Chapter Nine Srī Ekādaśī-māhātmya The Glories of Srī Ekādaśī

GS 4.9.1

Verse text

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

Verse text

ekādaśī-vrataṁ rādhe

kena kena purā kṛtam

tad brūhi no viśeṣeṇa

tvaṁ sākṣāj jṣāna-śevadhiḥ

Synonyms

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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

Verse text

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