एतावदुक्त्वा देवेशस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत । ते चापि ऋषयः सर्वे चक्रुः सर्वमशेषतः
Having said this much, the lord of the gods vanished right there; and all those sages performed everything completely.
तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र कर्तुमर्हसि सत्तम । व्रतमेतद्दुराधर्षं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम्
So you too, O best of kings, are worthy to perform this vow, which is difficult to accomplish and frees from all sins.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- वैशाख शुक्लपक्षे तु किन्नामैकादशी भवेत् । किं फलं को विधिस्तत्र कथयस्व जनार्दन
Yudhiṣṭhira said: In the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, what is the name of the Ekādaśī? What is its fruit, and what is the procedure there? Tell me, O Janārdana.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- इदमेव पुरा पृष्टं रामचंद्रेण धीमता । वसिष्ठं प्रति राजेंद्र यत्त्वं मामनुपृच्छसि
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: This very question was asked before by the wise Rāmacandra to Vasiṣṭha, O king, just as you are now asking me.
राम उवाच- भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । सर्वपापक्षयकरं सर्वदुःखनिकृंतनम्
Rama said: O venerable one, I wish to hear about the supreme vow among all vows, the one that destroys all sins and cuts off all suffering.
मया दुःखानि भुक्तानि सीताविरहजानि तु । ततोऽहं भयभीतोऽस्मि पृच्छामि त्वां महामुने
I have endured sorrows caused by separation from Sita; therefore, I am fearful and ask you, great sage.
वसिष्ठ उवाच- साधु पृष्टं त्वया राम तवैषा नैष्ठिकी मतिः । त्वन्नामग्रहणेनैव पूतो भवति मानवः
Vasishtha said: Well asked, O Rama; this steadfast resolve is yours. By merely uttering your name, a person becomes purified.
तथापि कथयिष्यामि लोकानां हितकाम्यया । पवित्रं पावनानां च व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम्
Still, for the welfare of the world, I will tell you about the purest and most sanctifying vow, the highest among vows.
वैशाखस्य सिते पक्षे राम चैकादशी भवेत् । मोहिनी नाम सा प्रोक्ता सर्वपापहरापराः
In the bright fortnight of Vaisakha, Rama, there is an Ekadashi called Mohini, renowned as the supreme remover of all sins.
मोहजालात्प्रमुच्यंते पातकानां समूहतः । अस्या व्रत प्रभावेन सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
By the power of this vow, people are freed from the net of delusion and from all heaps of sin; truly, truly, I speak this.
अतः कारणतो राम कर्तव्यैषा भवादृशैः । पातकानां क्षयकरी महादुःखविनाशिनी
For this reason, Rama, this vow should be observed by those like you; it destroys sins and removes great suffering.
शृणुष्वैकमना राम कथां पापहरां पराम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापापं प्रणश्यति
Listen attentively, Rama, to this supreme, sin-destroying story; by merely hearing it, even great sin is destroyed.
सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये पुरी भद्रावती शुभा । द्युतिमान्नाम नृपतिस्तत्र राज्यं करोति वै
On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvati was the auspicious city of Bhadravati, where a radiant king ruled.
चंद्रवंशोद्भवो नाम धृतिमान्सत्यसंगरः । तत्र वैश्यो निवसति धनधान्यसमृद्धिमान्
Born of the lunar dynasty, steadfast and true to his word, there lived a merchant, abundant in wealth and grain.
धनपाल इति ख्यातः पुण्यकर्मप्रवर्त्तकः । प्रपा कूप मठाराम तडाग गृहकारकः
He was known as Dhanapala, engaged in virtuous deeds, building rest-houses, wells, monasteries, gardens, ponds, and houses.
