क्षपारितनयाद्भीतो नरः कुर्याद्वरूथिनीम् । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते
Fearing the results of evil deeds, a man should perform the Varūthinī vow; by reading or hearing it, O king, one obtains the merit of a thousand cows; freed from all sins, he is honored in the world of Viṣṇu.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुमापतिनारदसंवादे वैशाखकृष्णवरूथिनी एकादशी नाम अष्टचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of fifty-five thousand verses, in the dialogue between Umāpati and Nārada, the forty-eighth chapter named 'Vaiśākha Kṛṣṇa Varūthinī Ekādaśī' is concluded.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- वैशाख शुक्लपक्षे तु किन्नामैकादशी भवेत् । किं फलं को विधिस्तत्र कथयस्व जनार्दन
Yudhiṣṭhira said: In the bright half of Vaiśākha, what is the name of the Ekādaśī? What is its result, and what is the procedure there? Please tell me, O Janārdana.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- इदमेव पुरा पृष्टं रामचंद्रेण धीमता । वसिष्ठं प्रति राजेंद्र यत्त्वं मामनुपृच्छसि
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: This very question was formerly asked by the wise Rāma to Vasiṣṭha, O king, just as you now ask me.
राम उवाच- भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । सर्वपापक्षयकरं सर्वदुःखनिकृंतनम्
Rāma said: O Lord, I wish to hear about the supreme vow among vows, which destroys all sins and cuts off all suffering.
मया दुःखानि भुक्तानि सीताविरहजानि तु । ततोऽहं भयभीतोऽस्मि पृच्छामि त्वां महामुने
I have endured sufferings caused by separation from Sītā; therefore, I am fearful and ask you, O great sage.
वसिष्ठ उवाच- साधु पृष्टं त्वया राम तवैषा नैष्ठिकी मतिः । त्वन्नामग्रहणेनैव पूतो भवति मानवः
Vasiṣṭha said: Well asked by you, O Rāma; this is your steadfast resolve. By uttering your name alone, a person becomes purified.
तथापि कथयिष्यामि लोकानां हितकाम्यया । पवित्रं पावनानां च व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम्
Even so, I will tell you, desiring the welfare of the worlds, about the purest and most sanctifying vow, the supreme among vows.
वैशाखस्य सिते पक्षे राम चैकादशी भवेत् । मोहिनी नाम सा प्रोक्ता सर्वपापहरापराः
In the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, Rāma, there occurs the Ekādaśī called Mohinī, renowned as the supreme remover of all sins.
मोहजालात्प्रमुच्यंते पातकानां समूहतः । अस्या व्रत प्रभावेन सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
By the power of this vow, people are freed from the net of delusion and from the multitude of sins; truly, truly, I speak this.
अतः कारणतो राम कर्तव्यैषा भवादृशैः । पातकानां क्षयकरी महादुःखविनाशिनी
Therefore, Rāma, this should be observed by those like you; it destroys sins and removes great suffering.
शृणुष्वैकमना राम कथां पापहरां पराम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापापं प्रणश्यति
Listen with single-minded attention, Rāma, to this supreme story that removes sin; by merely hearing it, even great sin is destroyed.
सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये पुरी भद्रावती शुभा । द्युतिमान्नाम नृपतिस्तत्र राज्यं करोति वै
On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvatī, in the auspicious city of Bhadrāvatī, a radiant king ruled his realm.
चंद्रवंशोद्भवो नाम धृतिमान्सत्यसंगरः । तत्र वैश्यो निवसति धनधान्यसमृद्धिमान्
Born of the lunar dynasty, steadfast and true to his word, there lived in that city a prosperous merchant, rich in wealth and grain.
धनपाल इति ख्यातः पुण्यकर्मप्रवर्त्तकः । प्रपा कूप मठाराम तडाग गृहकारकः
He was known as Dhanapāla, engaged in virtuous deeds, and the builder of wells, rest-houses, gardens, ponds, and homes.
