🌸*॥हरि ॐ तत्सत्॥*🌸🙏🌸*श्रीमद्भागवत-कथा*🌸 🌸🙏*श्रीमद्भागवत-महापुराण*🙏🌸 🌸🙏*पोस्ट - 106*🌸🙏🌸*स्कन्ध - 05*🙏🌸 🌸🙏*अध्याय - 07*🙏🌸 *इस अध्याय में भरत-चरित्र.…. *श्रीशुकदेव जी कहते हैं- राजन्! महाराज भरत बड़े ही भगवद्भक्त थे। भगवान् ऋषभदेव ने अपने संकल्पमात्र से उन्हें पृथ्वी की रक्षा करने के लिये नियुक्त कर दिया। उन्होंने उनकी आज्ञा में स्थित रहकर विश्वरूप की कन्या पंचजनी से विवाह किया। *जिस प्रकार तामस अहंकार से शब्दादि पाँच भूततन्मात्र उत्पन्न होते हैं- उसी प्रकार पंचजनी के गर्भ से उनके सुमति, राष्ट्रभृत्, सुदर्शन, आवरण और धूम्रकेतु नामक पाँच पुत्र हुए- जो सर्वथा उन्हीं के समान थे। इस वर्ष को, जिसका नाम पहले अजनाभवर्ष था, राजा भरत के समय से ही ‘भारतवर्ष’ कहते हैं। *महाराज भरत बहुज्ञ थे। वे अपने-अपने कर्मों में लगी हुई प्रजा का अपने बाप-दादों के समान स्वधर्म में स्थित रहते हुए अत्यन्त वात्सल्यभाव से पालन करने लगे। उन्होंने होता, अध्वर्यु, उद्गाता और ब्रह्मा- इन चार ऋत्विजों द्वारा कराये जाने वाले प्रकृति और विकृति दोनों प्रकार के अग्निहोत्र, दर्श, पूर्णमास, चातुर्मास्य, पशु और सोम आदि छोटे-बड़े क्रतुओं (यज्ञों) से यथासमय श्रद्धापूर्वक यज्ञ और क्रतुरूप श्रीभगवान् का यजन किया। *इस प्रकार अंग और क्रियाओं के सहित भिन्न-भिन्न यज्ञों के अनुष्ठान के समय जब अध्वर्युगण आहुति देने के लिये हवि हाथ में लेते, जो यजमान भरत उस यज्ञकर्म से होने वाले पुण्यरूप फल को यज्ञ पुरुष भगवान् वासुदेव को अर्पण कर देते थे। वस्तुतः वे परब्रह्म ही इन्द्रादि समस्त देवताओं के प्रकाशक, मन्त्रों के वास्तविक प्रतिपाद्य तथा उन देवताओं के भी नियामक होने से मुख्य कर्ता एवं प्रधान देव हैं। *इस प्रकार अपनी भगवदर्पण बुद्धिरूप कुशलता से हृदय के रोग-द्वेषादि मलों का मार्जन करते हुए वे सूर्यादि सभी यज्ञभोक्ता देवताओं का भगवान् के नेत्रादि अवयवों के रूप में चिन्तन करते थे। इस तरह कर्म की शुद्धि से उनका अन्तःकरण शुद्ध हो गया। तब उन्हें अन्तर्यामीरूप से विराजमान, हृदयाकाश में ही अभिव्यक्त होने वाले, ब्रह्मस्वरूप एवं महापुरुषों के लक्षणों से उपलक्षित भगवान् वासुदेव में- जो श्रीवत्स, कौस्तुभ, वनमाला, चक्र, शंख और गदा आदि से सुशोभित तथा नारदादि निजजनों के हृदयों में चित्र के समान निश्चलभाव से स्थित रहते हैं- दिन-दिन वेगपूर्वक बढ़ने वाली उत्कृष्ट भक्ति प्राप्त हुई। *इस प्रकार एक करोड़ वर्ष निकल जाने पर उन्होंने राज्यभोग का प्रारब्ध क्षीण हुआ जानकर अपनी भोगी हुई वंशपरम्परागत सम्पत्ति को यथायोग्य पुत्रों में बाँट दिया। फिर अपने सर्वसम्पत्तिसम्पन्न राजमहल से निकालकर वे पुलहाश्रम (हरिहरक्षेत्र) में चले आये। इस पुलहाश्रम में रहने वाले भक्तों पर भगवान् का बड़ा ही वात्सल्य है। वे आज भी उनसे उनके इष्टरूप में मिलते रहते हैं। वहाँ चक्रनदी (गण्डकी) नाम की प्रसिद्ध सरिता चक्राकार शालग्राम-शिलाओं से, जिनके ऊपर-नीचे दोनों ओर नाभि के समान चिह्न होते हैं, सब ओर से ऋषियों के आश्रमों को पवित्र करती रहती है। *उस पुलहाश्रम के उपवन में एकान्त स्थान में अकेले ही रहकर वे अनेक प्रकार के पत्र, पुष्प, तुलसीदल, जल और कन्द-मूल-फलादि उपहारों से भगवान् की आराधना करने लगे। इससे उनका अन्तःकरण समस्त विषयाभिलाषाओं से निवृत्त होकर शान्त हो गया और उन्हें परमआनन्द हुआ। *इस प्रकार जब वे नियमपूर्वक भगवान् की परिचर्या करने लगे, तब उससे प्रेम का वेग बढ़ता गया-जिससे उनका हृदय द्रवीभूत होकर शान्त हो गया, आनन्द के प्रबल वेग से शरीर में रोमांच होने लगा तथा उत्कण्ठा के कारण नेत्रों में प्रेम के आँसू उमड़ आये, जिससे उनकी दृष्टि रुक गयी। अन्त में जब अपने प्रियतम के अरुण चरणारविन्दों के ध्यान से भक्तियोग का आविर्भाव हुआ, तब परमानन्द से सराबोर हृदयरूप गम्भीर सरोवर में बुद्धि के डूब जाने से उन्हें उस नियमपूर्वक की जाने वाली भगवत्पूजा का भी स्मरण न रहा। इस प्रकार वे भगवत्सेवा के नियम में ही तत्पर रहते थे, शरीर पर कृष्ण मृगचर्म धारण करते थे तथा त्रिकाल स्नान के कारण भीगते रहने से उनके केश भूरी-भूरी घुँघराली लटों में परिणत हो गये थे, जिनसे वे बड़े ही सुहावने लगते थे। *वे उदित हुए सूर्यमण्डल में सूर्यसम्बन्धिनी ऋचाओं द्वारा ज्योतिर्मय परमपुरुष भगवान् नारायण की आराधना करते और इस प्रकार कहते- ‘भगवान् सूर्य का कर्म फलदायक तेज प्रकृति से परे हैं। उसी ने संकल्प द्वारा इस जगत् की उत्पत्ति की है। फिर वही अन्तर्यामी रूप से इसमें प्रविष्ट होकर अपनी चित्-शक्ति द्वारा विषयलोलुप जीवों की रक्षा करता है। हम उसी बुद्धिप्रवर्तक तेज की शरण लेते हैं’। ~~~०~~~ *श्रीकृष्ण गोविन्द हरे मुरारे। *हे नाथ नारायण वासुदेवाय॥ "जय जय श्री हरि" 🌸🌸🙏🌸🌸 ********************************************

