26 - Performing of Ekadashi-vrata 

Narada said- О sage, I have heard from you the blemish one earns by the elapse of Dvadashi. Which enshrines the defeat of the sage and the rescue of the king. Presently I would like to listen about your desire. You kindly spell out to me the details of performing of Ekadashi-vrata. 

Whatever had been provided in the Vedas cannot be taken for granted because of controversies; therefore, I intend to listen the same from your mouth who happens to be the cause of shrutis. 

Narayana said - The Ekadashi-vrata beyond the reach of gods, it represents the love of Sri Krishna and the tapas of the tapasvis. 

As is Sri Krishna among the gods, Prakruti among the goddesses, Brahmana among the varnas, Shiva among the Vaishnavas, Ganesha among the adorables, speech among the intellectuals, Vedas among the holy scriptures, the gold among the glittering elements, Vaishnava among the creatures, Vidya among the treasures, the wife among the companions, Rudra among the ganas, intelligence among the welfares, soul among the organs of senses, the mind among the unstable things, mother among the teachers, the husband among the relatives, the destiny among the powerful beings, the gods of death among those who could never be averted. 

The good nature among the friend, the disease among the enemies, the glory among the glorious people, the house among the householders, the wicked persons among the killers, the wicked women among the wicked persons, the sun among those containing lustre, the earth among those who tolerate everything, the nectar among the eatables, the fire among the things which burn, Lakshmi among the bestower of riches, Parvati among the chaste-ladies, Brahma among the Prajapati’s, the ocean among the rivers, Samaveda among the Vedas, Gayatri among the Chanda’s, the pipala tree among the trees, Tulasi among the flowers, Margashirsha among the months, spring among the seasons, Surya among the Adityas, Shiva among the Rudras, Bhisma among the Vasus, Bharata among the varsas, Narada among the divine ascetic, Bhrugu among the Brahmarshis, Rama among the king, Kapila among the siddhas, Sanatkumara among the yogis, Airavata among the elephants, Sharabha among the animals, Himalaya among the mountains, kaustubha among the gems, Sarasvati among the rivers. 

Citraratha among the Gandharvas, Kubera among the Yakshas, Sumali among the Rakshasas, the beautiful Shatarupa among the women, Svayambhuva Manu among the Manus, Rambha among the beautiful damsels, Bhagavati among the goddesses of illusion, similarly the Ekadashi-vrata is best of all the vratas.

This vrata should be performed by all the four varnas alike. It should particular be performed by the Brahmanas. 

All the sire like Brahmahatya and others reside in the cooked rice during the Ekadashi-vrata.

Therefore, the one who consumes the cooked rice on that day, he contributes to all the sins. Becoming a great sinner on the earth, he ultimately falls the hell. 

For eleven yugas he has to remain in the Kumbhipaka hell and thereafter he is born as a Chandala. 

He suffers with leprosy for seven births and thereafter he is relieved of the sins. This has been ordained by Brahma. 

О Brahman, I have narrated to you about the sin one earns by consuming food on Ekadashi day and the sin one earns by crossing the Dvadashi day and has already been explained by me which you have already listened. 

Now I am going to tell you the sin one earns by crossing the tenth day (Dashami-tithi). I had been enlightened on this by Dharma in earlier times which had been the essence of the Vedas. 

The foolish person who crosses the tenth day even by fraction, the goddess Lakshmi deserts his house leaving him. 

His progeny is put to harm in this birth together with his glory. Ultimately falls into the andhakupa hell for a hundred manvantaras.

The day on which the Dashami, Ekadashi and Dvadashi fall, one should take his food on that day and fast during the next day. 

While performing vrata of Dvadashi one should break it on Trayodashi day. In that case, one does not earn the sin of crossing the Dvadashi-tithi. In spite of there being Ekadashi on one day and on the next day if there is little of Dvadashi in the early morning, then the second day the fast should be continued. In case the tithi is extended to sixty dandas and in the early morning there is the on conglomeration of three tithis, in that case, a house-holder should perform vrata on the earlier day and not the уatis. 

The fast should be observed on the next day carrying on other daily routine. In case the Ekadashi, falls on two consecutive days, one should perform the vrata and the night awakening on the first night itself after performing vrata on the first day one should break his fast on the neat day after the elapse of Ekadashi-tithi. 

The Vaishnavas, the yatis, the widows, the beggars and Brahmacaris should all performed the Ekadashi-vrata. 

The people other than the Vaishnavas should performed Ekadashi-rata of the bright fortnight and while doing so they do not earn the sin of crossing the Ekadashi-tithi according to the Vedas.

The Krishna-Janma Ekadashi falling between Harishayani and Haribodhini Ekadashi should be observed by the householder who should keep the fast on that day and not on other Ekadashi days falling in the black fortnight. 

О Brahman, thus I have spoken to you everything about the Ekadashi-vrata which has been prescribed in the Vedas, now I narrate to you the details of its performance. 

On the tenth day in the early morning, after coming havishya food, one should not take even water the second time. One should sleep on the mat of kusha during the night alone. 

Thereafter getting up in the early morning in the Brahmamuhurta, he should purify himself from all the daily routines like taking of bath, etc. Thereafter one should take a vow before lord Krishna for the observing of the fast. Then performing sandhya, one should complete all the daily routines and the adorations. Performing the puja, he should collect the material required for performing the vrata including the sixteen types of material prescribed in the scriptures.

The sixteen types of materials include asana, the clothes, padya, arghya, flowers, sandal-paste, incense, lamp, naivedya, yajnopavita, ornaments, fragrance, water for bathing, betel, madhuparka and the water for sipping. Collecting all these materials during the day one should perform the vrata during the night. 

