Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 60
Sourceयुधिष्ठिर उवाच- कथयस्व प्रसादेन मयि स्नेहाज्जनार्दन । कार्त्तिकस्यासिते पक्षे किंनामैकादशी भवेत् १। श्रीकृष्ण उवाच- श्रूयतां राजशार्दूल कथयामि तवाग्रतः । कार्त्तिके कृष्णपक्षे तु रमा नाम सुशोभना २। एकादशी समाख्याता महापापहरा परा । अस्याः प्रसंगतो राजन्माहात्म्यं प्रवदामि ते ३। मुचुकुंद इति ख्यातो बभूव नृपतिः पुरा । देवेंद्रेण समं तस्य मित्रत्वमभवन्नृप ४। यमेन वरुणेनैव कुबेरेणापि सर्वथा । विभीषणेन यस्यैव सखित्वमभवन्नृप ५। विष्णुभक्तः सत्यसंधो बभूव नृपतिः परः । तस्यैवं शासतो राजन्राज्यं निहतकंटकम् ६। बभूव दुहिता गेहे चंद्रभागा सरिद्वरा । शोभनाय च सा दत्ता चंद्रसेनसुताय वै ७। स कदाचित्समायातः श्वशुरस्य गृहे नृप । एकादशीव्रतदिनं समायातं सुपुण्यदम् ८। समागते व्रतदिने चंद्रभागा त्वचिंतयत् । किं भविष्यति देवेश मम भर्त्तातिदुर्बलः ९। क्षुधां न क्षमते सोढुं पिता चैवोग्रशासनः । पटहस्ताड्यते यस्य संप्राप्ते दशमीदिने १०। न भोक्तव्यं न भोक्तव्यं न भोक्तव्यं हरेर्दिने । श्रुत्वा पटहनिर्घोषं शोभनस्त्वब्रवीत्प्रियाम् ११। किं कर्त्तव्यं मया कांते देहि शिक्षां वरानने । चंद्रभागोवाच - मत्पितुर्वेश्मनि प्रभो भोक्तव्यं नाद्य केनचित् १२। गजैरश्वैश्च कलभैरन्यैः पशुभिरेव च । तृणमन्नं तथा वारि न भोक्तव्यं हरेर्दिने १३। मानवैश्च कुतः कांत भुज्यते हरिवासरे । यदि त्वं भोक्ष्यसे कांत ततो गर्हां प्रयास्यसि १४। एवं विचार्य मनसा सुदृढं मानसं कुरु । शोभन उवाच- सत्यमेतत्प्रिये वाक्यं करिष्येऽहमुपोषणम् १५। दैवेन विहितं यद्धि तत्तथैव भविष्यति । इति दृढां मतिं कृत्वा चकार नियमं व्रते १६। क्षुधया पीडिततनुः स बभूवातिदुःखितः । इति चिंतयतस्तस्य आदित्योऽस्तमगाद्गिरिम् १७। वैष्णवानां नराणां सा निशा हर्षविवर्द्धनी । हरिपूजारतानां च जागरासक्तचेतसाम् १८। बभूव नृपशार्दूल शोभनस्यातिदुःखदा । रवेरुदयवेलायां शोभनः पंचतां गतः १९। दाहयामास राजा तं राजयोग्यैश्च दारुभिः । चंद्रभागा नात्मदेहं ददाह पतिना सह २०। कृत्वौर्द्ध्वदैहिकं तस्य तस्थौ जनकवेश्मनि । शोभनश्च नृपश्रेष्ठ रमाव्रतप्रभावतः २१। प्राप्तो देवपुरं रम्यं मंदराचलसानुनि । अनुत्तममनाधृष्यमसंख्येयगुणान्वितम् २२। हेमस्तंभमयैसौधै रत्नवैडूर्यमंडितैः । स्फाटिकैर्विविधाकारैर्विचित्रैरुपशोभितैः २३। सिंहासनसमारूढः सुश्वेतच्छत्रचामरः । किरीटकुंडलयुतो हारकेयूरभूषितः । स्तूयमानश्च गंधर्वैरप्सरोगणसेवितः २४। शोभनः शोभते यत्र राजराजोपरो यथा । सोमशर्मेति विख्यातो मुचुकुंदपुरेऽभवत् २५। तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन भ्रमन्विप्रो ददर्श तम् । नृपजामातरं ज्ञात्वा तत्समीपं जगाम सः २६। शोभनोऽपि तदा ज्ञात्वा सोमशर्माणमागतम् । आसनादुत्थितः शीघ्रं नमश्चक्रे द्विजोत्तमम् २७। चकार कुशलप्रश्नं श्वशुरस्य नृपस्य च । कांतायाश्चंद्रभागायास्तथैव नगरस्य च २८। सोमशर्मोवाच- कुशलं वर्त्तते राजन्श्वशुरस्य गृहे तव । चंद्रभागा कुशलिनी सर्वतः कुशलं पुरे २९। स्ववृत्तं कथ्यतां राजन्नाश्चर्यं विद्यतेऽद्भुतम् । पुरं विचित्रं रुचिरं न दृष्टं केनचित्क्वचित् ३०। एतदाचक्ष्व नृपते कुतः प्राप्तमिदं त्वया । शोभन उवाच- कार्तिकस्यासिते पक्षे या नामैकादशी रमा ३१। तामुपोष्य मया