VI1.21.133—VII.22.12 3513 CHAPTER TWENTYTWO The Greatness of Ekadast Jaimini said: 1-2. O preceptor, by your grace I have heard the sin-destroy- ing greatness along with its history, of the water flowing from a brahmana’s feet, the auspicious greatness of Ganga, so also the fruit of the worship of Visnu, the excellent (account of the) great- ness of the gift of food and of water. 3-5. O best sage, nowI desire to hear carefully the entire fruit of (the vow of) Ekadasi, which destroys all sins. Why is the Ekadasi(-vow) the greatest? What is declared to be the mode of (its observance)? When is it observed? What is its fruit? Tell me. O you ocean of virtues, who is the most adorable deity there? Please tell me what fault (accrues) to him who does not observe it. Vyasa said: 6-12. O brahmana sage, none else but Visnu is able to narrate the entire fruit of the EkadaSi(vow). Therefore, I shall tell it in brief. The highest Purusa (Brahman) having first created the world with the mobile and the immobile, created the ‘Man of Sin’ (sin personified) for curbing all. His head was the murder of brahmagas. His eyes were the drink of liquor. His face was the theft of gold. His ears were the violation of the preceptor’s bed PDF Creation by: Hari Parshad Das (HPD) on 09 May 2014.3514 Padma Purdga (i.e. his wife). His nose was the murder of women. His arms were the sin of killing cows. His neck was the snatching of deposits. His throat was causing abortions. The tip of his heart was adul- tery. His belly was the murder of friends. His waist ending with the hollow of his navel was the murder of those who sought his shelter. His thigh was the preceptor’s censure. His penis was the sale of (one’s) daughter. His anus was the divulging of confiden- tial words. His feet were the murder of love. The small hair on his body was misfortunes. His body was huge. He was fierce. His complexion was dark. His eyes were tawny. He gave great pain to those who sought his shelter. 13-14. Seeing that Man of Sin, the best among men (but) very fierce, the kind lord who removes the affliction of his crea- tion (i.e. mankind), thought: ‘For curbing my creation, I have created this wicked man, cruel and giving affliction to those that resort to him. (Now) I shall create the means (to control him)’. 15-16. Then lord Visnu himself became Yama. He created hells like Raurava that gave affliction to the sinners. A fool who commits a sin does not go to the highest position. By Yama’s order he would go to a hell like Raurava. 17. Once lord Visnu, who removes the affliction of the created beings, mounted upon Garuda and went to Yama’s abode. 18. The Sun’s son, on seeing Andmaya Visnu, the lord of the worlds, was pleased in mind, and worshipped him with in- cense etc. 19. Visnu, the only chief of all the worlds, honoured by Yama, sat on a seat made of gold, O best brahmana. 20. The lord, the killer of demons, seated there, heard cry- ing, meditation (dhyanarn?), in the southern direction, O lord. 21. Then that lord of Laksmi, with his mind full of amaze- ment, said to Yama: “Wherefrom is this sound of their crying (coming)?” Yama said: 22-23. O god, sinful mortals sink in the hell giving grcat affliction, in my abode due to sins committed by their own hands. O Visnu, it is extremely painful to eat the fruit of the tree of sins. Therefore, the sinners are crying. This big noise is theirs.VII.22.24-42 3515 24-25. Thus told by the Sun’s son, Krsna, having lotus-like eyes, suddenly went where they were crying. Then the lord, the master, seeing those sinful mortals living in Raurava etc. had pity produced in his heart and thought: 26. ‘Ihave created all these living beings in accordance with the fault in their acts. In spite of my presence they sink in hell, giving great distress.” 27. O best brahmana, thinking this and something else, he, full of pity, himself suddenly became the day of Ekadagi. 28-30. Then he made it well-known to all the sinners. All of them, with their sins dropped went to the highest abode. There- fore, know Ekadasi to be the embodiment of Visnu, the highest soul. He made the Ekadasi day, as the best of all vows, the best one (removing) all misdeeds, and as one purifying the three worlds. The Man of Sin, being afraid, went to Visnu to praise him. 31. Then, O brahmana, that Man of Sin, devoutly joining the palms of his hands, praised lord Visnu, the lord of Laksmi. 32. Hearing his hymn of praise the lord was pleased. He said: “I am pleased, Tell me what you desire.” The Man of Sin said: 33-34. O Visnu, you, the lord, have created me, giving dis- tress (to beings) by obliging them. Due to the power of Ekadagi, I am perishing now. When] die, all the sentient beings will be free from the bonds of the worldly existence. 