Chapter 18. Sri Ekadasi
একদিন গৌরহরি শ্রীগুণ্ডিচা পরিহরি’
‘জগন্নাথ বল্লভে’ বসিলা ।
শুদ্ধা একাদশী দিনে কৃষ্ণনাম-সঙ্কীর্ত্তনে
দিবস রজনী কাটাইলা ॥১॥
eka-dina gaurahari śrī-guṇḍichā parihari’
‘jagannātha-vallabhe’ vasilā
śuddhā ekādaśī dine kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtane
divasa rajanī kāṭāilā [1]
eka-dina–One day, gaurahari–Gaurahari parihari’–left sri-gundicha–Sri Gundicha [and] vasila–sat ‘jagannatha-vallabhe’–in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. dine–On the day suddha ekadasi–of pure Ekadasi (the day on which Ekadasi begins before dawn), kataila–the Lord spent divasa–the day [and] rajani–night krsna-nama-sankirtane–chanting the Name of Krsna. [1]
Translation:
One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krsna.
সঙ্গে স্বরূপদামোদর রামানন্দ, বক্রেশ্বর
আর যত ক্ষেত্রবাসিগণ ।
প্রভু বলে, «একমনে কৃষ্ণনাম-সঙ্কীর্ত্তনে
নিদ্রাহার করিয়ে বর্জ্জন ॥২॥
saṅge svarūpa-dāmodara rāmānanda vakreśvara
āra yata kṣetra-vāsi-gaṇa
prabhu bale, «ekamane kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtane
nidrāhāra kariye varjana [2]
svarupa-damodara–Svarup Damodar, ramananda–Ramananda, vakresvara–Vakresvar, ara–and yata ksetra-vasi-gana–other residents of Sri Ksetra (Jagannath Puri) [were there] sange–with [the Lord]. prabhu–The Lord bale–said, «ekamane–«Single-mindedly krsna-nama-sankirtane–chant the Name of Krsna [and] varjana kariye–avoid nidrahara–sleeping and eating. [2]
Translation:
Svarup Damodar, Ramananda Ray, Vakresvar Pandit, and the other devotees residing in Sri Ksetra were there with Him. The Lord said, «Single-mindedly chant the Name of Krsna and avoid sleeping and eating.
কেহ কর সঙ্খ্যানাম কেহ দণ্ড-পরণাম
কেল বল রামকৃষ্ণকথা» ।
যথা তথা পড়ি’ সবে ‘গোবিন্দ’ ‘গোবিন্দ’ রবে
মহাপ্রেমে প্রমত্ত সর্ব্বথা ॥৩॥
keha kara saṅkhyā-nāma keha daṇḍa-paraṇāma
keha bala rāma-kṛṣṇa-kathā»
yathā tathā paḍi’ sabe ‘govinda’ ‘govinda’ rave
mahāpreme pramatta sarvathā [3]
keha–Some of you kara–should sankhya-nama–chant japa, keha–some of you [should] danda-paranama–offer obeisances, [and] keha–some of you katha bala–should speak rama-krsna»–about Balaram and Krsna. padi’–Bowing yatha tatha–wherever [they were,] sabe–everyone rave–chanted ‘govinda’ ‘govinda’–«Govinda! Govinda!» [and became] sarvatha–completely pramatta–intoxicated mahapreme–with intense divine love. [3]
Translation:
«Some of you should chant japa, some of you should offer obeisances, and some of you should speak about Balaram and Krsna.» Bowing wherever they were, everyone chanted, «Govinda! Govinda!» and became completely intoxicated with intense divine love.
হেন কালে গোপীনাথ পড়িছা সার্ব্বভৌম সাথ
গুণ্ডিচা-প্রসাদ লঞা আইল ।
অন্নব্যঞ্জন, পিঠা, পানা, পরমান্ন, দধি, ছানা
মহাপ্রভু-অগ্রেতে ধরিল ॥৪॥
hena kāle gopīnātha paḍichhā sārvabhauma sātha
guṇḍichā-prasāda lañā āila
anna-vyañjana, pīṭhā, pānā, paramānna, dadhi, chhānā,
mahāprabhu-agrete dharila [4]
hena kale–At that time, gopinatha–Gopinath, padichha–Tulasi Padichha, sarvabhauma satha–and Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya lana aila–brought gundicha-prasada–prasad from the Gundicha Temple. dharila–They placed anna-vyanjana–rice, vegetables, pitha–pancakes, pana–sherbert, paramanna–sweet rice, dadhi–yoghurt, [and] chhana–curd mahaprabhu-agrete–before Mahaprabhu. [4]
Translation:
At that time, Gopinath Acharya, Tulasi Padichha, and Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya brought prasad from the Gundicha Temple. They placed rice, vegetables, pancakes, sherbert, sweet rice, yoghurt, and curd before Mahaprabhu.
