अत्युग्रं च कृतं कर्म मम कारुण्यतः कृतम् । कन्योवाच- तेन देवाश्च गंधर्वा सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः
Such a terrible deed was done, and it was done out of compassion for me. The maiden spoke: 'By him, the gods, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, serpents, and Rākṣasas—'
इंद्राद्याः सकला जित्वा स्वर्गाच्चैव निराकृताः । हरिः सुप्तो मया दृष्टो मुरः पृष्ठे समागतः
'All, including Indra and the rest, were conquered and cast out of heaven; while Hari slept, I saw Mura approach from behind.'
संहरिष्यति त्रैलोक्यं सुप्ते चैव जर्नादने । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्वचनमब्रवीत्
'He would have destroyed the three worlds while Janārdana slept; hearing her words, Viṣṇu then spoke.'
अहं च निर्जितो येन कथं सोऽपि त्वया जितः । एकादश्युवाच- त्वत्प्रसादाच्च भो स्वामिन्महादैत्यो मया हतः
'He who defeated me—how was he conquered by you?' Ekādaśī said: 'By your grace, O Lord, I slew that great Daitya.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच- आनंदं त्रिषु लोकेषु मुनयो देवता गताः । ब्रूहि त्वं च मया भद्रे यत्ते मनसि रोचते । ददामि च न संदेहो यत्सुरैरपि दुर्ल्लभम्
The Blessed Lord said: The sages and the gods have attained bliss in the three worlds. Tell me, O gentle one, what pleases your mind; I will grant it to you. There is no doubt—I shall give you that which is rare even for the gods.
एकादश्युवाच- यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव सत्यमुक्तं जनार्दन । वरमेकं तु वांच्छामि हृदये च जगत्पते
Ekadashi said: If you are pleased with me, O Lord, O Janardana, and if what I have spoken is true, then I desire one boon in my heart, O Lord of the universe.
प्रार्थयामि च देवेश ईप्सितं च मया प्रभो । यदि सत्यं जगन्नाथ तिस्रो वाचो ददासि मे
I pray to you, O Lord of the gods, for what I desire, O Master. If it is true, O Lord of the world, grant me three wishes.
श्रीभगवानुवाच- सत्यं सत्यं मया प्रोक्तं अवश्यं तव सुव्रते । तिस्रो वाचो मया दत्ता न चावाक्यं भवेदिह
The Blessed Lord said: Truly, truly, I have spoken; O virtuous one, I will certainly grant you three wishes. I have given you my word—there will be no unfulfilled promise here.
एकादश्युवाच- त्रिभुवनेषु च देवेश चतुर्युगेषु सांप्रतम् । त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वत्र तादृशं कुरु मे प्रभो
Ekadashi said: O Lord of the gods, in all three worlds and throughout the four ages, everywhere in the three realms, grant me such a boon, O Master.
सर्वतीर्थप्रधानं हि सर्वविघ्नविनाशिनी । सर्वसिद्धिकरी देवी त्वत्प्रसादाद्भवाम्यहम्
Let me become, by your grace, the foremost among all sacred places, the remover of all obstacles, the goddess who grants all accomplishments.
मामुपोष्यंति ये भक्त्या तव भक्त्या जनार्दन । सर्वसिद्धिर्भवेत्तेषां यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे प्रभो 6.38.
Those who worship me with devotion, and those who worship you, O Janardana, may all attain every accomplishment, if you are pleased with me, O Lord.
उपवासं च नक्तं च एकभक्तं करोति च । तस्य वित्तं च धर्मं च मोक्षं वै देहि माधव
Whoever observes fasting, eats only at night, or takes a single meal, grant them wealth, righteousness, and liberation, O Madhava.
विष्णुरुवाच-। यत्त्वं वदसि कल्याणि तत्सर्वं च भविष्यति । सर्वान्मनोरथान्भद्रे दास्यसि त्वं च नान्यथा
Vishnu said: O auspicious one, whatever you have spoken will all come to pass. O gentle one, you will grant all desires; it cannot be otherwise.
मम भक्ताश्च ये लोके ये च भक्तास्तु कार्त्तिके । चतुर्युगेषु विख्यातास्त्रिषु लोकेषु वै प्रभो
Those who are my devotees in this world, and those who are devotees in Kartika, will be renowned throughout the four ages and in the three worlds, O Master.
त्वां च शक्तिमहं मन्ये एकादशीव्रतस्थिताः । मम पूजां करिष्यंति मोक्षगास्ते न संशयः
I consider you powerful, established in the vow of Ekadashi. Those who worship me will attain liberation; there is no doubt.
