Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry
Once Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said to Lord Kṛṣṇa, “O Kṛṣṇa, O Lord of lords, O lotus-eyed one, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi which occurs in the bright fortnight of the month of Kārttika. Kindly explain to me its glories and the process by which one should observe it.”
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Reply
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, replied, “O Yudhiṣṭhira, the Ekadasi that occurs during the waxing moon of the month of Kārttika is known as Haribodhini Ekadasi, also called Utthāna Ekadasi. On this day Lord Viṣṇu, who had been resting during the period of Cāturmāsya, awakens from His cosmic slumber. It is therefore the most auspicious of all Ekadasis.
The observance of this Ekadasi destroys all sins and bestows immense merit. One who observes the vow properly obtains all kinds of happiness and attains My supreme abode. Now hear attentively about its glories as I narrate the ancient history related to this sacred day.”
The Story of the Lord’s Awakening
Lord Kṛṣṇa continued, “At the beginning of the creation, after the period of Cāturmāsya, Lord Viṣṇu goes to sleep on Śeṣa-nāga in the ocean of milk. All the demigods, human beings, and great sages wait eagerly for this day, the day when He awakens again.
On this sacred day, all beings should worship Me, Lord Viṣṇu, with devotion, offer lamps, and perform kīrtana. By doing so, they will gain unlimited merit and freedom from the bondage of karma.
One should rise early in the morning, take bath in a holy river, and worship the Lord with offerings of lamps, flowers, and fruits. By offering lamps to Me on this day, the performer obtains the result of offering all kinds of charity, performing sacrifices, and visiting holy places.
Even the gift of a single lamp offered with love on this day removes the darkness of ignorance from one’s heart and brings illumination equal to a thousand suns.”
The Glories of Offering a Lamp
Lord Kṛṣṇa said, “O son of Pāṇḍu, when one offers a lamp to Me with devotion on this day, all the forefathers, the demigods, and the celestial beings become pleased. Such a person never takes birth again in this material world.
O best of kings, those who observe this Ekadasi with faith, who remain awake throughout the night singing My names and glories, and who offer lamps to Me and to the brāhmaṇas, will never experience the sufferings of hell.
Whoever offers a lamp at My temple, even if it burns for only a moment, attains great spiritual merit and will be delivered from all sins. The merit one obtains by donating a lamp on this day cannot be achieved even by performing one hundred sacrifices or by bathing in the holy Gaṅgā at Kārttika.”
The Conversation of the Sages
“Once, in Satya-yuga, Nārada Muni inquired from Lord Brahmā about the benefit of observing Haribodhini Ekadasi. Brahmā said, ‘My dear son, by observing this sacred vow and offering lamps to Lord Viṣṇu, one attains all desired perfection.
During this period, especially in the month of Kārttika, even a small offering becomes multiplied infinitely. The demigods, pitṛs, and sages bless such a devotee, and Lord Hari, who awakens on this day, fulfills all their desires.’
Therefore, this Ekadasi is the day when all devotees celebrate with great devotion, for the sleeping Lord awakens to shower blessings upon His faithful servants.”
Observance and Fasting
Lord Kṛṣṇa said, “One should observe complete fasting on this day and remain awake at night, chanting My holy names and hearing My glories. Whoever does so attains the merit of observing all other Ekadasis combined.
Those who worship Me with devotion, perform lamp offering, and feed Vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas on this day, attain the result of performing thousands of sacrifices and bestow happiness upon all their ancestors.
Whoever offers a lamp to Lord Viṣṇu, even with a simple heart and faith, will never see the abode of Yamarāja. The light of that lamp illuminates their path to My eternal abode.”
Phala-śruti (Result of Observance)
“O Yudhiṣṭhira, by hearing the glories of Haribodhini Ekadasi, all sins committed in thousands of lifetimes are destroyed. One who reads or listens to this narration attains the merit of performing ten thousand horse sacrifices and ten thousand donations of gold.
Therefore, O best of kings, you should observe this sacred vow and inspire others to do so. Whoever observes it with devotion will achieve My eternal association and never return to the material world.”
Origin of the Story
This narration of Utthāna (Haribodhini) Ekadasi is described in the Skanda Purāṇa and the Padma Purāṇa, where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa instructs Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira about the day when Lord Viṣṇu awakens from His divine rest, blessing all devotees who offer Him lamps and sing His holy names.