প্রভুর আজ্ঞায় সবে দণ্ডবৎ পড়ি’ তবে
মহাপ্রসাদ বন্দিয়া বন্দিয়া ।
ত্রিযামা রজনী সবে মহাপ্রেমে মগ্নভাবে
অকৈতবে নামে কাটাইয়া ॥৫॥
prabhura ājñāya sabe daṇḍavat paḍi’ tabe
mahāprasāda vandiyā vandiyā
triyāmā rajanī sabe mahāpreme magna-bhāve
akaitave nāme kāṭāiyā [5]
prabhura ajnaya–On the Lord’s order, sabe–everyone dandavat padi’–bowed down [and] tabe–then vandiya vandiya–offered prayers mahaprasada–to the mahaprasad. sabe–They kataiya–spent triyama rajani–the entire night akaitave–earnestly name–chanting the Name, magna-bhave–immersed mahapreme–in intense divine love. [5]
Translation:
On the Lord’s order, everyone bowed down and offered prayers to the mahaprasad. Then they spent the entire night earnestly chanting the Name, immersed in intense divine love.
প্রভু-আজ্ঞা শিরে ধরি’ প্রাতঃস্নান সবে করি’
মহাপ্রসাদ সেবায় পারণ ।
করি’ হৃষ্ট চিত্ত সবে প্রভুর চরণে তবে
করযোড়ে করে নিবেদন ॥৬॥
prabhu-ājñā śire dhari’ prātaḥ-snāna sabe kari’
mahāprasāda sevāya pāraṇa
kari’ hṛṣṭa chitta sabe prabhura charaṇe tabe
kara-yoḍe kare nivedana [6]
dhari’–Holding prabhu-ajna–the Lord’s order sire–on [their] heads, sabe–everyone pratah-snana kari’–bathed in the morning, [and then] parana kari’–broke the fast sevaya–by honouring mahaprasada–the mahaprasad. hrsta chitta–With joyful hearts [and] kara-yode–joined palms, sabe–they tabe–then nivedana kare–made an appeal prabhura charane–at the feet of the Lord. [6]
Translation:
Holding the Lord’s order on their heads, everyone bathed in the morning, and then broke their fast by honouring the mahaprasad. With joyful hearts and joined palms, the devotees then made an appeal at the feet of the Lord.
শ্রীক্ষেত্রে শ্রীএকাদশী
sri-ksetre sri-ekadasi
Sri Ekadasi in Sri Ksetra
«সর্ব্বব্রত-শিরোমণি শ্রীহরিবাসরে জানি
নিরাহারে করি জাগরণ ।
জগন্নাথ-প্রসাদান্ন ক্ষেত্রে সর্ব্বকালে মান্য
পাইলেই করিয়ে ভক্ষণ ॥৭॥
«sarva-vrata-śiromaṇi śrī-hari-vāsare jāni
nirāhāre kari jāgaraṇa
jagannātha-prasādānna kṣetre sarva-kāle mānya
pāilei kariye bhakṣaṇa [7]
«jani–We know [that] sarva-vrata-siromani–the crown jewel of all rites [is] jagarana kari–staying awake [all night] nirahare–without food or water sri-hari-vasare–on the day of the Lord (pure Ekadasi or Mahadvadasi) [and that] ksetre–in Sri Ksetra, jagannatha-prasadanna–Jagannath’s prasad manya–should be honoured sarva-kale–at all times. pailei–Whenever one receives [it,] bhaksana kariye–one should eat [it]. [7]
Translation:
«We know that the crown jewel of all rites is to stay awake all night without food or water on the day of the Lord. We also know that in Sri Ksetra, Jagannath’s prasad should be honoured at all times and should be eaten whenever it is received.
