तस्माच्छतगुणं पुण्यमेकादश्युपवासिनः । तपस्विनो गृहे यस्य भुंजते च द्विजोत्तमाः
Therefore, the merit of one who fasts on Ekadashi is a hundred times greater than that gained by ascetics in whose house the best of Brahmins partake of food.
तत्फलं जायते नूनमेकादश्युपवासिनः । गोसहस्रेण यत्पुण्यं दत्वा वेदांतपारगे
Certainly, the fruit obtained by one who fasts on Ekadashi equals the merit earned by gifting a thousand cows to a knower of the Vedas.
तस्माच्छतगुणं पुण्यमेकादश्युपवासिनः । येषां देहे त्रयो देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
Therefore, the merit of one who fasts on Ekadashi is a hundred times greater than that of those in whose bodies the three gods—Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara—reside.
वसंति तेषां ते तुल्या एकादश्युपवासिनः । ते नराः पुण्यकर्माणो ये भक्ता हरिपूजकाः
Those who fast on Ekadashi are equal to them; those men of virtuous deeds who are devoted and worshippers of Hari.
एकादशीव्रतस्यापि पुण्यसंख्या न विद्यते । एतत्पुण्यं भवेत्तस्य यत्सुरैरपि दुर्ल्लभम्
Even the quantity of merit from the vow of Ekadashi cannot be known; this merit is attained by him which is difficult even for the gods to obtain.
एतस्मादर्द्धपुण्यं तु प्राप्यते नक्तभोजनात् । नक्तस्यार्द्धं भवेत्पुण्यमेकभक्तेन देहिनाम्
From eating only at night, one attains half of this merit; and from eating once, embodied beings obtain half of the merit of eating at night.
तावद्गर्जंति तीर्थानि दानानि नियमानि च । यावन्नोपोषयेज्जंतुर्वासरं विष्णुवल्लभम्
So long as a being does not observe the day dear to Vishnu, pilgrimages, gifts, and vows resound in vain.
तस्मात्त्वं पांडवश्रेष्ठ व्रतमेतत्समाचर । पुण्यसंख्यां न जानामि यत्त्वं पृच्छसि पांडव
Therefore, O best of the Pandavas, you should observe this vow; as for the measure of its merit which you ask, O Pandava, I do not know.
एतद्धि कथितं पार्थ यद्गोप्यं व्रतमुत्तमम् । एकादशीसमं नास्ति कृत्वा यज्ञसहस्रकम्
This supreme vow, which is to be kept secret, has been described to you, O Partha; there is nothing equal to Ekadashi, even after performing a thousand sacrifices.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- उत्पन्ना सा कथं देव पुण्या चैकादशी तिथिः । कथं पवित्रा विश्वेऽस्मिन्कथं वै देवताप्रिया
Yudhishthira said: How did that meritorious Ekadashi day arise, O Lord? How did it become pure in this world, and how did it become dear to the gods?
श्रीभगवानुवाच - पुरा कृतयुगे पार्थ मुरनामेति दानवः । अत्यद्भुतो महारौद्र सर्वदेवभयंकरः 6.38.
The Blessed Lord said: In ancient times, in the Krita Yuga, O Partha, there was a demon named Mura, exceedingly wondrous and terribly fierce, a source of fear for all the gods.
इंद्रोऽपि निर्जितस्तेन सर्वदेवास्तथा नृप । महासुरेण तेनैव मृत्युना च दुरात्मना
Even Indra was defeated by him, and all the gods as well, O king, by that great demon, that wicked one who was like death itself.
स्वर्गान्निराकृतास्तेन विचरंति महीतले । सशंका भयभीताश्च सर्वे गत्वा महेश्वरम्
Driven out of heaven by him, they wandered the earth, all filled with doubt and fear, and went to Maheshvara.
इंद्रेण कथितं सर्वमीश्वरस्यापि चाग्रतः । स्वर्गलोकपरिभ्रष्टा विचरंति महीतले
Indra recounted everything before Ishvara; having fallen from the heavenly world, they wandered the earth.
मर्त्येषु संस्थिता देवा न शोभंते महेश्वर । उपायं ब्रूहि मे देव ह्यमरा यांति कां गतिम्
The gods, dwelling among mortals, did not shine, O Maheshvara; tell me a means, O Lord, for the immortals to regain their state.
