Kamada Ekadashi of Purushottama Masa Shukla

Verse 1 (padma.6.63.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच - श्रुतानि बहुधर्माणि व्रतानि च जगत्प्रभो । एकादशीसमं किंजिच्छ्रुतं नैव जनार्दन

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca - śrutāni bahudharmāṇi vratāni ca jagatprabho ekādaśīsamaṁ kiṁjicchrutaṁ naiva janārdana

Yudhishthira said: O Lord of the world, I have heard of many observances and vows, but, O Janardana, I have heard of nothing equal to Ekadashi.

Verse 2 (padma.6.63.2)

पुनस्त्वेकादशीं ब्रूहि पापघ्नीं पुण्यदायिनीम् । यां कृत्वा मनुजो लोके प्राप्नुयात्परमं पदम्

punastvekādaśīṁ brūhi pāpaghnīṁ puṇyadāyinīm yāṁ kṛtvā manujo loke prāpnuyātparamaṁ padam

Tell me once again of that sin-destroying, merit-bestowing Ekadashi, by performing which a man attains the supreme state in this world.

Verse 3 (padma.6.63.3)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- शुक्ले वा यदि वा कृष्णे यदा चैकादशी भवेत् । न त्याज्या जगतीपाल मोक्षसौख्यविवर्द्धनी

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- śukle vā yadi vā kṛṣṇe yadā caikādaśī bhavet na tyājyā jagatīpāla mokṣasaukhyavivarddhanī

Sri Krishna said: O protector of the world, whether in the bright or the dark fortnight, whenever Ekadashi occurs, it should never be forsaken, for it increases both liberation and happiness.

Verse 4 (padma.6.63.4)

एकादशी कलौ राजन्भवबंधविमोचनी । कामदा सर्वकामानां पापानां पापहा भुवि

ekādaśī kalau rājanbhavabaṁdhavimocanī kāmadā sarvakāmānāṁ pāpānāṁ pāpahā bhuvi

O king, in the Kali age, Ekadashi frees one from the bondage of worldly existence. Upon this earth it fulfils every desire and destroys every sin.

Verse 5 (padma.6.63.5)

रविवारेऽथ मांगल्ये संक्रमे वा नृपोत्तम । एकादशी सदोपोष्या पुत्रपौत्रविवर्द्धनी

ravivāre'tha māṁgalye saṁkrame vā nṛpottama ekādaśī sadopoṣyā putrapautravivarddhanī

O best of kings, on a Sunday, in an auspicious yoga, or even at a solstice, the fast of Ekadashi should always be observed, for it increases sons and grandsons.

Verse 6 (padma.6.63.6)

एकादशीव्रतं क्वापि न त्याज्यं विष्णुवल्लभैः । आयुः कीर्तिप्रदं नित्यं संतानारोग्यवित्तदम्

ekādaśīvrataṁ kvāpi na tyājyaṁ viṣṇuvallabhaiḥ āyuḥ kīrtipradaṁ nityaṁ saṁtānārogyavittadam

The vow of Ekadashi should never be forsaken by those dear to Vishnu. It ever bestows longevity and fame, and grants offspring, health, and wealth.

Verse 7 (padma.6.63.7)

मोक्षदं रूपदं राज्यं नित्यमेकादशीव्रतम् । ये कुर्वंति महीपाल श्रद्धया परया युताः

mokṣadaṁ rūpadaṁ rājyaṁ nityamekādaśīvratam ye kurvaṁti mahīpāla śraddhayā parayā yutāḥ

O king, those who, endowed with supreme faith, perform this Ekadashi vow every day, which grants liberation, beauty, and sovereignty,

Verse 8 (padma.6.63.8)

यथोक्तविधिना लोके ते नरा विष्णुरूपिणः । जीवन्मुक्तास्तु भूपाल दृश्यंते नात्र संशयः

yathoktavidhinā loke te narā viṣṇurūpiṇaḥ jīvanmuktāstu bhūpāla dṛśyaṁte nātra saṁśayaḥ

those men, by observing the rite exactly as prescribed, become of the very form of Vishnu in this world. O king, they are seen to be liberated even while living - in this there is no doubt.

Verse 9 (padma.6.63.9)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच- जीवन्मुक्ताः कथं कृष्ण विष्णुरूपाः कथं पुनः । पापरूपाश्च दृश्यंते परं कौतूहलं हि मे

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- jīvanmuktāḥ kathaṁ kṛṣṇa viṣṇurūpāḥ kathaṁ punaḥ pāparūpāśca dṛśyaṁte paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

Yudhishthira said: O Krishna, how do they become liberated while living, how do they take on Vishnu's form? Yet some are still seen in a sinful state - I am filled with great curiosity about this.

Verse 10 (padma.6.63.10)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- ये च राजन्कलौ भक्त्या निर्जलं व्रतमुत्तमम् । एकादश्याः प्रकुर्वंति विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- ye ca rājankalau bhaktyā nirjalaṁ vratamuttamam ekādaśyāḥ prakurvaṁti vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Sri Krishna said: O king, those who, in the Kali age, perform this excellent waterless vow of Ekadashi with devotion, according to the rite laid down in the scriptures,

Verse 11 (padma.6.63.11)

न कथं विष्णुरूपास्ते जीवन्मुक्ताः कथं नहि । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं व्रतमेकादशीसमम्

na kathaṁ viṣṇurūpāste jīvanmuktāḥ kathaṁ nahi sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ vratamekādaśīsamam

why should they not become of Vishnu's form, why should they not be liberated while living? There is no other vow equal to Ekadashi in removing all sin and bestowing merit.

