Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comShri Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha
Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha tells the story of the origin of the Ekadashi tithi itself, believed to grant the merit of a thousand cow-gifts to anyone who hears it, recited on the Krishna Paksha of the Margashirsh month, presented here in full.
Chapter 1 · The Rite of the Fast, and Its Fruit
Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna, 'My lord, what is the merit and the fruit of the fast, of nakta and of the single meal? Janardana, tell me all this.' The Lord said, 'Partha, in the Hemanta season, when the auspicious month of Margashirsh comes, one should fast on the Ekadashi of the dark fortnight. On Dashami, with a pure mind and a firm vow, eat once. Nakta too is kept by rule on Dashami: eating in the eighth part of the day, when the sun has grown dim, is nakta, not eating at night. For a householder, eating when the stars appear is called nakta; for a renunciant it is the eighth part of the day, and eating at night is forbidden to them.'
'Then in the morning the one keeping the vow takes up its discipline and at midday, made pure, bathes. A bath in a well is lowest, in a step-well middling, in a pond good, and in a river better still. But where the creatures living in the water are harmed, bathing there makes sin and merit equal. A bath at home, with the water made pure, is best; so, best of Pandavas, bathe at home and say: Ashvakrante rathakrante vishnukrante vasundhare, mrittike hara me papam yanmaya purvasanchitam. That is: O earth, trodden by horses, by chariots and by the feet of Lord Vishnu, O clay, take away the sins I have gathered before.'
'Giving up anger and greed, stay single-minded and firm in the vow. Do not speak with the base, with heretics, liars, those who revile brahmins, the ill-behaved, those who go to others' wives and those who steal others' wealth. Worship Lord Keshava, offer him food, and light a lamp at home with a heart full of devotion. Partha, that day give up sleep and intimacy, and spend the whole day in the joy of discussing the scriptures of dharma. Best of kings, keep the night vigil with devotion, give dakshina to brahmins, bow and ask their forgiveness. As for the dark fortnight, so for the bright one, keep the Ekadashi by this same rite; Partha, make no distinction between them.'
'Hear the fruit of one who does this. The merit of bathing at the Shankhoddhara tirtha and seeing Lord Gadadhara, and, best of kings, a gift of four lakhs at the Sankrantis, are not worth even a sixteenth part of the Ekadashi fast. The merit gained at Prabhasa during an eclipse of the sun or moon surely comes to one who fasts on Ekadashi. Just as drinking the water of Kedar ends rebirth, so Ekadashi ends one's dwelling in the womb. A hundred times the fruit of an Ashvamedha on earth comes to one who fasts on Ekadashi. A hundred times the merit of giving a thousand cows to a brahmin who has mastered the Vedas comes to the Ekadashi faster. Those who fast on Ekadashi are equal to those in whose bodies Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh dwell, and such doers of merit are devotees and worshippers of Hari. The merit of the Ekadashi vow cannot be counted; such merit is hard to win even for the gods.'
'Half of this merit comes from the nakta meal, and half of nakta's from the single meal. Tirthas, gifts and disciplines roar only until a person fasts on Hari's day, dear to Vishnu. So, best of Pandavas, keep this vow. Pandava, I do not know the count of the merit you are asking about. Partha, I have told you this finest of vows; nothing equals Ekadashi, not even a thousand sacrifices.'
Chapter 2 · Mura's Tyranny, and the Gods' Refuge
Yudhishthira asked, 'O God, how did the holy tithi of Ekadashi come into being? How is it holy in this world, and how is it dear to the gods?' The Lord said, 'Partha, long ago in the Satya Yuga there was a demon named Mura, most wondrous, terribly fierce and dreadful to all the gods. O king, that wicked great asura conquered Indra and all the gods. He drove them from heaven and they wandered the earth. Then, afraid and full of dread, all the gods went to Maheshvara. Indra told the Lord everything: 'Maheshvara, fallen from the world of heaven, we wander the earth. Living among mortals, the gods have lost their splendour. O God, show us some way; what will become of the gods?''
Mahadeva said, 'King of the gods, best of the deities, go to where the Lord who bears Garuda on his banner dwells, giver of refuge, master of the world, ever ready to protect. He will protect you.' Hearing the Lord's words, the wise Indra, king of the gods, went there with the gods, Yudhishthira, and saw Lord Gadadhara sleeping in the midst of the waters. With folded hands, Indra offered this hymn.
