Chapter Nine Srī Ekādaśī-māhātmya The Glories of Srī Ekādaśī

GS 4.9.1

IAST

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ vṛṣabhānu-sute su-bhru sarva-śāstrārtha-pāra-ge viḍambayantī tvaṁ vācā vācaṁ vācaspater muneḥ

Synonyms

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ—the gopīs said; vṛṣabhānu-sute—O daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu; su-bhru—O girl with the beautiful eyebrows; sarva-śāstrārtha—the meanings of all the scriptures; pāra-ge—O You who travel to the farther shore; viḍambayanti—imitating; tvam—You; vācā—with words; vācam—the words; vācaspateḥ—of Brhaspati; muneḥ—the sage.

Translation

The gopīs said: O beautiful-eyebrowed daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, O girl who has traveled to the farther shore of the deep meanings of all the scriptures, Your words are like Bṛhaspati Muni's words.

GS 4.9.2

IAST

ekādaśī-vrataṁ rādhe kena kena purā kṛtam tad brūhi no viśeṣeṇa tvaṁ sākṣāj jṣāna-śevadhiḥ

Synonyms

ekādaśī-vrataṁthe vow od ekādaśī; rādhe—O Rādhā; kena—by whom?; kena—by whom?; purā—before; kṛtam—done; tat—that; brūhi—please tell; naḥ—to us; viśeṣeṇa—specifically; tvam—You; sākṣāt—directly; jṣāna-śevadhiḥ—filled with knowledge.

Translation

O Rādhā, what great souls followed ekādaśī in ancient times? Please tell us. You know all this.

GS 4.9.3

IAST

śrī-rādhovāca ādau devaiḥ kṛtaṁ gopyo varam ekādaśī-vratam bhraṣṭa-rājyasya lābhārthaṁ daityānāṁ nāśanāya ca

Synonyms

śrī-rādhā uvāca—Srī Rādhā said; ādau—in the beginning; devaiḥ—with the demigods; kṛtam—done; gopyaḥ—O gopīs; varam—blessing; ekādaśī-vratam—the vow of ekādaśī; bhraṣṭa-rājyasya—lost kingdom; lābhārtham—to attain; daityānām—of the demigods; nāśanāya—for the destruction; ca—and.

Translation

Srī Rādhā said: O gopīs, in the beginning of creation the demigods followed ekādaśī to destroy the demons and regain their lost kingdom.

GS 4.9.4

IAST

śrī-rādhovāca ādau devaiḥ kṛtaṁ gopyo varam ekādaśī-vratam bhraṣṭa-rājyasya lābhārthaṁ daityānāṁ nāśanāya ca

Synonyms

śrī-rādhā uvāca—Srī Rādhā said; ādau—in the beginning; devaiḥ—with the demigods; kṛtam—done; gopyaḥ—O gopīs; varam—blessing; ekādaśī-vratam—the vow of ekādaśī; bhraṣṭa-rājyasya—lost kingdom; lābhārtham—to attain; daityānām—of the demigods; nāśanāya—for the destruction; ca—and.

Translation

Srī Rādhā said: O gopīs, in the beginning of creation the demigods followed ekādaśī to destroy the demons and regain their lost kingdom.

GS 4.9.5

IAST

akasmāl lumpakenāpi jṣāti-tyaktena pāpinā ekādaśī kṛtā yena rājyaṁ lebhe sa lumpakaḥ

Synonyms

akasmāt—suddenly; lumpakena—by Lumpaka; api——also; jṣāti—by his relatives; tyaktena—abandoned; pāpinā—sinful; ekādaśī—ekādaśī; kṛtā—done; yena—by whom; rājyam—kingdom; lebhe—attaineded; sa—he; lumpakaḥ—Lumpaka.

Translation

A sinner named Lumpaka, who abandoned his relatives, followed ekādaśī and attained a great kingdom.

GS 4.9.6

IAST

bhadrāvatyāṁ ketumatā kṛtam ekādaśī-vratam putra-hīnena sad-vākyāt putraṁ lebhe sa mānavaḥ

Synonyms

bhadrāvatyām—in Bhadravati; ketumatā—by Ketumān; kṛtam—done; ekādaśī-vratam—the vow of ekādaśī; putra-hīnena—without a son; sad-vākyāt—by the words of a saint; putram—a son; lebhe—attained; sa—he; mānavaḥ—the person.

