उपवासं च यस्तस्यां करोत्येतत्समं स्मृतम् । तस्यां जगत्पतिर्देवस्तुष्टः सर्वेश्वरो हरिः
And whoever fasts on that day—these are considered equal. On that day, the Lord of the world, Hari, is pleased.
प्रत्यक्षतां प्रयात्येव तत्रानंतफलं स्मृतम् । सगरेण ककुत्स्थेन नहुषेण च साधितः
He truly becomes manifest there, and the fruit is said to be infinite. It was accomplished by Sagara, Kakutstha, and Nahuṣa.
तस्यामाराधितः कृष्णो दत्तवानखिलं भुवि । वाचिकान्मानसाद्वापि कायजाच्च विशेषतः
On that day, Kṛṣṇa, when worshipped, granted everything on earth. Whether sins are committed by speech, mind, or especially by body—
सप्तजन्मकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः । तामेकां समुपोष्याथ पुण्यनक्षत्रसंयुताम्
One is freed from sins committed over seven births—of this there is no doubt. By fasting on that one day, joined with an auspicious lunar mansion—
एकादशीसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः । स्नानं दानं जपो होमः स्वाध्यायो देवतार्चनम्
A person attains the fruit of a thousand Ekādaśīs. Bathing, giving, recitation, homa, self-study, and worship of deities—
यत्तस्यां क्रियते किंचित्तदक्षयफलं स्मृतम् । तस्मादेषा प्रकर्तव्या यत्नेन फलकांक्षिभिः
Whatever is performed on that day is said to yield imperishable fruit. Therefore, those who desire results should carefully observe it.
पंचमेनाश्वमेधेन यदि स्नातो युधिष्ठिरः । पर्यपृच्छत धर्मात्मा कृष्णं यदुकुलोद्वहम्
After bathing for the fifth Aśvamedha, Yudhiṣṭhira, righteous-souled, questioned Kṛṣṇa, the scion of the Yadu line.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- उपवासस्य नक्तस्य त्वेकभुक्तस्य मे प्रभो । किं पुण्यं किं फलं तस्य ब्रूहि सर्वं जनार्दन
Yudhiṣṭhira said: O Lord, tell me fully what merit and fruit belong to fasting, night-fasting, or eating once a day.
श्रीभगवानुवाच- हेमंते चैव संप्राप्ते मासे मार्गे च शोभने । कृष्णपक्षे च या पार्थ द्वादशी तामुपोषयेत् । दशम्यां चैकभक्तश्च शुद्धचित्तो दृढव्रतः
The Blessed Lord said: When the beautiful month of Mārgashīrsha arrives in winter, O Pārtha, one should observe fasting on the Dvādaśī that falls in the dark fortnight, having a pure mind and firm resolve, taking only one meal on the tenth day.
नक्तं चैव तथा ज्ञात्वा दशम्यां नियतः सदा । दिवसस्याष्टमे भागे मंदीभूते दिवाकरे
Knowing this, one should always be restrained on the tenth day, eating at night, when the sun has become faint in the eighth portion of the day.
नक्तं च तद्विजानीयान्न नक्तं निशिभोजनम् । नक्षत्रदर्शनान्नक्तं गृहस्थस्य विधीयते
Understand that 'eating at night' does not mean eating during the night; for householders, eating at night is prescribed when the stars become visible.
यतेर्दिनाष्टमे भागे रात्रौ तस्य निषेधनम् । ततः प्रभातसमये कृत्वा च नियमं व्रती
For ascetics, eating during the eighth portion of the day is prohibited at night; afterwards, at dawn, the vow-holder should perform the prescribed observances.
मध्याह्ने च तथा पार्थ स्नानं शुचिः समाचरेत् । अधमं कूपके स्नानं वाप्यां स्नानं च मध्यमम्
At midday, O Pārtha, the pure one should bathe; bathing in a well is considered inferior, in a pond is middling.
तडागे चोत्तमं स्नानं नद्यां स्नानं ततः परम् । पीड्यंते जंतवो यत्र जलमध्ये व्यवस्थिते
Bathing in a lake is superior, and in a river is even higher; where creatures are pressed together in the water.
तत्र स्नाने कृते पार्थ पापं पुण्यं समं भवेत् । गृहे चैवोत्तमं स्नानं जलं चैव विशोधयेत्
When one bathes there, O Pārtha, sin and merit become equal; bathing at home is also excellent, but the water must be purified.