এ সঙ্কটে ক্ষেত্রবাসে মনে হয় বড় ত্রাসে
স্পষ্ট আজ্ঞা করিয়ে প্রার্থনা ।
সর্ব্ববেদ আজ্ঞা তব যাহা মানে ব্রহ্মা শিব
তাহা দিয়া ঘুচাও যাতনা» ॥৮॥
e saṅkaṭe kṣetra-vāse mane haya baḍa trāse
spaṣṭa ājñā kariye prārthanā
sarva-veda ājñā tava yāhā māne brahmā śiva
tāhā diyā ghuchāo yātanā» [8]
ksetra-vase–Living in Sri Ksetra e sankate–with this dilemma, bada trase haya–we feel great fear mane–in [our] minds. [Our] prarthana–prayer [is that] spasta ajna kariye–You give [us] a clear instruction. sarva-veda–All the Vedas [are] tava–Your ajna–instructions, yaha–which brahma–Brahma [and] siva–Siva mane–follow. ghuchao–Please put an end [to our] yatana–confusion diya–by giving [us] taha»–that [such an instruction].» [8]
Translation:
«We live in Sri Ksetra and are very afraid because of this dilemma, so we pray that You give us a clear instruction. All the Vedas are Your instructions, and Brahma and Siva follow them. Please put an end to our confusion by giving us an instruction.»
শ্রীমহাপ্রভুর বিচার
sri-mahaprabhur vichara
Sriman Mahaprabhu’s conclusion
প্রভু বলে, «ভক্তি-অঙ্গে একাদশী-মান-ভঙ্গে
সর্ব্বনাশ উপস্থিত হয় ।
প্রসাদ-পূজন করি’ পরদিনে পাইলে তরি
তিথি পরদিনে নাহি রয় ॥৯॥
prabhu bale, «bhakti-aṅge ekādaśī-māna-bhaṅge
sarva-nāśa upasthita haya
prasāda-pūjana kari’ para-dine pāile tari
tithi para-dine nāhi raya [9]
prabhu–The Lord bale–said, «bhakti-ange ekadasi-mana-bhange–By failing to observe the devotional practice of Ekadasi, sarva-nasa upasthita haya–total ruination occurs. prasada-pujana kari’–If you worship the prasad [and] paile–take it para-dine–the following day, tari–you will cross over [this dilemma because] tithi–the lunar day raya nahi–does not continue para-dine–the next day. [9]
Translation:
The Lord said, «Failing to observe the practice of Ekadasi leads to total ruination. If you worship the prasad (on Ekadasi) and take it the following day, you will cross over this dilemma because the period of Ekadasi always ends the next day.
শ্রীহরিবাসর-দিনে কৃষ্ণনামরসপানে
তৃপ্ত হয় বৈষ্ণব সুজন ।
অন্য রস নাহি লয় অন্য কথা নাহি কয়
সর্ব্বভোগ করয়ে বর্জ্জন ॥১০॥
śrī-hari-vāsara-dine kṛṣṇa-nāma-rasa-pāne
tṛpta haya vaiṣṇava sujana
anya rasa nāhi laya anya kathā nāhi kaya
sarva-bhoga karaye varjana [10]
sri-hari-vasara-dine–On the day of the Lord, sujana vaisnava–pure devotees trpta haya–are satisfied krsna-nama-rasa-pane–by drinking the rasa of Krsna’s Name. laya nahi–They do not partake anya rasa–of any other rasa, [and] kaya nahi–do not speak anya katha–about any other subject. varjana karaye–They avoid sarva-bhoga–all [forms of] enjoyment. [10]
Translation:
«On the day of the Lord, pure devotees are satisfied by drinking the rasa of Krsna’s Name. They do not partake of any other rasa or speak about anything else. They avoid all forms of enjoyment.
প্রসাদ ভোজন নিত্য শুদ্ধ বৈষ্ণবের কৃত্য
অপ্রসাদ না করে ভক্ষণ ।
শুদ্ধা একাদশী যবে নিরাহার থাকে তবে
পারণেতে প্রসাদ ভোজন ॥১১॥
prasāda bhojana nitya śuddha vaiṣṇavera kṛtya
aprasāda nā kare bhakṣaṇa
śuddhā ekādaśī yabe nirāhāra thāke tabe
pāraṇete prasāda bhojana [11]
bhojana–Taking prasada–prasad [is] nitya krtya–the daily activity suddha vaisnavera–of pure devotees; bhaksana kare na–they do not eat aprasada–non-prasad. yabe–When [it is] suddha ekadasi–pure Ekadasi, nirahara thake–they fast, [however, and] tabe–then prasada bhojana–they take prasad paranete–to break the fast. [11]
Translation:
«Taking prasad is a daily activity of pure devotees; they do not eat anything that is not prasad. On pure Ekadasi, however, they fast and then take prasad to break their fast (the following day).
