अस्माकमपि मर्त्यास्ते पूज्याश्चैव न संशयः । विहरस्व यथासौख्यं पुष्पदंत्या सुरालये
Even among mortals, such people are worthy of worship by us, without doubt. Dwell as you please in the heavenly abode of Puṣpadaṃtī.
कृष्ण उवाच- एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्कर्त्तव्यो हरिवासरः । जया तु राजशार्दूल ब्रह्महत्यापहारिणी
Kṛṣṇa said: For this reason, O king, Hari's day must be observed; Jayā, O tiger among kings, removes the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.
सर्वदानानि तेनैव सर्वयज्ञा अशेषतः । दत्तानि कारिताश्चैव जयायास्तु व्रतं कृतम्
All gifts and all sacrifices, without exception, are accomplished by observing the vow of Jayā.
कल्पकोटिर्भवेत्तावद्वैकुंठे मोदते ध्रुवम् । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
For a crore of aeons, one surely enjoys bliss in Vaikuṇṭha; by reciting or hearing this, O king, one attains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- फाल्गुनस्यासिते पक्षे किंनामैकादशीभवेत् । कथयस्व प्रसादेन वासुदेव ममाग्रतः
Yudhiṣṭhira said: In the dark fortnight of Phālguna, what is the name of the Ekādaśī? Tell me graciously, Vāsudeva, before me.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- नारदः परिपप्रच्छ ब्रह्माणं कमलासनम् । फाल्गुनस्यासिते पक्षे विजयानाम नामतः । तस्याः पुण्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ कथयस्व प्रसादतः
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Nārada asked Brahmā, the lotus-seated one: In the dark fortnight of Phālguna, what is the Ekādaśī called Vijayā? O best of twice-born, tell me its merit by your grace.
ब्रह्मोवाच- शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि कथां पापहराम्पराम् । यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं मयैतद्विजयाव्रतम्
Brahmā said: Listen, Nārada, I will tell you a supreme, sin-destroying story; this vow of Vijayā I have not revealed to anyone.
पुरातनं व्रतं ह्येतत्पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । जयं ददाति विजया नृपाणां वै न संशयः
This is an ancient vow, pure and destroyer of sins; Vijayā grants victory to kings, without doubt.
पुरा रामो वनं यातो वर्षाण्येव चतुर्दश । न्यवसत्पंचवट्यां तु सहसीतः सलक्ष्मणः
Long ago, Rāma went to the forest for fourteen years, and dwelt at Pañcavaṭī with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.
तत्रैव वसतस्तस्य रामस्य विजयात्मनः । रावणेन हृता लौल्याद्भार्या सीता यशस्विनी
While he, the victorious Rāma, was living there, his illustrious wife Sītā was abducted by Rāvaṇa out of greed.
तेन दुःखेन रामोऽपि मोहमभ्यागतस्तदा । भ्रमन्जटायुषमथो ददर्श विगतायुषम्
Stricken by that sorrow, even Rāma fell into delusion; wandering, he then saw Jaṭāyu, whose life had departed.
कबंधो निहतः पश्चाद्भ्रमतारण्यमध्यतः । सुग्रीवेण समं तस्य सखित्वं समपद्यत
Afterwards, Kabandha was slain as he wandered through the middle of the forest; then, together with Sugrīva, he formed a friendship.
वानराणामनीकानि रामार्थंसंगतानि च । ततो हनुमता दृष्टा लंकोद्याने तु जानकी
The armies of monkeys, gathered for Rama's sake, and then Hanuman saw Sita in the garden of Lanka.
रामसंज्ञापनं तस्यै दत्तं कर्म महत्कृतम् । पुनः समेत्य रामेण सर्वं तत्र निवेदितम्
A sign from Rama was given to her, and a great deed was accomplished; then, returning to Rama, everything there was reported.
अथ श्रुत्वा रामचंद्रो वाक्यं चैव हनूमतः । सुग्रीवानुमतेनैव प्रस्थानं समरोचयत्
Then, having heard Hanuman's words, Rama, with Sugriva's approval, resolved to set out.
