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On Ekädaçés

A Collection from Padma Puräëa Section VI

Uttarakhanòa

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According to Padma Puräëa Uttarakhaëda Chapter 233.2-6, Çiva said: "O all sages and deities having great power; listen. Ekädaçé is very meritorious and destroys all calamities. You have observed it as a day of fast in order to see Lakñmé. Dvädaçé dear to me, is always more meritorious that that. Since today all those men who observe a fast on Ekädaçé day and who, when the Sun has risen on the Dvädaçé day, worship me along with Lakñmé and Tulasé with great faith and devotion, are freed from bondage and reach my position."

In the same chapter, Rudra further adds that the host of gods devoutly worshipped and praised Kürma deva with delighted minds and were given a boon. They asked the lord to sustain the earth covered by seven islands.

Hence, the origin of goddess Lakñmé and the splendour of Viñëu.

Under each recommended Ekädaçi vrata are stated its purpose together with remedies, gifts etc.

Yudhiñöhira said:

I salute you Viñëu, who is actually the lord, who gives happiness to the three worlds, who is the lord of the universe, the author of everything, the ancient Puruñottama. O lord of gods, I ask because I have a great doubt and also for the well-being of the world and for the destruction of sins. O master, tell me in detail and properly, about the manner in which that Ekädaçé which would fall in the bright half of Märgaçérña is observed and which deity is worshipped on that day.

Çré Kåñëa said:

O king, you have asked well. Your spotless fame is excellent. O lord of kings, I shall tell you about the excellent day of Viñëu. The Dvädaçé that has come up in the dark half of Märgaçérña is dear to me. This one called Märgaçérña-utpatti has sprung up from my body. O best among the Bharatas, it has sprung up for killing the demons. O best king, I have told about it to you. The day previous to this in the dark half of the month of Märgaçérña is called Utpatti Ekädaçé in the three worlds with the mobile and immobile. Hereafter, I shall describe the one that falls in the bright half of Märgaçérña, by hearing which a man would obtain the fruit of the Väjapeya (sacrifice). It is great, is called by the name Mokñadä and removes all sins. A man should carefully worship Dämodara (i.e., Kåñëa or Viñëu) on this day. O king, he should worship Viñëu carefully with the Tulasé sprouts, according to the manner told before.

This Ekädaçé having the portion of Daçamé as well, is called Mokñadä Ekädaçé. It destroys great sins.

At night, he should keep awake with dances, songs and my eulogies. O king, listen. I shall tell you a divine ancient story, which by merely hearing it, all sins would perish. There is no doubt that due to the religious merit that it gives, the deceased fore fathers of a man, that have, due to their sins, born in a mean stock, obtain salvation. In the city called Campaka which was adorned with Viñëu’s devotees, there lived a king Vaikhänasa by name. He looked after his subjects like his own sons. In the city lived many Brähmaëas who had mastered the Vedas and the Upaniñads, that subjects of that king Vaikhänasa were prosperous. O king, he was ruling over his kingdom like this. He once saw at night in a dream, his own fore fathers gone to mean stock. He, seeing all of them like this, with his mind full of amazement, told the account that took place in the dream to Brähmaëas.

The king said:

O Brähmaëas, I saw my fore fathers gone to hell and saying to me: "O you born of our bodies, emancipate us from the ocean of hell."

I saw them speaking like this and weeping repeatedly, O best Brähmaëas. Due to this, I am unhappy. This great kingdom does not give me pleasure. O Brähmaëas, I am not pleased with all the horses and the elephants. O best Brähmaëas, tell me about that vow, that practice of penance, by means of which my ancestors will go and obtain salvation. What is the fruit of that son who is living richly, who is mighty and magnanimous, when his father lives in a fearful hell?"

The Brähmaëas said:

The great hermitage of the sage Parvata who knows the past and the future, is nearby. O best king, go to that hermitage.

Then hearing these words, the great king Vaikhänasa quickly went to the hermitage of Parvata. The king was surrounded by Brähamëas and accompanied by other kings. The best king reached his extensive hermitage. Having seen the best sage like another Brahmä, surrounded by sages well-versed in the study of Ågveda, Yajurveda and Sämaveda, king Vaikhanasa saluted the sage by prostrating before him in the manner of staff and touched his feet. The sage asked him about the welfare of the seven constituent parts of the kingdom, so also about the absence of trouble in the kingdom and the king’s happiness.

The king said:

O master, by your favour there is well-being in the seven constituent parts of my kingdom. How can those who are devoted to Viñëu and Brähmaëas, have any difficulty? I saw in a dream my ancestors living in hell. O master, I have come top you to clear the doubt, O best Brähmaëa, as to which religious merit will give them salvation. O best sage, some remedy should be adopted in this case.

Having heard these words from him, Parvata, the best sage, the ascetic, resembling Brahmä, fixed his eyes in meditation. Remaining in meditation for a short time. He replied to the king: "O lord of kings, I have understood the former acts of your ancestors. In this previous existence, your father, a Kñatriya, was proud of his kingdom. Prompted by his royal duty and seeking to gain his object, he, leaving his wife behind in the time favourable for conception, went to a village. Your father did not give her what should be given to his wife during the period favourable for conception. As a result of that sin. O best king, your father, along with your ancestors, fell into terrible hell." After that king Vaikhänasa again said to sage: "o sage, by the power of which vow would they have salvation?"

The sage said:

In the bright half of Märgaçirña there is the Mokñadä Ekädaçé. All should observe this vow and its religious merit should be given to an ancestor. By the efficacy of that religious merit, they will have salvation. O glorious one, this is true since it is the statement of Brahmä.

Having heard the words of the sage, he again came back to his house. And then the month of Märgasérña also came. King Vaikhänasa, having observed the vow with effort, gave along with all its religious merit to his father. When the religious merit was given, just in a moment, shower of flowers occurred from the sky; and Vaikhänasa’s father, along with his ancestors, obtained salvation. And from the sky, the father spoke these auspicious words: "O son may it be well with you, may it be well with you." Speaking thus, he went to heaven. O king, the sins of him who observes the auspicious vow of the Mokñadä Ekädaçé, perish and after death, he would obtain salvation. There cannot be any Ekädaçé superior to this one that would give salvation. O king, I do not know the measure of religious merit it gives. O king, this is the vow of him who does good to me. This vow is like the desire-yielding gem. It gives salvation to men. A man would get the fruit of the performance of a Väjapeya sacrifice by reading about and listening to it.

Compiled by Swee Chan

Yudhiçthéra said:

Which Ekädasé day will fall in the dark half of Pauña? What is the name and the manner of observing it? Tell this to me in detail. O master; tell me which deity is worshipped on that day.

Çrikåñëa said:

O lord of kings, due to the bond of affection between us, I shall tell you. O king, I am not much pleased with sacrifice in which profuse gifts are given, as I am pleased with the Ekädasé vow. Therefore, with all efforts, the day of Viñëu should be observed as the vow. O you famous among the religious, this is true, not false. On the Ekädasé falling in the dark half of Pauña called Saphalä, a man should duly worship god Viñëu. This auspicious Ekädasé should be observed in the same manner as told before. O King, as Çeña is the best of the serpents as Garuòa the eater of serpents is the best of birds as Viñëu is the best of the deities, as brähmana is the best of the bipeds, so as the day of Ekädasé is the best of the vows, O king, these men who are devoted tot eh day sacred to Viñëu and observe the vow of Ekädasé are always venerable to me.

They are united with wealth here in this world only, and after death, they obtain salvation. O king, on the Saphalä Ekädasé, a man should worship Viñëu by uttering his various names, with coconuts, betel-nuts, cirton fruits, jambéra fruits, pomegranates and auspicious dhatré fruits, so also with cloves, badari fruits and especially with mangoes. So also, he should worship the Lord with incense and lights.

Especially on Saphalä day, he should give the present of lights.

He should keep awake along with Viñëu’s devotees during that night. O king, listen to the religious merit of him, of concentrated mind, who keeps awake during that night just for the time of the twinkling of an eye. No sacrifice is equal to that. There is no sacred place like that. All other vows are not equal to a sixteenth part of the of the Saphalä vow.

He who thus keeps awake, gets the fruit which cannot be obtained by practicing penance for thousands of years.

O best king, listen to the auspicious account Saphalä. There was a city belonging to the Mähiñmata, well known as Campävaté. That royal sage had five young sons. Of them, the eldest was always engaged in sins. He was an adulterer, fond of prostitutes and a drunkard. The sinner spent his father’s money in that. He was always engaged in bad behaviour and censured Brähmaëas. He always censured Viñëu’s devotees and deities. Noticing his son to be like this, king Mähiñmata called him by the name Lampaka, i.e., a robber. His father and brother expelled him from the kingdom and was thus abandoned like an obstructor by the attendants. Lumpaka then thought: ‘I have indeed been expelled from the kingdom by my kinsmen and my father.’ Thinking thus, Lumpaka set his heart on committing sins. ‘I must go to a fearful dense forest; and from it, I shall plunder the entire city of my father.’

Thinking like this, Lumpaka, by a lucky coincidence, went out of the city into the dense forest. He was always engaged in killing living beings he was the treasure of the art of stealing and gambling. The sinner plundered the entire city. He was arrested for stalking at night. He said to them: ‘ I am the son of king Mähiñmata.’ He who committed sinful deeds was released by them and came back to the forest. He was fond of eating flesh and fruits. Near that wicked man was the abode of Viñëu. There was an ancient and divine Açvattha tree standing there for many years. Lumpaka, of sinful mind, lived and ate there. After many days have passed, fruits of trees due to some collection of his religious merit on the tenth day of the dark half of Pauña.

Lumpaka who was the most sinful, was oppressed by heat. He was without clothes and lost his sight. Being oppressed by severe cold, he did not enjoy the pleasure of sleep near that tree sacred to Viñëu. To him, the tree was as it was dead. Covering his mouth, he passed the entire night. Even at sunrise, the most sinful one did not regain consciousness even on that day of Saphalä. When the Sun was in the middle of the sky, Lumpaka got back his consciousness. Pained, he looked here and there. Tumbling from his seat, he again and again walked like a lame man with his feet. He went into the middle part of the forest, was emaciated by hunger and was oppressed. That Lumpaka of a wicked mind did not have the strength to kill a living being. O king, at that time, Lumpaka did not obtain fruits. When he came there, the Sun had already set. ‘O pity, what will happen to me?’ he wailed like this and there at the root of the tree, he placed many fruits and said: "May Viñëu be pleased with these fruits." Having spoken thus, Lumpaka did not get sleep that night.

Viñëu regarded his sleeplessness as keeping awake at night in his honour and took the placing of fruits as being worshipped with fruits on the day of Saphalä, though Lumpaka only observed this vow accidentally. By the power of that religious merit, he obtained the kingdom free from troubles. Till it was sunrise, ähmaëasiñëu went to heaven. At that time, a divine voice was heard; "By the favour of Saphalä, O son, you will obtain the kingdom which was free from trouble. He ruled over the kingdom for fifteen years. By the favour of Kåñëa, he had charming sons and a charming wife. Having quickly abandon his kingdom and having given it to his sons, he went to Kåñëa’s proximity, going where a man does not meet grief. O king, he who observes the excellent vow of Saphalä, are blessed and their existence is fruitful. No doubt should be raised about this.

