Once Yudhishthir Maharaj asked Lord Shri Krishna, O Lord, what is the name of the Ekadashi that falls in the Shukla Paksha of the Adhik month, and how should this Ekadashi be observed, and please describe in detail the results obtained from it.
Then Lord Shri Krishna said that O king, the name of this holy Ekadashi is Padmini, the person who observes this fast, he attains the abode of Lord Padmanabha.
All sins are destroyed by its observance, even Brahma with four faces is unable to say the glory of this Ekadashi. Hey Rajan, this fast should be observed from the day of Dashami itself.
Food made by others is prohibited in this. Food cooked in a bronze vessel should not be eaten. Boiled rice and ghee should also not be taken. One should sleep by spreading a mat on the ground, and celibacy should be followed completely.
On the day of Ekadashi, one should wake up early in the morning and take a bath, and offer incense, lamp, sandalwood, camphor and water to God. One should chant the holy name of God, and should not do any kind of Prajalp i.e. useless talk.
The name, form and qualities of God should be described by staying awake all night. In this Ekadashi, by staying awake till the first hour of the night, one gets the result of performing Aggnisthoma Yagya, by waking up till the second time, one gets the result of performing Vajpayya Yagya, by staying awake till the third hour of the night, one gets the result of performing Ashwamedha Yagya. And by keeping awake the whole night one gets the result of performing Rajasuya Yagya.
On the day of Dwadashi, the fast should be completed by donating food to Brahmins or Vaishnavas. In this way, those who observe the fast attain liberation. Then Lord Shri Krishna said that O King, according to your curiosity, I told the greatness of this fast.
Now listen to the beautiful story told by sage Pulastya to Narada Muni long ago. Once Kritavirya Arjun caught Ravana and made him a prisoner, seeing this, sage Pulastya went to Kritavirya Arjuna and brought Ravana by stabbing him.
Hearing this, Narada Muni bowed down to Pulastya Rishi and asked with utmost humility, O Munivar, who defeated all the gods, then how did Kritavirya Arjuna capture such a strong Ravana, please tell me in detail about this.
Then Pulastya Rishi told Narad Muni that, O Narad, there was a king named Kritavirya born in Haihay clan in Treta Yuga. Mahishmatipuri was his capital, and he had a thousand queens. But he did not have a single son to handle his kingdom properly.
The king had observed all the vows, and served the sages and saints, yet he did not beget a son. Then he handed over all the responsibility of his state to his Prime Minister and went to the forest to do penance.
While leaving the palace, he was seen by his queen Padmini, who was the daughter of King Harishchandra of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Seeing her husband leaving, she gave up her ornaments, and went with her husband to Mount Mandar.
Kritavirya and his wife did penance for ten thousand years on the peak of Mandar mountain, seeing her husband's emaciated body, one day Padmini asked Sati Anusuya that even after doing penance for ten thousand years, Lord Keshav is my husband. Please tell me such a fast, so that Lord Shri Krishna will be pleased and give me such a son, who will become a mighty king.
Then Sati Anusuya was very pleased with the words of Queen Padmini, and said that after every thirty-two months Adhik Maas comes. There are two Ekadashis in this month, Padmini and Parma. By observing the fast of these Ekadashis, God will be immediately pleased, and all your wishes will be fulfilled.
Then according to Mata Anusuya's advice, Queen Padmini performed this fast as per rules, and then Lord Keshav came there sitting on Garuda, and asked Padmini to ask for a groom. First the queen worshiped God, and then started praying, after that she requested God to have a son.
Then God said that O Sadhvi, I am very pleased with you. God said that no other month is as dear to me as Adhik Maas, and Ekadashi of Adhik Maas is also very dear to me. You have pleased me, and that is why I will definitely fulfill your husband's wish.
After talking to Padmini, God came to Kritavirya, and said that your wife has observed Ekadashi fast, which makes me very happy, so ask for whatever you wish. Then the king was pleased and asked for the boon of a strong son who always wins.
The king said that O Madhusudan, give me a son who will never be defeated by gods, humans, snakes and demons, and then God disappeared from there after giving this boon. The king and queen also returned to their kingdom. Shortly afterwards, Queen Padmini gave birth to a very mighty son, who became famous as Kritavirya Arjuna.
There was no other mighty king like him, he had also defeated ten faced Ravana. Sage Pulastya left there after telling this beautiful story. Lord Shri Krishna further said that O King, in this way I told you the greatness of Padmini Ekadashi coming in the month of Adhikam, and whoever observes it, he definitely gets Vaikuntha.
On the day of Ekadashi, one should chant and listen to the holy name of the Lord as much as possible. One should read the Bhagavadgita and the Bhagavatam, and chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra for at least sixteen or twenty-five rounds.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 🙏🙏🙏🙏🌺🌺🌺🌺❤️❤️❤️❤️🙇🙇🙇🙇