🌷OM❤SAI❤RAM🌷 O Sadguru Sai ! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ I eternally kiss Your Used and 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 Blessed Padukas… 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙 O Sadguru Sai ! Now I bow down to eternally kiss Your Padukas (footwear) – both, the ‘Used’ and the ‘Blessed’ ones. ‘Padukas’ may be a pair of shoes or a pair of carved ‘footprints’. O Baba ! By the ‘Used Padukas’, I mean those sacred leather slippers (footwear) on which Your Lotus Feet rested. Your Lotus Feet are supposed once to have trodden on the holy soil of Shirdi and in the process, these ‘Padukas’ are all covered with the holy dust. O my Lord ! Let me kiss the Holy Sole of these ‘Padukas’ with my unholy lips once again to quench the thirst of my longing soul - O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally kiss Your Used and Blessed Padukas… O Baba ! ‘Sai Museum’ in Shirdi is a rich repository of all things associated with You. Kept under the maintenance of ‘Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust’, the Museum has some of Your most intimate and personal belongings, including the three pairs of the ‘Padukas’ worn by You. Devotees from across the world visit this Museum. Your ‘Padukas’ (leather footwear) are occasionally kept for Darshan in Samadhi Mandir at Shirdi. O Sai ! On one such occasion, it was gratifying to me to have the opportunity to kiss the sole of these slippers to the envy of all my fellow-devotees flocking around Your Samadhi at that moment of time. The kiss provided me with the same thrill of rapture that Hemadpant had experienced after he drank the butter-milk offered to him by Your Divine Hands. (Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter 38) O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally lick the Big Toes of Your Lotus Feet… O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally kiss Your Used and Blessed Padukas… O Baba ! By the ‘Blessed Padukas’, I mean those sacred ‘Padukas’ that are sanctified with the celestial touch either by Your Holy Hands or Your Big Toes, but not actually used by You to give rest to Your Lotus Feet. In 1913, one of Your devotees Atmaram Haribhau Chaubal, went to Shirdi for Your Darshan. He had with him a pair of silver ‘Padukas’ that he got specially minted in Mumbai. You took these ‘Padukas’ in Your hands and remarked “How beautiful !”. Then You inserted Your two Big Toes in these ‘Padukas’. At that moment of time You appeared to have been greatly ecstatic and said, “How nice they look ! Take them and keep them in your Pooja room and regularly worship them.” Accordingly, Atmaram installed these ‘Padukas’ on a low wooden stool in his Pooja room. He felt great poise within himself that he was worshipping the ‘Padukas’ quite satisfactorily according to the promise given to You. In 1930, one day he got up early to have Darshan of the ‘Padukas’. To his great dismay, he found one of the ‘Padukas’ was missing. He searched under the stool and everywhere in the Pooja