प्राप्तं द्विजेंद्र पुरमध्रुवम् । ध्रुवं भवति येनैव तत्कुरुष्व द्विजोत्तमः ३२। द्विज उवाच- कथमध्रुवमेतद्धि कथं हि भवति ध्रुवम् । तत्त्वं कथय राजेंद्र तत्करिष्यामि नान्यथा ३३। शोभन उवाच- मयैतद्विहितं विप्र श्रद्धाहीनं व्रतोत्तमम् । तेनाहमध्रुवं मन्ये ध्रुवं भवति तच्छृणु ३४। मुचुकुंदस्य दुहिता चंद्रभागा सुशोभना । तस्यै कथय वृत्तांतं ध्रुवमेतद्भविष्यति ३५। कृष्ण उवाच- स श्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मुचुकुंदपुरं गतः । उवाच सर्वं वृत्तांत्तं चंद्रभागाग्रतो द्विजः ३६। सोमशर्मोवाच - प्रत्यक्षं दयितः कांतस्तव दृष्टो मया शुभे । इंद्रतुल्यमनाधृष्यं दृष्टं तस्य पुरं मया । अध्रुवं तेन तत्प्रोक्तं ध्रुवं भवति तत्कुरु ३७। चंद्रभागोवाच- तत्र मां नय विप्रर्षे पतिदर्शनलालसाम् । आत्मनो व्रतपुण्येन करिष्यामि पुरं ध्रुवम् ३८। आवयोर्द्विजसंयोगो यथा भवति तत्कुरु । प्राप्यते हि महत्पुण्यं कृत्वा योगं वियुक्तयोः ३९। इति श्रुत्वा सह तया सोमशर्मा जगाम ह । आश्रमं वामदेवस्य मंदराचलसंनिधौ ४०। वामदेवोऽशृणोत्सर्वं वृत्तांतं कथितं तयोः । अभ्यषिञ्चच्चन्द्रभागां वेदमंत्रैरथोज्ज्वलाम् ४१। ऋषिमंत्रप्रभावेन विष्णुवासरसेवनात् । दिव्यदेहा बभूवासौ दिव्यां गतिमवाप ह ४२। पत्युः समीपमगमत्प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचना । जहर्ष शोभनोऽतीव दृष्ट्वा कांतां समागताम् ४३। समाहूय स्वके वामे पार्श्वेतां संन्यवेशयत् । अथोवाच प्रियं हर्षाच्चंद्रभागा प्रियं वचः ४४। शृणु कांत हितं वाक्यं यत्पुण्यं विद्यते मयि । अष्टवर्षाधिका जाता यदाहं पितृवेश्मनि ४५। ततः प्रभृति यच्चीर्णं मया चैकादशीव्रतम् । यथोक्तविधिसंयुक्तं श्रद्धायुक्तेन चेतसा । तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन भविष्यति पुरं ध्रुवम् ४६। सर्वकामसमृद्धं च यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् । एवं सा नृपशार्दूल रमते पतिना सह ४७। दिव्यभोगा दिव्यरूपा दिव्याभरणभूषिता । शोभनोऽपि तया सार्द्धं रमते दिव्यविग्रहः ४८। रमाव्रतप्रभावेन मंदराचलसानुनि । चिंतामणिसमा ह्येषा कामधेनुसमाथ वा ४९। रमाभिधाना नृपते तवाग्रे कथिता मया । तस्या माहात्म्यमनघ श्रुतं सर्वं त्वया नृप 6.60.५०। मया तवाग्रे कथितं माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् । एकादशीव्रतानां च पक्षयोरुभयोरपि ५१। यथा कृष्णा तथा शुक्ला विभेदं नैव कारयेत् । सेवितैकादशी नॄणां भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी ५२। धेनुः श्वेता यथा कृष्णा उभयोः सदृशं पयः । तथैव तुल्यफलदं स्मृतमेकादशीद्वयम् ५३। एकादशीव्रतानां यो माहात्म्यं शृणुते नरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते ५४। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे उमापतिनारदसंवादे कार्तिक कृष्णा रमैकादशीनाम षष्टितमोऽध्यायः ६०।