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Saphala Ekadashi - Vrat Katha
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Falls on: Paush Krishna Paksh
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Dharmaraj inquired about Ekadashi
Dharmaraj Yudhisthir said, �Shri Krishna, 1) What is the name of the Ekadashi that
occurs during the Paush krishna paksh (dark fortnight of the month)? 2) How is it
observed, and 3) which Swaroop of your's is to be worshiped on that day? Please narrate
this to me�.
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Pram Prush Bhagwan readily replied
�Hai Rajan, because you desire to hear I shall answer your questions and describe to you
the glories of Paush-Krishna Ekadashi vrat�.
Nothing satisfy Me - Shri Krishna
�I do not become as pleased by sacrifice or charity as I do by My devotee�s observance
of Ekadashi, to the best of one's ability, therefore, one should fast on Saphala
Ekadashi, the day of Shri Hari�.
�Yudhisthir, I urge you to hear with undivided intelligence the glories of Paush-Krishna
Ekadashi. One should not differentiate among Ekadashis. Rajan, to benefit humanity at
large I shall now describe to you the process of observing Paush-Krishna Ekadashi�.
Process of observing Paush-Krishna Ekadashi
�Paush-Krishna Ekadashi is known as Saphala Ekadashi. On this sacred day one should
worship Bhagwan Shri Narayan. One should follow the previously described method of
fasting. Just as among snakes Sesh-naag is the best, among birds Garud is the best, among
sacrifices the Aksh-va-megh-yagiya is the best, among rivers Ganga is the best, among
Devs Bhagwan Shri Vishnu is best, and among two-legged beings the Brahmins are the best,
so among all fasting days Ekadashi is the best. O foremost of kings born in the Bharat
dynasty, whoever strictly observes Ekadashi becomes very dear to Me and indeed
worshipable by Me in every way. Now listen as I describe the process for observing
Saphala Ekadashi�.
On Saphala Ekadashi day My devotee should worship Me by offering Me fresh fruits according
to time, place, and circumstance, and by meditating on Me as the all-auspicious Pram
Prush. He should offer Me pomegranate, betel, coconut, guava, nuts, cloves, mangoes, and
different kinds of aromatic spices. He should also offer Me incense and bright ghee lamps,
for such an offering of lamps on Saphala Ekadashi. is especially glorious. The devotee
should try to stay awake all night�.
Merits one can get
�Now please hear with undivided attention as I tell you how much merit one gets if he
fasts and remains awake throughout the entire night. Hai servashresth Rajan, there is no
sacrifice or pilgrimage that yields merit equal to or better than the merit one gains by
fasting on Saphala Ekadashi. Such fasting-particularly if one can remain awake and alert
all night long bestows the same merit upon the faithful devotee as the performance of
austerity for five thousand years. Rajan, please hear the glorious history of this
Ekadashi�.
Glorious history of Ekadashi
�Once there was a city called Campa-vati, which was ruled by the saintly King Mahismata.
He had four sons, the eldest of whom, Lumpaka, always engaged in very sinful activities
like illicit sex with the wives of others, gambling, and continual association with known
prostitutes. His evil deeds gradually reduced the wealth of his father, King Mahismata.
Lumpaka also became very critical of the Devs and Brahmins, and every day he would
blaspheme Vaishnavas. At last King Mahismata, seeing the condition of his son, exiled him
to the forest. Out of fear of the king, even compassionate relatives did not come to
Lumpaka's defense, so angry was the king and so sinful was Lumpaka�.
Life in forest
�Bewildered in his exile, Lumpaka thought to himself, 'My father has sent me away, and
even my kinsmen do not raise any objection. What should I do now?' He schemed sinfully
and thought; I shall sneak back to the city under cover of darkness and plunder its
wealth. During the day I shall stay in the forest, and at night I'll return to city. So
thinking, Lumpaka entered the dark forest. He killed many animals by day, and by night he
stole valuable items from the city. The city-dwellers apprehended him several times, but
out of fear of the king they left him alone. They thought that it must have been the sins
of his previous births that had made him lose his royal facilities and act so sinfully�.
