शूद्राचारपरिभ्रष्टो भीमोऽसौ गुरुतल्पगः । प्रत्येकं वच्मि किं तस्य दस्योः संख्या न विद्यते
Bhima, fallen from Shudra conduct, committed the sin of approaching his teacher's wife; I tell you, there is no counting the crimes of that bandit.
पापानां मुनिशार्दूल भीमस्य दुष्टचेतसः । एकदा स गतः कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशनम्
O tiger among sages, among the sins of wicked-minded Bhima, once he went to the house of a Brahmin.
गत्वा तं तस्य गेहात्तु द्रव्यं नेतुं मनो दधे । तत्रोवास ब्राह्मणस्य बहिर्द्वारसमीपतः
Having gone there, he resolved to steal the Brahmin's property; he stayed near the outer door of the Brahmin's house.
दैन्ययुक्तं वचः प्राह क्ष्मासुरं स तपोधनम् । भो स्वामिन्शृणु मे वाक्यं दयालुरिव मन्यते
Afflicted by misery, he spoke humble words to the ascetic Brahmin: 'O master, listen to my words, and consider me as if I were worthy of your compassion.'
क्षुधार्तोऽहं देहि चान्नं प्राणा यास्यंति मे द्रुतम्
'I am hungry; give me food, for my life will soon depart.'
ब्राह्मण उवाच- क्षुधार्त्त शृणु मे कश्चिद्वाक्यं कर्तुं न विद्यते । पाकं मे तंडुलानि त्वं नीत्वा भुंक्ष्व यथासुखम्
The Brahmin said: 'Hungry one, listen to me—there is nothing I can do. Take my rice and cook it; eat as you please.'
नास्ति मे जनको माता नास्ति सूनुः सहोदरः । नास्ति जाया मातृबंधुर्मृताः सर्वे विहाय माम्
'I have no father or mother, no son or brother; I have no wife or maternal kin—all have died, leaving me alone.'
तिष्ठाम्येको गृहेऽकर्मा भाग्यहीनोतिथे हरिः । एको मे वसतौ चास्ति न जाने तद्विना किल
'I remain alone in the house, without work, bereft of fortune and guests, O Hari. Only one thing remains with me in this dwelling; I do not know what will happen without it.'
भीम उवाच।मम कश्चिद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ नास्ति सेवां तवापि च । शूद्रोऽहं निलये जात्या कृत्वा स्थास्यामि ते सदा
Bhima said: 'O best of twice-born, I have no service to offer you. I am a Shudra by birth, but I will remain in your house, serving you always.'
सूत उवाच।इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सानंदः क्ष्मासुरस्तदा । पाकं विधाय तूर्णं स ददावन्नं तपोधन
Suta said: Hearing his words, the ascetic Brahmin was delighted; he quickly prepared the food and gave it to him.
सोऽपि हर्षसमायुक्तस्तस्थौ तत्र द्विजालये । सेवां कुर्वन्स्नेहयुक्तां भूसुरस्य मनोहराम्
He too, filled with joy, stayed there in the Brahmin's house, performing loving and pleasing service for the earth-born one.
अद्य श्वो वा हनिष्यामि द्रव्यमस्य ममापि च । नेतुं यदा करिष्यामि नेष्यामि नात्र संशयः
'Today or tomorrow I will kill him and take his wealth—whenever I get the chance, I will take it, there is no doubt about this.'
परामृश्य च हृद्यंतः कृत्वा तस्य क्रियां वदेत् । पादधौतादिकं चासौ शिरसा गतपातकः
After reflecting within the heart, one should perform the prescribed act for him and speak; having washed the feet and so on, he, freed from sin, should bow his head.
आचम्यांघ्रिजलं दध्रेच्छद्मना प्रतिदिनं द्विजः । एकदा हारकः कश्चिद्द्रव्यं नेतुं समागतः
A twice-born should, each day, take the water used for washing the feet and sip it in secret; once, a thief came to steal some property.
उत्पाट्य रात्रावररं गतोऽसौ तद्गृहांतरम् । दृष्ट्वा भीमं प्रहारार्थं दंडहस्तः समागतः
Having uprooted the door-bar at night, he entered that house; seeing a terrifying figure approaching with a staff to strike, he was confronted.