विष्णुभक्तिरतः शांतस्तस्यासन्पंचपुत्रकाः । सुमना द्युतिमांश्चैव मेधावी सुकृतस्तथा
Devoted to Vishnu and peaceful, he had five sons: Sumanas, Dyutiman, Medhavi, Sukrita, and—
पंचमो धृष्टबुद्धिश्च महापापरतः सदा । परस्त्रीसंगनिरतो विटगोष्ठी विशारदः
The fifth was Dhrishtabuddhi, ever intent on great sin, addicted to the company of other men's wives, skilled in gambling dens and gatherings.
द्यूतादि व्यसनासक्तः परस्त्री रतिलालसः । न च देवार्चने बुद्धिर्नपितॄन्न द्विजान्प्रति
Attached to vices like gambling, eager for illicit pleasures, he had no interest in worshipping gods, ancestors, or brahmins.
अन्यायवर्ती दुष्टात्मा पितुर्द्रव्यक्षयंकरः । अभक्ष्यभक्षकः पापी सुरापाने रतः सदा
Unrighteous, wicked-minded, he squandered his father's wealth, ate forbidden foods, and was always addicted to drinking liquor.
वेश्याकंठे क्षिप्तबाहुर्भ्रमन्दुष्टश्चतुष्पथे । पित्रा निष्कासितो गेहात्परित्यक्तश्च बांधवैः
With arms thrown around prostitutes' necks, wandering wickedly at crossroads, he was cast out of the house by his father and abandoned by his relatives.
स्वदेहभूषणान्येव क्षयं नीतानि तेन वै । गणिकाभिः परित्यक्तो निंदितश्च धनक्षयात्
He spent even his own ornaments on himself; abandoned by courtesans and reviled due to his loss of wealth.
ततश्चिंतापरो जातो वस्त्रहीनः क्षुधार्दितः । किं करोमि क्वगच्छामि केनोपायेन जीव्यते
Then, overcome by anxiety, naked and tormented by hunger, he thought: What shall I do? Where shall I go? By what means can I live?
तस्करत्वं समारब्धं तत्रैव नगरे पितुः । गृहीतो राजपुरुषैर्मुक्तश्च पितृगौरवात्
He began a life of theft in that very city of his father; he was caught by the king’s men and released out of respect for his father.
पुनर्बद्धः पुनस्त्यक्तः पुनर्बद्धः ससंभ्रमैः । धृष्टबुद्धिर्दुराचारो निबध्य निगडै र्दृढैः
Again he was arrested, again released, and yet again seized with agitation; bold-minded and of bad conduct, he was finally bound with strong fetters.
कशाघातैस्ताडितश्च पीडितश्च पुनः पुनः । न स्थातव्यं हि मंदात्मंस्त्वया मद्देशगोचरे
He was struck with whips and tormented again and again; 'You, foolish soul, must not remain in my domain,' he was told.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राज्ञा मोचितो दृढबंधनात् । निर्जगाम भयात्तस्य गतोऽसौ गहनं वनम्
Having spoken thus, the king released him from his strong bonds; out of fear of him, he departed and went into the dense forest.
क्षुत्तृषापीडितश्चायमितश्चेतश्च धावति । सिंहवन्निजघानासौ मृग शूकर चित्रलान्
Afflicted by hunger and thirst, his mind restless, he ran about; like a lion, he killed deer, boar, and various other animals.
आमिषाहार निरतो वने तिष्ठति सर्वदा । करे शरासनं कृत्वा निषंगं पृष्ठ संगतम्
Intent on eating flesh, he always stayed in the forest, carrying a bow in his hand and a quiver fastened to his back.
अरण्यचारिणो हंति पक्षिणश्च पदाचरन् । चकोरांश्च मयूरांश्च कंक तित्तिर मूषिकान्
Roaming the forest, he killed birds as he went—chakoras, peacocks, herons, partridges, and mice.
एतानन्यान्हिनस्त्यंधो धृष्टबुद्धिस्तु निर्घृणः । पूर्वजन्मकृतैः पापैर्निमग्नः पापकर्दमे
This cruel, bold-minded man, blinded by sin, killed these and other creatures, sunk in the mire of evil from sins of previous births.