Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 58
Sourceयुधिष्ठिर उवाच- कथयस्व प्रसादेन ममाग्रे मधुसूदन । इषस्य कृष्णपक्षे तु किंनामैकादशीभवेत् १। श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- आश्विने कृष्णपक्षे तु इंदिरा नाम नामतः । तस्या व्रतप्रभावेन महापापं प्रणश्यति २। अधोयोनि गतानां च पितॄणां गतिदायिनी । शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्कथां पापहरां पराम् ३। यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं लभेत् । पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्बभूव नृपनंदनः ४। इंद्रसेन इति ख्यातः पुरा माहिष्मतीपतिः । स राजा पालयामास धर्मेण यशसान्वितः ५। पुत्रपौत्रसमायुक्तो धनधान्यसमन्वितः । माहिष्मत्यधिपो राजा विष्णुभक्तिपरायणः ६। जपन्गोविंदनामानि मुक्तिदानि नराधिपः । कालं नयति विधिवदध्यात्मध्यानचिंतकः ७। एकस्मिन्दिवसे राज्ञि सुखासीने सदो गते । अवतीर्यागमत्तत्र ह्यंबरान्नारदो मुनिः ८। तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य प्रत्युत्थाय कृतांजलि । पूजयित्वाथ विधिना चासने संन्यवेशयत् ९। सुखोपविष्टं स मुनिं प्रत्युवाच नृपोत्तमः । राजोवाच-। त्वत्प्रसादान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वं च कुशलं मम १०। अद्य क्रतुक्रियाः सर्वाः सफलास्तव दर्शनात् । प्रसादं कुरु देवर्षे ब्रूह्यागमनकारणम् ११। नारद उवाच- श्रूयतां नृपशार्दूल मद्वचो विस्मयप्रदम् । ब्रह्मलोकादहं प्राप्तो यमलोकं नृपोत्तम १२। शमनेनार्चितो भक्त्या उपविष्टो वरासने । धर्मशीलः सत्यवांस्तु भास्करिं समुपासते १३। बहुपुण्यप्रकर्त्ता च व्रतवैकल्यदोषतः । सभायां श्राद्धदेवस्य मया दृष्टः पिता तव १४। कथितस्तेन संदेशस्तं निबोध जनेश्वर । इंद्रसेन इति ख्यातो राजा माहिष्मतीपतिः १५। तस्याग्रे कथयब्रह्मन्स्थितं मां यमसंनिधौ । केनापि चांतरायेण पूर्वजन्मोद्भवेन च १६। स्वर्गं प्रेषय मां पुत्र इंदिरा पुण्य दानतः । इत्युक्तोऽहं समायातः समीपं तव पार्थिव १७। पितुः स्वर्गकृते राजन्निंदिरा व्रतमाचर । तेन व्रतप्रभावेन स्वर्गं यास्यति ते पिता १८। राजोवाच- कथयस्व प्रसादेन भगवन्निंदिरा व्रतम् । विधिना केन कर्त्तव्यं कस्मिन्पक्षे तिथौ तथा १९। नारदउवाच- शृणु राजेंद्र ते वच्मि व्रतस्यास्य विधिं शुभम् । आश्विनस्यासिते पक्षे दशमी दिवसे शुभे २०। प्रातःस्नानं प्रकुर्वीत श्रद्धायुक्तेन चेतसा । ततो मध्याह्नसमये स्नानं कृत्वा समाहितः २१। पितॄणां प्रीतये श्राद्धं कुर्याच्छ्रद्धा समन्वितः । एकभक्तं ततः कृत्वा रात्रौ भूमौ शयीत च । प्रभाते विमले जाते प्राप्ते चैकादशी दिने २२। मुख प्रक्षालनं कुर्याद्दंतधावन वर्जितम् । उपवासस्य नियमं गृह्णीयाद्भक्तिभावतः २३। अद्यस्थित्वा निराहारः सर्वभोग विवर्जितः । श्वो भोक्ष्ये पुंडरीकाक्ष शरणं मे भवाच्युत २४। इत्येवं नियमं कृत्वा मध्याह्न समये तथा । शालग्राम शिलाग्रे तु स्नानं कुर्याद्यथाविधि २५। पूजयित्वा हृषीकेशं धूप गंधादिभिस्तथा । रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यात्केशवस्य समीपतः २६। ततः प्रभातसमये प्राप्ते वै द्वादशी दिने । अर्चयित्वा हरिं भक्त्या श्राद्धं कुर्याद्यथाविधि २७। पितॄणां प्रीतये श्राद्धं कुर्याच्छ्रद्धा समन्वितः । गोधूम चूर्णैर्यछ्राद्धं कृतं मेध्यकृतं भवेत् २८। यवैर्व्रीहितिलैर्माषैर्गोधूमैश्चणकैस्तथा । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्राजन् दक्षिणाभिः प्रपूजितान् २९। बंधु दौहित्र पुत्राद्यैः स्वयं भुंजीत वाग्यतः । अनेन विधिना राजन्कुरुव्रतमतंद्रितः ३०। विष्णुलोकं प्रयास्यंति पितरस्तव भूपते । इत्युक्त्वा नृपतिं राजन्मुनिरंतरधीयत ३१। यथोक्त विधिना राजा चकार व्रतमुत्तमम् । अंतःपुरेण सहितः पुत्रभृत्य समन्वितः ३२। कृते व्रते तु कौंतेय पुष्पवृष्टिरभूद्दिवः । तत्पिता गरुडारूढो जगाम हरिमंदिरम् ३३। इंद्रसेनोऽपिराजर्षिः कृत्वा राज्यमकंटकम् । राज्ये निवेश्य तनयं जगाम त्रिदिवं स्वयम् ३४। इंदिरा व्रत माहात्म्यं तवाग्रे कथितं मया । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्राजन् सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ३५। भुक्त्वेह निखिलान्भोगान् विष्णुलोके वसेच्चिरम् ३६। इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यांसंहितायाम् उत्तरखंडे । उमापतिनारदसंवादे आश्विनकृष्णेंदिरैकादशीनामाष्टपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः ५८।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- kathayasva prasādena mamāgre madhusūdana | iṣasya kṛṣṇapakṣe tu kiṃnāmaikādaśībhavet 1| śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- āśvine kṛṣṇapakṣe tu iṃdirā nāma nāmataḥ | tasyā vrataprabhāvena mahāpāpaṃ praṇaśyati 2| adhoyoni gatānāṃ ca pitṝṇāṃ gatidāyinī | śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājankathāṃ pāpaharāṃ parām 3| yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa vājapeyaphalaṃ labhet | purā kṛtayuge rājanbabhūva nṛpanaṃdanaḥ 4| iṃdrasena iti khyātaḥ purā māhiṣmatīpatiḥ | sa rājā pālayāmāsa dharmeṇa yaśasānvitaḥ 5| putrapautrasamāyukto dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ | māhiṣmatyadhipo rājā viṣṇubhaktiparāyaṇaḥ 6| japangoviṃdanāmāni muktidāni narādhipaḥ | kālaṃ nayati vidhivadadhyātmadhyānaciṃtakaḥ 7| ekasmindivase rājñi sukhāsīne sado gate | avatīryāgamattatra hyaṃbarānnārado muniḥ 8| tamāgatamabhiprekṣya pratyutthāya kṛtāṃjali | pūjayitvātha vidhinā cāsane saṃnyaveśayat 9| sukhopaviṣṭaṃ sa muniṃ pratyuvāca nṛpottamaḥ | rājovāca-| tvatprasādānmuniśreṣṭha sarvaṃ ca kuśalaṃ mama 10| adya kratukriyāḥ sarvāḥ saphalāstava darśanāt | prasādaṃ kuru devarṣe brūhyāgamanakāraṇam 11| nārada uvāca- śrūyatāṃ nṛpaśārdūla madvaco vismayapradam | brahmalokādahaṃ prāpto yamalokaṃ nṛpottama 12| śamanenārcito bhaktyā upaviṣṭo varāsane | dharmaśīlaḥ satyavāṃstu bhāskariṃ samupāsate 13| bahupuṇyaprakarttā ca vratavaikalyadoṣataḥ | sabhāyāṃ śrāddhadevasya mayā dṛṣṭaḥ pitā tava 14| kathitastena saṃdeśastaṃ nibodha janeśvara | iṃdrasena iti khyāto rājā māhiṣmatīpatiḥ 15| tasyāgre kathayabrahmansthitaṃ māṃ yamasaṃnidhau | kenāpi cāṃtarāyeṇa pūrvajanmodbhavena ca 16| svargaṃ preṣaya māṃ putra iṃdirā puṇya dānataḥ | ityukto'haṃ samāyātaḥ samīpaṃ tava pārthiva 17| pituḥ svargakṛte rājanniṃdirā vratamācara | tena vrataprabhāvena svargaṃ yāsyati te pitā 18| rājovāca- kathayasva prasādena bhagavanniṃdirā vratam | vidhinā kena karttavyaṃ kasminpakṣe tithau tathā 19| nāradauvāca- śṛṇu rājeṃdra te vacmi vratasyāsya vidhiṃ śubham | āśvinasyāsite pakṣe daśamī divase śubhe 20| prātaḥsnānaṃ prakurvīta śraddhāyuktena cetasā | tato madhyāhnasamaye snānaṃ kṛtvā samāhitaḥ 21| pitṝṇāṃ prītaye śrāddhaṃ kuryācchraddhā samanvitaḥ | ekabhaktaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā rātrau bhūmau śayīta ca | prabhāte vimale jāte prāpte caikādaśī dine 22| mukha prakṣālanaṃ kuryāddaṃtadhāvana varjitam | upavāsasya niyamaṃ gṛhṇīyādbhaktibhāvataḥ 23| adyasthitvā nirāhāraḥ sarvabhoga vivarjitaḥ | śvo bhokṣye puṃḍarīkākṣa śaraṇaṃ me bhavācyuta 24| ityevaṃ niyamaṃ kṛtvā madhyāhna samaye tathā | śālagrāma śilāgre tu snānaṃ kuryādyathāvidhi 25| pūjayitvā hṛṣīkeśaṃ dhūpa gaṃdhādibhistathā | rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kuryātkeśavasya samīpataḥ 26| tataḥ prabhātasamaye prāpte vai dvādaśī dine | arcayitvā hariṃ bhaktyā śrāddhaṃ kuryādyathāvidhi 27| pitṝṇāṃ prītaye śrāddhaṃ kuryācchraddhā samanvitaḥ | godhūma cūrṇairyachrāddhaṃ kṛtaṃ medhyakṛtaṃ bhavet 28| yavairvrīhitilairmāṣairgodhūmaiścaṇakaistathā | brāhmaṇānbhojayedrājan dakṣiṇābhiḥ prapūjitān 29| baṃdhu dauhitra putrādyaiḥ svayaṃ bhuṃjīta vāgyataḥ | anena vidhinā rājankuruvratamataṃdritaḥ 30| viṣṇulokaṃ prayāsyaṃti pitarastava bhūpate | ityuktvā nṛpatiṃ rājanmuniraṃtaradhīyata 31| yathokta vidhinā rājā cakāra vratamuttamam | aṃtaḥpureṇa sahitaḥ putrabhṛtya samanvitaḥ 32| kṛte vrate tu kauṃteya puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūddivaḥ | tatpitā garuḍārūḍho jagāma harimaṃdiram 33| iṃdraseno'pirājarṣiḥ kṛtvā rājyamakaṃṭakam | rājye niveśya tanayaṃ jagāma tridivaṃ svayam 34| iṃdirā vrata māhātmyaṃ tavāgre kathitaṃ mayā | paṭhanācchravaṇādrājan sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 35| bhuktveha nikhilānbhogān viṣṇuloke vasecciram 36| iti śrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃsaṃhitāyām uttarakhaṃḍe | umāpatināradasaṃvāde āśvinakṛṣṇeṃdiraikādaśīnāmāṣṭapaṃcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ 58|
English translation
Yudhiṣṭhira said :
1. (Please) favour me and tell me, O Viṣṇu , as to what would be (i.e. is) the name of the Ekādaśī in the dark half of Āśvina .