35-42. O lord, when all the best sentient beings will be freed, with whom will you sport in this play-house in the form of the worldly existence? O Visnu, if you have a desire to sportin the play- house in the form of the world, then protect me from the fear of the Ekadaéi day. I cannot be killed by thousands of other (kinds of) religious merit. The meritorious Ekadasi (alone) can kill me. Grant me a boon. For me who ran away through the fear of Ekadasi, Ido not find any place free from fear among inen, insects, other living beings, on mountains, trees, dry grounds, in water, rivers, seas, forests, on desolate roads, in heaven, on the earth, in the nether world, (or) among gods, gandharvas, birds. O god of gods, O eternal one, due to this Ekadasiday Iam not getting a place to stay in the crores of universes. O lord, O lord3516 Padma Puréna of gods, tell me where I shall live without fear on the Ekadasi (day). You have created me without a purpose. Vydsa said: 43-44, The Man of Sin spoke like this to Vispu who removes affliction. He, with tears in his eyes, fell down on the ground and wept. Then the lord, the destroyer of Madhu and Kaitabha, laughed and said to the Man of Sin who was alarmed through the fear of Ekadasi: The lord said: 45-47, O Man of Sin, give up your grief. Be joyful. I shall tell you where you will have your place on the Ekadasi day. O Man of Sin, when Ekadagi, the purifier of the three worlds, arri- ves, you should resort tofood. This Ekadasi day, my embodi- ment, will not kill you, the Man of Sin, who have taken shetler inside food. 48-49. Then, O brahmana sage, the god also disappeared there only. The Man of Sin, being satisfied, went as he had come. Therefore, those best ones who desire their welfare should never eat food when the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, has come. 50-52. By the order of glorious Visnu all the sins that are there in the world, save themselves by resorting to food on the Ekadasi day. (Even) those committing all (kinds of) sins would be discharged from hell. But those who eat food even on this day should be known to be the greatest sinners (and have no Tequittal). Repeatedly I am telling firmly. O people, listen, listen. Never, never eat food (on the Ekadasi day). 53-56. O best brahmana, all brahmanas, kgatriyas, vaisyas, édras and others should observe the Ekadasi(vow), which gives (the fruit of) the four goals of human life. The wise say that a kasthd is formed by eighteen nimesas. Those who know everything say that a kala is formed by thirty kasphds. A ksana is formed by thirty Kalas, and a muhiirta by twelve ksanas. The day and night of people is declared to be of thirty muhirtas. O best brahmapa, a fortnight should be known (to be formed) by those fifteen (days). A month is formed by the two fortnights— the bright and the dark.VII.22.57-74 3517 57-58a. O best brahmana, he who, even having committed great sins, observes the Ekadasi (vow) in both the bright and dark halves in the month, would, after being freed from all sins, obtain Visnu’s world. 58b-62. A mother is not said to be mother. The mother is the Ekadagiday. A mother would look after (one) in this world only. But the Ekadaégi day (looks after one) everywhere. That dull person who, abandoning the Ekadasi vow observes another vow, takes up a clad after giving up a gem in his hand. Those who, full of devotion, have observed the Ekadagi vow, have performed all sacrifices, and have observed all vows. Visnu is always angry with those sinful men who, through folly, eat (food) on the Ekadasi of the bright half or of the dark half (of a month). He, who has fasted on the Ekadasi day has performed all religious rites. 63-71. As Visnu is declared to be the greatest of all gods, so is the Ekadasi vow the greatest of all vows. As the Sun is {said to be the greatest) among Adityas, as the Moon is (said to be the greatest) among the constellations, so the vow of Ekadasi is said to be the greatest of all vows. As the holy fig tree is declared (to be the greatest) of all trees, as the Sama (Veda) is (declared to be the greatest) of all Vedas, so is the Ekadaéi vow said to be the greatest of all vows. As Usanas (i.e. Sukracarya) is (said to be the greatest) of (all) thinkers, as brahmana is (said to be the best) among castes, so is the Ekadasi vow said to be the greatest of all vows. Among the sages Vyasa is the greatest. Narada is the greatest among the divine sages. Similarly the Ekadasi vow is the greatest of all vows. As the gift of food is said to be the best of all gifts, similarly the Ekadasi vow is said to be the greatest of all vows. As there is no friend like religious merit, as there is no teacher like the holy texts, similarly there is no vow comparable to the Ekadasi vow in the three worlds. As tho wise have declared mind to be the greatest of the senses, the month of KArtika to be the greatest among the months, Arjuna to be the greatest of the Pandavas, as the Vedas are declared to be the greatest of all holy texts, so is the Ekadagi vow said to be the best among vows. 72-74, O brahmana, the wise have not declared any other yow equal to the Ekadaéi vow in the Vedas, scriptures, Puranas3518 Padma Purdga and other holy texts. Having observed the Ekadasi vow all men Temain without fear on the earth. What will (Yama), the Sun’s son, do (to them)? Yama is the servant of those who properly observe (even) one Ekadasi. Therefore, one should observe the Ekadagi vow, giving happiness. 75. 1am telling you in brief the manner of (observing) the Ekadagi vow. O best one, O Jaimini, being of (i.e. with) an attentive mind listen (to it). 