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.
इति वाक्यं द्विजाः श्रुत्वा सप्रजाः सपुरोहिताः । मंत्रयित्वा नृपहितं जग्मुस्ते गहनं वनम्
Hearing these words, the Brahmins, along with their families and priests, deliberated for the king's benefit and went to a dense forest.
इतस्ततश्च पश्यंत आश्रमानृषिसेवितान् । नृपतेर्हितमिच्छंतो ददृशुर्मुनिसत्तमम्
Wandering here and there, they saw hermitages frequented by sages; desiring the king's welfare, they beheld the foremost sage.
तप्यमानं तपो घोरं निरालंबं निरामयम् । निराहारं जितात्मानं जितक्रोधं सनातनम्
He was practicing severe austerity, unsupported, free from affliction, without food, self-controlled, having conquered anger, and eternal.
लोमशं धर्मतत्वज्ञं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम् । दीर्घायुषं महात्मानं सकेशं ब्रह्मसंमितम्
Lomaśa, who knows the essence of dharma, is skilled in all the scriptures, long-lived, great-souled, with hair, and esteemed as equal to Brahma.
कल्पेकल्पे गते तस्य एकं लोम विशीर्यते । अतो लोमशनामायं त्रिकालज्ञो महामुनिः
With the passing of each kalpa, one hair of his falls out; therefore, this great sage, knower of the three times, is called Lomaśa.
तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षिताः सर्वे आजग्मुस्तस्य सन्निधिम् । यथान्यायं यथार्हं ते नमश्चक्रुर्यथोदितम्
Seeing him, all became joyful and approached his presence; as was proper and fitting, they offered salutations as prescribed.
विनयावनताः सर्वे ऊचुस्ते च परस्परम् । अस्मद्भाग्यवशादेव प्राप्तोऽयं मुनिसत्तमः । तास्तथा स प्रजा वीक्ष्य उवाच ऋषिसत्तमः
All, humble and respectful, spoke among themselves: 'By the force of our good fortune, this best of sages has arrived.' Seeing those people thus, the best of seers spoke.
लोमश उवाच- किमर्थमिह संप्राप्तः कथयध्वं सकारणम् । दर्शनाद्धृष्टमनसः स्तुवंतश्चैव मां किमु
Lomaśa said: 'For what purpose have you come here? Speak with reason. Why, upon seeing me, are you joyful and praising me?'
असंशयं करिष्यामि भवतां यद्धितं भवेत् । परोपकृतये जन्म मादृशानां न संशयः
Without doubt, I will do whatever is beneficial for you; the birth of people like me is surely for the welfare of others.
जना ऊचुः - श्रूयतामभिधास्यामो वयं स्वागमकारणम् । संशयच्छेदनार्थाय तव सान्निध्यमागताः
The people said: 'Let it be heard, we will state the reason for our coming. We have come into your presence to dispel our doubts.'