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.
तस्माच्छतगुणं पुण्यमेकादश्युपवासिनः । येषां देहे त्रयो देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
The merit of one who fasts on Ekadashi is a hundred times greater than that; in whose body dwell the three gods—Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara.
वसंति तेषां ते तुल्या एकादश्युपवासिनः । ते नराः पुण्यकर्माणो ये भक्ता हरिपूजकाः
Those who fast on Ekadashi are equal to them; those men of virtuous deeds, who are devoted and worshippers of Hari.
एकादशीव्रतस्यापि पुण्यसंख्या न विद्यते । एतत्पुण्यं भवेत्तस्य यत्सुरैरपि दुर्ल्लभम्
Even the measure of merit of the Ekadashi vow cannot be known; this merit accrues to him which is difficult even for the gods to obtain.
एतस्मादर्द्धपुण्यं तु प्राप्यते नक्तभोजनात् । नक्तस्यार्द्धं भवेत्पुण्यमेकभक्तेन देहिनाम्
From eating only at night, half that merit is obtained; and half of the merit of night-eating accrues to those who eat once a day.
तावद्गर्जंति तीर्थानि दानानि नियमानि च । यावन्नोपोषयेज्जंतुर्वासरं विष्णुवल्लभम्
So long do pilgrimages, gifts, and vows resound, as long as a being does not observe the day dear to Vishnu.
तस्मात्त्वं पांडवश्रेष्ठ व्रतमेतत्समाचर । पुण्यसंख्यां न जानामि यत्त्वं पृच्छसि पांडव
Therefore, O best of the Pandavas, you should observe this vow; I do not know the measure of merit, though you ask, O Pandava.
एतद्धि कथितं पार्थ यद्गोप्यं व्रतमुत्तमम् । एकादशीसमं नास्ति कृत्वा यज्ञसहस्रकम्
This, O Partha, is the supreme vow that has been told, which is to be kept secret; there is nothing equal to Ekadashi, even after performing a thousand sacrifices.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- उत्पन्ना सा कथं देव पुण्या चैकादशी तिथिः । कथं पवित्रा विश्वेऽस्मिन्कथं वै देवताप्रिया
Yudhishthira said: How did that holy Ekadashi day arise, O God? How is it pure in this world, and how is it dear to the gods?
श्रीभगवानुवाच - पुरा कृतयुगे पार्थ मुरनामेति दानवः । अत्यद्भुतो महारौद्र सर्वदेवभयंकरः 6.38.
The Blessed Lord said: In ancient times, O Partha, in the Krita age, there was a demon named Mura, exceedingly wondrous, very fierce, and terrifying to all the gods.
इंद्रोऽपि निर्जितस्तेन सर्वदेवास्तथा नृप । महासुरेण तेनैव मृत्युना च दुरात्मना
Even Indra was defeated by him, as were all the gods, O king, by that great demon, that evil-minded death incarnate.