इति चिंतापरो राजा जगामैवाग्रतो वनम् । सुकृतस्य प्रभावेन सरो दृष्टमनुत्तमम्
Thus absorbed in thought, the king went further into the forest; by the power of his merit, he saw an excellent lake.
मीनसंस्पर्शमानं च पद्मैश्चापरशोभितम् । कारंडैश्चक्रवाकैश्च राजहंसैश्च शोभितम्
It was touched by fish, adorned with lotuses, and graced by ducks, chakravaka birds, and royal swans.
मकरैर्बहुभिर्मत्स्यैरन्यैर्जलचरैर्युतम् । समीपे सरसस्तस्य मुनीनामाश्रमान्बहून्
It was filled with crocodiles, many fish, and other aquatic creatures; near that lake were many hermitages of sages.
ददर्श राजा लक्ष्मीवान्शकुनैः शुभशंसिभिः । दक्षिणं प्रास्फुरन्नेत्रमथ सव्येतरः करः
The prosperous king saw auspicious birds; his right eye throbbed, and then his left hand as well.
प्रास्फुरन्नृपतेस्तस्य कथयञ्शोभनं फलम् । तस्य तीरे मुनीन्दृष्ट्वा कुर्वाणन्नैगमं जपम्
The king’s throbbing foretold a favorable outcome; on the shore, he saw sages engaged in Vedic recitation.
हर्षेण महताविष्टो बभूव नृपनंदनः । अवतीर्य हयात्तस्मान्मुनीनामग्रतः स्थितः
Filled with great joy, the king’s son dismounted from his horse and stood before the sages.
पृथक्पृथग्ववंदेऽसौ मुनींस्तान्शंसितव्रतान् । कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा दंडवच्च पुनः पुनः
He then respectfully saluted those sages, each one individually, who were renowned for their vows, joining his palms and bowing down again and again like a staff.
प्रत्यूचुस्तेऽपि मुनयः प्रसन्ना नृपते वयम् । राजोवाच- के भवंतोऽत्र कथ्यंतां का चाख्या भवतामपि । किमर्थं संगता यूयं सत्यं वदत मेऽग्रतः
The sages, pleased, replied: 'O King, we are content.' The king said: 'Who are you, sirs, present here? Please tell me your names as well. For what purpose have you gathered? Speak the truth before me.'
मुनय ऊचुः- विश्वेदेवा वयं राजन्स्नानार्थमिह चागताः । माघो निकटमायात एतस्मात्पंचमेऽहनि
The sages said: 'O King, we are the Viśvedevas, come here for the purpose of bathing. Māgha is approaching; on the fifth day from now—'
अद्य चैकादशी राजन्पुत्रदा नाम नामतः । पुत्रं ददात्यसौ विष्णुः पुत्रदा कारिणां नृणाम्
'And today is the Ekādaśī called Putradā by name, O King. Viṣṇu grants a son to those men who observe Putradā.'
राजोवाच- एष वै संशयो मह्यं पुत्रस्योत्पादने महान् । यदि तुष्टा भवंतो वै पुत्रं मे दीयतां तदा
The king said: 'I have great doubt regarding the begetting of a son. If you are pleased, then grant me a son.'
मुनिरुवाच- अद्यैव दिवसे राजन्पुत्रदा नाम वर्तते । एकादशीति विख्यातं क्रियतां व्रतमुत्तमम्
The sage said: 'Today is indeed the day called Putradā, O King, renowned as Ekādaśī. Perform this excellent vow.'
अभिषेकात्ततोऽस्माकं केशवस्य प्रसादतः । अवश्यं तव राजेंद्र पुत्रप्राप्तिर्भविष्यति
'By our consecration and by Keśava's grace, O King, you will certainly obtain a son.'
इत्येवं वचनात्तेषां कृतं राज्ञा व्रतोत्तमम् । मुनीनामुपदेशेन पुत्रदा या विधानतः
Thus, by their words, the king performed the supreme vow of Putradā, as instructed by the sages, in the prescribed manner.
द्वादश्यां पारणं कृत्वा मुनीन्नत्वा पुनः पुनः । आजगाम गृहं राजा राज्ञी गर्भमथादधौ 6.41.
On the twelfth day, after breaking the fast and bowing repeatedly to the sages, the king returned home, and the queen then conceived.