room; but all in vain. It deeply disturbed him. However, he continued the worship of the other ‘Paduka’. Much to his shock, the other ‘Paduka’ was also found missing a couple of months later. Now Atmaram went to Mumbai to have a replacement; but failed to arrange one. Although he returned home and tried his best to contend himself with just the worship of Your photo. Atmaram constantly remained uneasy for having lost the ‘Padukas’, so fondly sanctified by the touch of the Big Toes of Your Lotus Feet. O Baba ! Thy ways are indeed inscrutable… One fine morning when Atmaram entered the Pooja room for the daily worship, he could not believe himself. Lo ! He found the missing ‘Padukas’ neatly placed under the wooden stool, as if they were always there ! O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally kiss Your Used and Blessed Padukas… O Baba ! May I humbly request You to recall that once Kakasaheb Dixit wanted to keep Your ‘Padukas’ in his Dev Ghar ? He, therefore, got one pair of ‘Padukas’ carved out of Shisham wood, and requested You to touch that pair and give it back to him after infusing Your blessings in it. O Sadguru ! You did as per Your devotee’s wishes. Moreover, O Sai ! You also gave Kakasaheb Dixit a set of miniature silver ‘Padukas’ kept in a small silver Dabbi (casket) which had the carving of Lord Hanuman’s image on the cover top. As per Your instructions, Kaka used to always carry these ‘Padukas’ in his pocket. These wooden and silver ‘Padukas’ are still with the ‘Kakasaheb Dixit Trust’. O Baba ! Dwarkamai is a mosque where You spent about 60 years of Your life in Shirdi. In Dwarkamai alone, there are five sets of ‘Padukas’, symbolizing and signifying Your presence. In front of the portrait is a pair of silver ‘Padukas’. Just behind the cooking area, in the Masjid, is the place where You would stand, usually before going to Lendi, leaning against the mud wall. You would call out to villagers in a friendly way - “How are you ?” “How’s the crop coming along ?” “How are your children doing ?” Following Your Mahasamadhi, a pair of ‘Padukas’ was installed in this spot and a small shrine placed over them. In the wall above is a smaller set of ‘Padukas’ where You are said to have leaned Your arm. O Sai ! Near the Dhuni, where You used to sit, yet another set of ‘Padukas’ is installed. The fifth pair of silver ‘Padukas’ adorns the black stone kept at the right side of the entrance of the Dwarkamai. O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally lick the Big Toes of Your Lotus Feet… O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally kiss Your Used and Blessed Padukas… O Baba ! You first manifested Yourself, for the sake of Your Bhaktas, under the Neem tree as a young lad of sixteen. In commemoration of Your first visit to Shirdi, devotees installed ‘Padukas’ there. The ‘Padukas’ were brought in a solemn ceremony, with musical instruments playing, on the full moon day in the month of Shravan in 1912. On that day, at 11 00 a. m., Shri G. K. Dixit (not to be confused with H. S. ‘Kakasaheb’ Dixit) carried the ‘Padukas’ on his head from Khandoba temple to Dwarkamai before their installation. You blessed the ‘Padukas’ with the words - “These are the Lotus Feet of the Lord”. The Sai Mahima written by Upasani Baba was also carved there :- “Sada Nimbavrikshasya mooladhivasat, Sudhastravinam tiktamapya-priyam tam, Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham” (“I bow to Lord Sainath, Who by His constant stay at the foot of the Neem tree – which although