Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 42
Sourceयुधिष्ठिर उवाच- साधु कृष्ण जगन्नाथ आदिदेव जगत्पते । कथयस्व प्रसादेन कृपां कुरु ममोपरि १। माघस्य कृष्णपक्षे तु का वा चैकादशी भवेत् । किं नाम को विधिस्तस्या एतद्विस्तरतो वद २। श्रीभगवानुवाच- शृणु त्वं नृपशार्दूल कृष्णमाघस्य या भवेत् । षट्तिला नाम विख्याता सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी १। षट्तिलायाः शृणुष्व त्वं कथां पापहरां शुभाम् । यां पुलस्त्यो मुनिश्रेष्ठो दालभ्यं प्रति चोक्तवान् २। दालभ्य उवाच- मर्त्यलोकमनुप्राप्ताः पापं कुर्वंति जंतवः । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापैश्च युक्ता ये विविधादिभिः ३। परद्रव्यापहाराश्च परव्यसनमोहिताः । कथं न यांति नरकं ब्रह्मंस्तद्ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ४। अनायासेन भगवन्दानेनाल्पेन केनचित् । पापं प्रशमनं याति एतन्मे वक्तुमर्हसि ५। पुलस्त्य उवाच- साधुसाधु महाभाग गुह्यमेतत्सुदुर्ल्लभम् । यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं विष्णुब्रह्मेंद्रदैवतैः ६। तदहं कथयिष्यामि त्वया पृष्टो द्विजोत्तम । माघमासे तु संप्राप्ते शुचिस्नातो जितेंद्रियः ७। कामक्रोधाभिमानेर्ष्यालोभ पैशुन्य वर्जितः । देवदेवं च संस्मृत्य पादौ प्रक्षाल्य वारिभिः ८। भूमावपतितं गृह्य गोमयं तत्र मानवः । तिलान्प्रक्षिप्य कार्पांसं पिंडिकाश्चैव कारयेत् ९। अष्टोत्तरशतं चैव नात्र कार्या विचारणा । ततो माघे च संप्राप्ते ह्याषाढर्क्षं भवेद्यदि १०। मूलं वा कृष्णपक्षस्यैकादशी नियमांस्ततः । गृह्णीयात्पुण्यकाले च विधानं तत्र मे शृणु ११। देवदेवं समभ्यर्च्य सुस्नातः प्रयतः शुचिः । कृष्णनामानि संकीर्त्य पुनः प्रस्खलितादिषु १२। रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यादादौ होमं च कारयेत् । अर्चयेद्देवदेवेशं द्वितीयेऽह्नि पुनर्हरिम् १३। चंदनागुरुकर्पूरैर्नैवेद्यं कृसरं तथा । संस्मृत्य नाम्ना च ततः कृष्णाख्येन पुनः पुनः १४। कूष्मांडैर्नारिकेरैश्च ह्यथवा बीजपूरकैः । सर्वाभावेऽपि विप्रेंद्र शस्तपूगफलैर्वृतम् । अर्घं दद्याद्विधानेन पूजयित्वा जनार्दनम् १५। कृष्णकृष्ण कृपालुस्त्वमगतीनां गतिर्भव । संसारार्णव मग्नानां प्रसीद पुरुषोत्तम १६। नमस्ते पुंडरीकाक्ष नमस्ते विश्वभावन । सुब्रह्मण्य नमस्तेऽस्तु महापुरुषपूर्वज । गृहाणार्घ्यं मया दत्तं लक्ष्म्या सह जगत्पते १७। इत्यर्घमंत्रः । ततस्तु पूजयेद्विप्रमुदकुंभं प्रदापयेत् । छत्रोपानहवस्त्रैश्च कृष्णो मे प्रीयतामिति १८। कृष्णा धेनुः प्रदातव्या यथाशक्ति द्विजोत्तमे । तिलपात्रं द्विजश्रेष्ठ दद्यात्पात्रविचक्षणः १९। स्नाने प्राशनके शस्तास्तथा कृष्णतिला मुने । तान्प्रदद्यात्प्रयत्नेन यथाशक्ति द्विजोत्तमे । तिलप्ररोहजाः क्षत्रे यावत्संख्यास्तिला द्विज २०। तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । तिलस्नायी तिलोद्वर्ती तिलहोमी तिलोदकी २१। तिलदाता च भोक्ता च षट्तिलाः पापनाशनाः । नारद उवाच- कृष्णकृष्ण महाबाहो नमस्ते विश्वभावन २२। षट्तिलैकादशीभूतं कीदृशं फलमस्ति वै । सोपाख्यानं मम ब्रूहि यदि तुष्टोऽसि यादव । श्रीकृष्ण उवाच शृणु राजन्यथावृत्तं दृष्टं तत्कथयामि ते । मर्त्यलोके पुरा ह्यासीद्ब्राह्मण्येका च नारद । व्रतचर्यारता नित्यं देवपूजारता सदा २३। मासोपवासनिरता मम भक्ता च सर्वदा । कृष्णोपवाससंयुक्ता मम पूजापरायणा २४। शरीरं क्लेशितं चैव उपवासैर्द्विजोत्तम । देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च कुमारीणां च भक्तितः २५। गृहादिकं प्रयच्छंती सर्वकालं महासती । अतिकृच्छ्ररता सा तु सर्वकालं तु वै द्विज २६। न दत्ता भिक्षुके भिक्षा ब्राह्मणा न च तर्पिताः २७। ततः कालेन महता मया वै चिंतितं द्विज । शुद्धमस्याः शरीरं हि व्रतैः कृच्छ्रैर्न संशयः २८। अर्चितो वैष्णवो लोकः कायक्लेशेन वै तया । न दत्तमन्नदानं हि येन तृप्तिः परा भवेत् २९। एवं ज्ञात्वा अहं ब्रह्मन्मर्त्यलोकमुपागतः । कापालं रूपमास्थाय भिक्षापात्रे च याचिता ३०। कस्मात्त्वमागतो ब्रह्मन्क्व यासि वद मेऽग्रतः । पुनरेव मया प्रोक्तं देहि भिक्षां च सुंदरि ३१। तया कोपेन महता मृत्पिंडस्ताम्रभाजने । क्षिप्तो यावदहं ब्रह्मन्पुनः स्वर्गं गतो द्विज ३२। ततः कालेन महता तापसी सुमहाव्रता । सदेहा स्वर्गमायाता व्रतचर्या प्रभावतः ३३। मृत्पिंडिकाप्रदानेन गृहं प्राप्तं मनोरमम् । संजातं चैव विप्रर्षे धान्यराशि विवर्जितम् ३४। गृहं यावन्निरीक्षेत न किंचित्तत्र पश्यति । तावद्गृहाद्विनिष्क्रांता ममांते चागता द्विज ३५। क्रोधेन महताविष्टमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । मया व्रतैश्च कृच्छ्रैश्च उपवासैरनेकशः ३६। पूजयाराधितो देवः सर्वलोकस्य पालकः । न तत्र दृश्यते किंचिद्गृहे मम जनार्दन ३७। ततश्चोक्तं मया तस्यै गृहं गच्छ महाव्रते । आगमिष्यंति सुतरां कौतूहल समन्विताः ३८। देवपत्न्यो हि द्रष्टुं त्वां विस्मयाभिसमन्विताः । द्वारं नोद्घाटय विना षट्तिलापुण्यवाचनात् ३९। एवमुक्ता मया सा तु गता वै मानुषी तदा । अत्रांतरे समायाता देवपत्न्यश्च वाडव ४०। ताभिश्च कथितं तत्र त्वां द्रष्टुं हि समागताः । द्वारमुद्घाटयस्वाद्य त्वां प्रपश्याम शोभने ४१। मानुष्युवाच- यदि मद्दर्शनं कार्यं सत्यं वाच्यं विशेषतः । षट्तिलाया व्रतं पुण्यं द्वारोद्घाटनकारणात् ४२। श्रीकृष्ण उवाच-। एकापिनावदत्तत्र षट्तिलैकादशीव्रतम् । अन्यया कथितं तत्र द्रष्टव्या मानुषी मया ४३। ततो द्वारं समुद्घाट्य दृष्टा ताभिश्च मानुषी । न देवी न च गंधर्वी नासुरी न च पन्नगी ४४। दृष्टा पूर्वं तथा नारी यादृशीयं द्विजर्षभ । देवीनामुपदेशेन षट्तिलाया व्रतं कृतम् ४५। मानुष्या सत्यव्रतया भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् । रूपकांतिसमायुक्ता क्षणेन समवाप सा ४६। धनं धान्यं च वस्त्रादि सुवर्णं रौप्यमेव च । भवनं सर्वसंपन्नं षट्तिलायाः प्रभावतः ४७। रूपकांतिसमायुक्ता क्षणेन समपद्यत ४८। अतितृष्णा न कर्त्तव्या वित्तशाठ्यं विवर्जयेत् । आत्मवित्तानुसारेण तिलान्वस्त्राणि दापयेत् ४९। लभते चैवमारोग्यं नरो जन्मनि जन्मनि । न दारिद्र्यं न कष्टत्वं न च दौर्भाग्यमेव च 6.42.५०। संभवेद्वै द्विजश्रेष्ठ षट्तिलासमुपोषणात् । अनेन विधिना भूप तिलदाता न संशयः ५१। मुच्यते पातकैः सर्वैरनायासेन मानवः । दानं च विधिवत्पात्रे सर्वपातकनाशनम् । नानर्थः कश्चिन्नायासः शरीरे नृपसत्तम ५२।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- sādhu kṛṣṇa jagannātha ādideva jagatpate | kathayasva prasādena kṛpāṃ kuru mamopari 1| māghasya kṛṣṇapakṣe tu kā vā caikādaśī bhavet | kiṃ nāma ko vidhistasyā etadvistarato vada 2| śrībhagavānuvāca- śṛṇu tvaṃ nṛpaśārdūla kṛṣṇamāghasya yā bhavet | ṣaṭtilā nāma vikhyātā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī 1| ṣaṭtilāyāḥ śṛṇuṣva tvaṃ kathāṃ pāpaharāṃ śubhām | yāṃ pulastyo muniśreṣṭho dālabhyaṃ prati coktavān 2| dālabhya uvāca- martyalokamanuprāptāḥ pāpaṃ kurvaṃti jaṃtavaḥ | brahmahatyādipāpaiśca yuktā ye vividhādibhiḥ 3| paradravyāpahārāśca paravyasanamohitāḥ | kathaṃ na yāṃti narakaṃ brahmaṃstadbrūhi tattvataḥ 4| anāyāsena