तस्यात्मजास्तु पंचासन्कनिष्ठो दोषवानभूत् । तदा पित्रा परित्यक्तस्त्यक्तः स्वजनबांधवैः
He had fifty sons, the youngest of whom was faulty. Then, because of his misdeeds, he was abandoned by his father and forsaken by his relatives.
कुकर्मणः प्रभावेन गतो दूरतरं वनम् । एकदा दैवयोगेन तीर्थराजं समागतः
Due to the influence of his bad actions, he went far into the forest. Once, by the will of fate, he came to the king of sacred fords.
क्षुत्क्षामो दीनवदनस्त्रिवेण्यां स्नानमाचरत् । मुनीनामाश्रमांस्तत्र विचिन्वन्क्षुधयार्दितः
Emaciated by hunger, with a dejected face, he bathed at the confluence of three rivers. Afflicted by hunger, he wandered among the hermitages of sages there.
हरिमित्रमुनेस्तत्र ददर्शाश्रममुत्तमम् । पुरुषोत्तममासे वै जनानां च समागमे
There he saw the excellent hermitage of the sage Harimitra, during the gathering of people in the Purushottama month.
तत्राश्रमे कथयतां कथां कल्मषनाशिनीम् । ब्राह्मणानां मुखात्तेन श्रद्धया कमला श्रुता
In that hermitage, as stories that destroy sin were being recited, he heard with faith about the Kamala Ekadashi from the mouths of Brahmins.
एकादशी पुण्यतमा भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी । जयशर्मा विधानेन श्रुत्वेमां कमला तिथिम्
The Kamala Ekadashi is most holy, bestowing enjoyment and liberation. Having heard about this lunar day according to the procedure, Jayasharma observed it.
एकादशीपुण्यतमा भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी । व्रतं कृतं च तैः सार्द्धं स्थित्वा शून्यालये तदा
The Kamala Ekadashi, most holy, bestows enjoyment and liberation. He performed the vow together with them, staying then in an empty dwelling.
निशीथे समनुप्राप्ते लक्ष्मीस्तत्र समागता । वरं ददामि भो विप्र कमलायाः प्रभावतः
When midnight arrived, Lakshmi herself appeared there. 'O Brahmin, I grant you a boon by the power of Kamala.'
जयशर्मोवाच - का त्वं कस्यासि रंभोरु प्रसन्ना च कथं मम । इंद्राणी सुरनाथस्य भवानी शंकरस्य वा
Jayasharma said: Who are you, whose thighs are like the trunk of a tree? Whose daughter are you, and how have you become gracious to me? Are you Indrani, wife of the lord of the gods, or Bhavani, wife of Shankara?
गंधर्वी किन्नरी वाथ वधूर्वा चंद्रसूर्ययोः । त्वत्सदृक्षा न दृष्टा च न श्रुता च शुभानने
Are you a Gandharvi, a Kinnari, or perhaps the bride of the moon or the sun? O beautiful-faced one, none like you have been seen or heard of.
लक्ष्मीरुवाच- प्रसन्ना सांप्रतं जाता वैकुंठादहमागता । प्रेरिता देवदेवेन कमलायाः प्रभावतः
Lakshmi said: I have now become gracious and have come from Vaikuntha, sent by the Lord of the gods, through the power of Kamala.
पुरुषोत्तममासस्य या पक्षे प्रथमे भवेत् । तस्या व्रतं त्वया चीर्णं प्रयागे मुनिसंनिधौ
In the first fortnight of the month of Purushottama, the vow which you observed at Prayaga in the presence of sages—
व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेन वशगाहं न संशयः । तववंशे भविष्यंति मानवा द्विजसत्तम
By the power of this vow, I am under your control, without doubt. In your lineage, O best of twice-born, there will be men.
मत्प्रसादादवाप्स्यंति सत्यं ते व्याहृतं मया । ब्राह्मण उवाच- प्रसन्ना यदि मे पद्मे व्रतं विस्तरतो वद
By my grace, they will attain it; what I have spoken to you is true. The Brahmana said: If you are gracious to me, O Padma, tell me the vow in detail.
यत्कथासु प्रवर्तंते साधवो ये जना द्विजाः । लक्ष्मीरुवाच- श्रोतॄणां परमं श्राव्यं पवित्राणामनुत्तमम्
About which the virtuous, those twice-born people, speak in their stories. Lakshmi said: It is supremely worthy of hearing for listeners, most pure and unsurpassed.
