प्रसूयमानां यो धेनुं दद्यात्सोपस्करां नरः । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति कामिकाव्रतकारकः
A man who gives a cow about to calve, along with its accessories, attains the same fruit as one who performs the Kāmikā vow.
श्रावणे श्रीधरं देवं पूजयेद्यो नरोत्तमः । तेनैव पूजिता देवा गंधर्वोरगपन्नगाः
Whoever, being the best among men, worships the god Śrīdhara in the month of Śrāvaṇa, thereby worships the gods, Gandharvas, serpents, and Nāgas as well.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कामिकादिवसे हरिः । पूजनीयो यथाशक्ति मानुषैः पापभीरुभिः
Therefore, on the day of Kāmikā and with all effort, Hari should be worshipped by humans, as much as they are able, especially by those who fear sin.
ये संसारार्णवे मग्नाः पापपंकसमाकुले । तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय कामिकाव्रतमुत्तमम्
For those who are sunk in the ocean of worldly existence, filled with the mire of sin, the supreme Kāmikā vow is for their deliverance.
नातः परतरा काचित्पवित्रा पापहारिणी । एवं नारद जानीहि स्वयमाह परो हरिः
There is no vow more purifying or more effective in destroying sin than this; thus, O Nārada, know that the Supreme Hari himself has declared so.
अध्यात्मविद्या निरतैर्यत्फलं प्राप्यते नरैः । ततो बहुतरं विद्धि कामिकाव्रतसेविनाम्
Know that the fruit attained by those devoted to the Kāmikā vow is far greater than that gained by men engaged in spiritual knowledge.
रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा कामिकाव्रतकृन्नरः । न पश्यति यमं रौद्रं नैव गच्छति दुर्गतिम्
A man who keeps vigil at night, performing the Kāmikā vow, does not see the fierce Yama, nor does he go to a bad destination.
न पश्यति कुयोनिं च कामिकाव्रतसेवनात् । कामिकाया व्रते चीर्णे कैवल्यं योगिनो गताः
By observing the Kāmikā vow, one does not enter an evil womb; when the Kāmikā vow is performed, yogis attain liberation.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कर्तव्या नियतात्मभिः । तुलसीप्रभवैः पत्रैः यो नरः पूजयेद्धरिम्
Therefore, with all effort, those of disciplined mind should perform it; whoever worships Hari with leaves born of Tulasī,
न लिप्यते स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवांभसा । सुवर्णभारमेकं तु रजतं च चतुर्गुणम्
He is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf is not wetted by water; the fruit of offering one measure of gold or four times that in silver,
तत्फलं समवाप्नोति तुलसीदलपूजनात् । रत्न मौक्तिक वैडूर्य प्रवालादिभिरर्चितः
That fruit is obtained by worshipping with Tulasī leaves; even when Viṣṇu is worshipped with jewels, pearls, beryl, coral, and the like,
न तुष्यति तथा विष्णुस्तुलसीदलतो यथा । तुलसीमंजरीभिश्च पूजितो येन केशवः
Viṣṇu is not as pleased as he is by Tulasī leaves; and by whomever Keśava is worshipped with Tulasī flower clusters,
या दृष्टा निखिलाघसंघशमनी स्पृष्टा वपुः पावनी। रोगाणामभिवंदितानि रसिनी सिक्तांतकत्रासिनी । प्रत्यासत्तिविधायिनी भगवतः कृष्णस्य संरोपिता। न्यस्ता तच्चरणे विमुक्तिफलदा तस्यै तुलस्यै नमः
Salutation to that Tulasī, who, when seen, dispels all heaps of sin; when touched, purifies the body; when bowed to, cures diseases; when tasted, is sweet; when sprinkled, cuts off death; when placed near, brings closeness; when planted for Lord Kṛṣṇa, and when laid at his feet, bestows the fruit of liberation.
दीपं ददाति यो मर्त्यो दिवारात्रं हरेर्दिने । तस्य पुण्यस्य संख्यातुं चित्रगुप्तो न वेत्त्यलम्
The mortal who offers a lamp day and night on Hari's day—Citragupta himself cannot reckon the merit of that person.