bhagavandānenālpena kenacit | pāpaṃ praśamanaṃ yāti etanme vaktumarhasi 5| pulastya uvāca- sādhusādhu mahābhāga guhyametatsudurllabham | yanna kasyacidākhyātaṃ viṣṇubrahmeṃdradaivataiḥ 6| tadahaṃ kathayiṣyāmi tvayā pṛṣṭo dvijottama | māghamāse tu saṃprāpte śucisnāto jiteṃdriyaḥ 7| kāmakrodhābhimānerṣyālobha paiśunya varjitaḥ | devadevaṃ ca saṃsmṛtya pādau prakṣālya vāribhiḥ 8| bhūmāvapatitaṃ gṛhya gomayaṃ tatra mānavaḥ | tilānprakṣipya kārpāṃsaṃ piṃḍikāścaiva kārayet 9| aṣṭottaraśataṃ caiva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā | tato māghe ca saṃprāpte hyāṣāḍharkṣaṃ bhavedyadi 10| mūlaṃ vā kṛṣṇapakṣasyaikādaśī niyamāṃstataḥ | gṛhṇīyātpuṇyakāle ca vidhānaṃ tatra me śṛṇu 11| devadevaṃ samabhyarcya susnātaḥ prayataḥ śuciḥ | kṛṣṇanāmāni saṃkīrtya punaḥ praskhalitādiṣu 12| rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kuryādādau homaṃ ca kārayet | arcayeddevadeveśaṃ dvitīye'hni punarharim 13| caṃdanāgurukarpūrairnaivedyaṃ kṛsaraṃ tathā | saṃsmṛtya nāmnā ca tataḥ kṛṣṇākhyena punaḥ punaḥ 14| kūṣmāṃḍairnārikeraiśca hyathavā bījapūrakaiḥ | sarvābhāve'pi vipreṃdra śastapūgaphalairvṛtam | arghaṃ dadyādvidhānena pūjayitvā janārdanam 15| kṛṣṇakṛṣṇa kṛpālustvamagatīnāṃ gatirbhava | saṃsārārṇava magnānāṃ prasīda puruṣottama 16| namaste puṃḍarīkākṣa namaste viśvabhāvana | subrahmaṇya namaste'stu mahāpuruṣapūrvaja | gṛhāṇārghyaṃ mayā dattaṃ lakṣmyā saha jagatpate 17| ityarghamaṃtraḥ | tatastu pūjayedvipramudakuṃbhaṃ pradāpayet | chatropānahavastraiśca kṛṣṇo me prīyatāmiti 18| kṛṣṇā dhenuḥ pradātavyā yathāśakti dvijottame | tilapātraṃ dvijaśreṣṭha dadyātpātravicakṣaṇaḥ 19| snāne prāśanake śastāstathā kṛṣṇatilā mune | tānpradadyātprayatnena yathāśakti dvijottame | tilaprarohajāḥ kṣatre yāvatsaṃkhyāstilā dvija 20| tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate | tilasnāyī tilodvartī tilahomī tilodakī 21| tiladātā ca bhoktā ca ṣaṭtilāḥ pāpanāśanāḥ | nārada uvāca- kṛṣṇakṛṣṇa mahābāho namaste viśvabhāvana 22| ṣaṭtilaikādaśībhūtaṃ kīdṛśaṃ phalamasti vai | sopākhyānaṃ mama brūhi yadi tuṣṭo'si yādava | śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca śṛṇu rājanyathāvṛttaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ tatkathayāmi te | martyaloke purā hyāsīdbrāhmaṇyekā ca nārada | vratacaryāratā nityaṃ devapūjāratā sadā 23| māsopavāsaniratā mama bhaktā ca sarvadā | kṛṣṇopavāsasaṃyuktā mama pūjāparāyaṇā 24| śarīraṃ kleśitaṃ caiva upavāsairdvijottama | devānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ ca kumārīṇāṃ ca bhaktitaḥ 25| gṛhādikaṃ prayacchaṃtī sarvakālaṃ mahāsatī | atikṛcchraratā sā tu sarvakālaṃ tu vai dvija 26| na dattā bhikṣuke bhikṣā brāhmaṇā na ca tarpitāḥ 27| tataḥ kālena mahatā mayā vai ciṃtitaṃ dvija | śuddhamasyāḥ śarīraṃ hi vrataiḥ kṛcchrairna saṃśayaḥ 28| arcito vaiṣṇavo lokaḥ kāyakleśena vai tayā | na dattamannadānaṃ hi yena tṛptiḥ parā bhavet 29| evaṃ jñātvā ahaṃ brahmanmartyalokamupāgataḥ | kāpālaṃ rūpamāsthāya bhikṣāpātre ca yācitā 30| kasmāttvamāgato brahmankva yāsi vada me'grataḥ | punareva mayā proktaṃ dehi bhikṣāṃ ca suṃdari 31| tayā kopena mahatā mṛtpiṃḍastāmrabhājane | kṣipto yāvadahaṃ brahmanpunaḥ svargaṃ gato dvija 32| tataḥ kālena mahatā tāpasī sumahāvratā | sadehā svargamāyātā vratacaryā prabhāvataḥ 33| mṛtpiṃḍikāpradānena gṛhaṃ prāptaṃ manoramam | saṃjātaṃ caiva viprarṣe dhānyarāśi vivarjitam 34| gṛhaṃ yāvannirīkṣeta na kiṃcittatra paśyati | tāvadgṛhādviniṣkrāṃtā mamāṃte cāgatā dvija 35| krodhena mahatāviṣṭamidaṃ vacanamabravīt | mayā vrataiśca kṛcchraiśca upavāsairanekaśaḥ 36| pūjayārādhito devaḥ sarvalokasya pālakaḥ | na tatra dṛśyate kiṃcidgṛhe mama janārdana 37| tataścoktaṃ mayā tasyai gṛhaṃ gaccha mahāvrate | āgamiṣyaṃti sutarāṃ kautūhala samanvitāḥ 38| devapatnyo hi draṣṭuṃ tvāṃ vismayābhisamanvitāḥ | dvāraṃ nodghāṭaya vinā ṣaṭtilāpuṇyavācanāt 39| evamuktā mayā sā tu gatā vai mānuṣī tadā | atrāṃtare samāyātā devapatnyaśca vāḍava 40| tābhiśca kathitaṃ tatra tvāṃ draṣṭuṃ hi samāgatāḥ | dvāramudghāṭayasvādya tvāṃ prapaśyāma śobhane 41| mānuṣyuvāca- yadi maddarśanaṃ kāryaṃ satyaṃ vācyaṃ viśeṣataḥ | ṣaṭtilāyā vrataṃ puṇyaṃ dvārodghāṭanakāraṇāt 42| śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca-| ekāpināvadattatra ṣaṭtilaikādaśīvratam | anyayā kathitaṃ tatra draṣṭavyā mānuṣī mayā 43| tato dvāraṃ samudghāṭya dṛṣṭā tābhiśca mānuṣī | na devī na ca gaṃdharvī nāsurī na ca pannagī 44| dṛṣṭā pūrvaṃ tathā nārī yādṛśīyaṃ dvijarṣabha | devīnāmupadeśena ṣaṭtilāyā vrataṃ kṛtam 45| mānuṣyā satyavratayā bhuktimuktiphalapradam | rūpakāṃtisamāyuktā kṣaṇena samavāpa sā 46| dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ ca vastrādi suvarṇaṃ raupyameva ca | bhavanaṃ sarvasaṃpannaṃ ṣaṭtilāyāḥ prabhāvataḥ 47| rūpakāṃtisamāyuktā kṣaṇena samapadyata 48| atitṛṣṇā na karttavyā vittaśāṭhyaṃ vivarjayet | ātmavittānusāreṇa tilānvastrāṇi dāpayet 49| labhate caivamārogyaṃ naro janmani janmani | na dāridryaṃ na kaṣṭatvaṃ na ca daurbhāgyameva ca 6.42.50| saṃbhavedvai dvijaśreṣṭha ṣaṭtilāsamupoṣaṇāt | anena vidhinā bhūpa tiladātā na saṃśayaḥ 51| mucyate pātakaiḥ sarvairanāyāsena mānavaḥ | dānaṃ ca vidhivatpātre sarvapātakanāśanam | nānarthaḥ kaścinnāyāsaḥ śarīre nṛpasattama 52|
English translation
Yudhiṣṭhira said :
1-2. Very nice, O Kṛṣṇa , O Jagannātha , O first god, O lord of the world. Be pleased, and tell me. Show favour to me. Which would be the Ekādaśī in the dark half of Māgha ? What is the manner in which it is to be observed? Tell me this in detail.
The lord said :
3-4. O best king, listen. That Ekādaśī which would fall in the dark half of Māgha is known as Ṣaṭtilā and destroys all sins. Listen to the auspicious, sin-removing account of Ṣaṭtilā, which the best sage Pulastya narrated to Dālabhya.
Dālabhya said :
5-7. O brāhmaṇa , tell that truly (to me) how those living beings who have come to the mortal world, who commit sins, and are having various sins like the murder of a brāhmaṇa, who take away others’ wealth, who are deluded by great addictions, do not go to hell. O glorious one, (please) tell me (how) sin perishes (even) by means of some small gift.