A man, by reciting, listening to and observing the vow of Saphalä obtains the fruit of a Räjasüya sacrifice, O King.

Compiled by Swee Chan

Yudhiñöhira said:

O Kåñëa, you have told me about the auspicious vow of the Saphalä Ekädaçé. Favour me and tell me about the one that would fall in the bright fortnight of the month of Pauña. What is its name? In what way is it observed? Which is the deity that is propitiated on that day? With whom are you, Puruñottama himself pleased?

Çré Kåñëa said:

O king,listen, I shall tell you about the one that would fall in the bright half of Pauña. O great king, with a desire for the good of the people, I shall tell about it. O king, it is to be carefully observed in the manner told as before. Its name is Putradä.

It is great and removes all sins. Its superintending deity is Viñëu. He gives all desired objects and all prosperity. No greater vow than this exists in the three worlds with the mobile and immobile. Viñëu makes a man possessed with knowledge and makes him successful.

O king, listen. I shall tell you an auspicious tale that removes sins: Formerly, there lived a king Suketumat in the city of Bhadrävaté. His queen was Campakä by name. The sonless king passed his time in entertaining desires. The king did not obtain a son who would continue his line. Then the king thought of righteous deeds for a long time. ‘What shall I do? Where shall I go? How can I have a son?’ King Suketumat did not derive pleasure from his kingdom or his city. Everyday, along with his chaste wife, he became unhappy. The couple was always full of anxiety and grief. His dead ancestors drank lukewarm water offered by him. ‘ We do not see anybody who would gratify us after the king.’ Thinking like this, his manes were unhappy.

The king did not find pleasure in his kinsmen, allies, ministers, friends, so also elephants, horses and foot-soldiers, despondency always prevailed in the king’s mid. ‘A man who is without a son does not get the fruit of his existence. The house of a sonless person is always desolate. His heart is always unhappy. Without a son freedom from the debt of one’s ancestors, deities and men is not possible. Therefore, with all efforts, a man should produce a son. Those with religious merit, in whose house a son should be born, get success in this world. In the house of those men who practice righteous deeds, long life, good health and wealth prevail. O king, these cannot be had without religious merit and devotion to Viñëu. I think that sons are certainly the wealth of a person.’

Thinking like this, the king sis not get happiness. King Suketumat thought like this in the early morning and at night. He thought of destroying himself. Then the king, seeing misfortune in suicide, saw his body fallen and his sonless-ness. Then according to his intellect, he thought about his welfare. Then the king mounted upon a horse and went to a dense forest. The family priest and others did not know that the king had gone. In the dense forest resorted to by beasts and birds, the king roamed, observing the forest trees like vaöa, açvattha, bilva, kharjüra and panasa, so also bakula, saparëa, tinduka and tila. The king also saw trees like çäla, tamäla and sarala. He also saw trees like iïgudé, kakubha, çleñmätaka, sallaka, karamarda, päöala and badara also. He also saw açoka trees, paläça trees, wolves, hares, wild cats, buffaloes, porcupines and camara (deer). The king saw serpents that had half come out of the ant-hills, wild and intoxicated elephants with their young ones. He saw lords of herds having four tusks and accompanied by their female elephants and herds. Seeing the elephants, the king thought: ‘The lord moving among them obtained great beauty.’ The king observed the forest full of great wonders. Hearing along on his way, the cries of jackals and of owls and seeing various bears and deer, he roamed in the forest. In this way, the king saw the forest.

When the Sun had gone to the middle of the sky, he being oppressed with hunger and thirst, ran here and there, the king with parched throat thought: ‘What deed have I done by which I have met with such grief? What sacrifices and worships have I pleased the deities. I have pleased Brähmaëas with gifts and desired meals. I have always greatly looked after my subjects like my own son. Due to what have I met with this great, terrible distress?’

The king who was thinking like this, went deeper into the forest. By the efficacy of his good deeds, he saw an excellent lake. It had the contact of fish. It looked very beautiful due to lotuses. It also looked beautiful with ducks, ruddy geese and royal swans. It was full of alligators. Fishes and other aquatic animals. The fortunate king saw many hermitages of sages near the lake, along with many omens suggesting auspiciousness. His right eye throbbed, so also his right hand, indicating auspicious fruit. Seeing on the lake, sages muttering Vedic hymns in an undertone, the king stood in front of the sages. The king separately saluted the sages of praiseworthy vows by joining the palms of his hands and repeated prostrating before them in the manner of a staff. The sages also said to him :O King, we are pleased with you."

The king said:

Who are you here? Tell me what are your names? Why have you assembled here? Tell me the truth.

The sages said:

O king, we are Viçvedeväù¹. We have come here for a bath. Mägha will commence on the fifth day from today. O king, today is Ekädaçé called Putradä. Viñëu gives a son to those who observe this Ekädaçé, O King.

The king said:

I have great uncertainty about producing a son. If you are pleased, then give me a son.

The sages said:

O King, today only is the Ekädaçé called Putradä. Do this well known vow which is the best vow. O lord of kings, after ablution and by the favour of us and of Viñëu, you will certainly have a son.

By these words and advice from the sages, the king observed the excellent vow which is that of Putradä according to the proper rules. Having broken his fast on Dvädaçé, the king came home. Then the queen conceived. At the time of her delivery, a bright son was born. By means of his righteous deeds, he pleased his father. He became a king later.

Therefore, O King, the excellent vow of Putradä should be observed.

I have narrated it to you for the good of the people, those who, with a concentrated mind, observe this Putradä vow, obtain sons in this world and after death, go to heaven. O king, by reciting and listening to it, a man would obtain the fruit of having performed the Agniñöoma sacrifice.

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Viçvedeväù¹ - Said to be a particular group of deities who are the ten sons of Viçvä, namely, Vasu, çatya, Kratu, Dakña, Käla, Käma, Dhåti, Kuru, Purüravas and Mädravas.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

Very nice, O Kåñëa, O Jagannätha, O first god, O lord of the world, be pleased and tell me. Show favour to me. Which would be the Ekädaçé in the dark half of Mägha? What is the manner in which it is to be observed? Tell this to me in detail.

The lord said:

O best king, listen. That Ekädaçé which would fall in the dark half of Mägha is known as Ñaötilä and destroys all sins. Listen to the auspicious, sin removing account of Ñaötilä, which the best sage Pulastya narrated to Dälabhya.

Dälabhya said:

O Brähmaëa, truly tell me how those living beings who have come to the mortal world, who commit sins and have various sins like the murder of a Brähmaëa, who take other’ wealth, who are deluded by great addictions, do not go to hell. O glorious one, please tell me how sins perish even by means of some small gift.

Pulastya said:

Very nice, very nice. O you illustrious one, this is a secret very difficult to be had. I shall tell it. O best brähamëa, as I am asked by you, that which is not told to anyone by deities like Viñëu, Brahmä and Indra. When the month of Mägha has arrived, a man being pure after bath and with his senses curbed, without lust, anger, pride, jealousy, greed and wickedness, having remembered the gods, having washed his feet with water, should take the cow dung fallen on the ground, scatter sesamun seeds, cotton, one hundred and eight fashioned balls.

No doubt should be raised in this matter. Then when the month of Mägha has come and if the Äñäòha star appears in the sky or if it is the beginning of the dark half, he should observe restraints of Ekädaçé at an auspicious time.

Listen to the manner as I tell you. Having worshipped the god of gods, having bathed well, being restrained and pure, he should by fasting on the Ekädaçé day, recite the names of Kåñëa. He should keep awake at night and should the sacrifice first.

Again on the second day, he should worship Viñëu, the lord of the lordly gods along with sandal, agaru and camphor. He should offer eatables and a mixture of rice and peas with a few spices. Then remembering the lord by uttering his name, he should repeatedly offer to Kåñëa respectful offering full of pumpkin gourds, coconuts or citrons.

In the absence of all these, he should make the respectful offering with betel nuts, after properly worshipping Janärdana.

"O Kåñëa, Kåñëa, you are kind.

Be the refuge of those who have no refuge.

O Viñëu, favour them who are plunged in the ocean of mundane existence.

Salutation to you.

O Subrahmanya,

O ancestor of great men,

O lord of the world,

Accept, along with Lakñmé, this offering which is made by me."

This is the hymn recited at the time of making respectful offering. O Brähmaëa, after that, he should worship the diety and should give an earthen pitcher along with an umbrella, sandals and garments. He should say:

"May Kåñëa be pleased with me"

A dark cow should be given according to his capacity to the best brähmaëa. O best Brähmaëa, he, expert in recognizing a worthy recipient, should give him a pot full of sesamun seeds. O sage, the black sesamun seeds are recommended for bath and food. He should with effort, give them to the best Brähmaëa according to his capacity.

For as many thousands of years as many sprouts from the sesamun seeds are there is in the field, he is honoured in heaven. These six uses of sesamun seeds, offering a sacrifice with sesamun seeds (mixed with water), rubbing one’s body with sesamun seeds, offering a sacrifice with sesamun seeds, offering water with sesamun seeds, giving sesamum seeds and eating them.

Närada (Yudhiñöhira) said:

O Kåñëa, O Kåñëa, O you mighty arms, O you the creator of everything, salutation to you. What kind of fruit is to Ñaötilä Ekädaçé? Tell me, O Yädava, along with an episode, if you are pleased with me.

Çri Kåñëa said:

O king, listen to what I saw as it took place. O Närada, in the mortal world, formerly, there lived a brähmaëa woman. She was always engaged in observing vows and was always engrossed in worshipping deities. She was engaged in observing the monthly fasts; she was very devoted to me. She observed fasts in honour of Kåñëa and was intent on worshipping me. O best Brähmaëa, she tormented her body with fasts. The very chaste woman always offered her house etc., due to her devotion to gods, Brähmaëas and maidens. O Brähmaëa, she always took delight in great expiation. She did not give alms to beggars, she did not gratify Brähmaëas. Then, O brähmaëa, after a long time, I thought: ‘There is no doubt that her body is purified by means of vows and expiations. By mortifying her body, she honoured devotees of Viñëu. She did not offer food, by means of which great satisfaction would be had.’ O brähmaëa, knowing this, I went to the mortal world. Taking the form of Käpäla². I begged alms with my begging bowl. She said: "O brähmaëa, for what have you come? Where will you go later? Tell me."

I again said: "O beautiful woman, give me alms." With great wrath, she threw a lump of clay into the copper vessel. Then O, Brähmaëa, I went back to heaven. Then by the power of her practicing the great vows, the female ascetic of great vows, bodily came to heaven after a long time. Due to the gift of the lump of clay, she got a charming house; but O Sage, it was without heaps of grains. When she observed the house, she would not see anything there. Then she moved out of the house and came to me. She spoke these words full of anger: "By means of many kinds of vows, expiations and fast with worship, I propitiated the god, the guardian of the entire world. O Janärdana, nothing is seen there in my house." The I said to her: "O you of great vow, go home. Wives of gods, full of great curiosity and wonder will come to see you. Do not open the door unless they recite the auspicious account of Ñaötilä.: Thus addressed by me, the woman went back to her house. There they said, "We have come to see you."

The woman said:

If you want to see me, you must especially tell the truth – the meritorious vow of Ñaötilä – for opening the door.