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- kathayasva prasādena mayi snehājjanārdana | kārttikasyāsite pakṣe kiṃnāmaikādaśī bhavet 1| śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca- śrūyatāṃ rājaśārdūla kathayāmi tavāgrataḥ | kārttike kṛṣṇapakṣe tu ramā nāma suśobhanā 2| ekādaśī samākhyātā mahāpāpaharā parā | asyāḥ prasaṃgato rājanmāhātmyaṃ pravadāmi te 3| mucukuṃda iti khyāto babhūva nṛpatiḥ purā | deveṃdreṇa samaṃ tasya mitratvamabhavannṛpa 4| yamena varuṇenaiva kubereṇāpi sarvathā | vibhīṣaṇena yasyaiva sakhitvamabhavannṛpa 5| viṣṇubhaktaḥ satyasaṃdho babhūva nṛpatiḥ paraḥ | tasyaivaṃ śāsato rājanrājyaṃ nihatakaṃṭakam 6| babhūva duhitā gehe caṃdrabhāgā saridvarā | śobhanāya ca sā dattā caṃdrasenasutāya vai 7| sa kadācitsamāyātaḥ śvaśurasya gṛhe nṛpa | ekādaśīvratadinaṃ samāyātaṃ supuṇyadam 8| samāgate vratadine caṃdrabhāgā tvaciṃtayat | kiṃ bhaviṣyati deveśa mama bharttātidurbalaḥ 9| kṣudhāṃ na kṣamate soḍhuṃ pitā caivograśāsanaḥ | paṭahastāḍyate yasya saṃprāpte daśamīdine 10| na bhoktavyaṃ na bhoktavyaṃ na bhoktavyaṃ harerdine | śrutvā paṭahanirghoṣaṃ śobhanastvabravītpriyām 11| kiṃ karttavyaṃ mayā kāṃte dehi śikṣāṃ varānane | caṃdrabhāgovāca - matpiturveśmani prabho bhoktavyaṃ nādya kenacit 12| gajairaśvaiśca kalabhairanyaiḥ paśubhireva ca | tṛṇamannaṃ tathā vāri na bhoktavyaṃ harerdine 13| mānavaiśca kutaḥ kāṃta bhujyate harivāsare | yadi tvaṃ bhokṣyase kāṃta tato garhāṃ prayāsyasi 14| evaṃ vicārya manasā sudṛḍhaṃ mānasaṃ kuru | śobhana uvāca- satyametatpriye vākyaṃ kariṣye'hamupoṣaṇam 15| daivena vihitaṃ yaddhi tattathaiva bhaviṣyati | iti dṛḍhāṃ matiṃ kṛtvā cakāra niyamaṃ vrate 16| kṣudhayā pīḍitatanuḥ sa babhūvātiduḥkhitaḥ | iti ciṃtayatastasya ādityo'stamagādgirim 17| vaiṣṇavānāṃ narāṇāṃ sā niśā harṣavivarddhanī | haripūjāratānāṃ ca jāgarāsaktacetasām 18| babhūva nṛpaśārdūla śobhanasyātiduḥkhadā | raverudayavelāyāṃ śobhanaḥ paṃcatāṃ gataḥ 19| dāhayāmāsa rājā taṃ rājayogyaiśca dārubhiḥ | caṃdrabhāgā nātmadehaṃ dadāha patinā saha 20| kṛtvaurddhvadaihikaṃ tasya tasthau janakaveśmani | śobhanaśca nṛpaśreṣṭha ramāvrataprabhāvataḥ 21| prāpto devapuraṃ ramyaṃ maṃdarācalasānuni | anuttamamanādhṛṣyamasaṃkhyeyaguṇānvitam 22| hemastaṃbhamayaisaudhai ratnavaiḍūryamaṃḍitaiḥ | sphāṭikairvividhākārairvicitrairupaśobhitaiḥ 23| siṃhāsanasamārūḍhaḥ suśvetacchatracāmaraḥ | kirīṭakuṃḍalayuto hārakeyūrabhūṣitaḥ | stūyamānaśca gaṃdharvairapsarogaṇasevitaḥ 24| śobhanaḥ śobhate yatra rājarājoparo yathā | somaśarmeti vikhyāto mucukuṃdapure'bhavat 25| tīrthayātrāprasaṃgena bhramanvipro dadarśa tam | nṛpajāmātaraṃ jñātvā tatsamīpaṃ jagāma saḥ 26| śobhano'pi tadā jñātvā somaśarmāṇamāgatam | āsanādutthitaḥ śīghraṃ namaścakre dvijottamam 27| cakāra kuśalapraśnaṃ śvaśurasya nṛpasya ca | kāṃtāyāścaṃdrabhāgāyāstathaiva nagarasya ca 28| somaśarmovāca- kuśalaṃ varttate rājanśvaśurasya gṛhe tava | caṃdrabhāgā kuśalinī sarvataḥ kuśalaṃ pure 29| svavṛttaṃ kathyatāṃ rājannāścaryaṃ vidyate'dbhutam | puraṃ vicitraṃ ruciraṃ na dṛṣṭaṃ kenacitkvacit 30| etadācakṣva nṛpate kutaḥ prāptamidaṃ tvayā | śobhana uvāca- kārtikasyāsite pakṣe yā nāmaikādaśī ramā 31| tāmupoṣya mayā