অনুকল্পস্থানমাত্র নিরন্ন প্রসাদপাত্র
বৈষ্ণবকে জানিহ নিশ্চিত ।
অবৈষ্ণব জন যারা প্রসাদ-ছলেতে তারা
ভোগে হয় দিবানিশি রত ।
পাপপুরুষের সঙ্গে অন্নাহার করে রঙ্গে
নাহি মানে হরিবাসর-ব্রত ॥১২॥
anukalpa-sthāna-mātra niranna prasāda-pātra
vaiṣṇavake jāniha niśchita
avaiṣṇava jana yārā prasāda-chhalete tārā
bhoge haya divā-niśi rata
pāpa-puruṣera saṅge annāhāra kare raṅge
nāhi māne hari-vāsara-vrata [12]
vaisnavake janiha–Devotees should know nischita–for certain [that] matra–only niranna–non-grain prasada-patra–prasad [is] anukalpa-sthana–a supplement [acceptable on Ekadasi]. tara yara–Those who [are] avaisnava jana–non-devotees bhoge rata haya–enjoy diva-nisi–day and night prasada-chhalete–on the pretence of [honouring] prasad. range–Lightheartedly, annahara kare–they eat grains papa-purusera sange–with the association of the personification of sin [and] mane nahi–disregard hari-vasara-vrata–the rite for the day of the Lord. [12]
Translation:
«Devotees should know for certain that non-grain prasad is the only supplement acceptable on Ekadasi. Non-devotees enjoy day and night using prasad as an excuse. Lightheartedly, they eat grains in which the personification of sin is present and disregard the rite for the day of the Lord.
ভক্তি-অঙ্গ সদাচার ভক্তির সম্মান কর
ভক্তি-দেবী-কৃপা-লাভ হবে ।
অবৈষ্ণবসঙ্গ ছাড় একাদশীব্রত ধর
নামব্রতে একাদশী তবে ॥১৩॥
bhakti-aṅga sadāchāra bhaktira sammāna kara
bhakti-devī-kṛpā-lābha habe
avaiṣṇava-saṅga chhāḍa ekādaśī-vrata dhara
nāma-vrate ekādaśī tabe [13]
bhaktira sammana kara–Everyone should devoutly honour [and] bhakti-anga sadachara–properly perform the practices of devotion. [Then] bhakti-devi-krpa-labha habe–they will attain the grace of the goddess of devotion. [So,] chhada–reject avaisnava-sanga–the association of non-devotees [and] dhara–follow ekadasi-vrata–the Ekadasi rite nama-vrate–by following the rite of chanting the Name. tabe–Then [your observance] ekadasi–of Ekadasi [will be successful]. [13]
Translation:
«Everyone should devoutly honour and properly perform the practices of devotion. Then they will attain the grace of Bhakti Devi. So, reject the association of non-devotees and follow the Ekadasi rite by following the rite of chanting the Name. Then your observance of Ekadasi will be successful.
প্রসাদসেবন আর শ্রীহরিবাসরে ।
বিরোধ না করে কভু বুঝহ অন্তরে ॥১৪॥
prasāda-sevana āra śrī-hari-vāsare
virodha nā kare kabhu bujhaha antare [14]
bujhaha–Understand antare–within [your] heart [that] prasada-sevana–honouring prasad ara–and [honouring] sri-hari-vasare–the day of the Lord kabhu na–never virodha kare–conflict. [14]
Translation:
«Understand within your heart that honouring prasad and honouring the day of the Lord never conflict.
এক অঙ্গ মানে, আর অন্য অঙ্গে দ্বেষ ।
যে করে নির্ব্বোধ সেই, জানহ বিশেষ ॥১৫॥
eka aṅga māne, āra anya aṅge dveṣa
ye kare nirbodha sei, jānaha viśeṣa [15]
sei ye–Those who mane–follow eka anga–one practice ara–and dvesa kare–disregard anya ange–the other practices [are] nirbodha–foolish. janaha–Know [this] visesa–for certain. [15]
Translation:
«Those who follow one practice of devotion but disregard the others are foolish. Know this for certain.