तस्मात्तु पांडवश्रेष्ठ गृहे स्नानं समाचरेत् । अश्वक्रांते रथक्रांते विष्णुक्रांते वसुंधरे
Therefore, O best of the Pāṇḍavas, one should bathe at home, on earth trodden by horses, chariots, and by Viṣṇu.
मृत्तिके हर मे पापं यन्मया पूर्वसंचितम् । क्रोधलोभौ परित्यज्य चैकचित्तो दृढव्रतः
O clay, remove my sins which I have accumulated previously; abandoning anger and greed, with single-mindedness and firm resolve.
नालापेतांत्यजं चैव तथा पाखंडिनो नरान् । मिथ्यावादरतांश्चैव तथा ब्राह्मणनिंदकान्
One should avoid those who speak falsely, imposters, those devoted to falsehood, and those who revile Brāhmaṇas.
अन्यांश्चैव दुराचारानगम्यागमनेरतान् । परद्रव्यापहारांश्च परदाराभिगामिनः
Also avoid those of bad conduct, those engaged in forbidden relations, those who steal others' property, and those who approach others' wives.
केशवं पूजयित्वा तु नैवेद्यं तत्र कारयेत् । दीपं दद्याद्गृहे तत्र भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा
After worshipping Keśava, one should offer food there, and give a lamp in the house with a mind filled with devotion.
तद्दिने वर्जयेत्पार्थ निद्रां चैव तु मैथुनम् । धर्मशास्त्रविनोदेन दिनं सर्वं निवारयेत्
On that day, O Pārtha, one should avoid sleep and sexual intercourse, and spend the whole day engaged in the enjoyment of Dharmaśāstra.
रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा भक्तियुक्तो नृपोत्तम । विप्रेभ्यो दक्षिणां दद्यात्प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत्
At night, remaining awake with devotion, O best of kings, one should give gifts to Brāhmaṇas, bowing down and seeking forgiveness.
यथा कृष्णा तथा शुक्ला विधिनैवं प्रकारयेत् । एकादशीं द्विजः पार्थ विभेदं नैव कारयेत्
Just as on the dark fortnight, so also on the bright, one should perform the observance in this manner; a twice-born should not make any distinction between the two Ekādaśīs, O Pārtha.
एवं हि कुरुते यस्तु शृणु तस्य हि यत्फलम् । शंखोद्धारे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं गदाधरम्
He who acts thus, hear what fruit he attains: after bathing at the rising of the conch, and seeing the Lord holding the mace.
एकादश्युपवासस्य कलां नार्हति षोडशीम् । संक्रांतिषु चतुर्लक्षं यो ददाति नृपोत्तम
Even sixteen parts of the merit from fasting on Ekādaśī cannot be matched by one who gives four hundred thousand at the solstices, O best of kings.
एकादश्युपवासस्य कलां नार्हति षोडशीम् । प्रभासक्षेत्रे यत्पुण्यं ग्रहणे चंद्र सूर्ययोः
Even sixteen parts of the merit from fasting on Ekādaśī cannot be matched by the merit gained at Prabhāsa Kṣetra or during the lunar or solar eclipses.
तत्फलं जायते नूनमेकादश्युपवासिनः । केदारे चोदकं पीत्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते
Surely, that is the fruit gained by one who fasts on the Ekadashi; having drunk water in a field, there is no further rebirth.
तथा चैकादशी पार्थ गर्भवासक्षयंकरी । अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य पृथिव्यां यत्फलं लभेत्
In the same way, O Partha, Ekadashi destroys the stay in the womb; whatever fruit is obtained on earth by the Ashvamedha sacrifice,
तस्माच्छतगुणं पुण्यमेकादश्युपवासिनः । तपस्विनो गृहे यस्य भुंजते च द्विजोत्तमाः
The merit of one who fasts on Ekadashi is a hundred times greater than that; in whose house ascetics and excellent twice-borns partake of food.
तत्फलं जायते नूनमेकादश्युपवासिनः । गोसहस्रेण यत्पुण्यं दत्वा वेदांतपारगे
Surely, that is the fruit gained by one who fasts on Ekadashi; the merit obtained by giving a thousand cows to one learned in the Vedas.