Kamada Ekadashi
Shri Suta Gosvami said, "O sages, let me offer my humble and respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Hari, Bhagavan Shri Krishna, the son of Devaki and Vasudeva, by whose mercy I can describe the fast day that removes all kinds of sins. It was to the devoted Yudhisthira that Lord Krishna glorified the twenty-four primary Ekadashis, which destroy sin, and now I shall recount one of those narrations to you. Great learned sages have selected these twenty-four narrations from the eighteen Puranas, for they are truly sublime.
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, 'O Lord Krishna, O Vasudeva, please accept my humble obeisances. Please describe to me the Ekadashi that occurs during the light part of the month of Chaitra (March-April). What is its name, and what are its glories?'
Kamika Ekadashi
Maharaja Yudhisthira said, "O Supreme Lord, I have heard from You the glories of fasting on Deva-sayani Ekadashi, which occurs during the light part of the month of Asadha. Now I would like to hear about the Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Sravana (July/August). O Govinda, please be merciful to me and explain its glories. O Vasudeva, I offer my humble obeisances unto You."
The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, replied, "O king, please listen attentively as I describe the auspicious influence of this holy fast day, which removes all sins. Narada Muni once asked Lord Brahma about this same topic. 'O regent of all,' said Naradaji, 'O you who sit upon a lotus throne, please tell me the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Sravana. Please also tell me which Deity is worshiped on that holy day, the process one must follow to observe it, and the merit it awards.'
Mokshada Ekadashi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "O Vishnu, master of all, O delight of the three worlds, O Lord of the universe, O creator of the world, O oldest personality, O best of all beings, I offer my most respectful obeisances unto You.
"O Lord of lords, for the benefit of all living entities, kindly answer some questions I have. What is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Margasirsa and removes all sins? How does one observe it properly, and which Deity is worshiped on that holy day? O Lord, please fully explain this to me."
Lord Shri Krishna replied, "O Yudhisthira, your inquiry is very auspicious and will bring you fame. Just as I previously explained to you the dearest Utpanna Maha-dvadasi - w ich occurs during the dark part of the month of Margasirsa, which is the day when Ekadashi-devi appeared from My body to kill the demon Mura, and which benefits everything animate and inanimate in the three worlds-so I shall now explain to you the Ekadashi that occurs during the light part of the month of Margasirsa.
Mohini Ekadashi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "O Janardana, what is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Vaisakha (April-May)? What is the process for observing it properly? Kindly narrate all this to me."
Lord Shri Krishna replied, "O blessed son of Dharma, what Vasistha Muni once told Lord Ramachandra I shall now describe to you. Please hear Me attentively.
Lord Ramacandra asked Vasistha Muni, 'O great sage, I would like to hear about the best of all fasting days-that day which destroys all kinds of sins and sorrows. I have suffered long enough in separation from My dear Sita, and so I wish to hear from you about how My suffering can be ended.'
Nirjala Ekadashi
Once Bhimasena, the younger brother of Maharaja Yudhisthira, asked the great sage Shrila Vyasadeva, the I, grandfather of the Pandavas, if it is possible to return to the spiritual world without having observed all the rules and regulations of the Ekadashi fasts.
Bhimasena said, "O greatly intelligent grandfather, my brother Yudhisthira, my dear mother Kunti, and my beloved wife Draupadi, as well as Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, fast completely on Ekadashi and strictly follow all the rules and regulations of that sacred day. Being very religious, they always tell me that I should also fast on that day. But, O grandfather, I tell them that I cannot live without eating, because hunger is unbearable to me. I give widely in charity and worship Shri Keshava properly, but I cannot fast on Ekadashi Please tell me how I can obtain the same result without fasting."
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