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Amal ki (Kunj) Ekadashi - Vrat Katha
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Falls on: Phagun sukla paksh
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King Mandhata wants to know the vrat
King Mandhata once said to Vasisth Muni,�0 great sage, kindly be merciful to me and tell
me of a holy fast that will benefit me eternally�.
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Vasisth Muni eagerly replied
�Rajan, kindly listen as I describe the best of all fast days, Amal-ki Ekadashi. He who
faithfully observes a fast on this Ekadashi obtains enormous wealth, gets free of the
effects of all kinds of sins, and attains liberation. Fasting on this Ekadashi is more
purifying than donating one thousand cows in charity to a pure Brahmin. So please hear
me attentively as I tell you the story of a hunter who, though daily engaged in killing
innocent animals for his living, achieved liberation by observing a fast on Amal-ki Ekadashi
and following the prescribed rules and regulations of worship�.
Vasisth Muni narrates story of a hunter
�There was once a kingdom named Vaidisa, where all the Brahmins, Kshtriyas, Vaisyas,
and Sudras were equally endowed with Vedic knowledge, great bodily strength, and fine
intelligence. Rajan, the whole kingdom was full of Vedic sounds, not a single person was
atheistic, and no one sinned. The ruler of this kingdom was a member of the dynasty of
Soma, the moon. He was also known as Citraratha and was very religious and truthful. It
is said that King Citraratha had the strength of ten thousand elephants and that he was
very wealthy and knew the six branches of Vedic wisdom perfectly�.
�During the reign of Maharaja Citraratha, not a single person in his kingdom attempted to
practice another's dharma (duty), so perfectly engaged in their own dharmas were all the
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras. Neither miser nor pauper was to be seen
throughout the land, nor was there ever drought or flood. Indeed, the kingdom was free
of disease, and everyone enjoyed good health. The people rendered loving devotional
service to Bhagwan Vishnu, as did the king, who also rendered special service to Bhagwan.
Moreover, twice a month everyone fasted on Ekadashi�.
�In this way, Rajan, the citizens of Vaidisa lived many long years in great happiness and
prosperity. Giving up all varieties of materialistic religion, they completely dedicated
themselves to the loving service of the Bhagwan Shri Hari�.
�Once, in the month of Phalgun, the holy fast of Amal-ki Ekadashi arrived, conjoined with
Duvadashi. King Citraratha realized that this particular fast would bestow especially
great benefit, and thus he and all the citizens of Vaidisa observed this sacred Ekadashi
very strictly, carefully following all the rules and regulations�.
�After bathing in the river, the king and all his subjects went to the temple of Bhagwan
Vishnu, where an Amal-ki tree grew. First the king and his leading sages offered the tree
a pot filled with water, as well as a fine canopy, shoes, gold, diamonds, rubies, pearls,
sapphires, and aromatic incense. Then they worshiped Bhagwan Parasuram with these
prayers: �Hai Bhagwan Parasuram, son of Renuka, liberator of the world, kindly come
beneath this holy Amal-ki tree and accept our humble obeisances�. Then they prayed to
the Amal-ki tree: �hai Amalaki, offspring of Brahma, you can destroy all kinds of sinful
reactions. Please accept our respectful obeisances and these humble gifts. Hai Amal-ki,
you are actually the form of Brahmin, and Bhagwan Ramchandra Himself once worshiped you.
Whoever circumambulates around you is therefore immediately freed of all his sins�.