पुत्रो जातः सूतिकाले तेजस्वी पुण्यकर्मणा । पितरं तोषयामास प्रजापालो बभूव सः
A son was born at the proper time, radiant and virtuous in deeds; he pleased his father and became the protector of the people.
तस्माद्राजन्प्रकर्त्तव्यं पुत्रदा व्रतमुत्तमम् । लोकानां तु हितार्थाय तवाग्रे कथितं मया
Therefore, O King, the excellent vow of Putradā should be performed. For the welfare of the worlds, I have related this to you.
एकचित्तास्तु ये मर्त्याः कुर्वंति पुत्रदा व्रतम् । पुत्रान्प्राप्येह लोके तु मृतास्ते स्वर्गगामिनः । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
Those mortals who, with single-mindedness, perform the Putradā vow, obtain sons in this world, and after death, go to heaven. By reciting or hearing this, O King, one attains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- साधु कृष्ण जगन्नाथ आदिदेव जगत्पते । कथयस्व प्रसादेन कृपां कुरु ममोपरि
Yudhiṣṭhira said: 'Excellent, Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the universe, primeval God, master of the world! Out of your grace, tell me and show me your compassion.'
माघस्य कृष्णपक्षे तु का वा चैकादशी भवेत् । किं नाम को विधिस्तस्या एतद्विस्तरतो वद
'In the dark fortnight of Māgha, which Ekādaśī occurs? What is its name, and what is its procedure? Please explain this to me in detail.'
दालभ्य उवाच- मर्त्यलोकमनुप्राप्ताः पापं कुर्वंति जंतवः । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापैश्च युक्ता ये विविधादिभिः
Dālabhya said: 'Creatures who have come to the world of mortals commit sins, and are afflicted by various sins such as the killing of a brāhmaṇa and others.'
परद्रव्यापहाराश्च परव्यसनमोहिताः । कथं न यांति नरकं ब्रह्मंस्तद्ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः
'Some steal others’ wealth, some are deluded by others’ vices—how do they not go to hell? O Brāhmaṇa, tell me the truth of this.'
अनायासेन भगवन्दानेनाल्पेन केनचित् । पापं प्रशमनं याति एतन्मे वक्तुमर्हसि
'O Lord, by what effortless or small act of charity does sin come to an end? Please tell me this.'
पुलस्त्य उवाच- साधुसाधु महाभाग गुह्यमेतत्सुदुर्ल्लभम् । यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं विष्णुब्रह्मेंद्रदैवतैः
Pulastya said: 'Excellent, excellent, O highly fortunate one! This is a secret, very rare, not revealed to anyone by Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra, or the gods.'
तदहं कथयिष्यामि त्वया पृष्टो द्विजोत्तम । माघमासे तु संप्राप्ते शुचिस्नातो जितेंद्रियः
Therefore, O best of twice-born, since you have asked, I shall tell you: when the month of Māgha arrives, one should be pure, having bathed, and with the senses controlled.
कामक्रोधाभिमानेर्ष्यालोभ पैशुन्य वर्जितः । देवदेवं च संस्मृत्य पादौ प्रक्षाल्य वारिभिः
Free from desire, anger, pride, envy, greed, and slander, one should remember the Lord of gods and wash His feet with water.
भूमावपतितं गृह्य गोमयं तत्र मानवः । तिलान्प्रक्षिप्य कार्पांसं पिंडिकाश्चैव कारयेत्
Taking cow dung that has fallen to the ground, a person should mix sesame seeds and a piece of cloth, and then make small balls.
अष्टोत्तरशतं चैव नात्र कार्या विचारणा । ततो माघे च संप्राप्ते ह्याषाढर्क्षं भवेद्यदि
One hundred and eight such balls should be made—there is no need for doubt about this; then, when Māgha arrives, if the lunar mansion is Āṣāḍhā—
मूलं वा कृष्णपक्षस्यैकादशी नियमांस्ततः । गृह्णीयात्पुण्यकाले च विधानं तत्र मे शृणु
Or if it is the eleventh day of the dark fortnight, or its root, then one should observe the vow at that auspicious time; hear from me the procedure for this.
देवदेवं समभ्यर्च्य सुस्नातः प्रयतः शुचिः । कृष्णनामानि संकीर्त्य पुनः प्रस्खलितादिषु
Having worshipped the Lord of gods, bathed well, with mind focused and pure, one should recite the names of Kṛṣṇa, especially if any faults have occurred.