सौमित्रेकेन पुण्येन तीर्यते वरुणालयः । अगाधो नितरामेष यादोभिश्च समाकुलः । उपायं नैव पश्यामि येनासौ सुतरो भवेत्
With the virtuous son of Sumitra, the abode of Varuna is to be crossed; this is exceedingly deep and filled with aquatic creatures. I do not see any means by which it might be crossed.
लक्ष्मण उवाच- आदिदेवस्त्वमेवासि पुराणपुरुषोत्तमः । बकदाल्भ्यो मुनिश्चात्र वर्तते द्वीपमध्यतः
Lakshmana said: You are indeed the primeval god, the supreme ancient person; and here, in the midst of the island, dwells the sage Bakadalbhya.
अस्मात्स्थानाद्योजनार्द्धमाश्रमस्तस्य राघव । अन्ये च ब्राह्मणास्तत्र बहवो रघुनंदन
From this place, at half a yojana, is his hermitage, O descendant of Raghu; and many other Brahmins are there as well, O delight of the Raghus.
तं पृच्छ गत्वा राजेंद्र पुराणमृषिपुंगवम् । इति वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्यातिशोभनम्
Go to him, O king, and ask that foremost of ancient sages; thus, having heard Lakshmana's excellent words—
जगाम राघवो द्रष्टुं बकदाल्भ्यं महामुनिम् । प्रणनाम मुनिं मूर्ध्ना रामो विष्णुमिवामरः
Rama went to see the great sage Bakadalbhya; Rama bowed his head to the sage, as a god would to Vishnu.
ज्ञात्वा मुनिस्ततो रामं पुराणं पुरुषोत्तमम् । केनापि कारणेनैव प्रविष्टो मानुषीं तनुम्
Then the sage, knowing Rama to be the ancient, supreme person, who for some reason had entered a human form—
उवाच स ऋषिस्तुष्टः कुतो राम तवागमः
That satisfied sage spoke: 'Rama, what is the reason for your coming?'
राम उवाच- त्वत्प्रसादादहं विप्र तीरं नदनदीपतेः । आगतोऽस्मि ससैन्योऽत्र लंकां जेतुं सराक्षसाम्
Rama said: By your grace, O Brahmin, I have come to the shore of the lord of rivers and waters, with my army, to conquer Lanka and all the Rakshasas.
भवतश्चानुकूलत्वात्तीर्यतेऽब्धिर्यथा मया । तमुपायं वद मुने प्रसादं कुरु सांप्रतम्
And by your favor, the ocean will be crossed by me; tell me that means, O sage, and grant your blessing now.
एतस्मात्कारणादेव द्रष्टुं त्वाहमिहागतः । रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा बकदाल्भ्यो महामुनिः
For this very reason I have come here to see you; having heard Rama's words, Bakadalbhya, the great sage—
उवाच सुप्रसन्नात्मा रामं राजीवलोचनम् । कर्तव्यमद्य ते राम व्रतानां व्रतमुत्तमम्
With a mind full of grace, he spoke to lotus-eyed Rama: 'Today, Rama, you must perform the supreme of vows.'
कृतेन येन सहसा विजयस्ते भविष्यति । लंकां जित्वा राक्षसांश्च स्वच्छां कीर्तिमवाप्स्यसि
By performing it, you will swiftly obtain victory; having conquered Lanka and the Rakshasas, you will attain pure fame.
एकाग्रमानसो भूत्वा व्रतमेतत्समाचर । फाल्गुनस्यासिते पक्षे विजयैकादशी भवेत्
With a mind fixed in concentration, perform this vow; in the dark fortnight of Phalguna, the Ekadashi of victory occurs.
तस्या व्रतेन हे राम विजयस्ते भविष्यति । निःसंशयं समुद्रं त्वं तरिष्यसि सवानरः
By this vow, O Rama, your victory will be certain; without doubt, you will cross the ocean with the monkeys.
विधिस्तु श्रूयतां राजन्व्रतस्यास्य फलप्रदः । दशम्यां दिवसे प्राप्ते कुंभमेकं तु कारयेत्
Now hear, O king, the rule that grants the fruit of this vow: when the day of the tenth lunar phase arrives, one should prepare a single pot.