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.
रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यादादौ होमं च कारयेत् । अर्चयेद्देवदेवेशं द्वितीयेऽह्नि पुनर्हरिम्
One should remain awake at night, first performing a fire offering, and worship the Lord of lords; on the second day, worship Hari again.
चंदनागुरुकर्पूरैर्नैवेद्यं कृसरं तथा । संस्मृत्य नाम्ना च ततः कृष्णाख्येन पुनः पुनः
With sandalwood, aguru, camphor, and also offering cooked rice, one should remember Him by name, repeatedly invoking the name Kṛṣṇa.
कूष्मांडैर्नारिकेरैश्च ह्यथवा बीजपूरकैः । सर्वाभावेऽपि विप्रेंद्र शस्तपूगफलैर्वृतम् । अर्घं दद्याद्विधानेन पूजयित्वा जनार्दनम्
With gourds, coconuts, or even with seeds filled inside, and if none of these are available, O best of Brahmins, with good betel nuts, one should offer arghya according to the rite, having worshipped Janārdana.
कृष्णकृष्ण कृपालुस्त्वमगतीनां गतिर्भव । संसारार्णव मग्नानां प्रसीद पुरुषोत्तम
"O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, compassionate one, be the refuge of those without support; O Supreme Person, have mercy on those who are sunk in the ocean of worldly existence."
नमस्ते पुंडरीकाक्ष नमस्ते विश्वभावन । सुब्रह्मण्य नमस्तेऽस्तु महापुरुषपूर्वज । गृहाणार्घ्यं मया दत्तं लक्ष्म्या सह जगत्पते
"Salutations to You, O lotus-eyed one, salutations to You, creator of the universe; salutations to You, O Subrahmaṇya, ancient among great beings; accept this arghya offered by me together with Lakṣmī, O Lord of the world."
इत्यर्घमंत्रः । ततस्तु पूजयेद्विप्रमुदकुंभं प्रदापयेत् । छत्रोपानहवस्त्रैश्च कृष्णो मे प्रीयतामिति
This is the arghya mantra. Then one should worship a Brahmin and give him a water pot, along with an umbrella, sandals, and cloth, saying, "May Kṛṣṇa be pleased with me."
कृष्णा धेनुः प्रदातव्या यथाशक्ति द्विजोत्तमे । तिलपात्रं द्विजश्रेष्ठ दद्यात्पात्रविचक्षणः
A black cow should be given to the best of Brahmins according to one's ability; O foremost of Brahmins, one should give a vessel of sesame seeds to a worthy recipient.
स्नाने प्राशनके शस्तास्तथा कृष्णतिला मुने । तान्प्रदद्यात्प्रयत्नेन यथाशक्ति द्विजोत्तमे । तिलप्ररोहजाः क्षत्रे यावत्संख्यास्तिला द्विज
For bathing and for eating, black sesame seeds are best, O sage; these should be given with care, according to one's ability, O best of Brahmins; as many sesame seeds as sprout in the field, O Brahmin,
तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । तिलस्नायी तिलोद्वर्ती तिलहोमी तिलोदकी
For that many thousands of years one is honored in the world of heaven; one who bathes with sesame, anoints with sesame, offers sesame in fire, and gives sesame water—
तिलदाता च भोक्ता च षट्तिलाः पापनाशनाः । नारद उवाच- कृष्णकृष्ण महाबाहो नमस्ते विश्वभावन
And one who gives sesame, eats sesame—these six uses of sesame destroy sin. Nārada said: "O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, mighty-armed, salutations to You, creator of the universe!"