Çri Kåñëa said:

None of them told her about the vow of Ñaötilä Ekädaçé. Then one of them told about the vow of Ñaötilä Ekädaçé. The other one then said: "The woman should be seen by me." Then after opening the door, the woman was seen by them. O best Brähmaëa, like that female goddess or a gandharva or a demoness or a female serpent was never seen by them before. By the advice of the goddess, the vow of Ñaötilä which gives pleasures and salvation was observed by that woman of a true vow. She, endowed with beauty and loveliness, obtained in a moment, wealth, grains, garments, gold and silver. By the prowess of Ñaötilä, her house was endowed with everything. In a moment, she became endowed with beauty and loveliness. One should not be very greedy; one should avoid fraud with regards to wealth. According to his wealth, he should give sesamun seeds and garments. A man obtains good health inexistence. He does not get poverty or misery or misfortune. All this will not take place due to the fasting on Ñaötilä.

O king, there is no doubt that a giver of sesamun seeds in this way is free from all sins without any trouble. Giving a gift duly, to a worthy recipient removes all sins. O best king, there is no misery or exertion in the body.

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Käpäla² --- The left hand Çaivite order characterized as a carrier of human skulls in the form of a garland and eating and drinking from them.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

O Kåñëa, you have said well. O lord you are the first god. There are four kinds of livings generated by sweat; oviparous; plants; viviparous. You make and mar them; you protect and destroy them. You told me about Ñaötilä falling in Mägha. O god, favour me and tell me which Ekädaçé would fall in the bright half of that month. What is the manner in which it is observed. Which deity is worshipped on that day?

Çri Kåñëa said:

O lord of kings, I shall tell you about the Ekädaçé that would fall in the bright half of Mägha. It is called Jayä. It is well known. It is great and removes all sins. It is pure. It destroys sins. It gives desired objects and salvation to men.

It destroys the sin of the murder of a brähmaëa and it also destroys the state of a goblin. Men are not reduced to the condition of ghosts when the vow if Jayä Ekädaçé is observed by them. There is no Ekädaçé other than this that destroys sins and gives salvation. O king, for this reason, it should always be observed. O best king, listen to an ancient auspicious tale. I have told about this greatness in the Padma Puräëa.

Once, Indra ruled in heaven. Gods happily lived in that charming abode. They were engaged in drinking nectar and were waited upon by celestial nymphs. In it there was a grove called Nandana. It was fully served by Pärijäta trees. Gods rejoice and are pleased by the celestial nymphs there. Once Indra, the lord of fifty crores of the residents of heaven, rejoicing as he like, joyfully made the celestial nymphs to dance. Gandharvas sang there. There was a Ghandharva named Puñpadantaka. Citrasena was also there with Mäliné, his daughter and his wife. Mäliné’s daughter was named Puñpadanté and her son was named Mälyavat. Mälvayat was fascinated with his sister’s beauty. Puñpadanté subjugated her brother with her glances.

Listen to the description of her charm with loveliness and her beauty. Her arms are as it were the nooses thrown round the neck by Cupid. Her eyes were wide, up to her ears, were reeling and red in the corners. Her ears looked beautiful due to the earrings. She had a conch shaped neck and was adorned with divine ornaments. Her stout and raised breasts resembled golden pitchers. Her waist was lean, excellent, and could be grasped in the fist. Her buttocks were expansive. Her hips and loins were large. Her feet were beautiful and bright like red-lotus. By that Puñpavati who was like this, Mälyavat was very much fascinated. To please Indra, the two came there to dance. They sang there and were waited upon by bands of celestial nymphs. Puñpadanté and Mälyavat had their bodies filled with cupid (i.e., the feeling of love). Due to love for each other, they were infatuated. With their mind perplexed, they did not sing chaste songs.

Influenced by the arrows of Cupid, they had riveted their eyes upon each other. Due to the lapse in clapping of hands and in measuring of time, so also due to the execution of the song, Indra, thinking that it was an insult to him, got angry with both of them and giving them a curse said these words: "Fie upon you; you are fallen; you stupid ones have disobeyed me. Be turned into goblins as husband and wife; go to the mortal world, enjoying the fruit of your deed."

Thus cursed by Indra, the two with their minds distressed, being deluded by Indra’s curse, reached the Himälaya mountain. Both became goblins and met with terrible grief also. Their minds were tormented and met with misery caused by snow. Being deluded, they were not aware of their state of a gandharva or a celestial nymph. They were oppressed by summer and the effect of bodily sins. Troubled by the fruit of their deeds, they did not get pleasure or peace at night. Talking to each other they moved in the mountain caves. They were chattering their teeth and their bodies had horripilate.

Then that male goblin said to his wife, the female goblin: "What great, fierce and thrilling sin have we committed due to which we are reduced to goblinhood as a result of our bad deeds? Hell is looked upon as fierce, and goblinhood is painful. Therefore, with all efforts, one should not commit a sin." Thus being anxious, they were overpowered with grief. Due to their good luck, the Ekädaçé of Mägha named Jayä and well known as the best among days, came. When that day came, O king, they remained there without food and without drinking water. They did not kill any living being; they did not eat leaves and fruits. Near the Açvattha tree, they remained always full of grief. O king, they remained like that until the Sun set. Night, that was fierce, terrible and fatal, approached. The two, trembling and clinging to each other with their bodies and arms, then slept there on the bare ground. They did not have sleep, or coitus, nor did they get pleasure.

O best king, they were thus troubled by the curse of Indra. When they were thus unhappy, the night rolled by. The Sun rose when the day of Dvädaçé came. O best king, I held in my heart about their salvation. They observed the good vow of Jaé came. O best king, I held in my heart about their salvation. They observed the good vow of Jayä and kept awake at night. Listen to what happened by the efficacy of that vow. When the Dvädaçé day came, and when the Jaé day came, and when the Jayä vow was observed like that, their goblinhood disappeared by Viñëu’s prowess. Puñpadanté and Mälyavat had their forms as before. They had the same affection as before and had the same ornaments. They got into an aeroplane and went to the beautiful heaven.

Having gone in front of the lord of gods, Indra, they gladly saluted him. Seeing them like that, Indra, being amazed said to them: "Tell me, due to what mortal merit you who were reduced to goblinhood, who had received a curse from me were freed and by which god."

Mälyavat said:

O lord, our goblinhood has gone by Viñëu’s favour, the observance of the Jayä vow and the strength of devotion to you.

Hearing these words, Indra spoke again: "You have become sinless, pure and have become adorable even to me. You have observed the vow on the day sacred to Viñëu. There is no doubt that those mortals who adhere to the vow of the day sacred to Viñëu and are devoted to Kåñëa are adorable to us."

Kåñëa said:

For this reason. O king, the vow of the day sacred to Viñëu should be observed. O best king, Jaëu should be observed. O best king, Jayä removes the sin of a Brähmaëa’s murder. He who has observed the Jayä and has given gifts, has performed all sacrifices, certainly rejoices in Vaikuëöha as long as a crore of kalpas. O king, by reciting or listening to this account, one would obtain the fruit of the performance of Agniñöoma sacrifice.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

What is the name of the Ekädaçé that would fall in the dark half of Phälguna? O Väsudeva, favour me and tell me.

Çri Kåñëa said:

Närada asked the lotus seated Brahmä: "O best of Brähmaëas, favour me and tell me about the religious merit due to the observance of the Vijayä Ekädaçé that would fall in the dark half of Phälguna.

Brahmä said:

O Närada, listen; I shall tell you a great account that removes sins. I have not narrated to anyone about this Vijayä vow which is ancient, pure and which removes sins. There is no doubt that Vijayä gives vistory to the kings. Formerly, Rama went to the forest and lived in Païcavaöé for fourteen years with Sétä and Lakñmaëa. The glorious wife Sétä, of Räma of a victorious nature, who lived there was kidnapped by Rävaëa through lust. Due to that grief, even Räma was embarrassed, and while wandering, he saw Jaöäyau who was dead. Then he, wandering in the forest, killed Kabandha. His friendship with Sugréva took place. The forces of the monkeys came together for Räma. Then Sétä was seen in the Açoka garden in Laìkä by Hanümat. He gave her the token of Räma and performed a great feat. Then again, having come back to Räma, he told him the entire account. Then Räma, having heard the words of Hanümat was pleased and took a march out against Rävaëa with Sugréva’s consent. He said to Lakñmaëa: "O Saumitra, due to which religious merit this very unfathomable abode of Varuëa, full of aquatic animals, can be crossed? I do not see a means with which this ocean can be crossed easily."

You alone are the first god and the ancient, best man. In this island lives the sage Bakadälbhya. O Räghava, his hermitage is at a distance of half a yojana from this place. O descendant of Raghu, there are many other Brähmaëas also. O best king, having gone there, ask the best sage.

Having heard these extremely good words of Lakñmaëa, Räma went to see that great sage Bakadälbhya. With his head bent down, he saluted the sage, as a god salutes Viñëu. Then that sage having recognized that ancient best man who had entered the human body for some reason, was pleased and said: "O Räma, for what have you come?

Räma said:

O Brähmaëa, by your favour I have come along with the army to this shore of the ocean to conquer Laìkä along with the demons. O sage, be favourable and tell me the means by which I shall cross the ocean. Now be pleased, O god, for this reason only I have come to see you.

Having heard the words of Räma, the great sgae Bakadälbhya, with his mind very pleased, said to the lotus-eyed Räma. "O Räma, today you should observe the best among vows, having observed which you will be mightily victorious. Having conquered Laëkä and the demons, you will obtain pure fame. Being concentrated in mind, observe this vow. The Vijayä Ekädaçé would fall in the dark half of the month of Phälguna.

O Räma, by the observance of that vow, you will get victory. You will, along with the monkeys, undoubtedly cross the ocean. O king, listen to the manner of this vow which is fruitful.

O Räma, the day is passed in front of it by narrating good tales. A wise man should also keep awake at night in front of it. For the continuous observance of the vow, he should light a ghee lamp. When the twelfth day comes, at the rise of the Sun, he should take the pitcher to a water region and place it in a river or into a stream and should worship it duly. He should give that jar to a brämaëa who has mastered the Vedas. O lord of kings, he should give the great gifts (Mahädänad) along with the jar to a brämaëa. O Räma, observe along with the chiefs of troops carefully the vow in this manner. You will be victorious."

Having heard this, Räma did as he was told. When the descendant of Raghu observed that vow, he became victorious. He got back Sétä. He conquered Laëkä, killed Rävaëa in the battle. O son, those men who observe the vow in this manner, get success in this world and get the inexhaustible other world. For this reason, O son, the vow of Vijayä should be observed. The greatness of Vijayä destroys all sins. A man reciting about or listening to this vow would obtain the fruit of the performance of the Väjapeya sacrifice.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

O Kåñëa, I have heard about the importance and the great fruit of Vijayä. Now tell me about the importance of that Ämalaké Ekädaçé which falls in the bright half of the month of Phälguna.

Çri Kåñëa said:

O son of Dharma (i.e., Yudhiñöhira), O illustrious one, listen, I shall tell you about that Ekädaçé which the glorious Vasiñöha explained to Mändhätå, when he was asked by Mändhätå. This is, O king, especially said to be the speciality of Phälguna. The Ämalaké vow is auspicious and takes one to Viñëu’s world. A man should go to the root of Ämalkaé tree and should keep awake there during the night. Having kept awake there for that night, he would obtain the fruit giving a thousand cows.