तृतीया चाष्टमी चैव नवमी च चतुर्दशी । एकादशी विशेषेण तिथिरेषा हरिप्रिया । सर्वतीर्थाधिकं पुण्यं सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः
The third, eighth, ninth, and fourteenth lunar days, and especially Ekadashi—this tithi is dear to Hari. Its merit surpasses all sacred places; truly, truly, there is no doubt.
इदं दत्त्वा वरं तस्यै तिस्रो वाचो न संशयः । हृष्टा पुष्टा च संजाता एकादशीमहाव्रता
Having granted her this boon—three wishes, without doubt—Ekadashi became joyful, nourished, and established in the great vow.
शत्रुं हंसि परां तस्य ददासि परमां गतिम् । त्वं हंसि सर्वविघ्नानि सर्वसिद्धिवरप्रदा
You destroy the enemy and grant supreme attainment to that person. You remove all obstacles and bestow the highest boon of accomplishment.
उभयोः पक्षयोः पार्थ तुल्या एकादशी शुभा । न शुक्ला नैव कृष्णा च विभेदं नैव कारयेत्
O Partha, the auspicious Ekadashi is equal in both lunar fortnights; neither bright nor dark, it should not be distinguished.
विभेदो नैव कर्त्तव्यः समस्तव्रतकारिभिः । दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ शृणोति भक्तितत्परः
No distinction should be made by those who observe all vows. Whether by day or by night, whoever listens with devoted attention—
तिथिरेका भवेत्सर्वा पक्षयोरुभयोरपि । उभयैकादशी स्वल्पा ह्यंते चैव त्रयोदशी
The tithi is always Ekadashi in both lunar fortnights; the two Ekadashis are slight, and at the end there is Trayodashi.
मध्ये तु द्वादशी पूर्णा त्रिस्पृशा सा हरिप्रिया । एकामुपोषयेत्तां वै सहस्रैकादशीफलम्
In the middle, Dvadashi is complete, touching three days, and is dear to Hari. One who observes it will obtain the fruit of a thousand Ekadashis.
सहस्रगुणितं ह्येवं द्वादश्यां पारणे कृते । अष्टम्येकादशी षष्ठी तृतीया च चतुर्दशी
When the fast is broken on the twelfth day in this way, its merit is multiplied a thousandfold; the eighth, eleventh, sixth, third, and fourteenth days—
पूर्वविद्धा न कर्तव्या परविद्धामुपोषयेत् । एकादशी ह्यहोरात्रं प्रभाते घटिका भवेत्
—should not be observed if they are joined to the previous day, but one should fast when they are joined to the following day; the eleventh day should last for a full day and night, extending into the morning by a few moments.
सा तिथिः परिहर्तव्या उपोष्या द्वादशीयुता । एवंविधा मया प्रोक्ता पक्षयोरुभयोरपि
That lunar day should be avoided if not accompanied by the twelfth; thus I have explained the proper observance for both halves of the lunar month.
एकादश्यां प्रकुर्वीत ह्युपवासं न संशयः । ते यांति वैष्णवं स्थानं यत्रास्ते गरुडध्वजः
One should certainly undertake the fast on the eleventh day; there is no doubt about this. Those who do so attain the abode of Viṣṇu, where the Lord with Garuḍa as his banner resides.
धन्यास्ते मानवा लोके विष्णुभक्तिपरायणाः । एकादश्याश्च माहात्म्यं सर्वकालेषु यः पठेत्
Blessed are those people in the world who are devoted to Viṣṇu; and whoever recites the greatness of the eleventh day at all times—
गोसहस्रफलं सोऽपि पुण्यं प्राप्नोति मानवः । दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ ये वै शृण्वंति भक्तितः
—that person also obtains the merit of giving a thousand cows. Whether by day or by night, those who listen with devotion—
ब्रह्महत्यादिपापेभ्यो मुच्यंते नात्र संशयः । विष्णुधर्मसमं नास्ति गीतार्थं च नृपोत्तम । एकादशीसमं नास्ति व्रतं पापप्रणाशनम्
—are freed from sins such as the killing of a brāhmaṇa; there is no doubt of this. There is nothing equal to the dharma of Viṣṇu, nor to the meaning of the Gītā, O best of kings; and there is no vow equal to the eleventh day for destroying sin.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- वंदे विष्णुं विभुं साक्षाल्लोकत्रयसुखावहम् । विश्वेशं विश्वकर्तारं पुराणं पुरुषोत्तमम्
Yudhiṣṭhira said: I bow to Viṣṇu, the all-pervading Lord, who brings happiness to the three worlds, the Lord of the universe, the creator of all, the ancient one, the supreme person.