76-81. Having got up in the morning on the tenth (day) a man should brush his teeth. Then he should bathe without (smearing his body with) oil and (remain) without food. Then having worshipped Visnu by offering water for washing his feet etc., he should, being highly devoted to the meditation of Visnu, take one meal (only). On the tenth he should avoid (eating) flesh, salt, meat, pulses, big beans, so also vegetables. On the tenth he should avoid eating twice, the food of another (man), spirituous liquors, sexual union, so also taking food from vessels of bell-metal. On thetenth he should avoid nimba-leaf, egg-plant- fruit, and dry citron, so also milk without ghee. On the tenth he should avoid eating too much, very much enjoying and eating food and tambila. 82. O best brahmana, just those articles which are prohibi- ted on the tenth are also undoubtedly prohibited on the twelfth. 83. O best brahmana, a devotee of Visnu desiring the pro- per fruit of his vow should not eat at night on the tenth, so also on the twelfth. 84. Therefore, he who observes a vow, having quickly eaten food proper for a fast should, in the proper manner, brush his teeth in the afternoon on the tenth. 85-87. In the evening, having gone to (Visnu’s) temple with a handful of flowers, he, meditating mentally upon Visnu, should utter this prayer: ‘O Govinda, I have taken up this vow before you. By the grace of your feet, may it reach its completion with- out any obstacle. Can I, a man of a very fickle mind, full of greed and delusion, observe it without your favour?” 88-93. Having recited these two hymns, and having offered just that handful of flowers to Visnu, he should salute (Visnu) prostrating himself like a staff on the ground. In that very abode of Visnu, he, engaged in remembering Visnu, should sleep on theVII.22.94-106 3519 ground after covering his bed with kuga (grass). Then when it is the bright morning, he should not brush his teeth. The wise one should clean his mouth with twelve mouthfuls of water. Heshould (then) perform his daily rites like Visnu’s worship etc. Then, O best brahmana, at night, he should, together with all other men observing the vow, keep awake in front of the lord of worlds. O best brahmana, he who observes the vow for a long time along with his mother, wife, brother or also his father, his son, friend, and who would keep awake before Visnu, would dwell in Visnu’s abode. 94. Visnu would take away the sin of (i.e. committed by) him during many existences, who would draw the picture of a conch, or a disc etc. in Visnu’s temple. 95-100. Listen to the fruit of (i.e. obtained by) him who would draw in Visnu’s temple a picture with the paste of rice- powder or with other sylvan materials. He enjoys all auspicious (things) along with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, And afterwards, he, going to Visnu’s abode, would get liberation there. A man hoisting a flag on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Laksmi’s lord, would go to Visnu’s city after emancipating crores of men. That man who would decorate Visnu’s temple with lines of banners would bea king in every birth. As soon as the banner moves due to breezes all the sin of the maker of it perishes just then. Wise men desiring the highest position, should put up the lines of banners of various colours in Visnu’s temple on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu. 101-105. O brahmana sage, that man who holds a very beautiful umbrella over Visnu’s head, becomes (i.e. is born as) a ksatriya in every existence on the earth. He who, on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, prepares a pavilion of flowers, would obtain for every flower the religious merit due to more than a hundred horse-sacrifices. A wise man should even with effort prepare a pavilion with flowers on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu in order to obtain (the fruit of) the four goals of human life. He who makes an abode of cloth (i.e. a tent) on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, lives in a mansion in heaven, O brahmana sage. Having’ fashioned an abode of cloth, a man, dear to Visnu, (or to whom Visnu is dear), ties there a white, or red or black (piece of) cloth. 106. The observer of the vow should devoutly install there3520 Padma Purdua a Salagrama stone or idol of the lord of Laksmi after bathing it with paficamgta. 107. A wise man should first perform, even with effort the svastyayana (recitation of mantras for averting evil) and then declare the purpose in order to obtain (the fruit of) the four goals of human life. 108. Having performed one’s bhitasuddhi (the removal of ghosts from oneself) in accordance with the formality prescribed by scriptures he should take with a concentrated mind an excell- ent flower. 