ललाटं वामनायेति रामायेति भ्रुवौ नमः । सर्वात्मने तु तच्छीर्षं नम इत्यभिपूजयेत्
To Vāmana at the forehead, to Rāma at the brows, obeisance; and to the all-pervading soul at the head, one should worship with the word 'obeisance.'
इति पूजामंत्रः । ततो देवाधिदेवाय अर्घं चैव प्रदापयेत् । फलेन चैव शुभ्रेण भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा
Thus is the worship mantra. Then, one should offer arghya to the god of gods, with a pure fruit and a mind endowed with devotion.
ततो जागरणं कुर्याद्भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा । नृत्यैर्गीतैश्च वादित्रैर्द्धर्माख्यानैः स्तवैरपि
Then, one should keep vigil with a mind full of devotion, with dances, songs, musical instruments, recitations of dharma, and hymns.
वैष्णवैश्च तथाख्यानैः क्षपयेत्सर्वशर्वरीम् । प्रदक्षिणां ततः कुर्याद्धात्र्या वै विष्णुनामभिः
And with Vaiṣṇava stories, one should pass the entire night; then one should perform circumambulation of the vessel, reciting the names of Viṣṇu.
अष्टाधिकं शतं चैव अष्टाविंशतिरेव वा । ततः प्रभाते समये कृत्वा नीराजनं हरेः
One should circumambulate either one hundred and eight times or twenty-eight times; then, at dawn, perform the waving of lights for Hari.
ब्राह्मणं पूजयित्वा तु सर्वं तस्मै निवेदयेत् । जामदग्न्य घटे तत्र वस्त्रयुग्ममुपानहौ
After worshipping a brāhmaṇa, one should offer everything to him: in the Jāmadagnya vessel, a pair of garments and sandals.
जामदग्न्यस्वरूपेण प्रीयतां मम केशवः । ततश्चामलकीं स्पृष्ट्वा कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणाम्
May Keśava be pleased with me in the form of Jāmadagnya; then, touching the āmalakī fruit, one should perform circumambulation.
स्नानं कृत्वा विधानेन ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्ततः । ततश्च स्वयमश्नीयात्कुटुंबेन समावृतः
After bathing according to the rule, one should then feed the brāhmaṇas; and afterwards, one should eat oneself, together with one's family.
एवं कृतेन यत्पुण्यं तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते । सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम्
I shall tell you all the merit obtained by performing thus: the merit gained at all sacred waters and the fruit of all gifts.
सर्वयज्ञाधिकं चैव लभते नात्र संशयः । एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम्
One certainly attains that which surpasses all sacrifices; all this, the supreme vow among vows, has been declared to you.
एतावदुक्त्वा देवेशस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत । ते चापि ऋषयः सर्वे चक्रुः सर्वमशेषतः
Having said this much, the lord of the gods vanished right there; and all those sages performed everything completely.
तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र कर्तुमर्हसि सत्तम । व्रतमेतद्दुराधर्षं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम्
So you too, O best of kings, are worthy to perform this vow, which is difficult to accomplish and frees from all sins.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- वैशाख शुक्लपक्षे तु किन्नामैकादशी भवेत् । किं फलं को विधिस्तत्र कथयस्व जनार्दन
Yudhiṣṭhira said: In the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, what is the name of the Ekādaśī? What is its fruit, and what is the procedure there? Tell me, O Janārdana.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- इदमेव पुरा पृष्टं रामचंद्रेण धीमता । वसिष्ठं प्रति राजेंद्र यत्त्वं मामनुपृच्छसि
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: This very question was asked before by the wise Rāmacandra to Vasiṣṭha, O king, just as you are now asking me.
राम उवाच- भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । सर्वपापक्षयकरं सर्वदुःखनिकृंतनम्
Rama said: O venerable one, I wish to hear about the supreme vow among all vows, the one that destroys all sins and cuts off all suffering.
