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Fortune of good luck had arrived
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One day the great Muni Kaundinya arrived at their place, and upon seeing him the Brahmin Sumedha and his wife stood up before him and then offered him their respectful obeisances. With his head bowed, Sumedha welcomed him, "We are very fortunate to behold you here today, 0 wisest of Munis. My life has become successful, and I am much obliged to you."
Sumedha offered Kaundinya Muni a comfortable seat and highly praised his austerities and learning. "Just by having your darsana today", said Sumedha, �I have become very fortunate�. The poor Brahmin couple fed the Muni as sumptuously as they could afford to and afterwards Pavitra asked the mendicant, �0 most learned one, what process can we follow to be relieved of our poverty? How can a person who has not given anything in charity in his previous life get a good family, much wealth and a fine education in this life?"
"My husband wants to leave me here and go abroad to beg alms, but I have earnestly prayed to him to stay here with me. I humbly told him that if one lacks wealth in the present life, it is because of not having given sufficient charity in previous lifetimes. And so he has consented to remain here. It is only due to my great fortune that you have mercifully come here today. Now we are certain to see the end of our poverty very soon."
"0 best of Munis, please tell us how we can be free of this perpetual misery brought on by poverty. 0 merciful one, kindly describe some means-a place of pilgrimage we may visit, a day of fasting we may observe, or an austerity we may perform by which our ill fortune will end forever�.
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Muni gave them a divine solution
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Hearing this sincere request from tolerant Pavitra, the great Muni Kaundinya thought silently for a moment and then said, �There is a fast day very dear to Purna Purshotam Bhagwan Shri Hari. Fasting on this day nullifies all kinds of sins and removes all miseries caused by poverty. This fast, which occurs during krishna paksh of Adik maas/Purshotan mas, is known as Parama/Kamla Ekadashi."
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It is the topmost day of Bhagwan Vishnu. This extra-month, krishna paksh Ekadashi bestows all the necessities of life, such as money and food grains and at last gives liberation. When the evening of this day comes, one should begin singing the glories of Bhagwan and dancing in ecstasy and one should continue through the entire night�.
�This holy fast was once observed faithfully by Kuber. When Shiva saw how strictly he had fasted, Shiva became very pleased and made Kuber the treasurer of heaven. Also, King Harischandra fasted on this Ekadashi after his dear wife and son had been sold and the king was able to get them back. Thereafter he ruled his kingdom with no further impediments. Therefore, 0 broad-eyed Devi, you also should observe the sacred fast of Parama/Kamla Ekadashi, following all the appropriate rules and regulations should remain awake all night.�
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