महादेव उवाच- देवराजसुरश्रेष्ठयत्रास्तेगरुडध्वजः । शरण्यश्च जगन्नाथः परित्राता परायणः
Mahadeva said: Where the lord of Garuda’s banner, the refuge, the lord of the world, the savior, and the supreme goal abides, there, O best of gods and chiefs of demons, you should go.
तत्र गच्छ सुरश्रेष्ठ स वो रक्षां विधास्यति । ईश्वरस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवराजो महामतिः
Go there, O best of gods; he will provide you protection. Hearing the words of Ishvara, the king of the gods, wise as he was,
त्रिदशैः सहितो यत्र गतस्तत्र युधिष्ठिर । जलमध्ये प्रसुप्तं तं दृष्ट्वा देवं गदाधरम्
Went there with the gods, O Yudhishthira, and, seeing the club-bearing god lying asleep in the waters—
कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा इंद्रः स्तोत्रमुदीरयत्
With hands joined in reverence, Indra began to recite a hymn.
इंद्र उवाच- ॐनमो देवदेवेश देवदानववंदित । दैत्यारे पुंडरीकाक्ष त्राहि नो मधुसूदन
Indra said: Om, obeisance to you, Lord of gods, revered by gods and demons; enemy of the Daityas, lotus-eyed one, Madhusudana, protect us.
सुराः सर्वे समायाता भयभीताश्च दानवात् । शरणं त्वां जगन्नाथ त्राहि मां भक्तवत्सल
All the gods have come together, terrified by the demon; Lord of the universe, we seek refuge in you—protect me, lover of devotees.
त्राहि नो देवदेवेश त्राहि त्राहि जनार्दन । त्राहि वै पुंडरीकाक्ष दानवानां विनाशक
Protect us, Lord of gods; protect, protect, O Janardana; truly protect, O lotus-eyed destroyer of demons.
त्वत्समीपं गताः सर्वे त्वमेव शरणं प्रभो । चशरणागतानां देवानां सहायं कुरु वै प्रभो
All have come near to you; you alone are our refuge, O Lord; for the gods who have sought shelter, grant your aid, O Master.
त्वं पतिस्त्वं मतिर्देव त्वं कर्ता त्वं च कारणम् । त्वं माता सर्वलोकानां त्वमेव जगतः पिता
You are the Lord, you are the mind, you are the creator, you are the cause; you are the mother of all worlds, and you alone are the father of the universe.
भगवन्देवदेवेश शरणागतवत्सल । शरणं तव चायाता भयभीताश्च देवताः
O blessed one, Lord of gods, cherisher of those who seek refuge, the gods, fearful and trembling, have come to your protection.
देवता निर्जिताः सर्वाः स्वर्गभ्रष्टाः कृताः प्रभो । अत्युग्रेण हि दैत्येन मुरनाम्ना महौजसा । इंद्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्वचनमब्रवीत्
All the gods have been defeated, cast down from heaven, O Lord, by the exceedingly fierce demon named Mura, of great might. Hearing Indra’s words, Vishnu spoke.
श्रीभगवानुवाच- कीदृशो दानवः शक्र किं रूपं कीदृशं बलम् । क्व स्थानं तस्य दुष्टस्य किं वीर्यं कः पराक्रमः । किं वरं तस्य दुष्टस्य ममाख्याहि महामते
The Blessed Lord said: What kind of demon is he, O Shakra? What is his form, what is his strength? Where is the abode of this wicked one? What is his power, what is his valor? What boon does this evil one possess? Tell me, O wise one.
इंद्र उवाच- पूर्वं बभूव देवेश ब्रह्मवंशसमुद्भवः । तालजंघस्तु नाम्ना च अत्युग्रोऽपि महासुरः
Indra said: Formerly, O Lord of gods, there was born from the lineage of Brahma a mighty asura named Talajangha, exceedingly fierce.
तस्य पुत्रो हि विख्यातो मुरनामेति दानवः । अत्युत्कटो महावीर्यो देवतानां भयंकरः
His son, renowned as the demon Mura, is exceedingly terrible, of great might, and a source of terror for the gods.
पुरी चंद्रावती नाम्ना तत्र स्थाने वसत्यसौ । निर्जिता देवताः सर्वा स्वर्गात्तेन विवासिताः
He dwells in a city named Chandravati; there, all the gods have been defeated and driven from heaven by him.