Papankusha Ekadashi vrat katha

Padma Purana: the glory of Papankusha Ekadashi

As given in the Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, chapter 59 (61 in the Gita Press edition). The chapter tells no story, only the merits of the vow; below is its substance in our own words.

Yudhishthira asked Krishna, “Madhusudana, please tell me: which Ekadashi comes in the bright half of Ashwin?” Krishna said, “Listen, lord of kings. That Ekadashi is known as Papankusha, and it takes away every sin. On that day let a person worship me by the name Padmanabha. It fulfils every wish, and grants heaven and liberation too.”

In the Padma Purana Krishna goes on: the fruit that comes from long, hard austerity with the senses held in check comes on this day simply from bowing to the Lord whose banner bears Garuda. Even one who has sinned much in delusion does not go to hell if he bows to Hari, who takes away all sin. The merit of every tirtha and holy shrine on earth is gained by singing Vishnu’s names, and those who take refuge in Janardana, bearer of the Sharnga bow, never suffer the torments of Yama’s world.

Even if a single Ekadashi fast happens for some other reason, one who has done grave wrong is spared Yama’s torment. In the same passage the text warns against reviling either Shiva or Vishnu: a devotee of Vishnu who reviles Shiva does not reach Vishnu’s world, and for a worshipper of Shiva who reviles Vishnu the text names a severe punishment too.

Nothing in the three worlds purifies like this vow of Padmanabha; sins stay in the body until one fasts on his blessed day. The text says that a thousand Ashvamedha and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices are not worth a sixteenth of an Ekadashi fast, and that no vow in the world equals it. Those who keep it even on some pretext do not go to Yama.

This Ekadashi grants heaven and liberation, keeps the body healthy, and gives wife and sons, wealth and friends. Not Ganga, Gaya, Kashi, Pushkar or Kurukshetra is called as holy as this day of Hari. Fasting by day and keeping vigil by night, one reaches Vishnu’s abode without strain.

The one who keeps the fast uplifts ten generations of the mother’s line, ten of the father’s and ten of the wife’s. They take on a divine four-armed form and, garlanded and in yellow garments, under banners marked with Garuda, go to the abode of Hari.

In childhood, youth or old age, one who fasts on Ekadashi does not come to a bad end. Whoever fasts on Papankusha in the bright half of Ashwin is freed of all sins and goes to Hari’s world.

One who gives gold, sesame, land, a cow, food, water, sandals, an umbrella or clothes does not see Yama. The text offers a comparison: a person whose days come and go without any good deed breathes like a blacksmith’s bellows but does not truly live. So even the poor should make each day count, bathing and giving as far as they can.

Those who do good works such as homa, bathing, japa, meditation and sacrifice do not see Yama’s dreadful torment; the long-lived, the wealthy, the well-born and the healthy whom one sees in the world are such doers of good. In short, adharma leads to a bad end and dharma to heaven. Krishna closes: “O king, I have told you the glory of Papankusha that you asked about. What else would you like to hear?”

Krodhana the hunter and the sage Angira: a popular tale

This story is not in the Padma Purana. It is found in Hindi vrat-katha books (the oldest print we found is from 1979) and on Webdunia, Amar Ujala and Aaj Tak; none of them names a Purana for it.

As the popular tale goes, long ago a hunter named Krodhana lived on the Vindhya mountains. He was very cruel. His whole life had gone in killing creatures, theft and robbery, drink, lies and quarrels.

When his end drew near, Yama told his messengers, “Bring Krodhana here tomorrow.” The messengers went and told Krodhana that tomorrow would be the last day of his life.

Hearing this, Krodhana shook with fear. In a panic he ran to the ashram of the sage Angira, fell at his feet and wept: “Master, my hands have done nothing but wrong all my life, and tomorrow is my end. Have mercy on me. Tell me what I can do to wash my sins away.”

The sage was moved by his plight. “Tomorrow is the Ekadashi of the bright half of Ashwin, called Papankusha,” he said, “and it destroys sins. Keep its fast tomorrow with true devotion and worship Lord Vishnu as prescribed.”

Krodhana did just that. He fasted with his whole heart and worshipped Lord Vishnu.

According to the katha, the power of this fast destroyed all his sins. In the 1979 vrat book, Vishnu’s attendants seat him in a beautiful celestial chariot and carry him to the world of the gods while Yama’s messengers look on; by Webdunia, Amar Ujala and Aaj Tak he attained liberation, and by the 2019 “Vrat evam Parv Samhita” he went to Vishnu’s world.