Mändhätå said:

O best Brähmaëa, when did this Ämalaké spring up? Tell this all to me. I have great curiosity to hear about it. Why is it said to be pure? Why is it said to be the destroyer of sins? Due to what would a man obtain the fruit of giving a thousand cows by keeping awake on it?

Vasiñöha said:

O glorious one, I shall tell you how it came about on the earth. The great tree Ämalaké destroys all kinds of sins. When formerly all this was just an ocean only when the earth was inundated with water, when the immovable and the movable perished, when hosts of gods and demons had disappeared and serpents and fiends had perished, then the lord of the gods, the highest soul, the ancient one went to Brahman, his highest and immutable position. Then form the spittle of Brahmä, keeping awake, a drop lustrous like the Moon was produced and it fell down on the earth. From that drop was produced the great Ämalaké tree, having many branches and twigs bent due to the burden of fruits. It was declared as the first shoot among all the trees. Then, after it, Brahmä created all these beings-the revered god created gods, demons, gandharvas yakñas, fiends, serpents; so also, the spotless great sages. Those gods came there, where Dhätré (the Ämalaka tree) dear to Viñëu, stood. O glorious one, seeing it, they were much amazed. They stood there thinking, "We do not know this tree". Then when they were thinking like this, a heavenly voice said to them:

"This excellent tree is Ämalaké, said to belong to Viñëu. Merely by remembering it, a man would get the fruit of giving a cow. By touching it, one’s religious merit is doubled and by wearing it, it is tripled.

Therefore, making all efforts, a man should always resort to Ämalaké. It is said to remove all sins, to belong to Viñëu and to destroy sins. At its roots, lives Viñëu and the grandsire stays above it; and in its trunk, the highest lord, the revered Rudra lives. All the sages live in its branches, the deities live in its twigs. The gods remain in its leaves and the Maruts in its flowers. All the lords of the created beings are similarly settled in its fruits. I have declared this Dhätré to be full of gods. Therefore, it is most adorable for those who are greatly devoted to Viñëu.

The sages said:

We do not know who you are. Due to what, have you become the cause? Tell us the truth-whether you are a god or someone else.

Seeing the amazed wise men, the voice said:

"I am that ancient Viñëu, who is the creator of all beings and all the worlds."

Having heard those words of the god of gods, Brahmä’s sons then began praising the god who was without beginning and without an end. "Obeisance to the Being, the self–born one, the soul, the Supreme Soul. Repeated and constant salutations to Dämodara, to the omniscient one, to the lord of sacrifices". Thus praised, there by the sages, lord Viñëu was pleased. He said to the sages: "What desired objects should I give you."

The sages said:

O venerable one, if you are pleased, then with a desire for our good, tell us about some vow which gives the fruit of heaven and salvation, which gives wealth, grains, religious merit and pleasing oneself, which requires little exertion, which gives many fruits and which is the best vow among vows, having observed which one is honoured in Viñëu’s world.

Viñëu said:

When in the bright half of Phälguna, the Dvädaçé comes with Puñya (the eighth nakshatra), it would destroy great sins. O best Brähmaëas, listen to the special vow to be observed on that day. Having gone to Ämalaké, one should keep awake there. One would be free from all sins and would obtain the fruit of giving a thousand cows. O Brähamëas, I have told you about this vow, the best of all vows. Having worshipped Viñëu residing in it, one is not dropped from Viñëu’s world.

The sages said:

Tell us about the manner of the observance of this vow. How would it be perfect? What are the hymns, what are the salutations and what are the deities that are declared? How is a gift given? How is a bath taken? What is said to be the manner of worship? So also tell us accurately the hymn for offering respectful offering and worship.

Viñëu said:

O best Brähmaëas, listen to the manner of the observance of this vow. Having remained without food on the Ekädaçé day and the next day, he should, after cleaning his teeth, utter the words:

O lotus-eyed one. O you un-fallen one,
I shall now eat. Be my refuge.

He should not talk with the fallen, the thieves, so also the heretics, so also with men of bad conduct, with those who have violated the limits of good conduct, and who have violated the limits of good conduct, and who have outraged their preceptor’s wives. Then the wise man, restrained and composed, should fully bathe in the afternoon, in a river or a tank or a lake or at home. First, he should apply clay to his body and then should bathe.

O you earth, who are trodden by horses, chariots and by Viñëu,
O you earth, remove my sin and the wicked deed that I have done.

This is the hymn to be recited at the time of applying the clay to the body.

O water, you are the life of all beings and protector of their bodies. Salutation to the lord of the species that are generated by sweat and that sprout as plants. Let this bath of me as it were, I have bathed at all holy places, deep lakes, streams, in rivers and reservoirs.

This is the hymn to be recited at the time of bathing. Having got fashioned the golden image of the sage Jämadagnya (i.e., Paraçuräma) of the weight of mäñaka of gold or half of it, he should come home and perform the sacrifice for the worship. Then with all the requisites, he should go to the Ämalaké tree. Then having thus gone to the Ämalaké tree and having cleaned the region all round it, he should place there, a jar having no scratch, to the accompaniment of hymns, having five gems attached to it, made fragrant with divine perfumes with an umbrella and a pair of sandal and smeared with white sandal, with a wreath and a garland attached to its neck, incensed with all kinds of incenses; he should make it charming by kindling a series of lamps all around; upon it he should place the image of the very lustrous Jämadagnya.

Worshipping the feet of the image, he should say "Salutation to Viçoka."

Worshipping its knees, he should say: "Salutation to Viçvarüpin."

Worshipping its thighs, he should say: "Salutation to Ugra."

Worshipping its waist, he should say: "Salutation to Dämodara."

Worshipping it belly, he should say: "Salutation to Padmanäbha."

Worshipping its chest, he should say: "Salutation to Srévatsadhärin."

Worshipping its left arm, he should say: Salutation to Cakrin."

Worshipping its right arm, he should say: "Salutation to Gadin."

Worshipping its neck, he should say: "Salutation to Vaikuntha."

Worshipping its mouth, he should say: "Salutation to Yajïamukha."

Worshipping its nose, he should say: "Salutation to Viçokanidhi."

Worshipping its eyes, he should say: "Salutation to Väsudeva."

Worshipping its forehead, he should say: "Salutation to Vämana."

Worshipping its eyebrows, he should say: "Salutation to Räma."
He should worship its head saying: "Salutation to the Sarvätman."

This is the hymn to be recited at the time of worshipping the deity. Then to the Superior god of gods, he should, with a devoted mind, offer a respectful offering with a white fruit. Then, with a devoted mind, he should keep awake by means of dances, songs, musical instruments, religious tales and eulogies.

He should similarly pass the entire night by means of listening to, reciting accounts about Viñëu. Then by repeating Viñëu’s names, he should go round the Dhätré tree. The repetition of the names should be done for one hundred and eight or twenty-eight times. Then in the morning, having waved a light in front of the image of Viñëu and having honoured a Brähmaëa, he should offer all that to him saying:

"In the Jämadagnya ghaöa, there are a couple of garments and two sandals. May Keçava, in the form of Jämadagnya, be pleased with me." Then he should touch and go around the Ämalaké tree. Having then bathed duly, he should feed Brähmaëas. Then along with the members of his fraternity, he should eat. I shall tell you about the entire religious merit obtained by doing this. There is no doubt that he gets the fruit which is had at all the holy places, by means of all kinds of gifts and which is greater than that of all sacrifices. I have thus narrated to you in full, the vow that is the best of all vows.

Saying so, the lord of gods vanished there. All the sages also did all that completely. In the same way, O lord of kings, please observe this vow which is hard to practice and which frees one from all sins.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

I have heard about the Ämalaké vow which falls in the bright half of the month of Phälguna. What is the name of the Ekädaçé in the dark half of Caitra?

Çri Kåñëa said:

O lord of kings, listen to the sin destroying account, which, when asked by emperor Mändhätå, was related to him by Lomaça.

Mändhätå said:

O venerable one, with a desire for the well-being of the people, I desire to hear what is the name of the Ekädaçé which falls in the dark half of Caitra. In which way is it observed? What is its fruit? Please favour me and tell me.

Lomaça said:

The Ekädaçé in the dark half of Caitra is called Päpamocané. It is said to destroy the state of a goblin. Listen, O king, I shall tell its account which gives the desired objects, divine power, auspicious and righteous things and destroys sins. Formerly in the forest called Caitraratha, full of bees and resorted to by celestial nymphs, when the spring season had arrived, gandharva maidens rejoiced along with kinaras playing upon musical instruments. The gods led by Indra also sported there. There was nothing else as delightful as the Caitraratha forest. In that forest, many sages practiced profuse penance.

A celestial nymph known as Maïjughoña started to infatuate an excellent sage named Medhävin, best among sages, who was a celibate and lived there. Showing her devotion to him, she through fear of him remained just a kroça away in the vicinity of the hermitage, singing sweetly and playing upon the lute agreeably. The mind-born Cupid, seeing her with flowers worn by her and sandal applied to her body and desiring to vanquish the best sages, devotees of Çiva, lived in her body. Maïjughoñä in due order made her eyebrows the curved end of the bow, her glances the string of the bow, her eyes along with her eyelashes the arrows, her breasts the tent, started for victory. Maïjughoñä became the army of that Cupid. Seeing that sage Medhävin, she too was oppressed by the passion of love. That Medhävin also, with his body shooting up with youth, shone there. Wearing a white sacred thread and appearing like another Cupid, that Medhävin lived in the auspicious hermitage of Cyavana.

Having seen the best sage staying there, that Maïjughoñä was overpowered by the passion of love and she gently sang. That best sage, hearing her singing, with her bracelets jingling and her anklets and girdle tinkling, was forcibly deluded by Cupid with his army. That beautiful woman Maïjugoñä, seeing the sage like that, approached him and deluded him with feminine coquettish gestures; and keeping her lute down on the ground, she embraced that lord of sages, as a creeper would encircle a tree shaking due to the velocity of the wind. That best sage Medhävin, too rejoiced with her. Seeing in that forest her excellent body, his auspicious nature left him, and he was influenced by the nature of Cupid. The lover did not care for night or day while rejoicing with her. Due to the violation of the good conduct, the sage passed a period of many years. Maïjughoñä set out to go to the divine world. While going, she said to the best sage rejoicing with her: "O Brähmaëa, give me the order to go to my own region."

Medhävin said:

O you beautiful one, today, only just at the beginning of nightfall you have come. Stay with me till it is the time for my morning prayer."

Gearing these words, she was frightened. She, afraid of the sage’s curse, delighted that sage for many years, O best king. She rejoiced with the sage for fifty five years, nine months and three days. But that period was just half a night for him. When that much time passed, she again said to the sage: "O Brähmaëa, give me the order to go back. I have to go home."

Medhävin said:

It is just the morning; Listen to my words. Be steady till I off my evening prayer.

Hearing these words of the sage, she was full of joy. Smiling slightly, she of a bright smile, spoke again:

The celestial nymph said:

O sinless best Brähmaëa, how long does your prayer have to extend? Please favour me and take into consideration the time that has passed.

