Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry
Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja said, “O Lord Kṛṣṇa, O Janārdana, O protector of all living entities, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Māgha (January–February). Kindly describe to me its glories and the process by which it should be observed.”
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Reply
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa replied, “O Yudhiṣṭhira, the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Māgha is known as Ṣaṭtilā Ekadasi. This sacred day destroys all kinds of sins and bestows divine merit and prosperity.
One should observe fasting on this Ekadasi with great faith and devotion, for by doing so, one attains both material prosperity and spiritual perfection. Now, hear attentively from Me the ancient history that illustrates the glory of this holy day.”
The Story of a Pious Brāhmaṇī
“In ancient times there lived a very pious and devoted brāhmaṇī. She was extremely faithful and regularly performed vows, charity, and worship of Lord Viṣṇu. However, although she gave much in charity, she never gave food grains to the brāhmaṇas and the poor.
Because of this one fault, her heart gradually became hard. She performed many pious acts externally, but she was attached to hoarding grains and never offered them to others.
When her time came to leave this world, she went to the heavenly planets because of her many pious activities. Yet, because she had not offered food charity, she found herself without any food or comforts in that realm. Her celestial house was beautiful, adorned with jewels and gardens, but there was no food or water anywhere.”
The Lord’s Visit
“One day, by His own divine will, Lord Viṣṇu appeared in her home in the guise of a brāhmaṇa mendicant. Seeing the Lord disguised as a brāhmaṇa at her door, she joyfully offered Him obeisances and said, ‘O brāhmaṇa, please tell me the reason for Your visit.’
The Lord, smiling, said, ‘O gentle lady, I have come to beg alms from you.’ Hearing this, she became embarrassed, for she had no grains or food to offer. After some hesitation, she took a few sesame seeds (tila) and placed them in His begging bowl. The Lord accepted her humble offering and disappeared from her sight.”
The Revelation and Instruction
“After the Lord disappeared, she heard a divine voice resounding from the sky:
‘O blessed lady, because you offered Me sesame seeds in charity, you will be delivered from hunger and thirst. Henceforth, the sesame seed shall become a sacred and purifying substance, used in religious rites and for the satisfaction of the demigods and ancestors.
There is, however, an Ekadasi known as Ṣaṭtilā Ekadasi, which is especially dear to Me. By observing it, by bathing with sesame, offering sesame in charity, and eating preparations made of sesame, one becomes purified of all sins and obtains eternal happiness.’
Having heard this divine voice, the brāhmaṇī followed the Lord’s instructions, observed the fast, and was finally blessed with abundance, peace, and devotion to Lord Viṣṇu.”
The Six Ways of Using Sesame
Lord Kṛṣṇa continued, “O Yudhiṣṭhira, on the day of Ṣaṭtilā Ekadasi, one should worship Me with sesame in six ways:
- Bathing with sesame seeds,
- Rubbing the body with sesame paste,
- Offering sesame mixed with water in worship,
- Giving sesame seeds in charity,
- Eating food prepared with sesame, and
- Offering oblations to the ancestors with sesame.
By performing these six acts on Ṣaṭtilā Ekadasi, one’s sins are destroyed, one’s heart becomes purified, and one attains great spiritual merit.”
The Importance of Charity
“O king, even if one performs millions of sacrifices and gives mountains of gold in charity, all these are not equal to the merit gained by observing this sacred Ekadasi.
One who gives sesame seeds in charity on this day, especially to qualified brāhmaṇas, attains freedom from all past sins and obtains divine wisdom and detachment. Those who neglect this day, however, will suffer hunger and poverty in this life and the next.
Whoever observes this Ekadasi with sincerity, avoiding grains, beans, and all forms of indulgence, becomes blessed with long life, prosperity, and the ability to perform devotional service with pure love.”
Phala-śruti (Result of Observance)
Lord Kṛṣṇa concluded, “O Yudhiṣṭhira, this sacred Ekadasi bestows all auspiciousness. It is dear to Me and destroys all forms of sin. Whoever observes this fast with faith, gives sesame seeds in charity, and remains devoted to Me attains the merit of performing great sacrifices.
Even one who simply hears the glories of Ṣaṭtilā Ekadasi becomes freed from all sinful reactions and attains the supreme abode.”
Origin of the Story
This narration of Ṣaṭtilā Ekadasi is described in the Bhaviṣya-Uttara Purāṇa and the Padma Purāṇa, where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaks to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira about the deliverance of the pious brāhmaṇī. It reveals the sanctity of giving sesame in charity and observing this vow, which purifies the heart and grants both material and spiritual prosperity.
