English
Mokshada Ekadashi: King Vaikhanasa
Source: Traditional Ekadashi vrat katha (traditionally attributed to the Brahmanda Purana)
Yudhishthira asked Krishna about the Ekadashi in the bright fortnight of Margashirsha. Krishna said, “O king, it is called Mokshada Ekadashi, the giver of liberation. Hear its story.”
In ancient times a righteous king named Vaikhanasa ruled the city of Champaka. He cared for his people like his own children. Learned brahmanas versed in the Vedas lived in his kingdom, and the people were happy.
One night the king had a strange dream. He saw his late father suffering in naraka, crying out to him, “Son, rescue me from this torment.”
The king woke with a start and could find no rest for the remainder of the night. At daybreak he summoned the learned brahmanas of the kingdom and, with a heavy heart, told them his dream.
“My father is suffering, while I enjoy the comforts of a king. What use is a son who cannot help his father? Tell me what I should do. By what gift, penance or fast will my father be freed?”
The brahmanas reflected and said, “Your Majesty, nearby in the forest is the hermitage of the sage Parvata. He knows the past, the future and the present. Go to him for refuge.”
The king went to the hermitage at once, bowed at the sage's feet and told him everything. The sage Parvata closed his eyes and was absorbed in meditation. After a while he opened them… his face was grave.
The sage said, “O king, I have seen your father's deeds. In a former life he neglected his duty towards one of his wives and caused her grief. Because of that deed he suffers today.”
The king folded his hands and asked, “Great sage, is there any remedy?” The sage said, “There is. In the bright fortnight of Margashirsha comes Mokshada Ekadashi. Keep the fast on that day with due rites, together with your family, and offer its merit to your father. By that merit he will be freed.”
The king bowed to the sage and returned. When Mokshada Ekadashi came, he kept the fast with full devotion together with his queens, sons and family.
A single restrained meal on Dashami, the fast on Ekadashi with worship of Lord Vishnu, listening to the katha and keeping night vigil, and on Dwadashi breaking the fast after feeding brahmanas and giving charity: everything was done by the rites.
Then the king took water in his hand and made the offering: “All the merit of this fast I offer to my father.”
At that very moment flowers rained from the sky. The king saw his father, freed from suffering, rising in a divine form towards heaven. As he went, his father blessed his son: “Son, may all be well with you.”
Tears of joy ran from the king's eyes. That day he felt that there was a happiness greater than any kingdom in fulfilling one's duty to one's father.
Krishna said, “O king, this Ekadashi is like the wish-fulfilling chintamani gem. One who keeps its fast gains a blessed path for himself and brings a blessed path to his ancestors too.”
What this story teaches
A true child is one who remembers their duty to their ancestors. Merit earned with devotion spreads light across generations.
Mokshada Ekadashi falls in the bright fortnight of Margashirsha (Agahan). By tradition this day is also celebrated as Gita Jayanti, when Shri Krishna is held to have taught the Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. It is customary to fast, worship Lord Vishnu, recite the Gita and give charity, and to break the fast on Dwadashi. The sources of the Ekadashi kathas are given differently in different texts; this one is traditionally attributed to the Brahmanda Purana. Some versions name the king's city as Gokula.
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