Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comShri Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha
Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha is the story of King Vaikhanas and the liberation of his ancestors from hell, believed to grant them moksha when its merit is dedicated to them, recited on the Shukla Paksha of the Margashirsh month, presented here in full.
Chapter 1 · Moksha Ekadashi and King Vaikhanasa's Dream
Yudhishthira said, 'I bow to the all-pervading Vishnu, who brings joy to the three worlds, lord and maker of the universe, the ancient supreme person. Lord of the gods, a great doubt is in my mind, which I ask for the good of the people and the destruction of sin: what is the name of the Ekadashi in the bright fortnight of Margashirsh, what are its rites, and which god is worshipped on it? My lord, tell me all this fully and exactly.' Shri Krishna said, 'O king, you have asked well, and your fame is spotless. Lord of kings, I will tell you of this excellent day of Hari. Utpanna Ekadashi of Margashirsh's dark fortnight is dear to me; she arose from my own body to slay the demon Mura, and I have already described her to you. That Ekadashi named Utpatti is the first in the three worlds, with all that moves and is still.'
'Now I will describe the Ekadashi of Margashirsh's bright fortnight, by merely hearing of which one gains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. It is called Moksha, and it is a supreme tithi that removes every sin. O king, on that day Lord Damodara should be worshipped with care, with tulsi buds, incense and lamps, and Dashami and Ekadashi kept by the rites described before. This Ekadashi named Moksha destroys grave sins; the night should be kept in vigil with dance, song and hymns to me. O king, now I will tell you a divine Puranic story, by merely hearing which every sin is destroyed. Those whose ancestors have fallen into lower births because of sin surely win liberation for them by giving away the merit of this Ekadashi.'
'In the lovely city of Champaka, graced by Vaishnavas, King Vaikhanasa cared for his people as if they were his children. Many brahmins learned in the Vedas and their limbs lived in that city, and King Vaikhanasa's subjects prospered. While ruling thus, one night the king saw in a dream his own ancestors fallen into lower births. Seeing them all in that state, his mind filled with wonder, and he told the whole story of the dream to the brahmins.'
The king said, 'Brahmins, I have seen my ancestors lying in hell. Weeping again and again, they said: you are our son, deliver us from this ocean of hell. Best of the twice-born, since I saw them in that state I have had no peace. This great kingdom of mine gives me no joy; horses, elephants, wife, sons, nothing pleases me. What shall I do, where shall I go, my heart is choking. Best of brahmins, tell me the vow, the austerity or the yoga by which my forefathers may win liberation at once. If a father lies in a dreadful hell while his son lives, strong and great-souled, what is the use of that son?'
Chapter 2 · Sage Parvata's Remedy, and the Ancestors' Liberation
The brahmins said, 'O king, nearby is the great ashram of the sage Parvata, who knows both past and future. Lion among kings, go to him.' Hearing them, King Vaikhanasa went at once, with brahmins and kings, to the sage Parvata's vast ashram. That ashram was surrounded by sages skilled in the study of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas, and the sage seemed there like a second Brahma. Seeing that best of sages, King Vaikhanasa prostrated fully and touched his feet. The sage asked him about the welfare of the seven limbs of his kingdom, whether it was free of foes, and about the king's happiness.
The king said, 'My lord, by your grace the seven limbs of my kingdom are well; how could harm come to those devoted to Vishnu and the brahmins? But in a dream I have seen my ancestors lying in hell. Best of brahmins, by the strength of what merit will they win liberation? With this doubt I have come to ask you. Best of sages, show me some way.' Hearing this, the ascetic Parvata, radiant as Brahma, fixed his eyes in meditation. After a muhurta in meditation he said to the king, 'Lord of kings, I have learned what your ancestors did before.'
'In a former life your father was a Kshatriya puffed up with the pride of rule. When one of his wives was in her season, he, busy with the affairs of state, left her and went off to a village on some business, and your father did not give her her due. Lion among kings, by the power of that sin your father has fallen with the ancestors into a terrible hell.' Then King Vaikhanasa asked the sage again, 'O sage, by the power of what vow will they be liberated?' The sage said, 'Keep, all of you together, the vow of the Ekadashi named Moksha in Margashirsh's bright fortnight, and give its merit to your father. By the power of that merit they will be liberated. Fortunate one, this is as true as the word of Brahma.'
Hearing the sage, the king returned home. In time the month of Margashirsh came, and King Vaikhanasa kept the vow as the sage had said and gave all its merit to his father, together with all the ancestors. As soon as the merit was given, in an instant flowers rained from the sky, and Vaikhanasa's father, with the ancestors, attained liberation. From the sky he spoke these blessed words to the king: 'Son, may it be well with you, may it be well,' and saying this he went to heaven. O king, one who keeps the auspicious Moksha Ekadashi in this way has his sins destroyed and wins liberation after death. There is no Ekadashi greater than this in granting liberation. O king, I do not know the count of the merit of this vow dear to me. Like the wish-fulfilling gem it grants people liberation, and by reading and hearing it one gains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.
How to Read Shri Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha
On Mokshada Ekadashi, worship Lord Damodar with tulsi buds and incense and lamps, and keep a night vigil with dance, song, and hymns of praise. Whoever's ancestors are in a state of suffering should formally dedicate the merit of this vow to them, by which the ancestors attain liberation. Merely reading or hearing this glory grants the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.
About Shri Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha
The Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha is the story of King Vaikhanas, told across two chapters. In the first, the king sees his ancestors fallen into hell in a dream, and, on the Brahmins' advice, goes to the ashram of the accomplished sage Parvat. In the second, the sage Parvat tells him the method of dedicating the merit of the Mokshada Ekadashi vow to his ancestors, by which the king's ancestors are freed from hell and attain heaven.
This vow is observed on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Margashirsh, seeking the liberation of one's ancestors and the attainment of moksha.
The Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha has no named author. It is the thirty-ninth chapter of the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana, in which Lord Krishna tells the story to Yudhishthira. The text given here is a verse-by-verse translation of that chapter's 47 Sanskrit verses.
Benefits of the Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha
The katha itself closes by saying that whoever observes the Mokshada Ekadashi vow has their sins destroyed and attains liberation, this Ekadashi being held to fulfil every wish like a wish-fulfilling gem; since this same tithi is also celebrated as Gita Jayanti, reading the Bhagavad Gita on this day is also considered especially meritorious.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters does the Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha have?
It has two chapters in total, traditionally read or heard together as one complete text.
When is Mokshada Ekadashi observed?
It is observed on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of the Margashirsh month, the same tithi that is also celebrated as Gita Jayanti.
Why is the Mokshada Ekadashi vow observed?
As the story describes, this vow is observed especially to free one's ancestors from suffering and grant them liberation, which is why it is named Mokshada, 'the giver of moksha.'
Is there one single story for all Ekadashis?
No, there are 24 Ekadashis in a year, and tradition assigns each one its own distinct story. This is Mokshada Ekadashi's story of ancestral liberation, while the stories of other Ekadashis are available on their own separate pages on this site.
Why is the Bhagavad Gita read on Mokshada Ekadashi?
It is believed that it was on this very tithi that Lord Krishna gave Arjuna the teaching of the Gita on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, which is why it is also celebrated as Gita Jayanti, and reading the Bhagavad Gita on Mokshada Ekadashi is considered especially meritorious.