प्रत्यक्षा वा नृपश्रेष्ठ घृतधेनुरथापि वा । दक्षिणाभिः सुपुष्टाभिर्मिष्टान्नैश्च पृथग्विधैः
Or, O best of kings, an actual cow, or a cow of ghee may be given, along with abundant gifts and various kinds of sweet foods.
तोषणीयाः प्रयत्नेन द्विजा धर्मभृतां वर । तुष्टा भवंति वै विप्रास्तैस्तुष्टैर्मोक्षदो हरिः
With effort, the twice-born should be satisfied, O best of the righteous; when the Brahmins are pleased, Hari, the giver of liberation, is also pleased.
आत्मद्रोहः कृतस्तैर्हि यैरेषा न ह्युपोषिता । पापात्मानो दुराचारा मुष्टास्ते नात्र संशयः 6.51.
Those by whom this fast is not observed commit self-harm; they are sinful, of bad conduct, and stingy—of this there is no doubt.
कुलानां शतमागामि अतीतानां तथा शतम् । आत्मना सह तैर्नीतं वासुदेवस्य मंदिरम्
A hundred generations of one's family, both future and past, along with oneself, are led to the abode of Vasudeva.
शांतैर्दांतैर्दानपरैरर्चयद्भिस्तथा हरिम् । कुर्वद्भिर्जागरं रात्रौ यैरेषा समुपोषिता
By those who are peaceful, self-controlled, devoted to giving, and who worship Hari, and who keep vigil at night, this vow is observed.
अन्नं वस्त्रं तथा गावो जलं शय्यासनं शुभम् । कमंडलुं तथा छत्रं दातव्यं निर्जला दिने
On the day of Nirjala, one should give food, clothing, cows, water, a good bed and seat, a water pot, and an umbrella.
उपानहौ यो ददाति पात्रभूते द्विजोत्तमे । स सौवर्णेन यानेन स्वर्गलोके महीयते
Whoever gives sandals to a worthy and excellent twice-born, is honored in heaven, riding in a golden chariot.
यश्चेमां शृणुयाद्भक्त्या यश्चापि परिकीर्तयेत् । उभौ तौ स्वर्गमाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Whoever listens to this with devotion, and whoever recites it as well—both surely attain heaven; there is no doubt about this.
यत्फलं संनिहत्यायां राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे । कृत्वा श्राद्धं लभेन्मर्त्यस्तदस्याः श्रवणादपि
The fruit that a mortal gains by performing śrāddha during a solar eclipse, is also obtained by hearing this.
नियमं च प्रकर्त्तव्यं दंतधावनपूर्वकम् । एकादश्यां निराहारो वर्जयिष्यामि वै जलम्
One should undertake a vow, beginning with brushing the teeth; on the eleventh day, I will fast, abstaining even from water.
केशवप्रीणनार्थाय अन्यदाचमनादृते । द्वादश्यां देवदेवेशः पूजनीयस्त्रिविक्रमः
For the sake of pleasing Keśava, except for sipping water, on the twelfth day, the Lord of gods, Trivikrama, should be worshiped.
गंधैर्धूपैस्तथा पुष्पैर्वासोभिः प्रियदर्शनैः । पूजयित्वा विधानेन मंत्रमेतमुदीरयेत्
Having worshiped with fragrances, incense, flowers, and pleasing garments, according to the proper method, one should recite this mantra:
देवदेव हृषीकेश संसारार्णवतारक । उदकुंभप्रदानेन नय मां परमां गतिम्
"O Lord of gods, Hṛṣīkeśa, deliverer from the ocean of worldly existence, by the gift of a water-pot, lead me to the supreme state."
ज्येष्ठे मासि तु वै भीम या शुक्लैकादशी शुभा । निर्जला समुपोष्यात्र जलकुंभान्सशर्करान्
In the month of Jyeṣṭha, O Bhīma, the auspicious bright Ekādaśī called Nirjalā should be fully observed here, with water-pots containing sugar.
प्रदाय विप्रमुख्येभ्यो मोदते विष्णुसन्निधौ । ततः कुंभाः प्रदातव्या ब्राह्मणानां च भक्तितः
Having given them to foremost Brāhmaṇas, one rejoices in the presence of Viṣṇu; then, the water-pots should be given to Brāhmaṇas with devotion.