Translation

In the city of Bhadrāvatī, King Ketumān was sonless. Following ekādaśī on a great saint's advice, he obtained a son.

GS 4.9.7

IAST

brāhmaṇyai deva-patnībhir dattam ekādaśī-vratam tena lebhe svarga-saukhyaṁ dhana-dhanyaṁ ca mānuṣī

Synonyms

brāhmaṇyai—to a brāhmaṇī; deva-patnībhiḥ—by the wives of the demigods; dattam—given; ekādaśī-vratam—the vow of ekādaśī; tena—by that; lebhe—attained; svarga-saukhyam—the happiness of Svargaloka; dhana-dhanyam—great wealth; ca—and; mānuṣī—the woman.

Translation

Once the demigoddesses gave ekādaśī to a brāhmaṇī. By following ekādaśī that brāhmaṇī attained great wealth and happiness like that on Svargaloka.

GS 4.9.8

IAST

puṣpadantī-mālyavantau śakra-śāpāt piśācatām prāptaṁ kṛtaṁ vrataṁ tābhyāṁ punar gandharvatāṁ gatau

Synonyms

puṣpadantī-mālyavantau—Puṣpadantī and Mālyavān; śakra-śāpāt—by the curse of Indra; piśācatām—the state of being demons; prāptam—attained; kṛtam—done; vratam—vow; tābhyām—by them; punaḥ—again; gandharvatām—the state of being Gandharvas; gatau—attained.

Translation

Cursed by Indra, Puṣpadantī and Mālyavān became demons, but by following ekādaśī they again became Gandharvas.

GS 4.9.9

IAST

purā śrī-rāmacandreṇa kṛtam ekādaśī-vratam samudre setubandhārthaṁ rāvaṇasya vadhāya ca

Synonyms

purā—before; śrī-rāmacandreṇa—by Lord Srī Rāma; kṛtam—done; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; samudre—in the ocean; setubandhārtham—to build a bridge; rāvaṇasya—of Ravana; vadhāya—to kill; ca—and.

Translation

To build a bridge on the ocean and kill Rāvaṇa, in ancient times even Lord Rāmacandra followed ekādaśī.

GS 4.9.10

IAST

layānte ca samutpannā dhatṛ-vṛkṣa-tale surāḥ ekādaśī-vrataṁ cakruḥ sarva-kalyāṇa-hetave

Synonyms

layānte—at the end of the cosmic devastation; ca—and; samutpannā—manifested; dhatṛ-vṛkṣa-tale—on the tree of the creator; surāḥ—the demigods; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; cakruḥ—did; sarva-kalyāṇa-hetave—to attain all auspiciousness.

Translation

When, after the period of cosmic devastation had ended, the demigods were again manifested from the tree of creation, they followed ekādaśī to attain all auspiciousness.

GS 4.9.11

IAST

vrataṁ cakāra medhāvī dvādaśyāḥ pitṛ-vākyataḥ apsaraḥ-sparśa-doṣena mukto 'bhūn nirmala-dyutiḥ

Synonyms

vratam—vow; cakāra—did; medhāvī—Medhavi; dvādaśyāḥ—of dvadasi; pitṛ-vākyataḥ—by the words of his father; apsaraḥ—of the apsarā; sparśa—of the touch; doṣena—from the fault; muktaḥ—freed; abhūt—became; nirmala-dyutiḥ—pure and splendid.

Translation

Following ekādaśī on Pitā's advice, Medhāvī became free from the sin of touching an apsarā and became pure and splendid again.

GS 4.9.12

IAST

gandharvo lalitaḥ patnyā gataḥ śāpāt sa rakṣatām ekādaśī-vratenāpi punar gandharvatāṁ gataḥ

Synonyms

gandharvaḥ—the Gandharva; lalitaḥ—Lalita; patnyā—with his wife; gataḥ—went; śāpāt—from the curse; sa—he; rakṣatām—to the state of being a demon; ekādaśī-vratena—by following ekādaśī; api—also; punaḥ—again; gandharvatām—the state of being a Gandharva; gataḥ—attained.

Translation

Transformed into demons by a curse, Lalita and his wife followed ekādaśī and became Gandharvas again.

