Candrabhāgā

Candrabhāgā was the daughter of King Mucukunda. She was married to Śobhana, the son of King Candrasena. From the time she crossed her eighth year, she kept the Ekādaśī fast with full faith. Her husband Śobhana died after keeping the Rāmā Ekādaśī, and the puṇya (merit) of the vow took him to a splendid divine city on the peak of Mandara mountain. The city was unstable, because he had kept the vow without faith. A wandering brāhmaṇa found him and brought word to Candrabhāgā. She went to him, and her lifelong Ekādaśī puṇya made the divine city permanent.

Family

Candrabhāgā was born in the royal house of Mucukunda. Mucukunda kept a strict household rule of Ekādaśī fasting that applied to every living being in his kingdom. She was named for the river Candrabhāgā, and her beauty equalled the river’s. She was given in marriage to Śobhana, the son of King Candrasena.

Her Ekādaśī vow

From the time she crossed her eighth year, Candrabhāgā kept the Ekādaśī fast by the proper rule and with full faith. It was not forced on her. It was her own vow. She kept it every fortnight for all her life. Her father’s household rule was strict, but her own inner resolve went beyond any outer pressure. The puṇya built up through these many years of faithful Ekādaśī would prove decisive at a key moment.

Śobhana’s visit

Śobhana came to stay in his father-in-law’s house. During his stay, the Rāmā Ekādaśī of the dark fortnight of Kārtika arrived. Candrabhāgā was anxious. She knew her husband was very weak and could not bear hunger. Yet her father’s rule was absolute, and even horses and elephants fasted. If Śobhana ate, he would be openly blamed.

She told him plainly that in this household no one, not even the animals, ate on the day of Bhagavān Vishṇu. She urged him to make his mind firm. Śobhana decided to keep the fast, although he knew his body would not stand it. He said, “Whatever is ordained by destiny will take place.”

Śobhana’s death and the divine city

Śobhana fasted through the day in great distress. The night was very painful for him, while the others kept vigil and did pūjā to Bhagavān Vishṇu. At sunrise the next morning, having come through the Ekādaśī day, Śobhana died. King Mucukunda cremated him with full royal honours. Candrabhāgā did not follow her husband in death. She did not become a satī. She did his funeral rites and stayed in her father’s house.

The power of the Rāmā Ekādaśī, though kept under pressure and without full faith, took Śobhana to a splendid divine city on the peak of Mandara mountain. It had golden pillars, jewels, crystals and lapis lazuli, and it was served by gandharvas and celestial nymphs. Śobhana sat on a throne under a white umbrella. But the city was unstable. It would not last without stronger puṇya to hold it up.

The journey to Mandara

The brāhmaṇa Somaśarman was travelling as a pilgrim. He found Śobhana’s divine city on the Mandara peak and knew him as the son-in-law of the king. Śobhana asked Somaśarman to take a message to Candrabhāgā. His city was unstable because he had kept the vow without faith. Only she could make it stable, by bringing her own stored puṇya.

Somaśarman went back and told Candrabhāgā. She was full of longing to see her husband and asked to be taken to Mandara. They went together to the āśrama of the ṛshi Vāmadeva, near the Mandara mountain. Vāmadeva heard their whole account. He then sprinkled Candrabhāgā with consecrated Vedic hymns. By the power of this sacred sprinkling and of her own lifelong Ekādaśī vow, her body became divine. She received a divine state, and her eyes opened wide with great joy.

The meeting and the stable city

Śobhana saw his wife arrive and was full of joy. He seated her on his left. Candrabhāgā then spoke the decisive words.

“O dear one, I have observed the Ekādaśī vow faithfully, in the manner prescribed, with my mind full of faith, from the time I crossed my eighth year while living in my father’s house. By the power of that accumulated religious merit, the city will be stable — rich in all desired objects, until the final deluge.”

So it was. The city became permanent. Śobhana had a divine body through the power of the Rāmā vow. Candrabhāgā had a divine form through the power of her own lifelong vow. The two rejoiced together on the peak of Mandara mountain.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 60