Papankusa Ekadasi

Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "0 Madhusudana, what is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Asvina [September-October] ? Please be merciful and tell this to me."

The Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, replied, "0 king, please listen as I explain the glories of this Ekadasi - Papankusa Ekadasi-which removes all sins. On this day one should worship the Deity of Padmanabha, the lotusnaveled Lord, according to the rules and regulations. By doing so, one achieves whatever heavenly pleasures he wants in this world and at last attains liberation. Simply by offering one's humble obeisances unto Lord Visnu, the rider of Garuda, once can achieve the same merit as is won by performing great penances for a long time with completely controlled senses. Although a person might have committed unlimited sins, he can still escape hell just by paying his obeisances to Lord Hari, who removes all sins.

"The merits gained by going on pilgrimage to tirthas of this earthly planet can also be achieved simply by chanting the holy names of Lord Visnu. ' Whoever chants these sacred names-such as Rama, Visnu, Janardana, or Krsna-especially on Ekadasi, never sees Yamaraja's abode. Nor does one who fasts on Papankusa Ekadasi, which is so dear to Me, see that abode.

"Both the Vaisnava who criticizes Lord Siva and the Saivite who criticizes Me certainly go to hell. The merit obtained by performing one thousand horse sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices is not equal to even one sixteenth of the merit a person obtains by fasting on Ekadasi. There is no higher merit one can achieve than that attained by fasting on Ekadasi. Indeed, nothing in all the three worlds is as pleasing or as able to purify one of sin as Ekadasi, the day of the lotus-naveled Lord, Padmanabha.

"O king, until a person observes a fast on the day of Lord Padmanabha named Papankusa Ekadasi, he remains sinful, and the reactions of his past sinful deeds never leave him. There is no merit in all the three worlds that can match the merit one attains by observing a fast on this Ekadasi. Whoever observes it faithfully never has to see death personified, Lord Yamaraja. One who desires liberation, heaven, good health, beautiful women, wealth, and food grains should simply fast on this Ekadasi. 0 King, neither the Ganges, Gaya, Kam, nor Puskara, nor even the holy site of Kuruksetra, can grant as much merit as Papankusa Ekadasi.

"0 Yudhisthira, protector of the earth, after observing Ekadasi during the daytime, the devotee should remain awake through the night, for by doing so he easily attains to the abode of the Supreme Lord, Sri Visnu. Ten generations of ancestors on his mother's side, ten generations on his father's side, and ten generations on his wife's side are all liberated by a single observance of a fast on this Ekadasi. All these ancestors attain their original, four-armed, transcendental forms. Wearing yellow garments and beautiful garlands, they ride to the spiritual world on the back of Garuda, the enemy of the snakes. This is the benediction My devotee earns simply by observing one Papankusa Ekadasi properly.

"0 best of kings, whether one is a child, a youth, or an old person, fasting on Papankusa Ekadasi frees him of sins and makes him immune to suffering a hellish rebirth. Whoever observes a fast on this Ekadasi becomes free of all his sins and returns to the abode of Lord Hari. Whoever donates gold, sesame seeds, fertile land, cows, grain, drinking water, an umbrella, or a pair of shoes on this most holy day will never have to visit the abode of Yamaraja, who always punishes sinners. But if a resident of earth fails to perform spiritual deeds, especially the observance of a fast on holy days such as Ekadasi, his breathing is said to be no better than the puffing-of a blacksmith's bellows.

"0 best of kings, especially on Papankusa Ekadasi, even the poor should first bathe and then give some charity and perform other auspicious activities according to their ability. "Whoever performs sacrifices or builds public ponds, resting places, gardens, or houses does not suffer the punishments of Yamaraja. Indeed, one should understand that a person must have performed such pious activities as these in his past life if he is long-lived, wealthy, of high birth, or free from all diseases. But a person who observes Papankusa Ekadasi goes to the abode of the Supreme Lord."

Lord Krsna concluded, "Thus, 0 saintly Yudhisthira, I have narrated to you the glories of Papankusa Ekadasi. Please question me further if you wish to hear more about Ekadasi."

List of Ekadshi