Indra said, 'Om, salutations to you, lord of lords, worshipped by gods and demons alike. Foe of the daityas, lotus-eyed Madhusudana, protect us. All the gods, afraid of the demon, have come to you for refuge. Lord of the world, lover of your devotees, protect me. Lord of lords, Janardana, lotus-eyed destroyer of demons, save us, save us. Lord, all have come to you; you alone are our refuge; help the gods who have come to you for shelter. You are the master, you are understanding, you are the doer and the cause; you are the mother of all the worlds and the father of the universe. Lord, god of gods, tender to those who seek refuge, the frightened gods have come to you. Lord, a most fierce and mighty daitya named Mura has conquered all the gods and cast them down from heaven.'
Hearing Indra, Lord Vishnu said, 'Shakra, what is this demon like, what are his form and strength, where does the wicked one dwell, how great is his might and what boon has he won? Tell me, wise one.' Indra said, 'Lord of the gods, long ago in Brahma's line there was a most fierce great asura named Talajangha. His son is the famous demon Mura, overbearing, immensely strong and a terror to the gods. There is a city named Chandravati, and there he lives. He has conquered all the gods and driven them from heaven. He has set up another Indra, Agni, Moon, Sun, Vayu and Varuna. Janardana, truly he has made everything his own and emptied the world of the gods of every office.' Hearing this, Janardana was filled with anger and said, 'I will slay that wicked demon who terrifies the gods.'
Chapter 3 · The Battle, the Simhavati Cave, and Ekadashi's Birth
'With the gods the Lord went to the city of Chandravati. The gods saw the daitya roaring again and again. Beaten by him, all the gods fled in the ten directions. Seeing Hari, the demon said: stop, stop. His eyes red with anger, the Lord said to him: you wicked demon, look upon my arms. Then all the wicked demons who faced him, wounded by Vishnu's divine arrows, were thrown into a panic of fear. Pandava, Shri Krishna loosed his discus on the daitya army, and hundreds were cut down by it and perished. But one demon there, Mura, kept on fighting again and again. Before him all the gods fled, and even Madhusudana could not overcome him.'
'Then a wrestling bout began with that daitya, and it went on for a thousand divine years. Vishnu grew troubled; all the gods had fled; and finding no way past him, Vishnu went to Badarikashrama. Pandava, there is a cave there named Simhavati, twelve yojanas long and with a single entrance; going into it, Janardana fell asleep. Wearied by the great battle, he slept there by his yogamaya, and the demon followed close behind to kill him. The pursuing demon entered that cave and, seeing me asleep there, was overjoyed. He thought: beaten, this one has crept in here out of fear; I will surely slay this Hari, the terror of the demons.'
'Just then, Yudhishthira, a maiden came forth from Vishnu's body, beautiful, auspicious and bearing divine weapons. Dhananjaya, born of a portion of the Lord's radiance, that maiden was mighty and valiant, and Mura, king of the demons, saw her. The woman resolved on battle and asked for battle, and the maiden, skilled in every art of war, fought. By her mere war-cry, hum, the great asura named Mura was burned to ash. When the demon was slain, the Lord awoke. Seeing the demon fallen, he was amazed and said: who has slain this most dreadful, fierce enemy of mine?'
The maiden said, 'This most fierce deed I have done by your grace. The demon who had conquered the gods, gandharvas, yakshas, nagas and rakshasas, Indra and all the rest, and driven them from heaven, I saw coming up behind you. Seeing that Hari was asleep, he came; with Janardana asleep he would have destroyed the three worlds.' Hearing her, Vishnu said, 'He who had conquered even me, how did you conquer him?' Ekadashi said, 'My lord, by your grace alone have I slain that great daitya.'
Chapter 4 · Ekadashi's Boon, and the Rules of the Vow
The Lord said, 'There is joy in the three worlds; the sages and gods have come. Blessed one, say what pleases your heart; I will surely give even what is hard for the gods to win.' Ekadashi said, 'Janardana, if you are pleased and truly mean this, then, master of the world, I ask a boon. Lord of gods, if this is true, grant me three promises.' The Lord said, 'Good of vow, I have spoken truly; it shall surely be yours; the three promises I give will not prove false.' Ekadashi said, 'Lord, make me renowned everywhere, in the three worlds and the four ages. By your grace may I be the chief of all tirthas, the destroyer of every obstacle and the goddess who grants every success. Madhava, may those who fast on me with devotion to you gain every success. To one who keeps the fast, the nakta or the single meal, grant wealth, dharma and liberation.'