যে অঙ্গের যেই দেশকালবিধিব্রত ।
তাহাতে একান্তভাবে হও ভক্তিরত ॥১৬॥
ye aṅgera yei deśa-kāla-vidhi-vrata
tāhāte ekānta-bhāve hao bhakti-rata [16]
ekanta-bhave–Sincerely bhakti-rata hao–devote yourself tahate ye angera–to each practice yei desa-kala-vidhi-vrata–according to its place, time, rules, and rites. [16]
Translation:
«Sincerely devote yourself to each practice according to its place, time, rules, and rites.
সর্ব্ব অঙ্গের অধিপতি ব্রজেন্দ্রনন্দন ।
যাহে তেঁহ তুষ্ট তাহা করহ পালন ॥১৭॥
sarva aṅgera adhipati vrajendra-nandana
yāhe te̐ha tuṣṭa tāhā karaha pālana [17]
vrajendra-nandana–The prince of Vraja [is] adhipati–the enjoyer sarva angera–of all the practices, [so] palana karaha–adhere taha yahe–to that by which te̐ha–He [is] tusta–pleased. [17]
Translation:
«Krsna is the enjoyer of all devotional practices, so adhere to what pleases Him.
একাদশী-দিনে নিদ্রাহার বিসর্জ্জন ।
অন্য দিনে প্রসাদ নির্ম্মাল্য সুসেবন» ॥১৮॥
ekādaśī-dine nidrāhāra visarjana
anya dine prasāda nirmālya susevana» [18]
ekadasi-dine–On the day of Ekadasi, visarjana–give up nidrahara–sleep and food, [and] anya dine–on the following day, susevana–fully honour prasada–prasad [and] nirmalya»–the other remnants of the Lord.» [18]
Translation:
«On the day of Ekadasi, give up sleep and food, and on the following day, fully honour prasad and the other remnants of the Lord.»
শুনিয়া বৈষ্ণব সব আনন্দে গোবিন্দরব
দণ্ডবৎ পড়িলেন তবে ।
স্বরূপাদি রামানন্দ পাইলেন মহানন্দ
‘উড়িয়া’ ‘গৌড়িয়া’ ভক্ত সবে ॥১৯॥
śuniyā vaiṣṇava saba ānande govinda-rava
daṇḍavat paḍilena tabe
svarūpādi rāmānanda pāilena mahānanda
‘uḍiyā’ ‘gauḍiyā’ bhakta sabe [19]
suniya–Hearing [this,] vaisnava saba–all the devotees anande–joyfully govinda-rava–chanted, «Govinda!» [and] tabe–then dandavat padilena–bowed down. svarupadi ramananda–Svarup, Ramananda, [and] bhakta sabe–all the devotees ‘udiya’ ‘gaudiya’–from Odisha and Gauda pailena–felt mahananda–great joy. [19]
Translation:
Hearing this, all the devotees joyfully chanted, «Govinda!» and bowed down. Svarup Damodar, Ramananda Ray, and all the devotees from Odisha and Gauda were overjoyed.
ওহে ভাই!
গৌরাঙ্গ আমার প্রাণধন ।
অকৈতবে ভজ তাঁরে যাবে তবে ভবপারে
শীতল হইবে তনুমন ॥২০॥
ohe bhāi!
gaurāṅga āmāra prāṇa-dhana
akaitave bhaja tā̐re yābe tabe bhava-pāre
sitala ha-ibe tanu-mana [20]
ohe–O bhai!–brother! gauranga–Gauranga [is] amara–my prana-dhana–life and wealth. bhaja–Serve ta̐re–Him akaitave–sincerely. tabe–Then, bhava-pare yabe–you will cross the ocean of material existence [and your] tanu-mana–body and mind sitala ha-ibe–will become tranquil. [20]
Translation:
O brother! Gauranga is my life and wealth. Serve Him sincerely. Then, you will cross the ocean of material existence and your body and mind will become tranquil.
শ্রীনামভজন ও একাদশী এক
sri-nama-bhajana o ekadasi eka
Serving the Name and following Ekadasi are one
শ্রীনামভজন আর একাদশী ব্রত ।
এক-তত্ত্ব নিত্য জানি’ হও তাহে রত ॥২১॥
śrī-nāma-bhajana āra ekādaśī-vrata
eka-tattva nitya jāni’ hao tāhe rata [21]
jani’–Knowing sri-nama-bhajana–service to the Name ara–and ekadasi-vrata–the Ekadasi rite [to be] nitya–eternally eka-tattva–one, rata hao–practise tahe–them both. [21]
Translation:
Knowing service to the Name and the Ekadasi rite to be eternally one, practise them both.