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Apra Ekadashi - Vrat Katha
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Falls on: Jyesth krishna paksh
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Yudhisthir's question to Shri Krishna
Yudhisthir said, �Hai Janardan what is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during krishna paksh of Jyesth. I wish to hear the glories of this sacred day. Please narrate every thing to me.�
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Bhagwan Shri Krishna�s reply
�Rajan, your inquiry is wonderful because the answer will benefit the complete human society. This Ekadashi is so sublime and meritorious that even the greatest sins can be erased by its potency. Yudhisthir, the name of this unlimitedly meritorious Ekadashi is Apra Ekadashi. Whoever fasts on this holy day becomes famous all over the universe. Even such sins as killing a Brahmin, a cow, or an embryo; blasphemy; or having sex with another man's wife are eradicated completely by observing Apra Ekadashi.�
�Rajan, people who bear false witness are most sinful. A person who falsely or sarcastically glorifies another; one who cheats while weighing something on a scale; one who fails to execute the duties of his varn or asram (an unqualified man's posing as a brahmin, for example, or a person reciting the Veds wrongly); one who invents his own scriptures; one who cheats other; one who is a fraud astrologer; a cheating accountant, or a false ayurvedic doctor; all these are surely as bad as a person who bears false witness, and they are all destined for hell. However, simply by observing Apra Ekadashi, all such sinners become completely free of their sinful reactions.�
�Warriors who fall from their ksatriya-dharma and flee the battlefield go to a ferocious hell. However, Yudhisthir, even such a fallen ksatriya, if he observes fasting on Apra Ekadashi is free of that great sin and goes to heaven. That disciple is the greatest sinner who, after receiving a proper spiritual education from his spiritual master, turns around and blasphemes him. Such a so-called disciple suffers unlimitedly. However, even if he simply observes Apra Ekadashi can attain to the spiritual world. Listen Rajan, as I describe to you further glories of this Ekadashi.�
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�The merit attained by one who performs all of the following acts of piety is equal to the merit achieved by one who observes Apra Ekadashi. Bathing three times a day in Puskar-ksetra, during Kartik; bathing at Prayag in the month of Magh, when the sun is in the Zodiac; rendering service to Bhagwan Shiv at Varanasi during Shiv-ratri; offering oblations to one's forefathers at Gaya; bathing in the sacred Gautami River when Jupiter transits Leo; having darsan of Bhagwan Shiv at Kedaranath; seeing Bhagwan Badrinath when the sun transits the sign of Aquarius; and bathing at the time of a solar eclipse at Kuruksetra and giving cows, elephants, and gold there in charity. A person who observes the Apra Ekadashi fast gains all the merit one gets from performing these above pious acts. In addition, one who fasts on this day attains the merit attained by one who donates a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land.�
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�In other words, Apra Ekadashi is an axe that cuts down the fully matured tree of sinful deeds. A forest fire burns sins as if they were firewood, it is the sun blazing before one's dark misdeeds, and it is a lion stalking the meek deer of impiety. Therefore, hai Rajan, whoever truly fears his past and present sins must observe Apra Ekadashi very strictly. One who does not observe this fast must be born again in the material world, like one bubble among millions in a huge body of water, or like a small ant among all other species.Therefore one must faithfully observe the sacred Apra Ekadashi and worship Purna Prushotam Bhagwan Shri Krishna. One, who does fast on Apra Ekadashi day, is freed of all his sins and promoted to the abode of Bhagwan Vishnu.
Hai Bharata, for the benefit of all humanity I have thus described to you the importance of holy Apra Ekadashi. Anyone who hears or reads this description is certainly freed from all kinds of sins, Rajan.�
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