Indira Ekadashi vrat katha

King Indrasena and his father

As told in the Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, chapter 58 (60 in the Gita Press edition), checked against the Sanskrit, Deshpande’s English translation and the Gita Press Hindi.

King Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna, “Madhusudana, please tell me: which Ekadashi comes in the dark half of the month of Ashwin?” Krishna said, “O king, that Ekadashi is called Indira. By the power of its fast even great sins are wiped away, and it gives a good end even to forefathers who have fallen into lower births. Listen closely to its story, which takes away sin; merely hearing it brings the fruit of a Vajapeya sacrifice.”

Long ago, in the Satya Yuga, a renowned king named Indrasena ruled the city of Mahishmati. He cared for his people by dharma. His family was full of sons and grandsons, and his kingdom lacked neither wealth nor grain. The king was wholly devoted to Lord Vishnu, and he passed his days chanting the names of Govinda, which grant liberation, and meditating on the Self.

One day, as the king sat at ease in his court, the divine sage Narada came down from the sky. The moment he saw him, the king rose with folded hands, worshipped him as is proper and seated him with honour. Then he said, “Divine sage, by your kindness all is well with me. Seeing you, I feel that every sacrifice I have performed has borne fruit today. Please tell me, what brings you here?”

Narada said, “Best of kings, listen; what I have to say will astonish you. I went from Brahma’s world to the world of Yama. There Yama received me with devotion and gave me a fine seat. In his assembly I saw your father. He did much good in his life, yet because of a shortfall in a vow he is held there.”

“He gave me a message for you; hear it. He said, ‘O brahmin, tell Indrasena, king of Mahishmati, that because of some obstacle from a former birth I am held near Yama. My son, give me the merit of the Indira vow and send me to heaven.’ I have come to you with that message. O king, keep the Indira fast so that your father may reach heaven. By the power of that vow he will go there.”

The king folded his hands and asked, “Revered one, please tell me about the Indira vow. In which fortnight is it kept, on which tithi, and in what way?”

Narada said, “Lord of kings, hear how this blessed vow is kept. On the Dashami of the dark half of Ashwin, bathe in the morning with a faithful heart. At midday bathe again and, calm and collected, perform shraddh with faith to please your forefathers. Eat only once that day, and at night sleep on the ground.”

“When the clear morning of Ekadashi dawns, wash your face and take the vow of fasting with devotion, saying to the Lord: O lotus-eyed one, today I stay without food, giving up every pleasure, and I will eat tomorrow; O Achyuta, be my refuge. Then at midday bathe as prescribed at the Shalagrama stone, worship Lord Hrishikesha with incense, fragrance and the rest, and at night keep vigil near Lord Keshava.”

“On the morning of Dwadashi, worship Shri Hari with devotion and then perform shraddh for your forefathers as prescribed. Honour brahmins with gifts and feed them, and after that eat in silence yourself, with your kinsmen, your daughters’ sons and your sons. O king, keep the vow this way without slackness, and your forefathers will go to the world of Vishnu.” With these words Narada vanished.

King Indrasena kept this excellent vow just as Narada had taught, together with his queens, his sons and his servants.

Krishna said, “Son of Kunti, the moment the vow was complete, flowers rained from the sky, and the king’s father, riding on Garuda, went to the abode of Lord Vishnu.”

The royal sage Indrasena too ruled without trouble, and later, placing his son on the throne, went to heaven himself.

At the end Krishna tells Yudhishthira that this is the glory of the Indira vow. According to the katha, whoever reads or hears it is freed of all sins, enjoys happiness in this world, and then dwells long in the world of Vishnu.