Verse 12 (padma.6.63.12)

न किंचिद्विद्यते राजन्सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् । एकाशनं दशम्यां च नंदायां निर्जलं व्रतम्

na kiṁcidvidyate rājansarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇām ekāśanaṁ daśamyāṁ ca naṁdāyāṁ nirjalaṁ vratam

O king, there is nothing equal to it in fulfilling every desire of men. Eating but once on Dashami, and observing the waterless vow on the Nanda tithi [Ekadashi],

Verse 13 (padma.6.63.13)

पारणं चैव भद्रायां कृत्वा विष्णुसमा नराः । श्रद्धावान्यस्तु कुरुते कामदाया व्रतं शुभम्

pāraṇaṁ caiva bhadrāyāṁ kṛtvā viṣṇusamā narāḥ śraddhāvānyastu kurute kāmadāyā vrataṁ śubham

and breaking the fast on the Bhadra tithi [Dvadashi], those men become equal to Vishnu. Whoever, endowed with faith, performs this auspicious vow of Kamada,

Verse 14 (padma.6.63.14)

वांछितं लभते सोऽपि इहलोके परत्र च । पवित्रा पावनी ह्येषा महापातकनाशिनी

vāṁchitaṁ labhate so'pi ihaloke paratra ca pavitrā pāvanī hyeṣā mahāpātakanāśinī

obtains his heart's desire, both in this world and the next. This vow is pure and holy, and destroys the gravest sins.

Verse 15 (padma.6.63.15)

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा चैव कर्तॄणां नृपसत्तम । कामदायां विधानेन पूजयेत्पुरुषोत्तमम्

bhuktimuktipradā caiva kartṝṇāṁ nṛpasattama kāmadāyāṁ vidhānena pūjayetpuruṣottamam

O best of kings, it bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation upon those who observe it. On the day of Kamada, Purushottama should be worshipped according to the rite,

Verse 16 (padma.6.63.16)

पुष्पधूपादिभिश्चैव नैवेद्यैर्विविधैस्तथा । कांस्य मांसमसूरांश्च चणकान्कोद्रवांस्तथा

puṣpadhūpādibhiścaiva naivedyairvividhaistathā kāṁsya māṁsamasūrāṁśca caṇakānkodravāṁstathā

with flowers, incense, and various food-offerings. A bronze vessel, meat, lentils, chickpeas, and kodo millet,

Verse 17 (padma.6.63.17)

शाकं मधु परान्नं च पुनर्भोजन मैथुनम् । वैष्णवो व्रतकर्त्ता च दशम्यां दश वर्जयेत्

śākaṁ madhu parānnaṁ ca punarbhojana maithunam vaiṣṇavo vratakarttā ca daśamyāṁ daśa varjayet

greens, honey, food given by another, and eating a second time and sexual union - the Vaishnava observer of the vow should renounce these ten things on the day of Dashami.

Verse 18 (padma.6.63.18)

द्यूतं क्रीडां तथा निद्रा तांबूलं दंतधावनम् । परापवादं पैशुन्यं स्तेयं हिंसां तथा रतिम्

dyūtaṁ krīḍāṁ tathā nidrā tāṁbūlaṁ daṁtadhāvanam parāpavādaṁ paiśunyaṁ steyaṁ hiṁsāṁ tathā ratim

Gambling, sport, sleep, betel-chewing, tooth-cleaning, slandering others, backbiting, theft, violence, and sexual pleasure,

Verse 19 (padma.6.63.19)

क्रोधं च वितथं वाक्यमेकादश्यां विवर्जयेत् । कांस्यं मांसंमसूरांश्च तैलं वितथभाषणम्

krodhaṁ ca vitathaṁ vākyamekādaśyāṁ vivarjayet kāṁsyaṁ māṁsaṁmasūrāṁśca tailaṁ vitathabhāṣaṇam

and anger and false speech - these should be renounced on the day of Ekadashi. A bronze vessel, meat, lentils, oil, and false speech,

Verse 20 (padma.6.63.20)

व्यायामं च प्रवासं च पुनर्भोजनमैथुनम् । वृषपृष्ठं परान्नं च शाकं च द्वादशीदिने

vyāyāmaṁ ca pravāsaṁ ca punarbhojanamaithunam vṛṣapṛṣṭhaṁ parānnaṁ ca śākaṁ ca dvādaśīdine

exercise, travel, eating a second time, sexual union, riding upon a bull's back, another's food, and leafy greens - these should be renounced on the day of Dvadashi.

Verse 21 (padma.6.63.21)

अनेन विधिना राजन्विहिता यैश्च कामदा । रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा पूजितः पुरुषोत्तमः

anena vidhinā rājanvihitā yaiśca kāmadā rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā pūjitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ

O king, those who have observed the vow of Kamada according to this rite have worshipped Purushottama, keeping the night-vigil.

Verse 22 (padma.6.63.22)

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तास्ते यांति परमां गतिम् । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

sarvapāpavinirmuktāste yāṁti paramāṁ gatim paṭhanācchravaṇādrājangosahasraphalaṁ labhet

Freed from all sin, they attain the supreme state. O king, by merely reading or hearing it, one obtains the fruit of donating a thousand cows.