bitter and unpleasant, was yet oozing nectar – made it better than the wish-fulfilling tree. I bow to Lord Sainath, Who always takes delight in resting under the Neem tree and bestowing material and spiritual prosperity upon His devotees who lovingly attend on Him.”) The above ‘Padukas’ were broken with a huge stone within a few months after their installation by one Martand, a whimsical Brahmin. O Baba ! Your devotees were greatly distressed. They, believing it augured ill, asked You, whether new ‘Padukas’ should be installed in place of the broken ones. O Sai ! You, however, took the matter casually and told them simply to repair the cracks with cement and undertake a poor-feeding. Accordingly, about two to three hundred people were fed as a part of the Shanti ceremony. In fact, the broken ‘Padukas’ were later replaced and the originals are said to be in the pedestal underneath. O Sai, Please raise those original ‘Padukas’ above the pedestal and let me apply the cement of my Bhakti to heal the cracks ! O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally lick the Big Toes of Your Lotus Feet… O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally kiss Your Used and Blessed Padukas… O Sai ! These days Your ‘Padukas’ are being carried all across the country. In fact, the ‘Padukas’ are brought out of the state of Maharashtra 90 years after You gained ‘Samadhi’ in 1918. Devotees consider themselves fortunate enough to have the glimpse of the ‘Padukas’, which are one amongst the three pairs worn by You. Undoubtedly, Your ‘Padukas’ are the ones which support and sustain the welfare of the three worlds. O Sadguru Sai ! I earnestly invite my fellow-devotees to join me when - O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally lick the Big Toes of Your Lotus Feet… O Sadguru Sai ! I eternally kiss Your Used and Blessed Padukas… Therefore, to overcome Maya, take refuge at the Sadguru’s Feet and whole heartedly surrender to him. The fear of the worldly existence disappears immediately. (Shri Sai Sat Charita, Chapter 39, Verse 82) Always practise truth; listen to the stories about the saints; bow down at the Feet of the saints. Sins will be washed away. (Shri Sai Sat Charita, Chapter 18, Verse 26) Therefore, knowledge is not possible to be obtained without a Guru. All the learned men are aware of this that the capable Feet of the Guru can solve the mystery of the Brahman and the Atman. (Shri Sai Sat Charita, Chapter 17, Verse 140) Whatever be the condition, good or bad, the body must do its duties as destined. But, introvert your senses towards the Guru’s Feet with all the love. (Shri Sai Sat Charita, Chapter 41, Verse 13) But he, who is devoutedly attached to a saint’s Feet and who has the purpose of Darshan in his mind, then the saint and even God fulfils his desire. (Shri Sai Sat Charita, Chapter 30, Verse 45) 🌷 SRI SATCHIDANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI 🌷

#🙏 साईं ज्ञान

ॐ साईं राम 🙏🙏🙏

🌷OM❤SAI❤RAM🌷 Tatya and Baba's Mischiefs' 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 Whenever Tatya would sit down to rest in the Masjid, Baba would tease him for fun. Baba would pat him on the back and then hide in the Masjid. On Tatya's asking that who pushed and patted him/ Baba would come out laughing from behind. Baba would close Tatya's eyes with his hands and hide again. Tatya would also playfully press Baba's fingers and then Baba would shout at him saying, "Will you break my fingers? Baba also used to play Fagoodi with Tatya. At times Baba