दुःस्वप्ननाशनं पुण्यं श्रोतव्यं यत्नतस्ततः । उत्तमः श्रद्धया युक्तः श्लोकं श्लोकार्द्धमेव वा
It destroys evil dreams, is meritorious, and should be listened to with effort. Even one who recites a verse or half a verse with utmost faith—
पठित्वा मुच्यते सद्यो महापातककोटिभिः । मासानां परमो मासः पक्षिणां गरुडो यथा
Having recited, is immediately freed from millions of great sins. Of months, it is the supreme month, as Garuda is among birds.
नदीनां च यथा गंगा तिथीनां द्वादशी तिथिः । अद्यापि निर्जराः सर्वे भारते जन्मलिप्सवः
As Ganga is among rivers, and Dvadashi among lunar days. Even today, all the immortals in Bharata desire birth.
तमर्चयंति विविधा नारायणमनामयम् । ये यजंति सदा भक्त्या देवं नारायणं प्रभुम्
They worship in various ways Narayana, the flawless one. Those who always worship the lord Narayana with devotion—
तानर्चयंति सततं ब्रह्माद्या देवतागणाः । येऽपि नामपरा ये च हरिकीर्त्तनतत्पराः
They are constantly worshipped by Brahma and the hosts of gods. Those who are devoted to his name, and those intent on Hari's praise—
हरिपूजापरा ये च ते कृतार्थाः कलौ युगेः । शुक्ले वा यदि वा कृष्णे भवेदेकादशी द्वयम्
Those devoted to Hari's worship are fulfilled in the age of Kali. Whether in the bright or dark fortnight, there are two Ekadashis.
गृहस्थानां भवेत्पूर्वा यतीनामुत्तरा स्मृता । एकादशी द्वादशी च रात्रिशेषे त्रयोदशी । तत्र क्रतुशतं पुण्यं त्रयोदश्यां तु पारणे
For householders, the former is observed; for ascetics, the latter is remembered. Ekadashi, Dvadashi, and Trayodashi at the end of the night—there, the merit of a hundred sacrifices is gained, and on Trayodashi, during the breaking of the fast.
एकादश्यां निराहारः स्थित्वाहमपरेऽहंनि । भोक्ष्यामि पुंडरीकाक्ष शरणं मे भवाच्युत
On Ekadashi, having remained without food, on the next day, I will eat, O lotus-eyed one. Be my refuge, O Achyuta.
अमुं मंत्रं समुच्चार्य देवदेवस्य चक्रिणः । भक्तिभावेन तुष्टात्मा उपवासं समाचरेत्
Reciting this mantra of the Lord of gods, the wielder of the discus, with devotion and a satisfied mind, one should observe the fast.
कुर्याद्देवस्य पुरतो जागरं नियतो व्रती । गीतैर्वाद्यैश्च नृत्यैश्च पुराणपठनादिभिः
One should keep vigil before the deity, disciplined in the vow, with songs, instruments, dances, and recitation of the Puranas and other texts.
ततः प्रातः समुत्थाय द्वादशीदिवसे व्रती । स्नात्वा विष्णुं समभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्प्रयतेंद्रियः
Then, rising early on the day of Dvadashi, the votary, having bathed, worships Vishnu according to the prescribed rites, with controlled senses.
पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य एकादश्यां जनार्दनः । द्वादश्यां च पयःस्नानाद्धरेः सारूप्यमश्नुते
By bathing Janardana with the five nectars on the eleventh day, and by bathing Hari with milk on the twelfth, one attains similarity of form with Him.
अज्ञानतिमिरांधस्य व्रतेनानेन केशव । प्रसीद सन्मुखो भूत्वा ज्ञानदृष्टिप्रदो भव
O Kesava, I am blinded by the darkness of ignorance; by this vow, be pleased, turn Your face toward me, and grant me the vision of knowledge.
एवं विज्ञाप्य देवेशं देवदेवं गदाधरम् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम्
Having thus petitioned the Lord of the gods, the God of gods, the wielder of the mace, one should feed Brahmins with devotion and give them gifts.
ततः स्वबंधुभिः सार्द्धं नारायणपरायणः । कृत्वा पंचमहायज्ञान्स्वयं भुंजीत वाग्यतः
Then, together with his relatives, devoted to Narayana, having performed the five great sacrifices, he should partake of food himself, observing restraint in speech.