There is a description in the Brahman Purana that once Yudhishthira Maharaj asked Shri Krishna, he wanted to listen to the importance of the Papamochani Ekadashi, which comes in the Krishna paksha of Chaitanya month. Yudhishthira Maharaj pleaded with the Supreme Lord, “Please tell me the name of this Ekadashi and what benefit we can get if we observe this Ekadashi fast.”
Shri Krishna then said, “For the whole world’s benefit, I am telling you the importance of this Ekadashi. This Ekadashi’s name is Papmochani Ekadashi. Its story is as follows.”
Once King Mandhata went to Lomasa Saint and asked him about the importance of this Ekadashi fast and how one should observe it. Lomasa saint then explained as follows.
Story of Papamochani Ekadashi
Once King Chitraratha, the head of the Gandharvas and musicians in heaven, entered into a forest with many Apsaras. This forest was very beautiful and filled with many beautiful flowers. King Chitraratha believed that he had never seen such an appealing place as this forest. Still, many sages and saints in that forest were meditating on Lord Krishna and performing austerities.
One such Apsara got attracted towards a saint and wished to attract that saint with her beauty. The Apsara, however, carried deep respect for that saint and feared that he might curse her. Because of that fear, the Apsara made a tent 2 miles away from that saint and started singing and playing her instruments so she could attract that saint towards her voice. When Kamdeva saw this, he thought of helping Apsara attract that saint.
So Kamadev used the Apsara’s arms and eyes as Bow and arrow for attracting that saint. One fine day, Apsara went to that saint’s cave and started singing, with the sound of her bangles and anklets clinking. The saint opened his eyes and understood that the Apsara desired to be with him. The Apsara then approached him, embracing him so tightly that He forgot his austerity and got attracted towards her.
The Apsara then started noticing that the saint was becoming so attached to her, so she asked him if she wanted to return to her home, so please permit me. When saint Maidhavi heard this, he said, “You just came, and you want to go so soon, I can’t give you permission to go back.” He then started living with her.
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Afraid of the mystic powers of that saint, she agreed to stay longer. Up until then, she had spent more than 57 years with him. After some days, she asked again for permission. The Saint then replied, “Just stay one more day, and you can go tomorrow when I’m done with my morning prayers and rituals.”
The Apsara then cried out,” You say that every time but now I have to go back to my house!”
Saint Maidhavi then realized how he had wasted so many years of his life on this Apsara. He got full of anger, and his eyes turned red, and he told the Apsara, “You have ruined my austerity! No one is more sinful and fallen than you. I curse you that you shall get a ghost form!”
When Manjugosh heard this curse, she started weeping loudly and asked for forgiveness, saying, “I spent so much time with you! Please show me a way. How can I get out of this ghost form?”
The Saint then informed her that if you keep a fast on the day of Papmochani Ekadashi and follow all the rituals of this Ekadashi, you can get rid of any ghost or spirit form. When that saint returned to his father, he too told him that he had become sinful because of having company with the Apsara and asked him to observe the Papmochani Ekadashi fast to get rid of his sins. So both the Apsara and the Saint observed the fast of Papmochani Ekadashi and got rid of their sins. So whoever observes this fast gets rid of all ghost and spirit forms and sins.
Benefits of Listening to This Katha
Sri Krishna said to Yudhishthira that even by listening to the story of this Ekadashi, one gets the benefit of donating 1000 cows to Brahmans, and all his sins get vanquished. This happens so because Ekadashi is Lord Krishna’s favourite and it gives supervene benefits. This Ekadashi is known as Papmochani Ekadashi. Whosoever keeps this fast is never affected by any ghosts or spirits. All his wishes will be fulfilled, and all the sins of the observer will be vanquished. That person becomes exceedingly religious and pious.
Papamochani Ekadashi Ki Jai
Sri Sri Rukmani Dwarkadhish Ki Jai