कृष्णाग्रे दीपको यस्य ज्वलत्येकादशीदिने । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति अमृतेन दिवि स्थिताः
On the eleventh day, whoever has a lamp burning before Krishna, their ancestors dwelling in heaven are satisfied with nectar.
घृतेन दीपं प्रज्वाल्य तिलतैलेन वा पुनः । प्रयाति सूर्यलोकं च दीपकोटिशतार्चितः
By lighting a lamp with ghee, or again with sesame oil, one attains the world of the sun, worshipped by hundreds of millions of lamps.
अयं तवाग्रे कथितः कामिकामहिमा मया । अतो नरैः प्रकर्त्तव्या सर्वपातकहारिणी
I have explained to you this desired glory; therefore, it should be performed by people, for it destroys all sins.
ब्रह्महत्यापहरणी भ्रूणहत्याविनाशिनी । वैष्णवस्थानदात्री च महापुण्यफलप्रदा
It removes the sin of killing a Brahmin, destroys the sin of killing an embryo, grants the status of Vishnu, and bestows the fruit of great merit.
श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमेतस्या नरः श्रद्धासमन्वितः । विष्णुलोकमवाप्नोति सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Hearing this greatness, a person endowed with faith attains the world of Vishnu and is freed from all sins.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे उमामहेश्वरसंवादे श्रावणकृष्णैकादशीनाम चतुष्पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fourth chapter, named 'Śrāvaṇa Kṛṣṇa Ekādaśī', in the dialogue between Umā and Maheśvara, in the Uttara Khanda of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, comprising fifty-five thousand verses.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच। श्रावणस्य सिते पक्षे किं नामैकादशीभवेत् । कथयस्व प्रसादेन ममाग्रे मधुसूदन
Yudhishthira said: In the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, what is the name of the Ekādaśī? Please tell me, O Madhusudana, in my presence, by your grace.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्कथां पापहरां पराम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं भवेत्
Śrī Krishna said: Listen attentively, O king, to the supreme story that removes sin, by hearing which alone one obtains the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice.
द्वापरस्य युगस्यादौ पुरा माहिष्मती पुरे । राजा महीजिदाख्यातो राज्यं पालयति स्वकम्
At the beginning of the Dvāpara age, in the city of Māhiṣmatī, there was a king named Mahījit who ruled his kingdom.
पुत्रहीनस्य तस्यैव न तद्राज्यं सुखप्रदम् । अपुत्रस्य सुखं नास्ति इहलोके परत्र च
For him, being without a son, that kingdom did not bring happiness; for one without a son, there is no happiness in this world or the next.
चिंतयास्य सुतस्यैवं कालो बहुतरो गतः । न प्राप्तश्च सुतो राज्ञा सर्वसौख्यप्रदो नृणाम्
Thinking thus about a son, much time passed; yet the king did not obtain a son, who brings all happiness to people.
दृष्ट्वात्मानं प्रवयसं राजा चिंतापरोऽभवत् । तदागतः प्रजामध्ये इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing himself advanced in age, the king became absorbed in worry; then, among his subjects, he spoke these words.
इहजन्मनि भो लोका न मया पातकं कृतम् । अन्यायोपार्जितं वित्तं क्षिप्तं कोशे मया न हि
In this birth, O people, I have not committed sin; nor have I placed wealth acquired unjustly in my treasury.
ब्रह्मस्वं देवद्रविणं न गृहीतं मया क्वचित् । न्यासापहारो न कृतः परस्य बहुपापदः । पुत्रवत्पालितो लोको धर्मेण विजिता मही
I have never taken Brahmin property or divine wealth; I have not stolen entrusted goods, which brings much sin; I have protected the people like a son, and conquered the earth by righteousness.
दुष्टेषु पातितो दंडो बंधुपुत्रोपमेष्वपि । शिष्टास्तु पूजिता नित्यं न द्वेष्याश्च मया जनाः
Punishment was inflicted on the wicked, even among relatives and sons; the virtuous were always honored, and I have not hated anyone.
इत्येवं ब्रुवतो मार्गं धर्मयुक्तं द्विजोत्तमाः । कस्मान्मम गृहे पुत्रो न जातस्तद्विमृश्यताम्
Thus, as he spoke of his path joined with righteousness, O best of twice-born, let it be considered why a son has not been born in my house.