पापमोचनी एकादशी व्रत कथा

The beginning
Arjun said to Shri Krishna, “O Madhusudan, you have told me the story of Amalaki Ekadashi in the Shukla paksha of Phalgun. Now please tell me: what is the name of the Ekadashi in the Krishna paksha of Chaitra, and how is it kept?”
Shri Krishna said, “O Arjun, King Mandhata, ruler of the earth, once asked Lomash Rishi this same question. I will tell you what Lomash Rishi answered.”

The story
King Mandhata asked Lomash Rishi, “O best of sages, how can a person be freed from his sins? Please tell me of a simple way that everyone can follow.”
Lomash Rishi said, “O King, the Ekadashi in the Krishna paksha of Chaitra is called Papmochani. Listen carefully to its story.”

Long ago there was a beautiful forest called Chaitrarath. It was always spring there, and flowers of every kind were always in bloom. Gandharvas, Kinnars and apsaras came to wander in that forest, and sometimes Indra, king of the devas, came there with the other gods.

In that forest a young sage named Medhavi did tapasya. He was the son of Rishi Chyavan and a great devotee of Lord Shiv. One day an apsara named Manjughosha set out to break his tapasya, and Kamdev, the god of desire, began to help her. Manjughosha sat a little way off, playing the veena and singing in a sweet voice.

Hearing her sweet song and seeing her beauty, Rishi Medhavi’s mind wavered. He forgot his tapasya and his devotion to Shiv, and began to live with Manjughosha. Lost in attachment, the rishi did not even notice day or night.

A long time passed. One day Manjughosha said, “O great rishi, please allow me to go back to heaven now.”
The rishi said, “You only came this evening. Go when morning comes.”
After some time she asked again. Again the rishi said, “Not much time has passed. Stay a little longer.”
Then Manjughosha said, “O great rishi, this night of yours has become very long. Just think how long it has been since I came here.”

Hearing this, the rishi came to his senses. When he counted, he found that fifty-seven years had passed! Seeing so many years of his tapasya wasted, he became very angry. In his anger he cursed Manjughosha: “You have destroyed my tapasya. Go, become a pishachini, a wandering spirit.”

Because of the curse, Manjughosha became a pishachini. Full of sorrow, she said, “O great rishi, have mercy on me. It is said that the company of saints brings good, and I have spent so many years with you. Please tell me how I can be freed from this curse.”

Hearing her words, the rishi deeply regretted his anger. He said, “Keep the fast of Papmochani Ekadashi in the Krishna paksha of Chaitra. By its power you will be freed from this form.” Then he explained every step of the fast to her.

After this, Rishi Medhavi went to the ashram of his father, Rishi Chyavan. As soon as he saw his son, Rishi Chyavan said, “Son, what have you done? The glow of your tapasya has completely faded.”
Medhavi bowed his head in shame, told him the whole truth and asked, “Father, please tell me how I can be freed from this wrong.”
Rishi Chyavan said, “Son, you too must keep the fast of Papmochani Ekadashi in the Krishna paksha of Chaitra, with devotion and in the proper way.”

Rishi Medhavi obeyed his father and kept the Papmochani Ekadashi fast, and all his sins were wiped away. Manjughosha also kept the fast; she was freed from the form of a pishachini and returned to heaven in her own beautiful form.

Lomash Rishi said, “O King, that is why this Ekadashi is called Papmochani, the one that frees us from sin.”

This story teaches us not to forget our resolve when we are pulled by attachment, and that hurting someone in anger is just as great a mistake. For anyone who returns to God with true regret, the way is always open.

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