कामदा एकादशी व्रत कथा

The beginning
Dharmaraj Yudhishthira asked Shri Krishna, “O Lord, what is the name of the Ekadashi in the Shukla paksha of Chaitra? How is it kept, and what is its glory?”
Shri Krishna said, “O Dharmaraj, the Ekadashi of Chaitra Shukla paksha is called Kamada Ekadashi. Once King Dilip asked this same question of his guru, Vasishtha ji. Listen to the story Vasishtha ji told him.”

The story
In ancient times there was a city called Bhogipur, ruled by a king named Pundarik. His kingdom was full of wealth and splendour. Many apsaras, kinnars and gandharvas lived in that city. Among them lived a gandharva named Lalit and his wife Lalita. They loved each other so much that even a short time apart made them restless.

One day Lalit was singing in King Pundarik’s court along with the other gandharvas. Lalita was not there. While singing, Lalit began to think of his wife. His mind wandered, his notes went wrong and the rhythm of the song broke.

Karkotak, a serpent lord sitting in the court, understood what was in Lalit’s heart and told the king. King Pundarik was very angry. He said, “Even while singing in my court, you are thinking of your wife. Go, become a rakshas, a demon, and bear the result of your deed.”

By the king’s curse, Lalit at once turned into a huge and frightening rakshas. His face became terrible, his eyes burned like fire, and his body grew as big as a mountain. In this form he wandered through dense forests and suffered greatly.

When Lalita learned of this, her heart broke. She thought, “Where shall I go? How can I free my husband from this suffering?” She followed her husband through the forests, weeping all the while.

Wandering like this, one day she reached the Vindhya mountains, where Sage Shringi had his ashram. Lalita went into the ashram, bowed to the sage and began to plead with him. The sage asked, “Daughter, who are you, and why have you come here?”

Lalita said, “O great sage, my name is Lalita. Because of King Pundarik’s curse, my husband has become a rakshas. I cannot bear to see his suffering. Please tell me some way to set him free.”

Sage Shringi said, “O daughter of the gandharvas, the Kamada Ekadashi of Chaitra Shukla paksha is coming soon. Keep the fast on that day with faith, and offer its merit to your husband. By that merit your husband will be freed from the rakshas form, and the king’s curse will be calmed.”

Following the sage’s words, Lalita kept the Kamada Ekadashi fast with all her heart. On Dwadashi, in front of the Brahmins, she prayed to the Lord, “O Prabhu, may the merit of this fast go to my husband, so that he is freed from the rakshas form.”

As soon as she offered the merit, Lalit was freed from the rakshas form and got back his handsome gandharva form. Wearing fine clothes and jewels, he lived happily with Lalita as before. In time, the two of them went to heaven in a divine chariot.

Maharishi Vasishtha said, “O King, all this was the power of the Kamada Ekadashi fast.” This story also reminds us of the true love between husband and wife, and the strength of a prayer made for each other.

May Vishnu ji keep faith and peace in every heart.
Bolo Shri Hari Vishnu Bhagwan ki Jai!