Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry
Once, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said to Lord Kṛṣṇa, “O Lord Kṛṣṇa, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of all lords, and the refuge of all living entities. You are the remover of all kinds of miseries. Please tell me in detail the origin of Ekadasi and how one should observe it. Also, kindly explain which deity should be worshiped on that day, what are its results, and how fasting on this day destroys sins.”
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Reply
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa replied, “O king, your question is glorious, and it benefits the whole world. The observance of Ekadasi delivers one from all kinds of sinful reactions and leads to pure devotion to Me. Therefore, listen carefully as I narrate to you how this sacred day appeared.
In the beginning of creation, during the Satya-yuga, there was once a powerful demon named Mura. He was very fierce and terrified the demigods. He was always eager to destroy the heavenly planets and harass the devotees of the Lord. He attacked the residences of Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, and others. Defeating them all, he occupied their cities and took over their positions.
Seeing the demigods defeated, Indra and the others went to Lord Śiva and then to Lord Viṣṇu for protection. With folded hands, they prayed to the Lord:
‘O Supreme Lord, O shelter of all surrendered souls, O maintainer of the universe, please protect us from this demon Mura who has taken over the heavenly planets. He is extremely wicked and unbearable.’”
The Lord’s Battle with Mura
Lord Viṣṇu, hearing their plea, mounted on Garuḍa and went to the city of Chandravati, the capital of the demon Mura. There a great and terrible battle took place. Thousands and thousands of demigods fought along with the Lord. For ten thousand years they fought continuously, and Mura’s army was destroyed.
Then the powerful demon Mura personally came forward to fight with the Lord. Seeing the Lord’s inconceivable energy, Mura roared and rushed toward Him with his many weapons. Lord Viṣṇu countered his attack with His own divine weapons — the conch, the disc, the club, and the lotus — and destroyed the demon’s forces.
For a long time they fought fiercely, and finally Lord Viṣṇu decided to rest for a while. He went to Badarikāśrama and entered a cave named Hemāvati to take rest. While He was sleeping, the demon Mura followed Him into the cave, thinking, “Now my enemy sleeps, so I will kill Him easily.”
Appearance of the Divine Maiden
Just as the demon was about to attack the sleeping Lord, suddenly from Lord Viṣṇu’s body there emerged a divine maiden, resplendent with extraordinary effulgence. She had various weapons in her hands and shone with the brilliance of millions of suns. She challenged Mura, “Stop, you wicked demon! You cannot touch My Lord.”
A fierce fight ensued between the maiden and the demon Mura. Within moments she defeated and killed him. When Lord Viṣṇu awoke, He saw the demon lying dead and the radiant maiden standing before Him with folded hands.
The Lord Names Ekadasi
The Lord asked her, “Who are you, and from where have you come?”
The maiden replied, “O Lord, I appeared from Your transcendental body to protect You and Your devotees from the wicked demon Mura.”
Hearing this, Lord Viṣṇu became greatly pleased and said, “Because you have appeared from My own body, you are My spiritual energy. From now on, you shall be called Ekadasi because you appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon. Whoever observes fasting on this day will be freed from all sins and attain devotion to Me. This day will destroy all sins and grant all auspiciousness. You shall be worshiped throughout the three worlds.”
Then the Lord continued, “Those who observe the vow of Ekadasi with faith and devotion will never fall into ignorance, will never be overcome by sin, and will never go to hell. Fasting on this day will destroy all sins accumulated over thousands of lifetimes.
This day is most dear to Me, and whoever observes it pleases Me immensely. Therefore, O king, this Ekadasi day should be observed by everyone — even those who have taken shelter in Me, the poor, the sick, or the elderly — because it purifies the heart and brings the supreme goal of life.”
The Power and Glory of Ekadasi
Lord Kṛṣṇa said further, “O Yudhiṣṭhira, in this world and the next there is no day as sanctifying and purifying as Ekadasi. It removes all kinds of sins and bestows My mercy. It is My own form, and whoever honors it becomes most dear to Me.
Those who disregard this sacred day and indulge in sense gratification eat their own sins. They are considered as offenders to Me and must suffer repeated births.
One who observes Ekadasi properly — by fasting, remaining awake, chanting My holy names, hearing My glories, and worshiping Me — will attain all perfections. Such a person attains the merit of all sacrifices, austerities, and charities combined.”
Phala-śruti (Result of Observance)
Lord Viṣṇu concluded, “O Yudhiṣṭhira, one who hears or recites this narration of the origin of Ekadasi becomes freed from all sins accumulated over thousands of births and attains My supreme abode, Vaikuṇṭha.
Therefore, this sacred Ekadasi, which appeared from My own body, should always be honored. Even by hearing its glories, one attains great merit.”
Origin of the Story
This story of the Origin of Ekadasi is described in the Padma Purāṇa, Uttara-khaṇḍa, Chapter 50. It is a conversation between Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, explaining the divine birth of Ekadasi from the body of Lord Viṣṇu and its power to destroy sins and grant liberation.