would wrestle with him. Tatya would carry Baba on his shoulders. Baba addressed him as Tatya, Kotya or "Ghormukhiya". Sometimes Baba used to massage his head and when he was in deep sleep, he would change the direction in which Tatya was sleeping. In summers, it became very hot inside the Masjid. Tatya's bed was near the Dhuni. Baba, being a fun loving person, would wake up at midnight and put a blanket on Tatya. When it would get too hot for Tatya, he would get up and sleep on the stairs. Once, on the occasion of Holi, Tatya was standing near Nandu Marwari's shop. Baba was in a very good mood. Tatya lifted him on his shoulders and started walking towards the Masjid. Baba kept saying throughout the way, 'Oh Tatya, Oh Kotya'! For God's sake, put me down or you shall start having a stomach ache' But he paid no heed to Baba and stopped only at the Masjid. Tatya repeated this incident a couple of times, but then quit doing so thinking that he might hurt Baba. Baba would often hide Tatya's Aparna (a cloth hung on the shoulder) behind the wheat bag lying in the Masjid and when he searched and inquired about his Aparna, Baba pretending to be angry would tell him, "How do I know? Do I steal everybody's Aparna?" But Tatya always knew that only Baba could commit this mischief. After some time Baba would give back his Aparna. Baba would then imitate Tatya by wearing his Aparna on his shoulders. He would sit like Tatya and mimic every move of his. Baba teasingly would press Tatya's hands, and in return when Tatya did the same with force Baba would complain, "Will you break my bones?" Once Tatya took away Baba's white Safa and replaced it with his headgear and he also put the Aparna on Baba's shoulders. Tatya would make Baba look into the mirror to show him this attire and Baba would laugh at this. Seeing Himself in the mirror, Baba would raise his shoulders and would laugh by making different funny faces enjoying each moment in the process. Looking in the mirror Baba would say, "Tell me Oh! Mirror if Tatya looks like this?" Once Baba suddenly got up to touch Tatya's feet. Tatya was taken aback and he questioned Baba that why did He try to do that. But Baba touched Tatya's feet and folded his hands. Tatya asked Baba, "Why are you doing this?" Baba replied, "Keep quiet. What do you know?" At times Baba would stand in front of Tatya and say, "Jai Deva! Jai Deva!!". Tatya was quite surprised at all this. Once, the Muslims of the village gathered and brought Taziya in the Masjid and began to perform religious rites. Baba sent for Tatya to see this. He returned and told Baba, "They were performing the Haidas Choolah." When all this was over, Baba came down to the Masjid courtyard and holding Tatya's hand started moving round the stone saying, "Haidas Choolah." They did this only once. 🌷 SRI SATCHIDANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI 🌷

🌷OM❤SAI❤RAM🌷 SAI LEELA ❤❤❤❤ HOW SHRI MUKTHARAM, A 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 STAUNCH DEVOTEE OF 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙 BASA FARED WHEN HE 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙 WANTED TO OCCUPY BABA'S 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 GADI 💜💙 Shri Muktharam was a staunch devotee of Baba. Baba gave a Kupni to him. He lived in Dixit Wada by keeping a Dhuni. After some days of Baba's Samadhi, he came and sat in Baba's Gadi in Dwarakamayee. As soon as he sat in Baba's Gadi against the wishes of the villagers he began to vomit blood and he was taken to his