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!"
षट्तिलैकादशीभूतं कीदृशं फलमस्ति वै । सोपाख्यानं मम ब्रूहि यदि तुष्टोऽसि यादव । श्रीकृष्ण उवाच शृणु राजन्यथावृत्तं दृष्टं तत्कथयामि ते । मर्त्यलोके पुरा ह्यासीद्ब्राह्मण्येका च नारद । व्रतचर्यारता नित्यं देवपूजारता सदा
"What is the result of observing the Ṣaṭ-tilā Ekādaśī? Tell me, with its story, if You are pleased, O descendant of Yadu." Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: "Hear, O king, as it happened; I shall tell you what I saw. Long ago, on earth, O Nārada, there was a certain Brahmin woman, always devoted to vows and worship of the gods."
मासोपवासनिरता मम भक्ता च सर्वदा । कृष्णोपवाससंयुक्ता मम पूजापरायणा
She was always devoted to monthly fasts, always my devotee, observing the Kṛṣṇa fast, and intent on my worship.
शरीरं क्लेशितं चैव उपवासैर्द्विजोत्तम । देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च कुमारीणां च भक्तितः
Her body was afflicted, O best of twice-born, by fasting; with devotion, she served the gods, Brahmins, and maidens.
गृहादिकं प्रयच्छंती सर्वकालं महासती । अतिकृच्छ्ररता सा तु सर्वकालं तु वै द्विज
That great and virtuous woman continually gave away her household and possessions; she was always engaged in severe austerities, O Brahmin.
न दत्ता भिक्षुके भिक्षा ब्राह्मणा न च तर्पिताः
She did not give alms to the beggar, nor were the Brahmins satisfied.
ततः कालेन महता मया वै चिंतितं द्विज । शुद्धमस्याः शरीरं हि व्रतैः कृच्छ्रैर्न संशयः
Then, after a long time, I reflected, O Brahmin; her body was indeed purified by vows and severe austerities, without doubt.
अर्चितो वैष्णवो लोकः कायक्लेशेन वै तया । न दत्तमन्नदानं हि येन तृप्तिः परा भवेत्
The Vaishnava world was worshipped by her through bodily hardship; but she did not give the gift of food, by which supreme satisfaction is attained.
एवं ज्ञात्वा अहं ब्रह्मन्मर्त्यलोकमुपागतः । कापालं रूपमास्थाय भिक्षापात्रे च याचिता
Knowing this, O Brahmin, I entered the mortal world; assuming the form of a mendicant, I begged with a begging bowl.
कस्मात्त्वमागतो ब्रह्मन्क्व यासि वद मेऽग्रतः । पुनरेव मया प्रोक्तं देहि भिक्षां च सुंदरि
I asked her, 'Why have you come, O Brahmin? Where are you going? Tell me in front.' Again I said, 'Give alms, O beautiful one.'
तया कोपेन महता मृत्पिंडस्ताम्रभाजने । क्षिप्तो यावदहं ब्रह्मन्पुनः स्वर्गं गतो द्विज
With great anger, she threw a lump of clay into a copper vessel; and, O Brahmin, while I was there, I again went to heaven.