English
Indira Ekadashi Vrat Katha: King Indrasena
Source: Traditional Ekadashi vrat katha (traditionally attributed to the Brahmavaivarta Purana)
In the age of the Mahabharata, Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna, “Lord, what is the name of the Ekadashi in the dark fortnight of Ashwin, and what is its glory?” Krishna said, “O king, it is called Indira Ekadashi. Hear its story.”
In the Satya Yuga a righteous king named Indrasena ruled the city of Mahishmati. He was blessed with sons and grandsons, cared for his people like his own children, and was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.
One day, as the king sat in his court, the divine sage Narada came down from the sky, playing his veena. The king rose, folded his hands, offered him a seat with honour, worshipped him with due rites and asked, “Great sage, your visit has blessed me today. Tell me, how may I serve you?”
Narada first asked after the king's welfare. The king replied, “By your grace all is well in my kingdom; sacrifices are performed and my people are happy.”
Then Narada grew grave and said, “O king, I have come to tell you something. I went from Brahma's realm to the realm of Yama. There, in Yama's assembly, I saw a man…”
The king listened intently. Narada said softly, “He was your father.”
King Indrasena was stunned. His righteous father… in Yama's realm? Narada went on, “Your father has sent a message for you.”
Narada said, “Because of some fault, your father broke an Ekadashi fast midway. That is why he is in Yama's realm. He has said: ‘Son, keep the fast of Indira Ekadashi in the dark fortnight of Ashwin and offer its merit to me, so that I may reach heaven.’”
Hearing his father's message, the king's eyes filled with tears. He folded his hands and said, “Great sage, tell me how this fast is kept. I will surely do it for my father.”
Narada explained: “On Dashami bathe in the morning, perform shraddha for the ancestors with devotion at midday, and eat only once. On Ekadashi, after your morning bath, take the vow: ‘O lotus-eyed Lord, today I will go without food and eat tomorrow; be my refuge.’”
“At midday perform shraddha with due rites before the Shaligram, feed the brahmanas and give them dakshina. Smell the pinda of the shraddha and then feed it to a cow. Worship Lord Hrishikesha with incense, lamps and flowers, and keep vigil through the night near the Lord.”
“On Dwadashi morning worship the Lord, feed the brahmanas, and then eat your own meal in silence with your kinsmen.”
With his queens, sons and servants, King Indrasena kept the Indira Ekadashi fast exactly in this way, with full devotion, and offered its merit to his father.
As the fast was completed, flowers rained from the sky. The king's father mounted Garuda and went to the abode of Lord Vishnu.
King Indrasena too ruled for a long time without trouble, and at last, handing the kingdom to his son, he himself reached heaven.
Krishna told Yudhishthira, “O king, whoever reads or hears this story with devotion gains blessings for himself together with his ancestors.”
What this story teaches
Love for one's ancestors shows not only in remembrance but in action. A child's sincere devotion reaches the ancestors.
Indira Ekadashi falls in the dark fortnight of Ashwin, during Pitru Paksha, so shraddha and fasting for the ancestors are considered especially meaningful on this day. Devotees eat once on Dashami, fast and worship Lord Vishnu and the Shaligram on Ekadashi, and break the fast (parana) on Dwadashi. The sources of the Ekadashi kathas are given differently in different texts; this one is traditionally attributed to the Brahmavaivarta Purana.
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