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.
दुःखशोकसमाविष्टः पीड्यमानो दिवानिशम् । कौंडिन्यस्याश्रमपदं प्राप्तः पुण्यागमात्क्वचित्
Overwhelmed by suffering and sorrow, tormented day and night, he once reached the hermitage of Kaundinya by the force of merit.
माधवे मासि जाह्नव्याः कृतस्नानं तपोधनम् । आससाद धृष्टबुद्धिः शोकभारेण पीडितः
In the month of Mādhava, he approached the sage, who had bathed in the Ganges, himself weighed down by the burden of grief.
तद्वस्त्रबिंदुस्पर्शेन गतपापो हताशुभः । कौंडिन्यस्याग्रतः स्थित्वा प्रत्युवाच कृतांजलि
By the touch of a drop from the sage’s garment, his sins and misfortunes were destroyed; standing before Kaundinya with joined palms, he spoke.
धृष्टबुद्धिरुवाच- भो भो ब्रह्मन्द्विजश्रेष्ठ दयां कृत्वा ममोपरि । येन पुण्यप्रभावेन मुक्तिर्भवति तद्वद
Dhṛṣṭabuddhi said: 'O best of Brahmins, show me compassion; tell me by what power of merit liberation may be attained.'
कौंडिन्य उवाच- शृणुष्वैकमनाभूत्वा येन पापक्षयस्तव । वैशाखस्य सिते पक्षे मोहिनी नाम विश्रुता
Kaundinya said: 'Listen with focused mind to that by which your sins are destroyed: in the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, there is the renowned Ekādaśī called Mohinī.'
एकादशीव्रतं तस्याः कुरु मद्वाक्यनोदितः । मेरुतुल्यानि पापानि क्षयं गच्छंति देहिनाम्
'Observe the vow of Ekādaśī on that day as I instruct you; sins as great as Mount Meru are destroyed for embodied beings.'
बहुजन्मार्जितान्येषा मोहिनी समुपोषिता । इति वाक्यं मुनेः श्रुत्वा धृष्टबुद्धिः प्रसन्नधीः
'Mohinī, when properly observed, destroys sins accumulated over many births.' Hearing the sage’s words, Dhṛṣṭabuddhi became serene in mind.
व्रतं चकार विधिवत्कौंडिन्यस्योपदेशतः । कृते व्रते नृपश्रेष्ठ गतपापो बभूव सः
He performed the vow according to the instructions of Kaundinya; when the vow was completed, O best of kings, he became free from sin.
दिव्यदेहस्ततो भूत्वा गरुडोपरिसंस्थितः । जगाम वैष्णवं लोकं सर्वोपद्रव वर्जितम्
Then, having attained a divine body, he mounted Garuḍa and went to the world of Viṣṇu, free from all afflictions.
इतीदृशं रामचंद्र उत्तमं मोहिनी व्रतम् । नातः परतरं किंचित्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
Thus, O Rāma, is the supreme Mohinī vow; in all the three worlds, there is nothing greater than this among moving and unmoving beings.