दंष्ट्राकरालवदनमपश्यं समवर्तिनम्
I saw a being with a terrifying face, with protruding fangs, approaching.
अस्य शिक्षाविधानं च यथावद्वद पण्डितं
Tell me properly, O learned one, the prescribed discipline for him.
चिरं विचारयामास पुनश्चेदमभापत
He pondered for a long time, and then this thought occurred again.
एकादश्यां निराहारः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
On Ekadashi, by fasting, one is freed from all sins.
जागरं चोपवासं च कृत्वा निषअपापतां गतः
By keeping vigil and fasting, one attains sinlessness.
तानि सर्वाणि नष्टानि ह्युपवासप्रभावतः
All those sins were destroyed by the power of the fast.
नानाम दण्डवद्भूमौ ममाग्रे सो ऽनुकंपितः
He, moved by compassion, bowed to the ground before me.
ततश्च स्वभटान्सर्वानाहूयेदमुवाच ह
Then he summoned all his attendants and spoke these words.
धर्ममार्गरता न्मर्त्यान्मानयध्वं ममान्तिकम्
Bring before me those mortals who are devoted to the path of righteousness.
नारायणाच्युतहरे शरणं भवेति शान्ता वदन्ति सततं तरसात्यजध्वम्
Those who always say, 'Narayana, Achyuta, Hari, be our refuge,'—release them at once, for the peaceful ones say this constantly.
नित्यं वदन्त्यखिललोक हिताः प्रशान्ता दूरद्भटास्त्यजता तान्न ममैषु शिक्षा
Those who are always peaceful and speak for the good of all the world—let my attendants stay far from them; I have no authority over such as these.
सत्पात्रदान निरतांश्च सुदीनपाल्लान्दूतास्त्यजध्वमनिशं हरिनामसक्तान्
Abandon at once those who are always engaged in giving to worthy recipients, who are truly destitute, and who are devoted to the name of Hari.
शंभौ हरौ च समबुद्धिमतस्तथैव दूतास्त्यजध्वमुपकारपराञ्जनानाम्
Likewise, abandon those messengers who regard Shiva and Hari with equal mind, and those intent on helping others among men.
विर्पन्द्रपादजलसेचनतो ऽप्रहृष्टांस्तान्पापिनो मम भटा गृहमानयध्वम्
But bring to my house those sinners who are not gladdened by the sprinkling of water from the feet of the wise.
देवस्वलोभनिरताञ्जननाशकर्तृआनत्रानयध्वमपराधपरांश्च दूताः
Messengers, bring here those who delight in deceiving the gods, who destroy people, and who are devoted to wrongdoing.
ग्रामस्य नाशकरमुत्तमवैरयुक्तं दूताः समानयत विप्रधनेषु लुब्धम्
Messengers, bring here the one who destroys the village, who is utterly hostile, and who is greedy for the wealth of Brahmins.
विष्णवालयं च नहि यान्ति नराः सुमूर्खास्तानानयध्वमतिपापरतान्प्रसाह्य
Also, bring here by force those extremely wicked fools who never go to Vishnu’s temple.
मयानुतापदग्धेन स्मृतं तत्कर्म निन्दितम्
That act, which was condemned, I remember as having been burned away by my repentance.
तत्रैव सर्वपापानि निःशेषाणि गतानि मे
There itself, all my sins, without exception, were destroyed.
सहस्रसूर्यसंकाशं प्रणनाम यमश्च तम्
Yama, shining like a thousand suns, bowed to him.
विश्वासं परमं चक्रुर्यमेन परिभाषिते
When Yama spoke, they placed their highest trust in him.
सद्यः संप्रेषयामास तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्
He immediately sent him to the supreme abode of Vishnu.
कर्मणा तेन विप्रर्षे विष्णुलोके मयोषितम्
By that deed, O best of sages, I dwelled in Vishnu’s world.
स्थित्वा विष्णुपदं पश्चादिन्द्रलोकमुपगमम्
After remaining in Vishnu’s realm, I later went to Indra’s world.
तावत्कालं दिविस्थित्वा ततो भूमिमुपागतः
Having stayed in heaven for that time, I then came to earth.
जातिस्मरत्वाडज्जानामि सर्वमेतन्मुनीशअवर
Because I possess memory of past births, O best of sages, I know all this.
एकादशीव्रतमिदमिति न ज्ञातवान्पुरा
Formerly, I did not know that this was the vow of Ekadashi.
अत्र स्वेनापि यत्कर्म कृतं तस्य फलं त्विदम्
Here, the fruit of whatever action is performed even by oneself is this.
तस्माच्चरिष्ये विप्रेन्द्र शुभमेकादशीव्रतम्
Therefore, O foremost of Brahmins, I shall observe the auspicious vow of Ekadashi.
एकादशीव्रतं यत्तु कुर्वन्ति श्रद्धया नराः
Those men who faithfully observe the vow of Ekadashi—