residence in the Dixit Wada. The devotees decided to take him to Kopargaon Hospital . Before the decision was taken with whom he was to be sent to Kopargaon, he died in Dixit Wada itself. His Samadhi is in Lendi Baug. This incident also goes to show that Baba was not willing to allow 💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟 anybody to occupy His Gadi. 💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟 Surrender Shri Sai Completely 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 Stupendous Delectation and 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 Deliverance be there 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 🌷 SRI SATCHIDANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI 🌷

ॐ साईं राम 🙏🙏🙏

🌷OM❤SAI❤RAM🌷 SAI LEELA ❤❤❤❤ BABA PROVED HIMSELF 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙 THAT THERE WERE NO 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙 SISHYAS NO RELATIVES, NO 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 INCARNATIONS NO 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙 SUCCESSORS AND NO 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 HEREDITARY TO HIM 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 Shri Sai Baba, Shirdi took His Mahasamadhi on 15-10-1918. After His Mahasamadhi, Baba's Samadhi was not looked after in a fit manner upto 1922. Having seen the maintenance of Baba's Samadhi by the villa­gers, Shri Kakasaheb Dixit came to Shirdi, settled an office with a managing committee under Public Trust Act with the approval of the District Court, Ahmednagar. At that time, Shri Abdul Baba was performing Abhishek to Baba's Samadhi and the Maha Naivedyam food was given to him and he was allowed to take his residence in the room situated in the left side of the Samadhi Mandir. Shri Abdul Baba was the then only local leading devotee of Baba. He was then having about four or five thousand rupees of Baba's dakshina amount with him offered by Baba's devotees. Some well wishers of him induced him that he was the legal heir to Baba and that the formation of the Trust was against justice. Thereby Abdul Baba filed a suit stating that he was the legal heir to Baba, against the Trust Body in the District Court, Ahmednagar. The bellowed District Court by the grace of Baba passed orders that Abdul Baba has no connection of the maintenance of the Sansthan of Shri Sai Baba, Shirdi and that there was no heir or successor to Shri Sai Baba, Shirdi. On the strength of this order the Maha Naivedyam food given to him was stopped by the Sansthan and he was made to vacate his room in Baba's Samadhi Mandir. As Baba said, that He would be with the same power for one thousand years and looking after the welfare of His devotees, He himself proved that there were no Sishyas, no relatives, no hereditary, no successor, no rebirth and no reincarnation to Him. Surrender Shri Sai Completely Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be there 🌷 SRI SATCHIDANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI 🌷

Ji🙏🏻🌳jai Shri radhe Krishna ji ❤️🌷🌿🌿🌺🙏jai Shri radhe 🙏🏻radhe ji 🥀🌱🌿🌺 🙏🏻