विष्णुभक्तिरतः शांतस्तस्यासन्पंचपुत्रकाः । सुमना द्युतिमांश्चैव मेधावी सुकृतस्तथा
Devoted to Viṣṇu and peaceful, he had five sons: Sumanā, Dyutimān, Medhāvī, Sukṛta, and another.
पंचमो धृष्टबुद्धिश्च महापापरतः सदा । परस्त्रीसंगनिरतो विटगोष्ठी विशारदः
The fifth, bold-minded, was always engaged in great sin, skilled in the company of courtesans and addicted to the association with other men's wives.
द्यूतादि व्यसनासक्तः परस्त्री रतिलालसः । न च देवार्चने बुद्धिर्नपितॄन्न द्विजान्प्रति
Attached to gambling and other vices, eager for pleasure with other men's wives, he had no inclination toward worship of gods, ancestors, or Brahmins.
अन्यायवर्ती दुष्टात्मा पितुर्द्रव्यक्षयंकरः । अभक्ष्यभक्षकः पापी सुरापाने रतः सदा
Acting unjustly, wicked in mind, he squandered his father's wealth, consumed forbidden food, sinful, and always indulged in drinking.
वेश्याकंठे क्षिप्तबाहुर्भ्रमन्दुष्टश्चतुष्पथे । पित्रा निष्कासितो गेहात्परित्यक्तश्च बांधवैः
With arms thrown around prostitutes' necks, wandering wickedly at crossroads, he was expelled from the house by his father and abandoned by his relatives.
स्वदेहभूषणान्येव क्षयं नीतानि तेन वै । गणिकाभिः परित्यक्तो निंदितश्च धनक्षयात्
His own ornaments were spent by him; abandoned by courtesans and reviled due to loss of wealth.
ततश्चिंतापरो जातो वस्त्रहीनः क्षुधार्दितः । किं करोमि क्वगच्छामि केनोपायेन जीव्यते
Then, overwhelmed by anxiety, deprived of clothing and tormented by hunger, he thought, 'What shall I do? Where shall I go? By what means can I live?'
तस्करत्वं समारब्धं तत्रैव नगरे पितुः । गृहीतो राजपुरुषैर्मुक्तश्च पितृगौरवात्
He began a life of theft in his father's city, was caught by the king's men, but released out of respect for his father.
पुनर्बद्धः पुनस्त्यक्तः पुनर्बद्धः ससंभ्रमैः । धृष्टबुद्धिर्दुराचारो निबध्य निगडै र्दृढैः
Again bound, again released, again bound with great commotion; bold-minded and of bad conduct, he was tied with strong shackles.
कशाघातैस्ताडितश्च पीडितश्च पुनः पुनः । न स्थातव्यं हि मंदात्मंस्त्वया मद्देशगोचरे
Beaten with whips and tormented again and again, he was told, 'You, foolish soul, must not remain in my domain.'
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राज्ञा मोचितो दृढबंधनात् । निर्जगाम भयात्तस्य गतोऽसौ गहनं वनम्
Thus addressed by the king, he was released from strong bondage, and out of fear, he departed and went into the dense forest.
क्षुत्तृषापीडितश्चायमितश्चेतश्च धावति । सिंहवन्निजघानासौ मृग शूकर चित्रलान्
Afflicted by hunger and thirst, his mind disturbed, he runs about; like a lion, he slays deer, boar, and various other animals.
आमिषाहार निरतो वने तिष्ठति सर्वदा । करे शरासनं कृत्वा निषंगं पृष्ठ संगतम्
Always dwelling in the forest, intent on eating flesh, he keeps a bow in his hand and a quiver fastened to his back.
अरण्यचारिणो हंति पक्षिणश्च पदाचरन् । चकोरांश्च मयूरांश्च कंक तित्तिर मूषिकान्
Roaming the forest, he kills birds as he walks—chakoras, peacocks, partridges, francolins, and mice.
एतानन्यान्हिनस्त्यंधो धृष्टबुद्धिस्तु निर्घृणः । पूर्वजन्मकृतैः पापैर्निमग्नः पापकर्दमे
This cruel, reckless-minded man, blinded by boldness, slays these and other creatures, sunk in the mire of sin accumulated from previous births.