भोजयित्वा ततो विप्रान्स्वयं भुंजीत तत्परः । एवं यः कुरुते पूर्णां द्वादशीं पापनाशिनीम्
After feeding the Brāhmaṇas, one should eat oneself, intent on this; whoever thus observes the complete, sin-destroying Dvādaśī—
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो पदं गच्छत्यनामयम् । ततः प्रभृति भीमेन कृता ह्येकादशी शुभा । पांडवद्वादशी नाम्ना लोके ख्याता बभूव ह
Freed from all sins, he attains the flawless state. From then on, O Bhīma, the auspicious Ekādaśī performed by you became known in the world as Pāṇḍava Dvādaśī.
युधिष्ठिरउवाच- आषाढकृष्णपक्षे तु किं वै एकादशी भवेत् । कथयस्व प्रसादेन वासुदेव ममाग्रतः
Yudhiṣṭhira said: In the dark fortnight of Āṣāḍha, what is the Ekādaśī? Tell me, O Vāsudeva, by your grace, in my presence.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- व्रतानामुत्तमं राजन्कथयामि तवाग्रतः । सर्वपापक्षयकरं सर्वमुक्तिप्रदायकम्
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O king, I will tell you, in your presence, of the supreme vow, which destroys all sins and grants all liberation.
आषाढस्यासिते पक्षे योगिनी नाम नामतः । एकादशी नृपश्रेष्ठ महापातकनाशिनी
In the dark fortnight of Āṣāḍha, it is called Ekādaśī by the name Yoginī, O best of kings, destroyer of great sins.
संसारार्णवमग्नानां पोतभूता सनातनी । जगत्त्रये सारभूता योगिनी व्रतकारिणाम्
It is the eternal boat for those immersed in the ocean of worldly existence, the essence among the three worlds, and the best among vows for practitioners.
कथयामि तवाग्रेऽहं कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । अलकायां राजराजः शिवभक्तिपरायणः
I will tell you, here and now, the auspicious ancient story: In Alakā, there was a king of kings, devoted to the worship of Śiva.
तस्यासीत्पुष्पबटुको हेममालीति नामतः । तस्य पत्नी सुरूपा च विशालाक्षीति नामतः
He had a servant named Puṣpabaṭuka, called Hemamālī; his wife, beautiful and wide-eyed, was named Viśālākṣī.
स तस्यां चासक्तमना कामपाशवशं गतः । मानसात्पुष्पनिचयमानीय स्वगृहे स्थितः
He became infatuated with her, bound by the noose of desire, and, gathering flowers in his mind, remained at home.
पत्नीप्रेमरसासक्तो न कुबेरालयं गतः । कुबेरो देवसदने करोति शिवपूजनम्
Absorbed in the nectar of his wife's love, he did not go to Kubera's abode; Kubera, in the divine assembly, was performing worship of Shiva.
मध्याह्नसमये राजन्पुष्पागमसमीक्षकः । हेममाली स्वभवने रमते कांतया सह
At midday, O King, as he watched for the arrival of flowers, Hemamali enjoyed himself at home together with his beloved.
यक्षराट्प्रत्युवाचाथ कालातिक्रमकोपितः । कस्मान्नायाति भो यक्षा हेममाली दुरात्मवान् । निश्चयः क्रियतामस्य इत्युवाच पुनः पुनः
Then the lord of the Yakshas, angered by the delay, spoke: 'Why does that wicked Yaksha Hemamali not come? Decide what is to be done with him,' he said again and again.
यक्षा ऊचुः - वनिताकामुको गेहे रमते स्वेच्छया नृप । तेषां वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कुबेरः कोपपूरितः
The Yakshas said: 'He, enamored with his wife, delights at home as he pleases, O King.' Hearing their words, Kubera was filled with rage.
आह्वयामास तं तूर्णं बटुकं हेममालिनम् । ज्ञात्वा कालात्ययं सोऽपि भयव्याकुललोचनः
He immediately summoned that attendant, Hemamali; realizing his delay, Hemamali came, his eyes anxious with fear.
अस्नात एव आगत्य कुबेरस्याग्रतः स्थितः । तं दृष्ट्वा धनदः क्रुद्धः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः
Without bathing, he came and stood before Kubera; seeing him, the lord of wealth, his eyes red with anger, was enraged.