Pavitra Ekadashi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "O Madhusudana, O killer of the Madhu demon, please be merciful to me and describe to me the Ekadashi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Shravana (July-August)."
The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, replied, "Yes, O king, I shall happily narrate its glories to you, for just by hearing about this sacred Ekadashi one attains the merit of performing a horse sacrifice.
At the dawn of Dvapara-yuga there lived a king by the name of Mahijita, who ruled the kingdom of Mahismati-puri. Because he had no son, his entire kingdom seemed utterly cheerless to him.
Putrada Ekadashi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "O Lord, You have so nicely explained the glories of the auspicious Saphala Ekadashi which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Pausa (December-January). Now please be merciful to me and explain the Ekadashi of the light fortnight of this month. What is its name, and what Deity should be worshiped on that sacred day? O Purusottama, O Hrsikesa, please also tell me how You can be pleased on this day."
Lord Shri Krishna replied, "O king, for the benefit of all humanity I shall tell you how to observe fasting on Pausa-shukla Ekadashi.
As I previously explained, everyone should observe the rules and regulations of Ekadashi to the best of his ability. This injunction also applies to the Ekadashi named Putrada, which destroys all sins and elevates one to the spiritual abode.
Saphala Ekadashi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "O Shri Krishna, what is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Pausa [DecemberJanuary]? How is it observed, and which Deity is to be worshiped on that day? Please narrate this to me fully, O Janardana."
The Supreme Personality of Godhead replied, "O best of kings, because you desire to hear, I shall fully describe to you the glories of Pausa-krishna Ekadashi. "I do not become as pleased by sacrifice or charity as I do by My devotees' observance of a full fast on Ekadashi To the best of one's ability, therefore, one should fast on Ekadashi the day of Lord Hari.
O Yudhisthira, I urge you to hear with undivided intelligence the glories of Pausa-krishna Ekadashi which falls on Dvadasi. As I explained previously, one should not differentiate among the many Ekadashis. O king, to benefit humanity at large I shall now describe to you the process of observing Pausa-krishna Ekadashi.
Rama Ekadashi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "O Janardana, O protector of all beings, what is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Kartika (October-November)? Please impart this sacred knowledge to me."
The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, replied, "O lion among kings, please listen: The Ekadashi that occurs during the dark part of the month of Kartika is called Rama Ekadashi. It is most auspicious, for it at once eradicates the greatest sins and awards passage to the spiritual abode. I shall narrate its history and glories to you.
Sat-tila Ekadashi
Dalbhya Risi said to Pulastya Muni, "When the spirit soul comes in contact with the material energy, he immediately begins to perform sinful activities, such as stealing, killing, and illicit sex. He may even perform many other terrible deeds, such as killing a brahmana. O purest of personalities, please tell me how these unfortunate souls may escape the punishment of being sent to hellish regions of creation. Kindly inform me how, by giving even a little in charity, one may easily become free of his sins."
Pulastya Muni replied, "O fortunate one, you have asked me a food and confidential question, which not even Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, or Indra has ever asked. Please listen very carefully to my answer.
With the arrival of the month of Magha [January-February], one should bathe, carefully control his senses by giving up lust, anger, pride, jealousy, faultfinding, and greed, and meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Shri Krishna. One should then gather up some cow dung before it touches the ground and, after mixing it with sesame seeds and cotton, form 1O8 balls. This should be done on the day when the constellation of Purvasadhanaksatra arrives. Then one should follow the rules and regulations of Ekadashi, which I shall now explain to you.
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