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The accounts of various great men to attained desired fruits of their deeds by observing the Ekadashi vrat; Yagya-Sita's attain closeness to Sri Krishna through the observance of Ekadashi
Gopis said:- Expert in the knowledge of shatras, the
lovely daughter of Vrushbanu! You simulate in the voice of sage Brihaspati.
Radhe! Who observed this Ekadasi vrat first? Tell us in detail about this,
because you are the storehouse of knowledge.
Sri Radha said:- First of all,
Devatas did Ekadasi vrat to regain the kingdoms snatched away from them and for
the destruction of demons. In earlier times, king Vaishant observed Ekadasi
vrat for the deliverance of his father who had attained Yamalok. A king named
Lumpak was out cast by his family members because of his sinful acts. Lumpak
also regained his lost kingdom by observing Ekadasi vrat. In Bhadravati town,
the childless king Ketuman observed Ekadasi vrat as per the advice of saints
and was blessed with a daughter. Once the wives Devas granted the merits of
Ekadasi vrat to a Brahmin woman, by virtue of which that woman got wealth, food
grains, and the happiness of heavens. Both Pushpadanthi and Manavi got the
forms of witches by the curse of Indra. Both of them observed Ekadasi vrat and
by its benevolence got back the form of Gandharvas. In ancient times Sri
Ramachandra, for the sake of building a bridge across the ocean and to slay
Ravana, observed Ekadasi vrat. All Devatas sat under the gooseberry tree, which
appeared at the end of pralaya(annihilation) and did Ekadasi vrat for the
welfare of all. By the order of his father, Medhavi observed Ekadasi vrat by
which he was absolved of the sin of having had a relationship with Apsara and
regained his pure effulgence. Gandharva named Lalit became a demon along with
his wife by a curse, but by observing Ekadasi vrat got back his status of being
a Gandharva. Only by observing Ekadasi vrat king Mandhatha, Sagar, Kakutstha,
and the great learned Muchukund attained heaven. Dhundhuvar and many other
kings attained salvation by observing Ekadasi vrat and Bhagawan Shankar got rid
of Brahma's head by doing the same. The most wicked son of a Vysya,
Drushtabudhi, who was rejected by his family members went to Vaikuntalok by
observing Ekadasi vrat. King Rukmangadha also performed Ekadasi vrat and after
enjoying the kingdom on the earth, reached Vaikuntalok along with all his
people. King Ambareesh also performed Ekadasi vrat, because of which the curse
of Brahma which can not be countered anywhere, could not touch him. Hemamaalii,
by the curse of Kubera, became very ugly, but by observing Ekadasi vrat he
became as bright as Moon.
King Mahijit also observed Ekadasi vrat and by the benefit of
that, got a son and he himself reached Vaikuntalok. King Harischandra also
observed Ekadasi vrat and as a result, enjoyed being emperor of the earth and
went to Vaikunta dham along with all his people. In ancient time, king
Muchukund's son in law Shoban, in Barathvarsh fasted on Ekadasi day and by the saintly effect of
that, went to Mandarachal with the Devatas. Even today, he is enjoying the
comforts of the kingdom along with his queen Chandrabhaga. Gopis! Think of
Ekadasi day as the supreme Goddess of all days. There is no other day
equivalent to that day.
Sri Narada says:- King! Listening to
Radha in this manner about Ekadasi's greatness, the gopikas in the form of
YagnaSita, with the desire of getting darshan of Sri Krishna observed Ekadasi
vrat. Being pleased by the Ekadasi vrat, Bhagawan Sri Hari played Raas with
them on the night of Poornima (full moon) in the month of Margasheersh.(Marghazhi)
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