GS 4.9.13

IAST

ekādaśī-vratenāpi mandhātā svar-gatiṁ gataḥ sagaraś ca kakutsthaś ca mucukundo mahā-matiḥ

Synonyms

ekādaśī-vratena—by following ekādaśī; api—also; mandhātā—mandhata; svar-gatim—to Svargaloka; gataḥ—went; sagaraḥ—Sagara; ca—and; kakutsthaḥ—Kakutstha; ca—and; mucukundaḥ—Mucukunda; mahā-matiḥ—noble-hearted.

Translation

By following ekādaśī, Mandhātā, Sagara, Kakutstha, and noble-hearted Mucukunda attained Svargaloka.

GS 4.9.14

IAST

dhundhumārādayaś cānye rājāno bahavas tathā brahma-kapāla-nirmukto babhūva bhagavān bhavaḥ

Synonyms

dhundhumāra—with Dhundhumara; ādayaḥ—beginning; ca—and; anye—other; rājānaḥ—kings; bahavaḥ—many; tathā—so; brahma—of brāhmaṇas; kapāla—of the skulls; nirmuktaḥ—freed; babhūva—became; bhagavān—Lord; bhavaḥ—Siva.

Translation

By following ekādaśī Dhundhumāra and many other kings also attained Svargaloka. By following ekādaśī Lord Siva was able to put down his necklace of brāhmaṇas' skulls.

GS 4.9.15

IAST

dhṛṣṭabuddhir vaiśya-putro jṣāti-tyakto mahā-khalaḥ ekādaśī-vrataṁ kṛtvā vaikuṇṭhaṁ sa jagāma ha

Synonyms

dhṛṣṭabuddhiḥ—Dhṛṣṭabuddhi; vaiśya-putraḥ—the son of a vaisya; jṣāti-tyaktaḥ—abandoned his relatiuves; mahā-khalaḥ—a sinner; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; kṛtvā—did; vaikuṇṭham—to Vaikuṇtha; sa—he; jagāma—went; ha—indeed.

Translation

The sinner Dhṛṣṭabuddhi, who was a vaiśya's son, and who abandoned his own relatives, followed ekādaśī and went to Vaikuṇṭha.

GS 4.9.16

IAST

rājṣā rukmāṅgadenāpi kṛtam ekādaśī-vratam tena bhu-maṇḍalaṁ bhuktvā vaikuṇṭhaṁ sa-puro yayau

Synonyms

rājṣā—by the king; rukmāṅgadena—Rukmangada; api—also; kṛtam—done; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; tena—by that; bhu-maṇḍalam—the earth; bhuktvā—enjoying; vaikuṇṭham—to Vaikuṇṭha; sa-puraḥ—with his city; yayau—went.

Translation

By following ekādaśī King Rukmaṅgada was able to rule the circle of the earth and go, taking with him the citizens of his kingdom, to Vaikuṇṭha.

GS 4.9.17

IAST

ambarīṣeṇa rājṣāpi kṛtam ekādaśī-vratam nāspṛśad brahma-śāpo 'pi yo na pratihataḥ kvacit

Synonyms

ambarīṣeṇa rājṣā—by King Ambarīṣa; api—also; kṛtam—done; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; na—not; aspṛśat—touced; brahma—of a brāhmaṇa; śāpaḥ—the curse; api—even; yaḥ—who; na—not; pratihataḥ—repelled; kvacit—at all.

Translation

Even though he did nothing to protect himself from it, King Ambarīṣa, a follower of ekādaśī, was untouched by a brāhmaṇa's curse.

GS 4.9.18

IAST

hemamālī nāma yakṣaḥ kuṣṭhī dhanada-śāpataḥ ekādaśī-vrataṁ kṛtvā candra-tulyo babhūva ha

Synonyms

hemamālī—Hemamali; nāma—named; yakṣaḥ—a yaksa; kuṣṭhī—a leper; dhanada-śāpataḥ—by the curse of Kuvera; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; kṛtvā—following; candra-tulyaḥ—like the moon; babhūva—became; ha—indeed.

Translation

A yakṣa named Hemamālī, who became a leper by Kuvera's curse, followed ekādaśī and became cured. He became splendid as the moon.

GS 4.9.19

Content

mahījitā nṛpenāpi kṛtam ekādaśī-vratam tena putraṁ śubhaṁ labdhvā vaikuṇṭhaṁ sa jagāma ha mahījitā—by Mahijit; nṛpena—King; api—also; kṛtam—done; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; tena—by that; putram—a son; śubham—good; labdhvā—attaining; vaikuṇṭham—to Vaikuṇṭha; sa—he; jagāma—went; ha—indeed. By following ekādaśī, King Mahījit attained a good son and then went to Vaikuṇṭha.