A hunter hid himself
�After offering these excellent prayers, King Citraratha and his subjects remained awake
throughout the night, praying and worshiping according to the regulations governing a
sacred Ekadashi fast. It was during this auspicious time of fasting and prayer that a
very irreligious man approached the assembly, a man who maintained himself and his family
by killing animals. Burdened with both fatigue and sin, the hunter saw the king and the
citizens of Vaidisa observing Amal-ki Ekadashi by performing an all-night vigil, fasting,
and worshiping Bhagwan Visnu in the beautiful forest setting, which was brilliantly
illuminated by many lamps. The hunter hid nearby, wondering what this extraordinary sight
before him was. What is going on here? he thought. What he saw in that lovely forest
beneath the holy Amal-ki tree was the Swaroop of Bhagwan Damodar being worshiped upon the
asana of a Kalash (waterpot), and what he heard were devotees singing sacred songs
describing Bhagwan Shri Krishna's transcendental forms and pastimes. Despite himself,
that staunchly irreligious killer of innocent birds and animals spent the entire night
in great amazement as he watched the Ekadashi celebration and listened to the
glorification of the Bhagwan Shri Krishna�.
Hunter reborn as king
�Soon after sunrise, the king and his royal retinue-including the court sages and all
the citizens-completed their observance of Ekadashi, and returned to the city of Vaidisa. The hunter then returned to his hut and happily ate his meal. In due time the hunter died, but the merit he had gained by fasting on Amal-ki Ekadashi, and hearing the glorification of the Purna Prushotam Bhagwan Shri Krishna, as well as by being forced to stay awake all night, made him eligible to be reborn as a great king endowed with many chariots, elephants, horses, and soldiers. His name was Vasuratha, the son of King Viduratha, and he ruled over the kingdom of Jayanti�.
�King Vasuratha was strong and fearless, as effulgent as the sun, and as handsome as the
moon. In strength he was like Vishnu, and in forgiveness like the earth itself. Very
charitable and ever truthful, King Vasuratha always rendered loving devotional service
to Bhagwan Shri Vishnu. He therefore became very well versed in Vedic knowledge.
Always active in the affairs of state, he enjoyed taking excellent care of his subjects,
as though they were his own children. He disliked pride in anyone and would smash it
when he saw it. He performed many kinds of sacrifices, and he always made certain that
the needy in his kingdom received enough charity�. �.
�One day, while hunting in the jungle, King Vasuratha strayed from the path and lost his
way. Wandering for some time and eventually growing weary, he paused beneath a tree and,
using his arms as a pillow, fell asleep. As he slept, some barbarian tribesmen came upon
him and, remembering their longstanding enmity toward the king, began discussing among
themselves various ways to kill him. It is because he killed our fathers, mothers,
brothers-in-law, grandsons; nephews, and uncles that we are forced to aimlessly wander
like so many lunatics. So saying, they prepared to kill King Vasuratha with various
weapons, including spears, swords, arrows, and mystic ropes�.
Merits of awaking
�But none of these deadly weapons could even touch the sleeping king, and soon the
uncivilized, dog-eating tribesmen grew frightened. Their fear sapped their strength, and
before long they lost what little intelligence they had and became almost unconscious
with bewilderment and weakness. Suddenly a beautiful woman appeared from the king's body,
startling the aborigines. Decorated with many ornaments, emitting a wonderful fragrance, wearing an excellent garland around her neck, her eyebrows drawn in a mood of fierce anger, and her fiery red eyes ablaze, she looked like death personified. With her blazing cakra she quickly killed all the tribal hunters, who had tried to slay the sleeping king�.
�Just then the king awoke, and seeing all the dead tribesmen lying around him, he was
astonished. He wondered, These are all great enemies of mine! Who has slain them so
violently? Who is my great benefactor�? �.
�At that very moment he heard a voice from the sky: You ask who helped you. Well, who is
that person who alone can help anyone in distress? He is none other than Shri Kesav, the
Purna Prushotam, He who saves all who take shelter of Him without any selfish motive�. �.
�Upon hearing these words, King Vasuratha became overwhelmed with love for Purna
Prushotam. He returned to his capital city and ruled there like a second Indra, without
any obstacles at all�.
Vasistha Muni concluded
�Therefore, 0 King Mandhata, the venerable Vasistha Muni concluded, anyone who observes
holy Amal-ki Ekadashi, will undoubtedly attain the supreme abode of Bhagwan Vishnu, so
great is the religious merit earned from the observance of this most sacred fast day�.
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