Vishnu said, 'Blessed one, all that you say shall be. I will fulfil every wish; my word will not prove otherwise. My devotees in the world and your devotees will be renowned through the four ages and the three worlds. I hold you to be my own shakti; those who stand firm in the Ekadashi vow and worship me will surely win liberation. Tritiya, Ashtami, Navami and Chaturdashi, and above all Ekadashi: this tithi is dear to Hari; its merit exceeds that of every tirtha; this is true, true, beyond doubt.' Granting this boon, the Lord vanished on the spot, and Ekadashi, great in her vow, rejoiced. You slay enemies and grant the highest state; you destroy every obstacle and bestow every success.
'Partha, the Ekadashi of both fortnights is equally auspicious; make no distinction between bright and dark. No one keeping vows should make any distinction. If one tithi spans both: a little Ekadashi at sunrise, all of Dwadashi in between and Trayodashi at the end, that tithi, called Trisprisha, is dear to Hari. Fasting once on it gives the fruit of a thousand Ekadashis, and breaking the fast on Dwadashi makes the fruit a thousandfold. Ashtami, Ekadashi, Shashthi, Tritiya and Chaturdashi should not be kept if touched by the tithi before them; fast only when they are joined with the tithi after. If Ekadashi lasts all day and night and a ghatika of it remains at dawn, set that tithi aside and fast on the Ekadashi joined with Dwadashi. This rule I have told you for both fortnights.'
'One who fasts on Ekadashi surely goes to Vishnu's abode, where the Lord who bears Garuda on his banner dwells. Blessed in this world are those devoted to Vishnu. One who always reads this glory of Ekadashi gains the merit of giving a thousand cows, and those who hear it with devotion, by day or by night, are freed from sins such as killing a brahmin; of this there is no doubt. Best of kings, there is no dharma like Vishnu's dharma, and no vow like Ekadashi for destroying sin.'
How to Read Shri Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha
On Margashirsh Krishna Dashami, eat a single meal. On the morning of Ekadashi take the vow, bathe at midday at home with purified water (applying clay with the mantra 'Ashvakrante rathakrante'), give up anger and greed, worship Lord Keshava with food offerings and a lamp, spend the day in sacred talk and the night in vigil, and give dakshina to brahmins. Keep the Ekadashi joined with Dwadashi, and break the fast on Dwadashi.
About Shri Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha
The Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha is told in four chapters. In the first, Krishna tells Yudhishthira the rites of the fast, the nakta and the single meal, and the fruit of the Ekadashi vow. In the second, the demon Mura drives the gods from heaven, and on Shiva's word they seek refuge with Lord Vishnu, asleep on the ocean. In the third, the Lord attacks Chandravati, and after a thousand divine years of battle falls asleep in the Simhavati cave at Badarikashrama, where a maiden born from his body burns Mura to ash with her war-cry. In the fourth, the Lord gives that maiden the name Ekadashi and a boon, and sets out the rules of the vow.
This vow is observed on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of the Margashirsh month, and is regarded as the very first Ekadashi of the year's cycle.
The Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha has no named author. It is the thirty-eighth chapter of the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana, in which Lord Krishna tells Yudhishthira the story of Ekadashi's birth and the slaying of Mura. The text given here is a verse-by-verse translation of verses 18 to 118 of that chapter; the opening verses belong to a separate passage on the Mahadvadashis.
Benefits of the Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha
As the katha itself states, whoever fasts on Ekadashi attains the abode of Vaikuntha, and whoever reads or hears this story daily receives the merit of a thousand cow-gifts and is freed even from grave sins like the killing of a Brahmin, no other vow is held to destroy sin as Ekadashi does.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters does the Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha have?
It has four chapters, based on verses 18 to 118 of the thirty-eighth chapter of the Padma Purana's Uttara Khanda, read or heard together as one complete text.
When is Utpanna Ekadashi observed?
It is observed on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of the Margashirsh month, and is considered the first Ekadashi of the year's cycle.
Why is it called Utpanna Ekadashi?
As the story describes, it was on this day that the goddess Ekadashi was born (utpanna) from Lord Vishnu's own body, which is why it is called Utpanna Ekadashi.
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. Utpanna Ekadashi tells of the origin of the tithi itself, while the stories of other Ekadashis are available on their own separate pages on this site.
Why is eating rice considered forbidden on Ekadashi?
This chapter of the Padma Purana does not mention rice. A popular belief holds that the sage Medha gave up his body by yogic power to escape the goddess Shakti's wrath, and it merged into the earth and grew as rice and barley; this happened on Ekadashi, so eating rice on this day is held to be forbidden.