GS 4.9.20

IAST

hariścandreṇa rājṣāpi kṛtam ekādaśī-vratam tena labdhvā mahī-rājyaṁ vaikuṇṭhaṁ sa-puro yayau

Synonyms

hariścandreṇa rājṣā—by King hariscandra; api—also; kṛtam—done; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; tena—by that; labdhvā—attaining; mahī-rājyam—a great kingdom; vaikuṇṭham—to Vaikuṇṭha; sa-puraḥ—with his citizens; yayau—went.

Translation

By following ekādaśī, King Hariścandra attained a great kingdom and, taking all his subjects with him, went to Vaikuṇṭha.

GS 4.9.21

IAST

śrī-śobhano nāma purā kṛte yuge jāmātṛko 'bhūn mucukunda-bhūbhṛtaḥ ekādaśīṁ yaḥ samupoṣya bhārate prāptaḥ sa devaiḥ kila mandarācale

Synonyms

śrī-śobhanaḥ—Srī Sobhana; nāma—named; purā—before; kṛte—in Satya-yuga; yuge—yuag; jāmātṛkaḥ—the son-in-law; abhūt—was; mucukunda-bhūbhṛtaḥ—of King Mucukunda; ekādaśīm—ekādaśī; yaḥ—who; samupoṣya—fasting; bhārate—in Bharata; prāptaḥ—attained; sa—her; devaiḥ—by the demigods; kila—indeed; mandarācale—on Mount Mandara

Translation

In Satya-yuga King Sobhana, who was Mucukunda's son-in-law, fasted on ekādaśī and went to Mount Mandara with the demigods.

GS 4.9.22

IAST

adyāpi rājyaṁ kurute kuvera-vad rājṣā yuto 'sau kila candrabhāgayā ekādaśīṁ sarva-tithīśvarīṁ paraṁ janītha gopyo na hi tat-samānyā

Synonyms

adyāpi—even now; rājyam—kingdom; kurute—does; kuvera-vat—like Kuvera; rājṣā—king; yutaḥ—engaged; asau—he; kila—indeed; candrabhāgayā—with Candrabhaga; ekādaśīm—ekādaśī; sarva-tithīśvarīm—the queen of holy days; param—great; janītha—know; gopyaḥ—O gopīs; na—not; hi—indeed; tat-samānyā—equal;

Translation

Even today one can attain a kingdom like Kuvera's simply by following ekādaśī. O gopīs, please know that ekādaśī is the queen of all holy days. No other holy day is her equal.

GS 4.9.23

IAST

śrī-nārada uvāca iti rādhā-mukhāc chrutvā yajṣa-sītāś ca gopikāḥ ekādaśī-vrataṁ cakrur vidhivat kṛṣṇa-lālasāḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca—Srī Nārada said; iti—thus; rādhā-mukhāc—from Rādhā's mouth; chrutvā—hearing; yajṣa-sītāḥ—the yajna-sitas; ca—and; gopikāḥ—gopīs; ekādaśī-vratam—ekādaśī; cakruḥ—did; vidhivat—properly; kṛṣṇa-lālasāḥ—yearing to attain Srī Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Srī Nārada said: After hearing from Srī Rādhā's mouth the glories of ekādaśī, the gopīs that had been yajṣa-sītās, and who were now yearning to attain Srī Kṛṣṇa, carefully followed ekādaśī.

GS 4.9.24

IAST

ekādaśī-vratenāpi prasannaḥ śrī-hariḥ svayam mārgaśīrṣe pūrṇimāyāṁ rāsaṁ tābhiś cakāra ha

Synonyms

ekādaśī-vratena—by ekādaśī; api—even; prasannaḥ—pleased; śrī-hariḥ—Srī Kṛṣṇa; svayam—personally; mārgaśīrṣe—in Margasirsa; pūrṇimāyām—on the sull moon day; rāsam—in thr rasa dance; tābhiḥ—with them; cakāra—did; ha—indeed.

Translation

Pleased by their observance of ekādaśī, Kṛṣṇa enjoyed a rāsa dance with these gopīs on the full-moon night of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa (November-December). .pa