Hearing this, the best Brähmaëa with his eyes dilated due to wonder, calculated the time that had passed. Fifty seven year had gone by with her. Then he got angry with her and was like a fire with rows of flames. He, seeing her of the nature of destruction whom had put an end to his penance, became very angry and discharged sparks of fire from his eyes. Noticing that his penance which have been earned with great effort had been wasted in her company. Medhävin, with his lips throbbing and his senses agitated, cursed her: "Be a female goblin. Fie upon you, a sinful woman of bad conduct, an unchaste woman who loves sinful conduct."

Parched by his curse, she remained bent with modesty. The beautiful woman, desiring the sage’s favour, said these words to him: "O best Brähmaëa, please favour me. Appease your curse; for the friendship of the good take place even by walking together for seven (or exchanging seven words). O Brähmaëa, with you I have passed many years. For this reason, O Lord, O you of good vow, favour me.

The sage said:

O good woman, hear my words appeasing the curse. O sinful one, what have I to do with you? You destroyed my great penance. In the dark half of Caitra would fall the auspicious Ekädaçé called Päpamocanikä, which destroys all sins. Having observed that pure vow of it on that day, your state of a female goblin will go away.

Having spoken thus, Medhävin went to his father’s hermitage. Seeing him to have returned, Cyavana said to him: "What is this that you have done? You have destroyed your religious merit, O son."

Medhävin said:

O father, I have committed a sin. I rejoiced with a celestial nymph. O father, tell me an expiation by means of which my sin would perish.

In the dark half of Caitra fall the Ekädaçé called Päpamocané, O son, if the vow is observed, the heap of sins would perish.

Hearing these words of his father, he observed that excellent vow. His sin perished and he became endowed with the merit of his penance. That Maïjughoñä too, having observed that excellent vow of Päpamocanikä. That excellent celestial nymph taking a divine form went to heaven.

Lomaça said:

O king, all the sins, however little, of those best men who observe the vow of Päpamocanikä, would perish. A man, by reciting about it or by listening to its account, would obtain fruit of the gift of a thousand cows. All those who have killed a Brähmaëa or have snatched gold or are drunkards or have violated his preceptor’s wife, becomes free from sins by means of the observance of this vow. By its observance, the excellent vow gives great religious merit.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

Salutation to you, O Väsudeva; tell me, which Ekädaçé would fall in the bright half of Caitra?

Çri Kåñëa said:

O king, listen attentively to an auspicious old tale which formerly Vasiñöha narrated to Dilépa who had asked him.

Dilépa said:

O revered one, I desire to hear. Favour me and tell me what the name of the Ekädaçé that would fall in the bright half of Caitra ?

Vasiñöha said:

O king, you have asked well. I shall tell you about it. The Ekädaçé falling in the bright half of Caitra is called Kämadä. This Ekädaçé is most auspicious and is a fire to the fuel of sins. O king, listen to this story which destroys sins, and which gives religious merit. Formerly, in the beautiful city of Nägapura, adorned with gold and jewels, lived very powerful nägas led by Puëòaréka. In that city, king Puëòaréka ruled. He was served by gandharvas, kinnaras and celestial nymphs also. The excellent celestial nymph was Lalitä; and the excellent gandharva was Lalita; the couple, glowing with attachment and oppressed by passion of love rejoiced in their beautiful house which was full of which was full of wealth and grains. In the Lalitä, her husband always resided and in his heart, that beautiful Lalitä resided. Once Puëòaréka, remaining in his assembly, was sporting; Laita, without his wife, was singing and dancing there. Remembering Lalitä, his tongue stumbled over an arrangement of words. Knowing the state of his mind, the best näga Karkoöaka, reported his error in uttering the arrangement of words to Puëòaréka.

Hearing the words of Karkoöaka, Puëòaréka, the king of the nägas, with his eyes red due to anger,, became extremely fierce. He then cursed Lalita who was singing and was overpowered by the passion of love: "O you of wicked mind, be a demon and eat raw flesh and that eats human beings, since, being influenced by the love for your wofe, you are singing before me." As a result of his words, Lalita got a demon form. O best king, his face was fierce, his eyes were deformed. He caused fear even when just seen. His arms were as long as a yojana. His mouth resembled a cave, his eyes like the Moon and the Sun. his neck was like a mountain and his nostrils were just hollows. His lips were a yojana in length. O lord of kings, his body rose up to eight yojanas. He, as a result of his deeds, became a demon of this type. That Lalitä, on seeing her husband thus deformed, was oppressed by great grief and thought to herself: "What should I do? Where do I go? My husband is troubled by the curse." Recalling this in her mind, she did not obtain pleasure in her mind.

Lalitä along with her husband, moved into a dense forest. That demon who took any form he liked, was cruel and was engaged in continuous sins. He was deformed, ate human beings, wandered in the impassable forest. Him, oppressed by sins, did not have pleasure at night or during the day. Lalitä was pained on seeing her husband like that. Weeping, she wandered with him in that dense forest. Having seen a lovely hermitage and a sage of tranquil form, she quickly went to him and saluting him, she stood before him. Seeing her distressed, the sage, solely devoted to kindness, said to her: "Who are you? Why have you come? Tell me the truth."

Lalitä said:

There is a gandharva by the name of Véradhavan. I am the daughter of that noble one. Know me by the name of Lalitä. I have come here for the sake of my husband. O great sage, due to a sin, my husband has become a demon of a fierce form, doing wicked deeds. Seeing him like this, I am sad. Now, O Brähmaëa, instruct me. O lord, tell me what I should do. Tell be about the religious merit due to which he is free from this state of being a demon, O Best Brähmaëa.

The sage said:

O you beautiful woman, it now the bright half of the month of Caitra. O Lalitä, it falls in the Kämadä Ekädaçé which is great and destroys sins. O auspicious one, duly observe its vow as told by me. Give the religious merit which you will obtain from this vow to your husband. When the religious merit is given to him, his sin will go away in a moment.

Hearing these words of the sage, Lalitä was delighted. Having fasted on the Ekädaçé, so also on Dvädaçé day, Lalitä, in the vicinity of a Brähmaëa and in front of Viñëu, uttered these words for the emancipation of her husband: "I have observed the vow of the Kämadä fast. Let his goblinhood go away by the prowess of that religious merit."

Merely by Lalitä’s words, at that instant, his sins went away and he had a divine form. His state of a demon went away and he got his gandharva form again. Full of gold and jewels, he rejoiced with Lalitä. The couple, having more lovely forms than before, got into an excellent aeroplane and looked more charming due to the efficacy of Kämadä. O best king, realizing this, this Kämadä vow should be carefully observed. For the good of the people, I have told it to you. It destroys sins like that of the condition of a goblin. There is nothing superior to it in the three worlds with the mobile and the immobile. O king, by reciting about it and listening to the account of it, one would get fruit of a Väjapeya sacrifice.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

What would be the name of the Ekädaçé that falls in the dark half of Vaiçäkha? Tell me its importance. Salutation to you, O Väsudeva.

Çri Kåñëa said:

O king, this Ekädaçé name Varüthiné falling in the dark half of the month of Vaiçäkha, gives grandeur in this and the next world. Due to the Varüthiné vow, happiness always results and the sins are destroyed and good fortune is obtained. An unfortunate woman who observes this vow obtains good fortune. This gives pleasure and salvation to all people and puts and end to rebirth. Due to the Varüthiné vow only, Mändhätå went to heaven. So also many other kings like Dhundhumära went to heaven. Lord Çiva became free from the sin of breaking Brahmä’s skull. One who observes the vow of Varüthiné gets the fruits equal to that obtained by him who gives a bhära of gold on Kurukñetra when the Sun is auspicious. That man, with faith, who observes the vow of Varüthiné, gets his desired object in this world and the next. O best king, to those who deserve it, it is pure, purifying; it destroys great sins. It gives them pleasures and salvation.

Those men who deluded by sin, subsist on the money got for giving their daughter in marriage, should be avoided.

O lord of kings, he who through greed takes money for offering his daughter in marriage, certainly becomes a cat in the next existence. O king, even Citragupta cannot measure the religious merit of him who, with his religious merit, gives, according to his capacity, his daughter well adorned in marriage. A man gets fruit equal to that by observing the Varüthiné vow. Bell metal, flesh, masüra (lentils), thick peas, kodrava (a species of grain eaten by the poor), vegetables, honey, eatables offered by others and food and sexual union. These ten, a devotee of Viñëu should avoid on the tenth day. Playing with dice, sport, sleep, tämbüla, cleaning the teeth, censuring others, wickedness, theft, harming others and indulging in sex, anger, telling lies; these he should avoid on the Ekädaçé. Bell metal, flesh, liquor, honey, oil, talking to others who are fallen, exercise, journey and food and sexual union, mounting on a bull’s back, food prepared with masüra; he should avoid on Dvädaçé. O king, to those who have observes the Varüthiné vow in this manner, it would, after destroying all their sins, give them an un-decaying position in the end. Those who, having kept awake at night, have worshipped Viñëu are freed from all sins and reach the highest position. Therefore, those who are afraid of sins, should observe it with all efforts. A man afraid of Saturn, the son of the enemy of the night, should observe the Varüthiné vow. O king, by reciting about it and by listening to the account of it, a man would obtain the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows. Being free from all sins, he is honoured in Viñëu’s world.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

O which name would be the Ekädaçé in the bright half of Vaiçäkha? What is its fruit? What is the manner of observing it? Tell it, O Viñëu.

Çré Kåñëa said:

O lord of kings, the same as you are asking me now was formerly asked by the intelligent Räma from Vasiñöha.

Räma said:

O glorious one, I desire to hear about the best among the vows, which destroys all sins and which cuts off all miseries. I have experienced sorrows like the ones due to separation from Sétä. So I am scared. Therefore, O great sage, I am asking you.

Vasiñöha said:

O Räma, you have asked well. This is due to your devoted mind. Merely by uttering your name, a man is purified. Yet with a desire for the well being of the people, I shall tell you about the excellent vow, most pure of the purifying vows. O Räma, the Ekädaçé that would fall in the bright half of Vaiçäkha, is called Mohiné. It is great and removes all sins. Due to the prowess of this Ekädaçé, men are freed from the noose of delusion and the multitude of sins. I am telling you the truth and the truth only. Therefore, O Räma, this one that destroys sins and outs and end to great misery, should be observed by people like you. O Räma, listen attentively to the great sin removing story, merely by hearing which even a great sin perishes.

On the lovely bank of Saravaté, there was an auspicious city Bhadrävaté. A king named Dyutimat ruled there. He was born in the Lunar family. He was courageous and was true to this word. A vaiçya, prosperous with wealth and grains, lived there. He was known as Dhanapäla. He prompted auspicious deeds. He constructed public water places, wells, temples, gardens, tanks and houses. He was engrossed in devotion for Viñëu and was calm. He had five sons: Sumanas, Dyutimat, Medhävin and Sukåta. The fifth, Dhåñöabuddhi was always engaged in committing great sins. He was attached to the unions with others’ wives and was well versed in stories about voluptuous people. He was addicted to gambling and ardently longed for the company of others’ wives. He did not intend to worship deities nor the dead ancestors nor Brähmaëas. The wicked one lived by doing injustice and wasted his father’s money. He ate what was prohibited and was always attached to liquor. The wicked one threw his arms around the neck of a prostitute and wandered over the crossway. He was expelled from the house by his father and was forsaken by his kinsmen. He even exhausted the money and ornaments on his body. He was abandoned by the harlots and was condemned by them due to the loss of his wealth. Then, disturbed in mind, he was without clothes and was oppressed by hunger, he thought thus: "What shall I do? Where should I go? By what means shall I subsist?

