samutthāya dvādaśīdivase vratī snātvā viṣṇuṁ samabhyarcya vidhivatprayateṁdriyaḥ

Thereafter, rising at dawn on the day of Dvadashi, the observer of the vow should bathe and, with restrained senses, worship Vishnu according to the rite.

Verse 37 (padma.6.62.37)

पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य एकादश्यां जनार्दनः । द्वादश्यां च पयःस्नानाद्धरेः सारूप्यमश्नुते

paṁcāmṛtena saṁsnāpya ekādaśyāṁ janārdanaḥ dvādaśyāṁ ca payaḥsnānāddhareḥ sārūpyamaśnute

Having bathed Janardana with panchamrita on Ekadashi, and with milk on Dvadashi, a man attains sarupya [oneness of form] with Hari.

Verse 38 (padma.6.62.38)

अज्ञानतिमिरांधस्य व्रतेनानेन केशव । प्रसीद सन्मुखो भूत्वा ज्ञानदृष्टिप्रदो भव

ajñānatimirāṁdhasya vratenānena keśava prasīda sanmukho bhūtvā jñānadṛṣṭiprado bhava

'O Keshava, be gracious through this vow to me, blinded by the darkness of ignorance; turn toward me and grant me the eye of knowledge.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.62.39)

एवं विज्ञाप्य देवेशं देवदेवं गदाधरम् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम्

evaṁ vijñāpya deveśaṁ devadevaṁ gadādharam brāhmaṇānbhojayedbhaktyā tebhyo dadyācca dakṣiṇām

Having thus offered this prayer to the God of gods, the mace-bearer, one should feed the brahmins with devotion and give them gifts.

Verse 40 (padma.6.62.40)

ततः स्वबंधुभिः सार्द्धं नारायणपरायणः । कृत्वा पंचमहायज्ञान्स्वयं भुंजीत वाग्यतः

tataḥ svabaṁdhubhiḥ sārddhaṁ nārāyaṇaparāyaṇaḥ kṛtvā paṁcamahāyajñānsvayaṁ bhuṁjīta vāgyataḥ

After that, devoted to Narayana, having performed the five great sacrifices together with one's kinsmen, one should eat oneself in silence.

Verse 41 (padma.6.62.41)

एवं यः प्रयतः कुर्यात्पुण्यमेकादशीव्रतम् । स याति विष्णुभवनं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्ल्लभम्

evaṁ yaḥ prayataḥ kuryātpuṇyamekādaśīvratam sa yāti viṣṇubhavanaṁ punarāvṛttidurllabham

Whoever, thus self-restrained, performs this meritorious Ekadashi vow, attains the abode of Vishnu, from which return [to rebirth] is rare.

Verse 42 (padma.6.62.42)

इत्युक्त्वा कमला तस्मै वरं दत्त्वा तिरोदधे । सोऽपि विप्रो धनी भूत्वा पितुर्गेहं समागतः

ityuktvā kamalā tasmai varaṁ dattvā tirodadhe so'pi vipro dhanī bhūtvā piturgehaṁ samāgataḥ

Having said this much, Kamala [Lakshmi], having granted him the boon, vanished. That brahmin too, having become wealthy, returned to his father's house.

Verse 43 (padma.6.62.43)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- एवं यः कुरुते राजन्कमलाव्रतमुत्तमम् । शृणुयाद्वासरे विष्णोः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- evaṁ yaḥ kurute rājankamalāvratamuttamam śṛṇuyādvāsare viṣṇoḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Sri Krishna said: O king, whoever thus performs this excellent Kamala vow, or hears it on Vishnu's day, becomes freed from every sin.