Fruit of eating only fruits
�Though a meat-eater, Lumpaka would also eat fruits every day. He resided under an old
banyan tree that happened to be very dear to Bhagwan Shri Vasudev. Indeed, many worshiped
it as the Bhagwan of all the trees. In due course of time, while Lumpaka was doing so
many sinful and condemnable activities, Saphala Ekadashi arrived. On the eve of Ekadashi
i.e Dashmi, Lumpaka had to pass the entire night without sleep because of the severe cold
and his scanty blanket. The cold not only robbed him of all peace but almost killed him.
By the time the sun rose, his teeth were chattering and he was almost comatose, and all
during the morning of that day, Ekadashi, he could not awaken from his stupor�.
When midday of Saphala Ekadashi, arrived, the sinful Lumpaka finally came to and managed
to rise up from his place under the banyan tree. But with every step he stumbled to the
ground. Like a lame man, he walked slowly and hesitantly, suffering greatly from hunger
and thirst in the midst of the jungle. So weak was Lumpaka that he could not kill a
single animal that day. Instead, he was reduced to collecting whatever fruits had fallen
to the ground. By the time he returned to the banyan tree, the sun had set�.
Unwittingly observed a full Ekadashi
�Placing the fruits on the ground next to him, Lumpaka began to cry,'Oh, woe is me! What
should I do? Dear father, what is to become of me? Hai Shri Hari, please be merciful to
me and accept these fruits! Again he was forced to lie awake the whole night without
sleep, but in the meantime the Bhagwan Shri Madhusudan, had become pleased with Lumpaka's
offering of the forest fruits, and He accepted them. Lumpaka had unwittingly observed a
full Ekadashi, fast, and by the merit he reaped on that day he started getting good
thoughts., his corrupt mind stopped wandering and gradually he regained his kingdom with
no further obstacles�.
What happened next?
�Listen, Yudhisthir, to what happened to the son of King Mahismata when but a fragment of
merit sprouted up within his heart.
�As the sun rose beautifully on the day following Ekadashi, a handsome horse approached
Lumpaka and stood next to him. At the same time, a voice suddenly spoke from out of the
clear blue sky: This horse is for you, Lumpaka! Mount it and swiftly ride out to greet
your family! O son of King Mahismata, by the mercy of Bhagwan Shri Vasudev and the
strength of the merit you acquired by observing Saphala Ekadashi, your kingdom will be
returned to you without any further hindrances. Such is the benefit you have gained by
fasting on this auspicious day. Go now to your father and enjoy your rightful place in
the dynasty�.
A journey towards his kingdom
�Upon hearing these celestial words, Lumpaka mounted the horse and rode back to the city
of Campavati. By the merit he had accrued by fasting on Saphala Ekadashi, he had become a
handsome prince once more and was able to absorb his mind in the lotus feet of Purna
Prushotam Shri Hari. In other words, he had become My pure devotee�.
�Lumpaka offered his father, King Mahismata, his humble obeisance and once more accepted
his princely responsibilities. Seeing his son decorated with Vaishnav ornaments and tilak,
King Mahismata gave him the kingdom, and Lumpaka ruled unopposed for many, many years.
Whenever Ekadashi came, he worshiped the Purna Purshotam with great devotion. And by the
mercy of Shri Krishna he obtained a beautiful wife and a fine son. In old age Lumpaka
handed his kingdom over to his son just as his own father, King Mahismata, had handed it
over to him-and then went into the forest to serve the Purna Purshotam with controlled
mind and senses. Purified of all material desire, he left his body and attained a place
near the lotus feet of Shri Krishna�.
�Yudhisthir, one who approaches Me as Lumpaka did will become completely free of
lamentation and anxiety. Indeed, anyone who properly observes this glorious Saphala
Ekadashi even if unknowingly, like Lumpaka-will becomes famous in this world. He will
become liberated at death and return to Vaikunth. Of this, there is no doubt. Moreover,
one who simply hears the glories of Saphala Ekadashi, obtains the same merit derived by
one who performs a Raja-suya-yajna and at the very least he goes to heaven in his next
birth�.
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