He began stealing in his father’s city and was arrested by royal officers. He was released due to his father’s importance. Being zealous, they bound him, released him, re-bounded him and released him again. The wicked Dhåñöabuddhi was bound with strong fetters. He was repeatedly whipped and tormented. "O dull witted one, you should not live within the range of my kingdom." Saying so, he was freed by the king from the strong fetters. Due to his fear, he went out of the city to a dense forest. Bring oppressed by hunger and thirst, he ran here and there. Like a lion, he killed deer, pigs and spotted deer. Addicted to eating flesh, he always lived in the forest. Taking a bow in his hand and putting the quiver on his back, he went on foot and killed the birds moving about the forest. That blinded, cruel Dhåñöabuddhi killed partridges, peacocks, francolins, other birds and rats. He plunged into the mud of sins due to sins committed in former existences. He was overcome with pain and sorrow and was annoyed day and night. Due to his acquisition of some merit he reached the hermitage of Kauëòinya. Dhåñöabuddhi, oppressed with the burden of grief, approached the ascetic who had bathed in the Gaìgä in the month of Vaiçäkha. Due to a slight contact of his garment, his sins vanished and his misfortune was destroyed. Standing in front of Kauëòinya, he, with the palms of his hands joined, said to him:

Dhåñöabuddhi said:

O Brähmaëa, O greatest of the Brähmaëas, taking compassion on me, tell me that religious merit due to the powers of which salvation takes place.

Kauëòinya said:

Listen attentively to that by which your sins will perish. In the dark half of Vaiçäkha is the well known Ekädaçé named Mohiné prompted by my words, observe the vow of that Ekädaçé. When men observe a fast on this Mohiné Ekädaçé, their sins comparable to Meru and committed in many existences will perish.hearing these words of the sage, Dhåñöbuddhi, pleased in his mind, duly observed the vow accortding to the advice of Kauëòinya. O best among kings, when he observed this vow, his sins vanishes. Then he, having a divine body and mounted upon Garuòa went to Viñëu’s world which is free from all calamities. O Rämacandra, the Mohiné vow is excellent in this way. In the three words with the mobile and the immobile, there is nothing greater than it. Sacrifices and the like, so also visits to holy places and gifts are not equal to a sixteenth part of the religious merit it gives. By reciting about it and listening to its account, a man would obtain the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yidhiñöhira said:

What would be the name of the Ekädaçé falling in the dark half of Jyeñöha? I desire to hear about its importance. O Janärdana, tell it to me.

Çri Kåñëa said:

O king, you have, with the desire of the well being of the people, asked well. That Ekädaçé is Aparä by name, O Lord of Kings.

It gives unending fruit. He who observes the vow of Aparä becomes famous in the world. O king, he who is overcome by the sin of killing a Brähmaëa, who kills the members of his family, who has procured an abortion, who censures others, who is interested on others’ wives, certainly becomes free from sin on observing the vow of Aparä. These, viz, one who gives false testimony, who uses false measures or false weights, who would study un-authoritative Vedas, so also false texts, so also one who is a fraudulent astrologer, who is a fraudulent physician and one who is connected with false testimony are the residents of hell. O king, by observing the vow of Aparä, they are free from sins. A kñtriya who, giving up his duty of a Kñatriya, flees from battle, goes being expelled from his caste to a fierce hell. He too, by observing the vow of Aparä would, after shedding his sin, will go to heaven. A learned disciple who censures his preceptor, having incurred great sins, goes to a fearful hell. That man also by observing the vow of Aparä would obtain good position or beatitude.

O king, listen to the greatness of Aparä. I am now telling it.

A fruit similar to that which men obtain by bathing at Prayäga in Mäghaq, when the Sun is in Makara, or that religious merit which is obtained after bathing at Käçé on a day of Eclipse or the fruit of a man gets from seeing Kumbhakedära or in the pilgrimage to Bradaryäçrama and visiting holy places during it, or the fruit which a man obtains by bathing at Kurukñetra whne the planet Sun is auspicious or the fruit that a man gets by performing a sacrifice with the giving of presents and gifts of elephants, horses or gold, is obtained by observing the vow of Aparä. So also, a man obtains that fruit of Aparä vow which he gets by giving to a Brähmaëa, a recently calved cow, gold or a piece of land. This vow is an axe cutting the tree in the form of sins and is a wild fire to the fuel in the form of sins. It is the Sun dispelling the darkness of sins. It is a lion killing the spotted deer of sins. Those who are without the vow of this Ekädaçé, are born to die like bubbles in water or like ants among creatures. A man, having fasted on the Aparä Ekadaçi Day and having worshipped Viñëu, is free from all sins and is honoured in Viñëu’s world.

I have told this to you with the desire of the well being of the people. O king, a man reciting about it and listening to its account will obtain the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

O Janädrana, I have heard of the full importance of Aparä Ekädaçé. O you who show respect to others, tell me about that Ekädaçé that falls in the bright half of Jyeñöha.

Çri Krñëa said:

Satyaväté’s pious son, Vyäsa, who knows the essence of all sacred texts amd who has mastered the Vedas amd the Upaniñads will tell you about it.

Yudhiñöhira said:

I have heard the duties as told by Manu, so also as told by Vasiñöha. O Dvaipäyana, please tell me properly, the duties of Viñëu’s devotees.

Çri Vedavyäsa said:

O lord of men, you have listened to the duties as told by Manu, so also by Vasiñöha. They cannot be practiced by Kaliyuga. O you very intelligent one, the Ekädaçé vow is the essence of what is told in the Puräëas. It is an easy means, requires little money, little effort, but gives great fruit.

One should not eat on Ekädaçé days of both the fortnights of a month.

On Dvädaçé day, being pure, having worshipped Viñëu, having honoured a Brähmaëa, one should then eat with a Brähmaëa. O king, one should not eat during the impurity caused by a birth or a death in the family.

O best of men, those who desire to go to heaven, should practice this vow as long as they live. There is no doubt about this. Even those who are sinners, who are wicked in conduct, who are most sinful, who are bereft of piety, go to my proximity if they do not eat on Ekädaçé.

Having heard these words, the mighty armed Bhéma trembled like an Açvattha leaf. Saluting his preceptor, he said to him:

Bhémasena said:

O gradsire, O you very intelligent one, listen to my important words. Yudhiñöhira and Kunté, so also Draupadé and Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, who practice this good vow, never eat on an Ekädaçé. They always tell me, "O Bhéma, do not eat on Ekädaçé day." I told them: "For me, hunger is difficult to bear. I shall duly give gifts. I shall worship Viñëu."

Hearing the words of Bhémasena, Vyäsa said these words:

Vyäsa said:

If you desire to go to heaven and if you think hell is painful, then you should not eat on Ekädaçé of both the fortnights.

Bhémasena said:

O grandsire, O you very intelligent one, I shall tell infront of you that I am not able to go on by eating even once a day. Then, O Lord, how can I put up with a fast? That fire called Våka, which is always present in my belly is extinguished only when I eat many times. O great sage, I am not able to observe a single fast. I shall properly observe that due to which heaven is reached. Therefore, having decided about one, tell me that by observing which I shall obtain heaven.

Vyäsa said:

When the Ekädaçé falls on the day when the Sun is in the second or the third sign of the Zodiac in the month of Jyeñöha, a wise man should carefully observe the Ekädaçé fast. With even drinking water. He should avoid even sipping a mouthful of water and should not eat at all, otherwise, the vow willl be broken. Listen, when a man lives even by avoiding water from sunrise of a day to the sunrise of the next day, he obtains the fruit of twelve Dvädaçés. Then in the auspicious morning of the Dvädaçé day, he should bathe and having duly given water, gold etc., to Brähmaëas, he, being contented and controlled, should eat along with Brähamëas. O Bhémasena, listen to the righteous merit which is obtained by this. There is no doubt that he hereby obtains the fruit of the Ekädaçés that fall during the year. Keçava, the holder of the conch, a disc and mace, told me like this: "Leaving all others, a man should seek my refuge only."

A man, not eating on a Ekädaçé day is freed from all sins. In the Kali age, there is no purity of objects. Rites or ceremonies are based on the Småtis.

How can there be a rite based on the Vedas, when the wicked Kali age has arrived? O son of Väyu (i.e., Bhéma), what is the use of telling you much, again and again? A man should not eat on an Ekädaçé of both the fortnights. Liste, O Bhéma, to the auspicious fruit that a man obtains by remaining without water on the Ekädaçé days that are observed on all the auspicious Ekädaçés days that are said to fall during the year in the bright and dark fortnights. They give wealth and grains, give sons, good helath and auspicious things. O king, there is no doubt about it. I am telling you the truth the big-bodied, fierce, dark formed, fearful messengers of Yama, who hold staffs and nooses, do not approach that man. But Viñëu’s messengers who have out on yellow garments, who are gentle, who have held discs in their hands, whose speed is like that of the mind, take him on his death to Viñëu’s city.

Therefore, with all efforts, a man should observe the Ekädaçé fast without drinking even water. Then having given, he is freed of all sins. "Even by means of passion as much as the size of the point of an arrow, I have not sinned even in a dream. O lord of gods, I shall eat food on the next day of the day sacred to Viñëu."

Uttering this hymn, he should engage himself in observing the fast of Ekädaçé after being endowed with faith and restraint for the destruction of all his sins. By the power of Ekädaçé, all the sins of the size of Meru and Mandara mountains, which a man has committed, is reduced to ashes. O king, those who are not able to, should give a pitcher containing gold along with garments. He who, on this day, observes the vow of not drinking even water, is meritorious. The fruit of the gift of gold is said to be crorefold in every watch. All that, like a bath, a gift, muttering of prayers, a sacrifice that is given or performed by a man becomes unending. This is told by Kåñëa himself. What is the use of any other religious rite than the Ekädaçé observed without drinking even water? Having properly observed it with due rites, a man would obtain Viñëu’s position. All that like gold, food, garments, which are given by a man on this day, would, O King, be inexhaustible. He who eats food on the Ekädaçé day, eats sin. In this worlds, he becomes a cäëòäla and after death, gets a miserable position. Those who, having fasted, will give gifts on that Dvädaçé day in the bright half of the month of Jyeñöha, obtains the highest position. Those like the killer of a Brähmaëa, a drunkard, a thief, a hater of his preceptor or one who always tells lies, who fast without even drinking water, are freed from all sins. O son of Kunté, listen to the special gift which is given on Ekädaçé day, which, when water is not to be drunk by men or women endowed with faith. He who lies in water should be worshipped and a water cow should be given, or of ghee. O best among the righteous, Brähamëas should be carefully pleased by means of big presents and with various kinds of sweet foods. The Brähmaëas, when they are pleased, Viñëu gives salvation. Those who have not fasted on this day have wronged themselves. They, the sinners and of bad conduct, have undoubtedly plundered. Those who, being calm, controlled, devoted to giving gifts, have taken along with themselves a hundred members past and future of their families to the abode of Viñëu.