Pulastya said :
8-15a. Very nice, very nice, O you illustrious one, this is a secret, very difficult to be had. I shall tell it, O best brāhmaṇa, as I am asked by you, which is not told to anyone by deities like Viṣṇu , Brahmā and Indra . When the month of Māgha has arrived, a man being pure after bath, and with his senses curbed, and without lust, anger, pride, jealousy, greed and wickedness, having remembered the gods, having washed his feet with water, should take the cow-dung fallen on the ground, scatter sesamum-seeds, cotton and should get fashioned balls one hundred and eight (in number). No doubt should be raised in this matter. Then when the month of Māgha has come, and if the Āṣāḍha star appears (in the sky) or if it is the beginning of the dark half, he should observe the restraints of Ekādaśī at an auspicious time. Listen to the manner (as) I (tell you). Having worshipped the god of gods, having bathed well, being restrained and pure, he should, by fasting on the Ekādaśī day, recite the names of Kṛṣṇa. He should keep awake at night, and should get performed a sacrifice first.
15b-20a. Again on the second day he should worship Viṣṇu, the lord of the lordly gods. Along with sandal, agaru , and camphor, he should offer eatables and a mixture of rice and peas with a few spices. Then remembering the lord by (uttering) his name, he should repeatedly offer to (the deity) called Kṛṣṇa respectful offering full of pumpkin gourds, coconuts or citrons. In the absence of all (these) (he should make the respectful offering) with betel-nuts, after properly worshipping Janārdana (i.e. Viṣṇu). “O Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, you are kind. Be the refuge of those who have no refuge. O Viṣṇu, favour them who are plunged in the ocean of mundane existence. Salutation to you, O lotuseyed one; salutation to you, the creator of all; salutation to you, O Subrahmaṇya , O ancestor of great men. O lord of the world, accept, along with Lakṣmī , this offering, which is made by me.” (This is) the hymn recited at the time of making a respectful offering. O brāhmaṇa, after that he should worship (the deity) and should cause to be given (to it) an earthen pitcher along with an umbrella, sandals and garments. (He should say:)
20b-23. “May Kṛṣṇa be pleased with me.” A dark cow should be given according to his capacity to the best brāhmaṇa. O best brāhmaṇa, he, expert in recognizing a worthy recipient, should give him a pot full of sesamum seeds. O sage, the black sesamum seeds are recommended for bath and food. He should with effort give them to the best brāhmaṇa according to his capacity. For as many thousands of years as many sprouts from the sesamum seeds are there is the field, he is honoured in heaven. These six uses of sesamum seeds destroy sins: bathing with the sesamum seeds (i.e. with water mixed with them), rubbing (one’s body) with sesamum seeds, offering a sacrifice with sesamum seeds, offering water with sesamum seeds, giving sesamum seeds, and eating them.