prāptaṃ dvijeṃdra puramadhruvam | dhruvaṃ bhavati yenaiva tatkuruṣva dvijottamaḥ 32| dvija uvāca- kathamadhruvametaddhi kathaṃ hi bhavati dhruvam | tattvaṃ kathaya rājeṃdra tatkariṣyāmi nānyathā 33| śobhana uvāca- mayaitadvihitaṃ vipra śraddhāhīnaṃ vratottamam | tenāhamadhruvaṃ manye dhruvaṃ bhavati tacchṛṇu 34| mucukuṃdasya duhitā caṃdrabhāgā suśobhanā | tasyai kathaya vṛttāṃtaṃ dhruvametadbhaviṣyati 35| kṛṣṇa uvāca- sa śrutvā vacanaṃ tasya mucukuṃdapuraṃ gataḥ | uvāca sarvaṃ vṛttāṃttaṃ caṃdrabhāgāgrato dvijaḥ 36| somaśarmovāca - pratyakṣaṃ dayitaḥ kāṃtastava dṛṣṭo mayā śubhe | iṃdratulyamanādhṛṣyaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ tasya puraṃ mayā | adhruvaṃ tena tatproktaṃ dhruvaṃ bhavati tatkuru 37| caṃdrabhāgovāca- tatra māṃ naya viprarṣe patidarśanalālasām | ātmano vratapuṇyena kariṣyāmi puraṃ dhruvam 38| āvayordvijasaṃyogo yathā bhavati tatkuru | prāpyate hi mahatpuṇyaṃ kṛtvā yogaṃ viyuktayoḥ 39| iti śrutvā saha tayā somaśarmā jagāma ha | āśramaṃ vāmadevasya maṃdarācalasaṃnidhau 40| vāmadevo'śṛṇotsarvaṃ vṛttāṃtaṃ kathitaṃ tayoḥ | abhyaṣiñcaccandrabhāgāṃ vedamaṃtrairathojjvalām 41| ṛṣimaṃtraprabhāvena viṣṇuvāsarasevanāt | divyadehā babhūvāsau divyāṃ gatimavāpa ha 42| patyuḥ samīpamagamatpraharṣotphullalocanā | jaharṣa śobhano'tīva dṛṣṭvā kāṃtāṃ samāgatām 43| samāhūya svake vāme pārśvetāṃ saṃnyaveśayat | athovāca priyaṃ harṣāccaṃdrabhāgā priyaṃ vacaḥ 44| śṛṇu kāṃta hitaṃ vākyaṃ yatpuṇyaṃ vidyate mayi | aṣṭavarṣādhikā jātā yadāhaṃ pitṛveśmani 45| tataḥ prabhṛti yaccīrṇaṃ mayā caikādaśīvratam | yathoktavidhisaṃyuktaṃ śraddhāyuktena cetasā | tena puṇyaprabhāvena bhaviṣyati puraṃ dhruvam 46| sarvakāmasamṛddhaṃ ca yāvadābhūtasaṃplavam | evaṃ sā nṛpaśārdūla ramate patinā saha 47| divyabhogā divyarūpā divyābharaṇabhūṣitā | śobhano'pi tayā sārddhaṃ ramate divyavigrahaḥ 48| ramāvrataprabhāvena maṃdarācalasānuni | ciṃtāmaṇisamā hyeṣā kāmadhenusamātha vā 49| ramābhidhānā nṛpate tavāgre kathitā mayā | tasyā māhātmyamanagha śrutaṃ sarvaṃ tvayā nṛpa 6.60.50| mayā tavāgre kathitaṃ māhātmyaṃ pāpanāśanam | ekādaśīvratānāṃ ca pakṣayorubhayorapi 51| yathā kṛṣṇā tathā śuklā vibhedaṃ naiva kārayet | sevitaikādaśī nṝṇāṃ bhuktimuktipradāyinī 52| dhenuḥ śvetā yathā kṛṣṇā ubhayoḥ sadṛśaṃ payaḥ | tathaiva tulyaphaladaṃ smṛtamekādaśīdvayam 53| ekādaśīvratānāṃ yo māhātmyaṃ śṛṇute naraḥ | sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇuloke mahīyate 54| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe umāpatināradasaṃvāde kārtika kṛṣṇā ramaikādaśīnāma ṣaṣṭitamo'dhyāyaḥ 60|
English translation
Yudhiṣṭhira said :
1. O Janārdana , through favour and love for me, tell me what would be (i.e. is) the name of the Ekādaśī falling in the dark half of Kārtika .
Srīkṛṣṇa said :