On this day on which even water is not drunk, food, garments, so also cows, water, a good bed and a good seat, a water pot used by an ascetic, so also an umbrella should be given to a Brähamëa. He who gives a pair of shoes to the best Brähamëa, a worthy recipient, is honoured in heaven after being taken there by a golden aeroplane. He who would listen to the account of this with devotion and he who would narrate it, both go to heaven. No doubt should be raised about this. That fruit which a man obtains by offering a çräddha at Kurukñetra when the Sun is eclipsed by Rähu, is obtained by even listening to the account of this.

After cleaning his teeth, he should have the restriction: "On the day of the Ekädaçé, to please Viñëu, I shall, remaining without food, avoid water except for sipping."

Viñëu, the Lord of the Gods, should be worshipped on Dvädaçé.

Having duly worshipped Viñëu with sandal, incenses, flowers, so also pleasing garments, he should recite this hymn:

"O God of Gods,
O Håñékeça,
O you who emancipate beings from the ocean of the mundane existence,
Take me to the highest position due to my offering the pitcher of water."

O Bhéma, on that auspicious Ekädaçé which falls in the bright half of Jyeñöha, a man should fast withoue evn drinking water, by giving water pitchers with sugar to the best Brähmaëas. Due to this, he rejoices with Viñëu. Then he should give pitchers to Brähmaëas. Having fed the Brähamëas, he should take food with devotion to them. He who thus observes the full Dvädaçé, removing sins, is free from all sins and goes to the good position of Viñëu.

Since then, Bhéma observed a fast on this Ekädaçé day. In the world, the Dvädaçé came to be known as Päëòava Dvädaçé.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

What would be the name of the Ekädaçé in the dark half of Äñäòha? Please favour me and tell it to me.

Çri Krñëa said:

O king, I shall tell you the best of the vows, which destroys all sins and gives full salvation. In the dark half of Äñäòha, the Ekädaçé is called Yoginé. O best king, it destroys great sins. This Yoginé is an ancient boat for those who plunged into the ocean of the worldly existence and for the good of those observing the vow of Yoginé which has become the essence in the three worlds. I shall tell an old auspicious tale.

In Alakä, lived Kubera solely devoted to Çiva. He had a flower collector called Hemamälin. His beautiful wife was Viçäläkñé by name. with his mind attached to her and being under the sway of Cupid’s noose, he, after having brought a heap of flowers from the Mänasa lake, stayed at home. Being attached to his wife through love, he did not go to Kubera’s house. In the temple, god Kubera was worshipping lord Çiva. O king, at midday he was waiting for the flowers. Hemamälin enjoyed with his wife in his house. The king of yakñas, angry due to the delay, then said: "O Yakñas, why is the wicked minded Hemamälin not coming yet? Ascertain his whereabouts. Thus he spoke repeatedly.

The Yakñas said:

O king, lustful for his wife, he rejoices in his house as he pleases.

Hearing their words, Kubera was filled with anger. He quickly called the attendant, Hemamälin. He too, realsing his delay, came there without bathing, his eyes full of fear, stood in front of Kubera. On seeing his, Kubera’s eyes were reddish due to anger. With his trembling lips due to anger, he said:

Kubera said:

O sinner, O you of a wicked conduct, you have condemned the god Çiva. O meanest among the attendants, you separated from your wife, will suffer from eighteen kinds of leprosy. Disappear from this place and go.

When these words were uttered by him, he fell from that place and overcome with great grief, his body suffered from leprosy. By day, he did not get happiness nor did he sleep at night. In the shadow, his body was extremely tormented and he was oppressed in summer. Due to the efficacy of Çiva’s worship, his memory was not lost. Though overpowered by sin, he remembered his old deeds. Then, wandering from there, he went to Himälaya, the excellent mountain. There, he saw the ascetic, Märkaëdeya, the excellent sage. His age was equal to that of Brahmä. The sinner saluted his feet from a distance. The best sage Märkaëdeya who saw him trembling thus, called him and said these words to him. "Due to what are you overcome with leprosy? Why are you so condemned?" Thus addressed, he replied:

Hemamälin said:

I am Kubera’s attendant, Hemamälin by name. o sage, everyday, I fetch a collection of lotuses and offered it to Kubera at the time of his worshipping Çiva. One day, with my mind attached to the pleasure derived from my wife and with my mind distressed with grief, I was not conscious of the time. Therefore, sage, I was cursed by the angry Kubera. I am overcome with leprosy and am separated from my wife. Due to my auspicious deeds, I have now come to you, knowing that the heart of the good is naturally capable of obliging others. O best sage, advice me, a sinner.

Märkaëdeya said:

Since you have not lied here, I an instructing you of an auspicious vow. Observe the Yoginé vow in the dark half of Äñäòha. Due to the religious merit of this vow, your leprosy will certainly disappear.

Hearing these words from the sage, Hemamälin prostrated himself like a staff on the ground and was delighted when he was being lifted by the sage. By Märkaëdeya’s advice, he happily observed the Yoginé vow, by which, his eighteen kinds of leprosy disappeared completely.

O king, the Yoginé vow is said to be like this. A man who observes the Yoginé vow obtains the fruit equal to one who would feed eighty-eight thousand Brähmaëas. This vow removes great sins and gives the fruit of religious merit. By reciting and listening to this account, a man is free from all sins.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

Which would be the Ekädaçé in the bright half of Äñäòha? What is the name and manner in which it is observed? Tell me about it in detail.

Çri Kåñëa said:

I shall tell you about that Ekädaçé named Çayané which is very auspicious, which gives heaven and salvation, which removes all sins. Merely by hearing about which, a man obtains the fruit of a Väjapeya sacrifice. I have told you the truth and only the truth. Nothing is greater than this for men. O lord of kings, the best one is created by the Creator for the destruction of the sins of sinners. There is no greater vow than this which would give salvation. Listen, I king, for this reason, the best position would be obtained by men; the listeners even by listening to it. Those are the Vaiñëavas who are greatly devoted to me.

In Äñäòha, the great god Vämana (i.e., Viñëu) is worshipped. To him, who has worshipped with lotuses the lotus eyed Vämana in the bright half of Äñäòha on the day of Kämikä, has honoured the entire world. He has worshipped the three ancient gods, Brahmä, Viñëu and Çiva. He who observes the Ekädaçé, the day which is sacred to Viñëu, has honoured the entire world and worshipped the three ancient gods.

Yudhiñöhira said:

O Viñëu, I have a great doubt here. Please listen. How do you sleep in the ocean? Have you resorted to Bali? What do the other people do? Why do they sleep on the ground? O very intelligent one, explain this great doubt to me.

Çri Kåñna said:

O best king, listen to the great account which removes sins and by merely hearing which, all sins would perish. O king, formerly, in the Tretä Yuga, there was a demon named Bali. Greatly devoted to me, he worshipped me everyday with various sacrifices. O king, with great devotion, he performed sacrifices and observed vows. Then, deliberated in many ways with Indra, Båhaspati and other deities, though I worshipped with hymns (by Bali) in various ways, conquered the demons in my Vämana form in my fifth incarnation, taking up a very fierce form and of the nature that pervaded the entire universe by prevarication. Bali, however, remained form in resorting only to the truth. Çukra warded him off saying, "This is Viñëu."

O king, I begged for land measured by my three and a half steps when he offered the water just for conveying his intention.

O king, listen, I took up the form thus:

Seizing Bali by his hand, I occupied the earth in three steps. I then placed the other half step on his head. O king, the demon, my worshipper, went to the lower world. I threw down the demon. What else did I do? He was bent with modesty and Viñëu was very pleased.

Kämika in the bright half of Äñäòha is Viñëu’s day. On that day, one of my forms remains and resorts to demon Bali. Another form lies in the back of Çeña in the ocean, O great King, until the coming of the the Ekädaçé in Kärtika. Until then, he should be very religious and devoted to the best of all duties.

A man who observes the vow, goes to the best position. For this reason, O King, it should be carefully observed. There is no other Ekädaçé than this, which is pure and which destroys sins. On that day on which the lord of Gods, hold a conch, a disc and a mace, he should, with especial devotion, keep awake at night. Even Brahmä is not able to measure the religious merit due from it. O king, he who, in this way, observes the best Ekädaçé vow which removes all sins, gives pleasure and salvation. Even a cäëòäla always lives in my heaven doing what is dear to me. Those men, who pass the four months which begins with the eleventh day of the bright half of Kärtika by offering lights and with the vow of eating from a palace leaf, are dear to me. When Viñëu is laying on Çeña, a man should sleep on the ground. He should avoid vegetables in Çrävaëa, curds in Bhädrapada, milk in Äçvina. He should give up two-leafed grains in Kärtika. Or remaining in celibacy, he would reach the highest position. O king, due to the Ekädaçé vow, a man is freed from all sins. It should always be observed. It should never be forgotten. That Ekädaçé falling in the dark half between Çayané and Prabodhiné should be observed by a householder and never any other. O king, a man should listen to the great account which removes sins and thereby receives the fruit of a horse sacrifice.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

What is the name of the Ekädaçé falling in the dark half of Çravaëa? O Govinda, salutation to you, tell us.

Çri Kåñëa said:

O king, listen, I shall narrate to you, the account that removes sins and which formerly Brahmä told to Närada who asked him about it.

O lotus-seated lord, I desire to hear from you what would be the name of the Ekädaçé in the dark half of Çrävaëa. Who is its presiding deity? What is the manner in which it is observed? What is its religious merit. O lord, tell.

Brahmä said:

O Närada, listen. With the desire for the good of the people, I shall tell you about the Ekädaçé named Kämikä which falls in the dark half of Çrävaëa. Merely by hearing about it, one would obtain the fruit of having performed a Väjapeya sacrifice. Listen to the fruit which a man receives, who worships the lord of gods holding a conch, a disc and a mace. He should meditate upon Hari, Viñëu, Madhusüdana called Çri Hari.

He does not obtain that fruit by bathing in Gaìgä at Käçé, Naimiña or Puñkara compared to that which he will get by worshipping Kåñëa on that day. He obtains that fruit by worshipping Kåñëa which he obtains by bathing at the time of a portent foreboding, a great calamity, when Jupiter is in Leo, in Godävaré or Daëòaka. Both he, who gives the earth along with the oceans and he who observes Kämikä vow are said to get the same fruit. The man who observes the Kämikä vow obtains the fruit which he would give a milch cow along with articles of household use, gets. The excellent man would worship Viñëu in Çrävaëa, has worshipped gods with gandharvas, uragas and pannagas. Therefore, sin fearing men should with all efforts, according to their capacity, worship Viñëu on the Kämikä day. The Kämikä vow is best for the emancipation of those who plunged in the ocean of the worldly existence, full of the mud of sins. There is no other vow than this so pure and is sin removing. O Närada, know it to be like this. Viñëu himself has said so. Know that the fruit got by the observers of Kämikä vow is much superior to the fruit obtained by those devoted to the knowledge of the supreme spirit. The man who, after having kept awake at night, observes the Kämikä vow, is not born in a bad stock due to his final emancipation after observing the Kämikä vow.

