Maharaj Yudhisthira said, O Krishna! O Janardhana! What is the name of the Ekadashi, which occurs during the waning moon of the extra leap year month? What is the procedure for observing this Ekadashi, and what merit does one gain by observing it? Please describe this to me.
Lord Krishna replied, O King! The name of this sacred Ekadashi is Padmini Ekadashi. If one strictly observes this Ekadashi, he returns to the abode of Lord Padmanabha. This Ekadashi counteracts all one’s sinful reactions. Even Lord Brahma is unable to describe the results of this Ekadashi.
Long ago, Lord Brahma described the glories of Padmini Ekadashi, which awards its followers opulence and liberation to the great sage Narada.
Lord Krishna continued, One should begin to observe the vow on the day of Dasami or the day before Ekadashi. One should not eat foodstuff cooked by others, should not eat on a plate made of bell metal, should not eat Urad Dal, Chickpea, spinach and honey on the day before Ekadashi. One should eat boiled sunned rice with ghee and rock salt. One should sleep on the floor and observe strict celibacy on the day of Ekadashi.
On the day of Ekadashi, one should rise early in the morning, brush teeth, and bathe. After that, he should worship the supreme Lord with sandalwood paste, incense, lamp, aguru, camphor and water. One should chant the holy names and glories of the lord. One should not indulge in useless takes. If one drinks water or milk on the day of Ekadashi, which occurs during the extra leap year month, then his vow is spoiled.
One should remain awake at night on Ekadashi and glorify the holy names and qualities of the supreme lord. By remaining awake for the first three hours of the night, one obtains the result of performing agnistoma sacrifice.
By remaining awake for the first six hours of the night, one obtains the result of performing bajpayea sacrifice. By remaining awake the first nine hours of the night, one obtains the result of performing ashvamedha sacrifice, and by remaining awake the entire night, one obtains the result of rajasuya sacrifice. On the day of Dvadasi or the day after Ekadashi, one should complete his vow by feeding the Vaishnavas and the Brahmanas. A person who observes this Ekadashi in this way certainly attains liberation.
Lord Krishna continued, O sinlessone! According to your inquiry, I have thus explained to you the procedure for observing the Padmini Ekadashi. Now, please hear about an enchanting story that Pulastya Muni narrated to Narada Muni.
Once Kartaviryarjuna defeated Ravana and put him in the prison house. When Pulastya Muni saw Ravana in this condition, he went to Kartaviryarjuna and requested him to release Ravana. Being requested by the great sage, the King finally released Ravana. Upon hearing about this amazing event, Narada Muni humbly asked Pulastya Muni O, best of the sages!
Since Ravana defeated all the demigods, including Indra, how could
Kartaviryarjuna defeat Ravana. Please explain this to me.
Pulastya Muni replied, O Narada! In Tretayuga, there was a King named Kritavirya who took birth in the dynasty of Haihaya. His capital was Mahismatipuri. King Kritavirya had one thousand wives, but he had no suitable son to take over the reign of the king. Although the king worshipped his forefathers and saintly persons and observed various vows under the guidance of the saintly person, he was not blessed with a son.
Then the king decided to undergo austerities. The king entrusted his responsibility to his prime minister and set out to undergo austerities by wearing a dress made of bark. When he was about to leave his palace, one of his wives, Padmini, the daughter of King Harischandra, who appeared in the royal family of King Iksvaku, saw him. When the chaste wife saw her husband going to the forest to perform austerities, she immediately gave up all her ornaments. She, too, accompanied her husband to the Mandara Mountains.
At the summit of Mandara Mountain, King Kritavirya and His Wife
Padmini performed severe austerities for ten thousand years. Upon seeing that her husband’s body is becoming weak day by day, the chaste wife thought of a solution. Once, Padmini humbly asked the greatly chaste Anusuya, the wife of sage Atri. ‘O, chaste lady! My husband has spent ten thousand years in performing austerities, yet he could not please Lord Kesava, who destroys one’s miseries. O fortunateone! Please tell me about a vow by following of which the supreme lord will be pleased, and I will be blessed with a son who will become a powerful King. Being pleased by the prayer of chaste Queen Padmini, Anusuya said, ‘After every thirty-two months, an extra leap year month comes. The two Ekadashis of this month are known as Padmini and Parama. If you observe this Ekadashi, then soon the supreme lord will be pleased with you and award your desired result.
Ekadashi Mahatmy
Lord Krishna continued, According to the instruction of Anusuya queen Padmini, duly observed this Ekadashi. Then Lord Keshava, riding on the back of Garuda, came before Padmini and ordered her to ask for benediction. The queen first offered her obeisances to the Lord and offered prayers. Then, she requested the lord to bless them with a son. Then the lord said, O gentle lady! I am very pleased with you. There is no month as dear to me as the month of Adhika Masa or leap year month. The Fladashis of this month is more dear to me. You have properly observed his Ekadashi. Therefore, I will certainly fulfil the desire of your husband.
After speaking this way to Padmini, the Lord came before the King and said, ” O great King, please ask for your desired benediction. You have been pleased by your wife, for she observed the sacred vow of Ekadashi.
On hearing these words of Vishnu, the King became jubilant and begged the lord to give him a son who would be very powerful and always victorious.
He said O Madhusudana! The lord of the universe, let me have a son who will not be defeated by the demigods, human beings, serpents and demons.
The Lord granted the King his desired boon and disappeared.
Being fully satisfied, the king and his wife regained their health and returned to their opulent kingdom. In due course of time, the queen Padmini gave birth to a powerful son who became famous as Kartaviryarjuna. There was no other warrior in the three worlds as great as him. Even the ten-headed Ravana was defeated by him. After narrating this wonderful story, the great sage Pulatsya left.
Lord Krishna concluded, O sinless king! Thus, I have described the glories of the Ekadashi, which occurs during the waxing moon of an extra leap year month. O best of the Kings! Anyone who will observe this Ekadashi will certainly go to the abode of Lord Hari. According to the statement of Shri Krishna Maharaja Yudhisthira, his entire family observed this Ekadashi.
A person who faithfully observes this Padmini Ekadashi his life become glories. One who hears or reads the glories of this Ekadashi obtains a great amount of Piety.