2-12a. O lord of kings, listen. I shall tell you. In the dark half of Kārtika falls the very auspicious Ekādaśī. It is called Ramā . It is great and removes great sins. O king, as the occasion has come, I shall tell you its importance. O king, formerly there was a king, Mucukunda by name. He had formed friendship with ( Indra ) the lord of gods. He also was fully friendly with Yama , Varuṇa , Kubera , and Bibhīṣaṇa , O king. That king was a great devotee of Viṣṇu and was true to his word. When he was ruling over his kingdom from which troublesome persons were removed, a daughter Candrabhāgā , (resembling) the excellent river (Candrabhāgā) was (born) in his house. She was given (in marriage) to Śobhana , the son of Candrasena . Once he came to his father-in-law’s house, O king. The very meritorious day of the Ekādaśī-vow (also) came. When the day of the vow came, Candrabhāgā thought: ‘O lord of gods, what will happen? My husband is very weak. He is not able to put up with hunger, and my father’s rule is strict.’ When the tenth day comes, his drum is beaten: ‘Do not eat, do not eat on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu.’ Hearing the sound of the drum, Śobhana said to his wife: “O dear one, what should I do? Advise me, O beautiful one.”
Candrabhāgā said :
12b-15a. O lord, today nobody in my father’s house is to eat (anything). On the day of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu elephants, horses, (their) young ones, so also other beasts are not to eat grass or (drink) water. Then, O dear one, how would human beings eat on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu? O dear one, if you eat (anything today) then you will be censured. Thinking like this to yourself, make your mind strong.
Śobhana said :
15b-23. O dear one, these words are true. I shall fast (today). Whatever is laid down by destiny will just take place in the same way.
Thus resolving, he observed the vow. With his body oppressed with hunger, he became extremely distressed. While he was thinking like this, the sun went to the western mountain. That night enhanced the joy of Viṣṇu’s devotees engaged in worshipping Viṣṇu, and with their minds attached to keeping awake. (But) it became very painful to Śobhana. At the time of sunrise, Śobhana expired. The king got him cremated with (pieces of) wood fit for a king. Candrabhāgā did not abandon her body with her husband. Having performed his funeral rites, she remained in her father’s house. (And) O greatest king, due to the power of the Ramā-vow, Śobhana reached the divine charming city on the peak of the Mandara mountain, which (city) was excellent with innumerable qualities. It was adorned with large houses with golden pillars, and gems and lapis lazuli, and with beautiful crystals of different shapes.