Getting seated Over a pure seat he should clad himself into new garments. After sipping he should bow in reverence to lord Hari and then utter svastivacana. 

He should concentrate the welfare pitcher on the fried paddy and the neck of the pitcher should be adorned with mango leaves and some fruits. The kalashas should then be painted with sandal-paste and one should perform the adoration as prescribed in the Vedas by the seers,

Thereafter he should invoke six gods on the six bundles of the paddy and then should adore them with best of the five-fold material. The six gods are Ganesha, Surya, Agni, Vishnu, Shiva and Parvati. One should recite the name of Hari after adoring them all and then start the vrata. 

In case anyone observes the vrata without performing the daily puja and other connected details, his entire effort becomes infructuous. Thus, О great sage, I have explained to you the details about the performing of the vrata which have been prescribed in the Kanvashakha. Now you listen about the desired vrata. 

One should meditate upon lord Krishna according to the hymns prescribed in Samaveda, placing flowers on his head and then concentrate his mind. You listen to me about the extremely deep dhyanam which is desired by all. It should not be revealed to non-believers, but it is dearer to the devotees than their lives. 

The body of Sri Krishna has the complexion of the new clouds and is quite beautiful. His face is like the full-moon of the winter season and the best of all. 

His eyes resembled the blossomed lotus flower of the winter season. His body was adorned with various types of ornaments studded with gems, which add to the beauty of his body. 

The eyes of the delightful cowherdesses always looked at him with side-glances continuously, as if the body of the lord was created out of the lives of the cowherdesses. 

He is enshrined in the middle of the Rasamandala and is quite anxious to perform the divine dance and he is looking at the lotus-like face of Radha which resembles the full moon of the winter season, like the partridge bird. 

His chest is adorned with kaustubha-gem and the garland of Parijata flowers; his forehead is adorned with the kirita-mukuta studded with the best of gems. He playfully holds the flute in his hand and is adored by the gods and demons alike. He is difficult to achieve even with deep meditation. The gods like Brahma and others adore him. He happens to be the cause of all the causes. I adore the lord. 

О Narada, thus meditating upon the lord, he should invoke him and should adore him reciting mantras with devotion. 

О Parameshvara, you kindly accept the asana which is made of gold studded with the best of gems and decorated with paintings. 

О lord of Radhika, you kindly accept the costumes prepared by Vishvakarma, which are invaluable and are pure like fire. О merciful one, for washing your feet, you accept this cool water contained in the golden pitcher. 

О beloved of the devotees, you kindly accept this auspicious arghya contained in the base of Shamkha (conch). 

О cause of everything, you kindly accept the sandal-paste and aguru besides the white flowers. 

О lord Krishna, you accept this paste made of sandal, aguru, kasthuri and saffron besides khasa, which is desired by all. 

You kindly accept the incense which has been created out of the juice of a special tree, mixed with various materials, fragrance and is quite pleasant. 

You kindle this lamp of gems which burns throughout the day and night and is the cause for removing all the darkness. О lord, who roams in the soul, you kindly accept all the delicious eatables which are quite tasteful and are scented. 

О lord of the gods, you kindly accept this yajnopavita which has been sanctified with the knot of Gayatri mantra and is made of the gold by excellent artisans. 

О son of Nanda, you accept these costly ornaments of gold studded with the best of gems which are illumining and can adore all the limbs of the body. 

O merciful for the down-trodden, you accept this fragrance which is the best of all the auspicious ones, praise-worthy and bestows welfare. 

О lord, you kindly accept this Vishnu-oil which has been prepared from the myrobalan and the leaves of the wood apples and is quite pleasant and desired by all. 

O lord, you kindly accept this betel which has been scented with camphor and is liked by all which is offered by me. 

О lord of the cowherdesses, you kindly accept this honey which increases love, is quite sweet and is contained in several vases of gems. 

О lord Madhusudana, you kindly accept this extremely purified water for sipping which contains fragrance and the water of the Ganga.

Thus, the devotee should perform the sixteen-fold adoration and should offer the garland of flowers. О lord Krishna, you kindly accept the garland of white flowers which have been entwined in a white cord. 

Thus, a wise devotee should offer the flowers filled in the hand-cups and adore the lord offering prayers. 

The devotee said- О Krishna, О lord of Radhika, О lord, you are the ocean of mercy and protect me from the terrible ocean or the universe, helping me to cross it. 

О lord, I am upset because of my suffering for hundreds of births and I am bound in the fetters of the sins emanating from my own deeds. You kindly redeem me. 

I am falling at your feet; you look at a person like me who has taken refuge with you. I am entangled with the human bondages of the universe and I have come to take refuge with you. You kindly protect me. 

О lord, I am devoid of devotion, am actionless, devoid of the Vedic knowledge, the riches and the mantras; therefore, you kindly make me complete. 

О lord Hari, unaware of the provisions of the Vedas I have performed the adoration which may be having some short-comings in performance or the reciting of names, which should be overlooked by you. 

Thus reciting the prayers to the lord and bowing before him one should offer dakshina to the Brahmanas and the performer should remain awake during the night with rejoicing. 

In case anyone goes to sleep while performing the vrata or drinks water then half of its merit is lost. 

О best of the Brahmana, reciting the name of the lotus-like feet of lord Krishna, one should take the food left over from the yajna. 

О food, you are the form of Vishnu and were created by Brahma in the form of life; therefore, you bestow on me the reward for my performing the vrata and fasting. 

Thus one should perform the vrata with devotion on the land of Bharata and one who does so, redeems seven earlier and seven coming generations. 

The person who performs the vrata redeems his mother, brother, mother-in-law, father-in-law. daughter and even the servants. 

О Brahmana, I have narrated to you the story of lord Krishna which is quite pleasant, provides welfare and salvation; now you listen to another story.