हारको मस्तकं तस्य छित्त्वा तूर्णं पलायितः । अथ तस्य भटा विष्णोः शंखचक्रगदाधराः
The thief quickly cut off his head and fled; then the attendants of Vishnu, bearing conch, discus, and mace, arrived.
समायातास्तथा नेतुं भीमं तं वीतकिल्बिषम् । स्यंदनं चागतं दिव्यं राजहंसयुतं द्विज
They came to take that sinless man, and a divine chariot drawn by royal swans arrived, O twice-born.
तत्रारूढो ययौ विष्णोर्भवनं दुर्लभं किल । माहात्म्यं भूमिदेवस्य मया ते तत्प्रकीर्तितम् । शृणुयाद्यो नरो भक्त्या तस्य पातकनाशनम्
Mounted there, he went to the rare abode of Vishnu; thus I have described to you the greatness of the earth-god. Whoever hears this with devotion, his sins are destroyed.
शौनक उवाच। कथयस्व महाभाग माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् । एकादश्याः फलं किं वा किल्बिषं स्यादकुर्वतः
Shaunaka said: O greatly fortunate one, tell me the greatness that destroys sin, and what is the fruit of Ekadashi, or what sin arises for one who does not observe it?
सूत उवाच। एकादश्यास्तु माहात्म्यं किमहं वच्मि सांप्रतम् । श्रुत्वा चैकादशीनाम यमदूताश्च शंकिताः
Suta said: What can I now say about the greatness of Ekadashi? Having heard of the Ekadashis, even the messengers of Yama are afraid.
भवंति नात्र संदेहो सर्वप्राणिभयंकराः । व्रतानां चैव सर्वेषां श्रेष्ठां चैकादशीं शुभाम्
There is no doubt about this: they are terrifying to all beings; and among all vows, the most auspicious and best is Ekadashi.
उपोष्य जागृयाद्विष्णोः कुर्य्याच्च मंडनं महत् । तुलसीदलैस्तु यो मर्त्यो हरिपूजां करोति वै
One should fast, keep vigil for Vishnu, and make great decorations; whoever worships Hari with tulasi leaves,
दलेनैकेन लभते कोटियज्ञफलं द्विज । अगम्यागमने चैव यत्पापं समुदाहृतम्
By a single leaf, he obtains the merit of ten million sacrifices, O twice-born; and whatever sin is declared from going to forbidden women,
तत्पापं याति विलयं चैकादश्यामुपोषणात् । घृतपूर्णं प्रदीपं यो दद्याद्विष्णुदिने द्विज
That sin is destroyed by fasting on Ekadashi; whoever gives a lamp filled with ghee on Vishnu's day, O twice-born,
अंते विष्णुपुरं याति तमो हत्वा स्वतेजसा । धन्या जनपदास्ते वै धन्यः स च महीपतिः
At the end, he goes to Vishnu's city, dispelling darkness by his own brilliance; blessed are those lands and blessed is that king
हरेर्दिने यस्य राज्ये चैकादश्या महोत्सवः । नारायणस्य शयने पार्श्वस्य परिवर्त्तने
In whose kingdom, on Hari's day, there is a great festival of Ekadashi; at the turning of Narayana on his couch,
विशेषेण प्रबोधिन्या निराहारा भवंति ये । मदंति कं नानयध्वंप्राणिनःपुण्यभागिनः
Especially on Prabodhini, those who remain without food—what other beings, possessing merit, can compare to them?
अहर्निशं पितृपतिः समादिशति दूतकान् । एकादशी जगन्नाथ वल्लभा पुण्यवर्धिनी
Day and night, the lord of the ancestors commands his messengers: 'Ekadashi, beloved of the Lord of the Universe, increases merit.'
विष्णुर्देहं दोहत्येव तस्यामन्नस्य भक्षणे । तेषां धिग्जीवनं संपत्धिक्सौंदर्यं च वर्तनम्
Vishnu himself destroys the body of one who eats food on that day; condemned is their life, condemned their wealth, condemned their beauty and conduct.
येऽन्नमश्नंति पापिष्ठाश्चैकादश्यां हि विड्भुजः । एकादश्यां द्विजश्रेष्ठ भुक्तिमाश्रित्य केवलम्
Those most sinful ones who eat food on Ekadashi are like eaters of filth; O best of twice-born, those who, on Ekadashi, seek only enjoyment—