🌹 *पुत्रदा एकादशी : 24 जनवरी* 🌹 *युधिष्ठिर बोले: श्रीकृष्ण ! कृपा करके पौष मास के शुक्लपक्ष की एकादशी का माहात्म्य बतलाइये । उसका नाम क्या है? उसे करने की विधि क्या है ? उसमें किस देवता का पूजन किया जाता है ?* 🌹 *भगवान श्रीकृष्ण ने कहा: राजन्! पौष मास के शुक्लपक्ष की जो एकादशी है, उसका नाम ‘पुत्रदा’ है ।* 🌹 *‘पुत्रदा एकादशी’ को नाम-मंत्रों का उच्चारण करके फलों के द्वारा श्रीहरि का पूजन करे । नारियल के फल, सुपारी, बिजौरा नींबू, जमीरा नींबू, अनार, सुन्दर आँवला, लौंग, बेर तथा विशेषत: आम के फलों से देवदेवेश्वर श्रीहरि की पूजा करनी चाहिए । इसी प्रकार धूप दीप से भी भगवान की अर्चना करे ।* 🌹 *‘पुत्रदा एकादशी’ को विशेष रुप से दीप दान करने का विधान है । रात को वैष्णव पुरुषों के साथ जागरण करना चाहिए । जागरण करनेवाले को जिस फल की प्राप्ति होति है, वह हजारों वर्ष तक तपस्या करने से भी नहीं मिलता । यह सब पापों को हरनेवाली उत्तम तिथि है ।* 🌹 *चराचर जगतसहित समस्त त्रिलोकी में इससे बढ़कर दूसरी कोई तिथि नहीं है । समस्त कामनाओं तथा सिद्धियों के दाता भगवान नारायण इस तिथि के अधिदेवता हैं ।* 🌹 *पूर्वकाल की बात है, भद्रावतीपुरी में राजा सुकेतुमान राज्य करते थे । उनकी रानी का नाम चम्पा था । राजा को बहुत समय तक कोई वंशधर पुत्र नहीं प्राप्त हुआ । इसलिए दोनों पति पत्नी सदा चिन्ता और शोक में डूबे रहते थे । राजा के पितर उनके दिये हुए जल को शोकोच्छ्वास से गरम करके पीते थे । ‘राजा के बाद और कोई ऐसा नहीं दिखायी देता, जो हम लोगों का तर्पण करेगा …’ यह सोच सोचकर पितर दु:खी रहते थे ।* 🌹 *एक दिन राजा घोड़े पर सवार हो गहन वन में चले गये । पुरोहित आदि किसीको भी इस बात का पता न था । मृग और पक्षियों से सेवित उस सघन कानन में राजा भ्रमण करने लगे । मार्ग में कहीं सियार की बोली सुनायी पड़ती थी तो कहीं उल्लुओं की । जहाँ तहाँ भालू और मृग दृष्टिगोचर हो रहे थे । इस प्रकार घूम घूमकर राजा वन की शोभा देख रहे थे, इतने में दोपहर हो गयी । राजा को भूख और प्यास सताने लगी । वे जल की खोज में इधर उधर भटकने लगे । किसी पुण्य के प्रभाव से उन्हें एक उत्तम सरोवर दिखायी दिया, जिसके समीप मुनियों के बहुत से आश्रम थे । शोभाशाली नरेश ने उन आश्रमों की ओर देखा । उस समय शुभ की सूचना देनेवाले शकुन होने लगे । राजा का दाहिना नेत्र और दाहिना हाथ फड़कने लगा, जो उत्तम फल की सूचना दे रहा था । सरोवर के तट पर बहुत से मुनि वेदपाठ कर रहे थे । उन्हें देखकर राजा को बड़ा हर्ष हुआ । वे घोड़े से उतरकर मुनियों के सामने खड़े हो गये और पृथक् पृथक् उन सबकी वन्दना करने लगे । वे मुनि उत्तम व्रत का पालन करनेवाले थे । जब राजा ने हाथ जोड़कर बारंबार दण्डवत् किया, तब मुनि बोले : ‘राजन् ! हम लोग तुम पर प्रसन्न हैं।’* 🌹 *राजा बोले: आप लोग कौन हैं ? आपके नाम क्या हैं तथा आप लोग किसलिए यहाँ एकत्रित हुए हैं? कृपया यह सब बताइये ।* 🌹 *मुनि बोले: राजन् ! हम लोग विश्वेदेव हैं । यहाँ स्नान के लिए आये हैं । माघ मास निकट आया है । आज से पाँचवें दिन माघ का स्नान आरम्भ हो जायेगा । आज ही ‘पुत्रदा’ नाम की एकादशी है,जो व्रत करनेवाले मनुष्यों को पुत्र देती है ।* 🌹 *राजा ने कहा: विश्वेदेवगण ! यदि आप लोग प्रसन्न हैं तो मुझे पुत्र दीजिये।* 🌹 *मुनि बोले: राजन्! आज ‘पुत्रदा’ नाम की एकादशी है। इसका व्रत बहुत विख्यात है। तुम आज इस उत्तम व्रत का पालन करो । महाराज! भगवान केशव के प्रसाद से तुम्हें पुत्र अवश्य प्राप्त होगा ।* 🌹 *भगवान श्रीकृष्ण कहते हैं: युधिष्ठिर ! इस प्रकार उन मुनियों के कहने से राजा ने उक्त उत्तम व्रत का पालन किया । महर्षियों के उपदेश के अनुसार विधिपूर्वक ‘पुत्रदा एकादशी’ का अनुष्ठान किया । फिर द्वादशी को पारण करके मुनियों के चरणों में बारंबार मस्तक झुकाकर राजा अपने घर आये । तदनन्तर रानी ने गर्भधारण किया । प्रसवकाल आने पर पुण्यकर्मा राजा को तेजस्वी पुत्र प्राप्त हुआ, जिसने अपने गुणों से पिता को संतुष्ट कर दिया । वह प्रजा का पालक हुआ ।* 🌹 *इसलिए राजन्! ‘पुत्रदा’ का उत्तम व्रत अवश्य करना चाहिए । मैंने लोगों के हित के लिए तुम्हारे सामने इसका वर्णन किया है । जो मनुष्य एकाग्रचित्त होकर ‘पुत्रदा एकादशी’ का व्रत करते हैं, वे इस लोक में पुत्र पाकर मृत्यु के पश्चात् स्वर्गगामी होते हैं। इस माहात्म्य को पढ़ने और सुनने से अग्निष्टोम यज्ञ का फल मिलता है ।* 🌹 *व्रत खोलने की विधि : द्वादशी को सेवापूजा की जगह पर बैठकर भुने हुए सात चनों के चौदह टुकड़े करके अपने सिर के पीछे फेंकना चाहिए । ‘मेरे सात जन्मों के शारीरिक, वाचिक और मानसिक पाप नष्ट हुए’ - यह भावना करके सात अंजलि जल पीना और चने के सात दाने खाकर व्रत खोलना चाहिए ।*