Śrīkṛṣṇa said :
2-10a. The name (of the Ekādaśī falling) in the dark half of Āśvina is Indirā . By its power (even) a great sin perishes. It gives a (good) cause to the dead ancestors that have gone to (i.e. born in) a low stock. O king, listen attentively to the sin-removing great story. By hearing it a man would obtain the fruit of a Vājapeya sacrifice. Formerly, O king, in Kṛtayuga there was a prince named Indrasena . He was the lord of Māhiṣmatī . That king, endowed with glory, righteously looked after (his kingdom). He possessed sons and grandsons and had wealth and grains. The king, the lord of Māhiṣmatī, was solely devoted to Viṣṇu. The king repeating internally Viṣṇu’s names giving salvation, duly passed his time and meditated upon the Supreme Spirit. When the king, one day, was comfortably seated in his assembly, there came down from the sky the sage Nārada . Seeing him to have arrived, he, getting up with the palms of his hands folded, duly honoured him and seated him on a seat. The best king said to the sage seated comfortably:
The king said :
10b-11. O best sage, by your grace everything of me is prosperous. By seeing you all my sacrifices and rites have become fruitful. O divine sage, favour me and tell me the reason of your arrival.
Nārada said :
12-18. O best king, listen to my wonderful words. O best king, from Brahmā ’s world I had gone to the world of Yama . Devoutly honoured by Yama, I sat on an excellent seat. The religious, truthful son of the Sun (i.e. Yama) waited upon me. In the assembly of the deity of Śrāddhas (i.e. of Yama), I saw your father, doer of many righteous acts, there as a result of a fault in a vow. He has told (i.e. given) a message (for you). Listen to it, O lord of people. “A king known as Indrasena is the lord of Māhiṣmatī. Tell him, O brāhmaṇa , that I am staying with Yama due to some hindrance, due to my former existence. O son, giving me the religious merit of the Indirā(-vow) send me to heaven.” Thus addressed, I have come to you, O king. O king, for (the attainment of) heaven by your father, observe the Indirā(-vow). By the power of that vow your father will go to heaven.
The king said :
19. O revered one, favour me and tell me about the Indirā-vow. In what manner is it to be done? In which fortnight, and on which date?
Nārada said :
20-31a. O lord of kings, listen. I (shall) tell you the manner of this auspicious vow (i.e. in which way it is to be observed). On the auspicious tenth day in the dark half of the month of Āśvina, a man, with a devout mind, should bathe in the morning. Then, bathing in the mid-day he should be composed; and with faith he should perform the Śrāddha to gratify his manes. Then eating once only, he should sleep on the ground at night. When on the Ekādaśī day the bright morning has dawned, he should wash his face without cleaning his teeth; and should devoutly take up the vow of fasting. “Remaining without food and without all pleasures to-day, I shall eat tomorrow, O lotus-eyed one. O Viṣṇu, be my refuge.” Having imposed such a restriction (upon him) he should at mid-day duly bath the tip of the Śālagrāma stone. Having worshipped Viṣṇu with incense, sandal etc., he should at night keep awake in the vicinity of Viṣṇu. Then, when the morning of the twelfth day comes, he should after worshipping Viṣṇu duly perform the Śrāddha. Endowed with faith, he should perform the Śrāddha to gratify his manes. That Śrāddha which is offered with the flour of wheat would be done (in a) pure (way). So also would be the Śrāddha offered with barley, rice, sesamum-seeds, beans, wheat and grams. O king, having honoured brāhmaṇas with gifts, he should worship them. (Then) controlled in speech, he himself should eat with his kinsmen, daughter’s son and sons etc. O king, being careful observe the vow in this manner. O king, your dead ancestors will go to Viṣṇu’s world.
31b-36. Speaking thus to the king, the sage disappeared, O king. The king, along with (the inmates of) his harem, and with sons and servants, observed the excellent vow in accordance with the manner told (by the sage). O son of Kuntī , when the vow was observed, a shower of flowers fell from the sky. His father, mounted on Garuḍa , went to Viṣṇu’s abode. The royal sage Indrasena too, having ruled his kingdom free from nuisance and having installed his son on the throne, himself went to heaven. I have told you the importance of the Indirā-vow. A man, on reciting or listening to it is free from all sins. After enjoying all pleasures here (i.e. in this world) he would live for a long time in Viṣṇu’s world.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44631, revision 336439 (2022-04-22T01:52:51Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365635.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.