Therefore, with all efforts, it should be observed by those who have controlled themselves. The man who worships Viñëu with Tulasé leaves is not tinged with sin, as a lotus leaf with water. He obtains the fruit by worshipping by giving a Bhära of gold or fourfold silver. Worshipped with gems, pearls, vaidurya, corals etc., Viñëu is not as pleased as when he is worshipped with Tulasé leaves. His sins right from birth, which when seen, destroys the entire heap of sins, which when touched, purifies the body, which when saluted, removes diseases, which, when sprinkled over, frightens Yama, which, when placed at his feet, gives instant salvation. Citragupta is not able to know the measure of the religious merit of the man who keeps his lamp lit on during the day and night on the day sacred to Viñëu. The dead ancestors are gratified with nectar. Having burnt a lamp with ghee or sesamun oil, he, being honoured with a hundred crores of lamps, goes to the Sun’s world.

I have told you this importance of Kämikä. Men should therefore, observe it. It removes the sins of causing an abortion and gives them the abode of Viñëu. It gives the fruit of great religious merit. A man endowed with faith, on hearing about the greatness of this, obtains Viñëu’s world and is freed from all sins.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

What would be the name of the Ekädaçé falling in the bright half of Çrävaëa? O Madhusüdana, please favour me and tell me.

Çri Kåñëa said:

O king, listen attentively to this great sin removing account, by hearing which the fruit would be that of a Väjapeya. At the beginning of Dväpara Yuga, formerly in the city of Mähiñmaté, a king named Mahéjit ruled over his kingdom. The kingdom did not give happiness to him as he was sonless. A sonless man does not get happiness in this world or in the next. He passed a long time in the thought of expecting a son, but the king did not have a son giving all happiness to men. Noticing himself to be advanced in age, the king became anxious. Then in the assembly amongst his men, he said these words: "O people, in this life, I have not committed a sin. I have not put unjustly earned money into my treasury. I have never taken away a brähmaëa’s wealth, nor the wealth of a deity. I have never taken another’s deposit which causes greats in. I have looked after the people like my own sons and I have conquered the land righteously. I have inflicted punishment on the wicked, even though they were like my brother or son. The eminent persons were always honoured by me and I have not hated people.

O best Brähmaëas, think over as to why a son is not born in my house who thus talks about a righteous path.

Hearing these words, the Brähamëas along with the subjects and the family priest held consultations and went to a dense forest. Here and there, they saw hermitages resorted to by sages. Desiring the well being of the king, they saw the best sage Lomaça who was guileless and practicing a severe penance. He was ancient and did not eat food. He had conquered his soul and had controlled his anger. He knew the truth about righteousness and was proficient in all sacred texts. He had lived a long life, was magnanimous and had hair, and who resembled Brahmä. As each kalpa passed, one of his hair, withered. Therefore, this great sage who was omniscient was named Lomaça. Seeing him, all were glad and came near him. They saluted him according to decorum as he deserved and as laid down in the sacred texts. Bowing with modesty, they said to one another "It is only due to our good fortune we have come across this best sage." Seeing them bowing like that, the best sage said:

Lomaça said:

Why have you come here? Tell me the reason. Why have you delighted on seeing me and why are you praising me? I shall certainly do what would be beneficial to you. There is no doubt that my existence is for obliging others.

The people said:

Listen, we shall give the reason for our arrival. We have come to you to have our doubts removed. There is none greater than Brahmä except you. Therefore, for some work, we have approached you. This king Mahéjit by name is at present sonless. O Brähmaëa, we are his subjects looked after by him like his own sons. Seeing him sonless and distressed by his grief, we, entertaining a firm thought, have come here to practice penance. O sage, give instructions as to how the king will have a son."

Hearing their words, Lomaça remained in meditation for sometime. Knowing his former birth, the sage replied:

Lomaça said:

In the previous existence he was a poor Vaiçya doing evil deed and engaged in trade. He roamed from village to village. On the tenth day in the bright half of Jyeñöha, when the Sun had reached the centre of the sky, he saw a pond on the border of a village. Seeing the pond (well) containing water, he decided to drink water. At once, there came a cow with her calf. Being oppressed by thirst and heat, she drank water. He prevented her from drinking the water and drank the water himself. Due to that sinful act, the king became sonless. Due to the religious merit of some former existence, he obtained the kingdom free from nuisance.

The people said:

It is learnt form the Puräëas that sin perishes due to religious merit. Advice about the religious merit to which sins would perish. By your grace, the king will have a son.

Lomaça said:

O men, observe the Ekädaçé which would fall in the bright half of Çravaëa. It is called Putradä and gives the desired onjects.

Hearing this and saluting the sage, they went back to the city and duly observed that vow and justly kept awake. The people gave its very pure religious merit to the king. When the religious merit was given, the queen conceived. When the time of delivery arrived, she gave birth to a bright son.

A Pavitraka (ring) was fashioned in honour of Väsudeva on the twelfth day of the bright half of Çravëa when the Sun was in Cancer. The Pavitraka was fashioned with gold, silver, copper, silken threads or silken cloth and lotuses, kuça, käça or with cotton cut by a Brähmaëa woman. Having bathed, he should purify the silken thread of three strands. On the previous day, at the time separated by the times of milking the cow, preliminary consecration should be done. Having saluted the Brähmaëas and the preceptor’s feet, he should keep awake with the auspicious sounds of songs. Brähmaëas, kñatriyas, vaiçyas, billas and çüdras – all following their own practices, should devoutly fashion the pavitraka. Then he should duly gift it to his preceptor. He should also honour the Brähamëas – Viñëu’s devotees – with sandal and flowers.

A Brähmaëa should offer it to Viñëu with the hymn:

Ato deva

A Çüdra should do so with the root hymns to Çiva as to Viñëu.

Every year, men should fashion pavitrakas. So also those who desire pleasures and salvation in the mundane existence which is an ocean of grief. He who does not fashion the pavitraka according to the rule has his worship of Viñëu’s devotee rendered fruitless.

Hearing the importance of this vow, a man is free from sins. Having obtained in this world the pleasure from his son, he would go to heaven after death.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

I Janärdana, I desire to hear what would be the name of the Ekädaçé falling in the dark half of Bhädrapada.

Çré Kåñëa said:

O king, listen attentively. I shall tell you in detail. This Ekädaçé is called Ajä and it destroys all sins. The sins of him who on this day observes this vow after worshipping Viñëu, perish; so also they perish even by listening to the vow. O king, there is nothing greater than this, beneficial for both the worlds. I have told you the truth. My words are not false.

Formerly, there was a king known as Hariçcandra. He was an emperor, true to his word, and the Lord of the whole earth. Due to the acquisition of the fruit of some act, he was deprived of his kingdom. He sold his wife and son and also himself. The righteous king became the slave of a cäëòäla. O lord of kings resorting to truth he removed the garments of the dead; but that best king never swerved from truth. In this way, the king passed many years. Then the king, full of anxiety, became very distressed, "What should I do? Where should I go? How shall I escape this?" When he who was plunged into the ocean of sin, was thinking like this, a certain sage knowing that the king was distressed came there. Brahmä has created Brähmaëas to oblige others. The best king, seeing the excellent sage, bowed to him.

Joining the palms of his hands, he stood before Gautama. He told him his account accompanied with full grief. Hearing the king’s words, Gautama was amazed. The sage instructed the king in this vow. The sage instructed the king the observance of the vow. "O king, the very auspicious Ekädaçé falling in the dark half of Bädrapada called Ajä and giving great merit has come. O king, observe its vow. Your sin will come to an end. Due to your good fortune, it will fall on the seventh day from today. Engaging yourself in a fast; keep awake at night. When thus this vow is observed, your sin will certainly perish. O best king, due to the efficacy of your religious merit, I have come here." Saying this, the sage disappeared.

Hearing the sage’s words, the king observed the excellent vow. There would be the end of the misery which would otherwise be had for many years. Due to the efficacy of the vow, the king overcame his misery. He was united with his wife and lived with his son. Drums sounded in the sky and shower of flowers fell from the sky. By the efficacy of the Ekädaçé, he got the kingdom free from any nuisance. Along with the residents of his city and his paraphernalia, Hariçcandra obtained heaven. O king, those men who observe the vow of this kind, get free from all sins and go to heaven. By reciting about this vow or even by listening, a man would obtain the fruit of a horse sacrifice.

Compiled by Swee Chan
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Yudhiñöhira said:

What would be the name of the Ekädaçé in the bright half of Bhädrapada? O Keçava, tell me about its deity and the manner in which it is observed.

Çri Kåñëa said:

O king, I shall tell you the wonderful account which Brahmä narrated to the magnanimous Närada.

Närada said:

O Brahman, salutation to you. Tell me what name would be the Ekädaçé in the bright half of Bhädrapada? I desire to hear this for propitiating Viñëu.

Brahmä said:

O best sage, you are Viñëu’s devotee. You have indeed asked well. In this world, there is nothing superior to this day of Viñëu. This Ekädaçé in the bight half of Bhädrapada is called Padmä. This excellent vow should be observed. I shall tell you of an auspicious old account, by which, just from hearing it, even a great sin perishes.

A great saint Mändhätå by name, born in the family of Vivasvat, was a valourous emperor who was true to his word. He righteously looked after his subjects like his own sons. In his kingdom there was no famine. There were no agonies or diseases. His subjects were healthy and prospered with wealth and grains. The wealth in the treasury of the king was justly earned. All castes and stages of life abide by their duties. In the kingdom of that king, the land resembled the desire-yielding cow. When he was ruling like this, many groups of years passed by. And one year, there was indeed the maturity of his acts. The clouds did not shower water in his country for three years and His subjects became oppressed with hunger and were frustrated. They were without Svähä (offerings to the gods), Svädhä (offerings to dead ancestors), Vañaökära (oblations to deities) and Vedic study. Due to his misfortune, his country was troubled by ill luck. Then the subjects gathered and said these words to the king:

The subjects said:

O best king, listen to the words of your subjects. In the Puräëas, the wise call Äpa (water) Närä (water). That is the lord’s abode. Therefore, he is called Näräyaëa. Viñëu, in the form of rain is present everywhere. He alone causes rain. From rain alone comes up food and from that, subjects spring up. O best king, without it, the subjects perish. O king, do that by which security of possession would take place.

The king said:

You have told the truth. Since food is called Brahman, everything is placed in food. Beings spring up from food. The world exists due to food. This is heard form the very extensive Puräëa. Due to the bad behaviour of the kings, the subjects would be oppressed. Even thinking with my intellect, I do not see anything like this done by me. Yet with a desire for the well being of my subjects, I shall strive.

The king having innumerable attendants thought like this and saluting the Creator went into went into a dense forest. He went to principal stages and hermitages resorted to by ascetics. Then the king saw the sage Aìgiras, Brahmä’s son, who had brightened the quarters with his luster and who as it were, another Brahmä. Seeing him, the delighted king disembarked from his vehicle. The restrained one, with his palms enjoined, saluted his feet. Having greeted him with blessings, "May it be well with you," he asked about the well being of the king in the seven constituents of the kingdom. The king delivered it and asked about his health. He who was offered a seat and had received a respectful offering, sat near him. The king, asked by the sage about the reason of his arrival, replied:

The king said:

O revered one, when I was righteously looking after the earth, there was a drought. I do not see the reason for this. I have come to you to get my doubt removed. Give delight to my subjects by securing their welfare.

The sage said:

O king, this is the Kåta Yuga, best among the Yugas. In this Yuga, people are devoted t