मया दुःखानि भुक्तानि सीताविरहजानि तु । ततोऽहं भयभीतोऽस्मि पृच्छामि त्वां महामुने
I have endured sorrows caused by separation from Sita; therefore, I am fearful and ask you, great sage.
वसिष्ठ उवाच- साधु पृष्टं त्वया राम तवैषा नैष्ठिकी मतिः । त्वन्नामग्रहणेनैव पूतो भवति मानवः
Vasishtha said: Well asked, O Rama; this steadfast resolve is yours. By merely uttering your name, a person becomes purified.
तथापि कथयिष्यामि लोकानां हितकाम्यया । पवित्रं पावनानां च व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम्
Still, for the welfare of the world, I will tell you about the purest and most sanctifying vow, the highest among vows.
वैशाखस्य सिते पक्षे राम चैकादशी भवेत् । मोहिनी नाम सा प्रोक्ता सर्वपापहरापराः
In the bright fortnight of Vaisakha, Rama, there is an Ekadashi called Mohini, renowned as the supreme remover of all sins.
मोहजालात्प्रमुच्यंते पातकानां समूहतः । अस्या व्रत प्रभावेन सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
By the power of this vow, people are freed from the net of delusion and from all heaps of sin; truly, truly, I speak this.
अतः कारणतो राम कर्तव्यैषा भवादृशैः । पातकानां क्षयकरी महादुःखविनाशिनी
For this reason, Rama, this vow should be observed by those like you; it destroys sins and removes great suffering.
शृणुष्वैकमना राम कथां पापहरां पराम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापापं प्रणश्यति
Listen attentively, Rama, to this supreme, sin-destroying story; by merely hearing it, even great sin is destroyed.
सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये पुरी भद्रावती शुभा । द्युतिमान्नाम नृपतिस्तत्र राज्यं करोति वै
On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvati was the auspicious city of Bhadravati, where a radiant king ruled.
चंद्रवंशोद्भवो नाम धृतिमान्सत्यसंगरः । तत्र वैश्यो निवसति धनधान्यसमृद्धिमान्
Born of the lunar dynasty, steadfast and true to his word, there lived a merchant, abundant in wealth and grain.
धनपाल इति ख्यातः पुण्यकर्मप्रवर्त्तकः । प्रपा कूप मठाराम तडाग गृहकारकः
He was known as Dhanapala, engaged in virtuous deeds, building rest-houses, wells, monasteries, gardens, ponds, and houses.
विष्णुभक्तिरतः शांतस्तस्यासन्पंचपुत्रकाः । सुमना द्युतिमांश्चैव मेधावी सुकृतस्तथा
Devoted to Vishnu and peaceful, he had five sons: Sumanas, Dyutiman, Medhavi, Sukrita, and—
पंचमो धृष्टबुद्धिश्च महापापरतः सदा । परस्त्रीसंगनिरतो विटगोष्ठी विशारदः
The fifth was Dhrishtabuddhi, ever intent on great sin, addicted to the company of other men's wives, skilled in gambling dens and gatherings.
द्यूतादि व्यसनासक्तः परस्त्री रतिलालसः । न च देवार्चने बुद्धिर्नपितॄन्न द्विजान्प्रति
Attached to vices like gambling, eager for illicit pleasures, he had no interest in worshipping gods, ancestors, or brahmins.
अन्यायवर्ती दुष्टात्मा पितुर्द्रव्यक्षयंकरः । अभक्ष्यभक्षकः पापी सुरापाने रतः सदा
Unrighteous, wicked-minded, he squandered his father's wealth, ate forbidden foods, and was always addicted to drinking liquor.
वेश्याकंठे क्षिप्तबाहुर्भ्रमन्दुष्टश्चतुष्पथे । पित्रा निष्कासितो गेहात्परित्यक्तश्च बांधवैः
With arms thrown around prostitutes' necks, wandering wickedly at crossroads, he was cast out of the house by his father and abandoned by his relatives.