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Shri Krishnas instructs Yudhisthir
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Bhagwan Shri Krishna continued, �Yudhisthir, son of Pandu, in this way Kaundinya Muni mercifully and affectionately instructed Pavitra about the Parama/Kamla Ekadashi fast. Then he said to Sumedha, �On Duvadashi, the day after Ekadashi, you should vow to observe Pancaratrika fasting according to all the rules and regulations. After taking a bath early in the morning, you and your good wife, along with both your parents and hers, should fast for five days according to your ability. Then you will all become eligible to return home, to the abode of Bhagwan Shri Vishnu�.
�A person who simply makes use of only one seat during these five days goes to the heavenly planets. Whoever feeds qualified Brahmin nicely on these five days has in effect fed all the Devs, all human beings, and even all the demons. Whoever donates a pot of drinking water to a twice-born Brahmin during this five-day fasting period will gain merit equal to that gained by donating the entire planet earth in charity."
"Anyone who gives a learned person a pot filled with sesame seeds resides in heaven for as many years as there are seeds in the pot. One who donates a pot filled with golden ghee will surely go to the abode of the Suriya-narain after fully enjoying the pleasures of this earthly planet. Whoever remains celibate during these five days will attain celestial happiness. Therefore, both of you - Sumedha and Pavitra-should fast during these five days of Pancaratrika in order to be rewarded with ample grains and wealth for the rest of your lives on this planet. The spiritual world will be your abode thereafter.�
Hearing this sublime advice, the Brahmin couple, Sumedha and Pavitra, properly observed Parama/Kamla Ekadashi and the fast of Pancaratrika and very soon thereafter they beheld a handsome prince approaching them from the royal palace. On the order of Brahma Dev, the prince gave them a beautiful, exquisitely furnished house and invited them to live in it. Praising their austerity and patience, he also gave them an entire village for their livelihood. Then he returned to the palace. Thus, Sumedha and his wife enjoyed all kinds of facilities in this world and at last went to the abode of Vishnu.
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Message for all
Anyone who observes a fast on Parama/Kamla Ekadashi and also the fast of Pancaratrika is freed from all his sins, and after enjoying life here he returns to Vishnuloka, as did Sumedha and his faithful wife, Pavitra. It is impossible, Yudhisthir, to calculate the extent of the merit one obtains by fasting on Parama/Kamla Ekadashi, for such an observance is equal to bathing in places of pilgrimage such as Puskar Lake and the Ganges River, giving cows in charity, and performing all sorts of other religious activities. One who fasts on this day has also completed the offerings of oblations to his ancestors in Gaya. He has, in fact, fasted on all other auspicious days.
As in the social order the Brahmin is considered the best, as among four-legged creatures the cow is best, and as among Devs, Indra is the best, so among all months the extra month Adik Maas is the best.
The Pancaratrika fast - the fast of five days in Adik maas is said to remove all kinds of abominable sins. But the Pancaratrika fast, together with the fasts on Parama/Kamla and Padmini Ekadashi destroys all person's sins. If a person is unable to fast on all these days, he should observe the fasts during Adik maas (extra month) according to his ability. A person who, having received a human birth, does not take a proper bath during this extra month and then observe these Ekadashis, which are very dear to Bhagwan Shri Hari, commits suicide and suffers in the cycle of 8,400,000 species. The rare human birth is meant for accumulating merit and at last achieving liberation. Therefore one should by all means observe fasting on this auspicious Parama/Kamla Ekadashi.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna concluded, �0 sinless Yudhisthir, as you have requested, I have described to you the wonderful merit one can attain by fasting on the Ekadashi named Parama, which occurs during krishna paksh of Adik maas. You should observe this fast if at all possible.�
King Yudhisthir did exactly as Bhagwan Shri Krishna had instructed and so did all his brothers and their wife, Draupadi. After enjoying pleasures rarely achieved in the material world, they returned home, back to relm of Shri Vishnu. Whoever, after taking a proper bath, observes a fast on these two Adik maas Ekadashis will go to heaven and finally attain to the abode of Shri Vishnu and as he travels there he will be praised and prayed to by all Devs.
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