109-110. He should meditate upon Visnu residing in the lotus of his heart, seated on a golden seat and on a jewelled one. “Constantly looking from the corners of my eyes at him, seated ona golden seat, adorned with fire-like (bright) gems, having donned a sporting attire, having a beautiful body like the sky, having the digit (of the moon), always shining with the four arms holding weapons, looking with his lotus-like eyes at Laksmi’s face that removes his fatigue, I worship him. 111-123. O lord, O lord of Laksmi, O dear one, come along with the gods. In this vow I have to worship you with devotion. O you endowed with all good characteristics, Olord of the world, remain with Laksmi on this excellent seat till I worship you. O you whose fame is well-known in all the worlds, O Narayana, O lord, I hope you are quite all right. Tell me all that, O you who are worshipped by the gods. O lord of gods, O Narayana, accept the fragrant water for washing your feet. It will remove the dust- particles from both your feet; itis pure and very cold. O Visnu, I offer you materials of worship along with dirva grass. It is along with unbroken rice grains, O you whose eyes resemble lotuses. Iam offering you this very pure water for sipping. O you highest joy, accept it which enhances great joy. O you destroyer of Jarasandha, O you lord of Laksmi, may your body be decorated with the fragrant sandal offered by me. O god, O lord of gods, to you the first cause of the worlds I am offering this water for sipping, for purifying. (Please) accept it. For increasing the joy of the god, this incense was formerly created by Brahma. Therefore, I offer it to you, O greatest among gods. O Janardana, O god, may this lamp, full of ghee, and destroyer of the mass of darkness, please you. This garment along with the upper one will very well‘VII.22.124-135 3521 decorate your abdomen and hips. O lord of gods, O master of the world, I am giving it to you along with the sacred thread. O highest god, I have devoutly offered to you four kinds of food having six agreeable tastes. (Please) accept it. O Visnu, O you very intelligent one, accept this tambilla removing the bad odour of the mouth, with (i.e. containing) camphor and khadira, and giving beatitude”. 124-126. Full of devotion he should in this way worship Visnu with excellent offerings in (all) the four watches (of the day). He who would offer various offerings on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu should not show guile about wealth if he desires the fruit of his acts. Then all the observers of the vow, highly devoted to Visnu, should keep awake at night while dancing, singing and eulogizing etc. 127. © best brahmana, those who are engaged in the vow, should remember Visnu’s names destroying all sins, while going round (the image of Visnu) keeping it to their right. 128. Those who hear the sound of Visnu’s name coming from every mouth would be free from great heaps of sins. 129. On the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu one should not talk to heretics. Due to a mere talk with heretics (one’s) entire religious merit perishes. 130. Fools are not pleased on hearing the song of Visnu’s glory which comes out from every mouth, as dogs are not pleased on hearing the sound of a lute. 131. The good ones are pleased on hearing the song about the lord of the world, which destroys all sins, as the deer are pleased on hearing the sound of a lute. 132-134. They sing songs about Visnu. They dance an excellent dance. They are pleased on seeing the observers of Visnu’s vow. They are pleased with what the observers of Visnu’s vow are pleased with in the temple of Visnu, O brahmana. Those observers of (Visnu’s) vow who do not sing on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, attain beasthood eternally in every existence. They, without (the power of uttering) words (i.e. being durab) roam in every existence. 135, Musical instruments like tabor should be beaten in front of (the image of) Visnu, since lord Visnu would be pleased with (the sound of) musical instruments.3522 Padma Purdna 136. The devotees of Visnu keeping awake (in front) of Visnu study Vedas (in his temple) or recite a Purana (in the temple). 137. On the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, Ramayana, Bhagavata, or Bharata narrated by Vyasa or other Puranas should be read. 138. Those who read (these) before (the image of) Visnu and those who listen to them on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, obtain for every letter the fruit due to the gift of a tawny cow. 139. A devotee of Visnu should joyfully keep awake at night. He should curb his sleep. He properly meditates upon Visnu with his heart. 140-142. On the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, he should salute Visnu by falling (i.e. prostrating himself) on the ground like a staff while going round (the image keeping it to his) right. Then the devout observer of the vow, after having performed the five great sacrifices in the bright morning, should bathe (the image of) Visnu with milk and worship him. The observer of the vow should give a present according to his capacity to a brahmana. Then on the twelfth day he should break the fast. 143-147. The religious merit earned during crores of exis- tences by him who breaks his fast after having observed a fast on the twelfth day, perishes. The wise ones, desiring the fruit of the vow, should break the fast on the twelfth day, and never on the thirteenth day. O brahmana, the devotee of Visnu, desiring the fruit of the fast, should, with effort, avoid sleep even at night on the day of the fast. Without keeping awake the fast is useless. Therefore, (on the Ekadasi days) in both the fortnights he should keep awake. O greatest brahmana, all those who observe the Ekadagi vow in this manner truly go to (i.e. attain) liberation. 148. O Jaimini, even hosts of gods like Indra and others should observe this essence of the vow of the day of (i.e. sacred to) Visnu, which is the only cause of avoiding birth and death. You also observe it carefully.