24-28. Being praised by gandharvas , and waited upon by celestial nymphs, Śobhana mounted upon the throne. He had very white umbrella (held over his head) and chowries (were waved). He had (put on) a crown and ear-rings. He was adorned with necklaces and bracelets. There Śobhana shone like a great king of kings. In the city of Mucukunda there was (a brāhmaṇa ) known as Somaśarman . The brāhmaṇa, wandering for pilgrimage, saw him. Recognising him to be the king’s son-in-law he approached him. Śobhana too, knowing that Somaśarman had come, quickly got up from his seat and saluted the best brāhmaṇa. He asked him about the well-being of his father-inlaw, the king, and about his wife Candrabhāgā, and about the city.
Somaśarman said :
29-31a. O king, there is well-being in your father’s house. Candrabhāgā is all right and in the city everywhere there is wellbeing. O king, tell me your own account. It is a great wonder. Such a wonderful and beautiful city has not been seen by anyone. O king, tell me this: How did you obtain this?
Śobhana said :
31b-32. In the dark half of Kārtika falls the Ekādaśī called Ramā. Having fasted on that day, I have secured this unstable city. O best brāhmaṇa, do that by which it will be stable.
The brāhmaṇa said :
33. O lord of kings, how (i.e. why) is it unstable? How will it be stable? Tell me the truth. Then I shall do it, not otherwise.
Śobana said :
34-35. O brāhmaṇa, I observed this best vow without faith. Therefore, I think, it is unstable. Listen (by which) it will be stable. The very beautiful Candrabhāgā is Mucukunda’s daughter. Tell her this account. (Then) it will be stable.
Kṛṣṇa said :
36. Hearing his words, he went to the city of Mucukunda; (and) the brāhmaṇa narrated the entire account to Candrabhāgā.
Somaśarman said :
37. O auspicious one, I actually saw your beloved husband I (also) saw his unconquerable city resembling (that of) Indra. He described it to be unstable. Do that by which it will be stable.
Candrabhāgā said :
38-45. O brāhmaṇa-sage, take me, desiring to see my husband, there. By means of the merit of my vow I shall make the city stable. O brāhmaṇa, do that by which we two shall be united. Great religious merit is obtained by bringing together the separated ones.
Hearing this, Somaśarman went with her to Vāmadeva ’s hermitage near the Mandara mountain. Vāmadeva listened to the full account told by them. He sprinkled (water over) the bright Candrabhāgā with Vedic hymns. By the power of the. hymn recited by the sage, and due to observing the vow on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu her body became divine and she obtained a divine condition. With her eyes dilated due to great joy she approached her husband. Seeing his wife to have come, Śobhana was very much delighted. Calling her he made her sit on his left side. Then Candrabhāgā said (these) dear words to her husband: “O dear one, listen to the beneficial words: I have religious merit. When I crossed the eighth year (while living) in my father’s house.
46-54. I have since then, observed the Ekādaśī vow in the manner as it was told and with my mind full of faith. By the power of that (religious merit) the city will be stable. It will be rich in all desired objects till the final deluge.” O best king, in this way she, enjoying divine pleasures, of a divine form, and adorned with divine ornaments, rejoiced with her husband. Śobhana, of a divine body, also rejoiced with her on the peak of Mandara mountain by the power of the Ramā-vow. This vow is like the desire-yielding gem or like the desire-yielding cow. O king, I have told you about the (Ekādaśī) called Ramā. O sinless one, you have heard its full importance. I have told you the sin-destroying importance of the vows of the Ekādaśīs of both the fortnights. As is the (one of the) dark (fortnight), so is the (one of the) bright fortnight. No discrimination should be done between the two. Ekādaśī, when observed, gives pleasures and salvation to men. As a white cow is like a black one—as their milk is similar, similarly the two Ekādaśīs are said to give a similar fruit. A man who listens to the importance of the Ekādaśī-vows is freed from all sins.and is honoured in Viṣṇu’s world.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44633, revision 336442 (2022-04-22T01:55:23Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365637.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.