Nārada (Yudhiṣṭhira?) said :
24-25. O Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa, O you of mighty arms, O you the creator of everything, salutation to you. What kind of fruit is due to the Ṣaṭtilā Ekādaśī? Tell it to me, O Yādava , along with an episode, if you are pleased with me.
Śrīkṛṣṇa said :
26-32. O king, listen to what I saw as it took place. O Nārada (?), in the mortal world formerly there lived a brāhmaṇa woman. She was always engaged in observing vows and was always engrossed in worshipping deities. She was engaged in observing the monthly fasts; she was very devoted to me. She observed fasts in honour of Kṛṣṇa, and was intent on worshipping me. O best brāhmaṇa(?), she tormented her body with fasts. The very chaste woman always offered her house etc. due to her devotion to gods, brāhmaṇas and maidens. O brāhmaṇa(?), she always took delight in great expiation. She did not give alms to beggars; she did not gratify brāhmaṇas. Then, O brāhmaṇa(?), after a long time I thought: “There is no doubt that her body is purified by means of vows and expiations. By mortifying her body she honoured devotees of Viṣṇu. She did not offer food, by means of which great satisfaction would be had.” O brāhmaṇa(?), knowing like this, I went to the mortal world. Taking the form of a Kāpāla . [1] I begged alms in my (begging) bowl. (She said:)
33-43. “O brāhmaṇa, what for have you come? Where will you go later? Tell (this to me).” I again said: “O beautiful woman, give (me) alms.” With great wrath she threw a lump of clay into the copper-vessel. Then O brāhmaṇa, I again went (back) to heaven. Then by the power of her practising the vow, the female ascetic of great vows, bodily came to heaven after a long time. Due to the gift of the lump of a clay she got a charming house; but O brāhmaṇa sage(?), it was without heaps of grains. When she would observe (i.e. she observed) the house, she did not see anything there. Then, O brāhmaṇa(?), she moved out of the house and came to me. She spoke these words full of great anger: “By means of many kinds of vows, expiations and fasts, and with worship, I propitiated the god, the guardian of the entire world. O Janārdana, nothing is seen there in my house.” Then I said to her: “O you of a great vow, go home. Wives of gods, full of great curiosity and wonder will come to see you. Do not open the door unless they recite the auspicious (account of) Ṣaṭtilā.” Thus addressed by me, the woman went (back to her house). O brāhmaṇa(?), in the meanwhile gods’ wives came (to her house). There they said, “We have come to see you. O beautiful woman, open the door (so that) we shall see you.”
The woman said :
44. If you want to see me, you must especially tell the truth—the meritorious vow of Ṣaṭtilā—for opening the door.
Śrīkṛṣṇa said :
45-54. None of them told her (about) the vow of Ṣaṭtilā Ekādaśī . Then one of them told (about) the vow of the Ṣaṭtilā Ekādaśī. The other one then said: “The woman should be seen by me.” Then after opening the door, the woman was seen by them. O best brāhmaṇa(?), like that woman a goddess or a female gandharva or a demoness or a female serpent was never seen by them before. By the advice of the goddesses the vow of Ṣaṭtilā which gives pleasures and salvation was observed by that woman of a true vow. She, endowed with beauty and loveliness, obtained in a moment wealth, grains, garments, gold and silver. By the prowess of Ṣaṭtilā her house was endowed with everything. In a moment she became endowed with beauty and loveliness. One should not be very greedy; one should avoid fraud with regard to wealth. According to his wealth he should cause to give (i.e. should give) sesamum seeds and garments. A man obtains good health in very existence. He does not get poverty, or misery or misfortune. (All this) will not take place due to fasting on Ṣaṭtilā. O king, there is no doubt that a giver of sesamum seeds in this way is free from all sins without any trouble. (Giving) a gift duly to a worthy recipient removes all sins. O best king, there is no misery or exertion in the body.
[1]: [1] : Kāpāla: A follower of the Śaiva sect—the Left-hand Order characterised by carrying skulls of men in the form of garlands and eating and drinking from them.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24500, revision 336423 (2022-04-21T18:01:36Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365619.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.