RamA EkAdasii - 23rd Oct

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RamA EkAdasii

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Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “O Janardana, O protector of all beings, what is the

name of the Ekadasi that comes during the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) of

the month of Karttika (October - November)? Please impart this sacred knowledge

to me.”

The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna then spoke as follows, “O lion among kings,

please listen as I narrate to you; The Ekadasi that occurs during the dark part

of the month of Karttika is called Ramaa Ekadasi. It is most auspicious, for it

at once eradicates the greatest sins and awards one the passage to the

spiritual abode. I shall now narrate to you its history and glories.”

“There once lived a famous king of the name Muchakunda, who was friendly

to Lord Indra, the king of the heavenly planets, as well as with Yamaraj,

Varuna, and Vibhishana, the pious brother of the demon Ravana. Muchakunda

always spoke the truth and constantly rendered devotional service to Me.

Because he ruled according to religious principles, there were no disturbances

in his kingdom.

“Muchakunda’s daughter was named Chandrabhaagaa, after a sacred river, and

the king gave her in marriage to Shobhana, the son of Chandrasena. One day,

Shobhana visited his father-in-law’s palace on the auspicious Ekadasi day. This

visit made Shobhana’s wife Chandrabhaagaa quite anxious, for she knew that her

husband was physically very weak and unable to bear the austerity of a day-long

fast. She said to him, ‘My father is very strict about following Ekadasi. On

Dasami, the day before Ekadasi, he strikes a large kettledrum and announces,

“Nobody should eat on Ekadasi, the sacred day of Sri Hari !” “

“When Shobhana heard the sound of the kettledrum, he said to his wife, ‘O

beautiful one, what am I to do now? Please tell me how I can save my life and

obey your father’s strictness and at the same time satisfy our guests !”

“Chandrabhaagaa then spoke, ‘My dear husband, in my father’s house nobody

– not even the elephants or horses, what to speak of consenting human beings –

eats on Ekadasi. Indeed, none of the animals are given their ration of grains,

leaves, or straw – or even water ! – on Ekadasi, the sacred day of Sri Hari. So

how can you escape fasting? My beloved husband, if you must eat something, then

you should leave here at once. Now, with firm conviction decide on what you

have to do.’

“Prince Shobhana then said, ‘I have decided to fast on the sacred Ekadasi

day. Whatever my fate is, it will surely come to pass.’

“Deciding thus, Shobhana attempted to fast on this Ekadasi, but he became

unbearably disturbed with excessive hunger and thirst. Eventually the sun set

in the west, and the arrival of the auspicious night made all the Vaishnavas

very happy. O Yudhisthira, all the devotees enjoyed worshipping Me (Sri Hari)

and remaining awake all through night, but Prince Shobhana that night became

absolutely unbearable. Indeed, when the Sun rose on the Dwadasi, that Prince

Shobhana was dead.

“King Muchakunda observed his son-in-law’s funeral, ordering a large stack

of wood be assembled for the fire, but he instructed his daughter

Chandrabhaagaa not to join her husband on the funeral pyre. Thus

Chandrabhaagaa, after performing all the purificatory processes and procedures

for honouring her deceased husband, continued to live in her father’s house.

Lord Sri Krishna continued, “O best of the kings, Yudhisthira, even though

Shobhana died because of observing Ramaa Ekadasi, the merit that he accrued

enabled him, after his death, to become the ruler of a kingdom high on the peak

of Mandarachala Mountain. This kingdom was like a city of the demigods; very

lustrous, with unlimited jewels set in the walls of its buildings that gave off

light. The pillars were made of rubies, and gold inlaid with diamonds shone

everywhere. As King Shobhana sat upon a throne beneath a pure white canopy,

servants fanned him with yak-tail whisks. A stunning crown rested upon his

head, beautiful earrings adorned his ears, a necklace graced his throat, and

bejewelled armlets and bracelets encircled his arms. He was served by

Gandharvas (the best of heavenly singers) and Apsaras (celestial dancers).

Verily, he resembled a second Indra.

“One day, a brahmin named Somasharma, who lived in Muchakunda’s kingdom,

happened upon Shobhana’s kingdom while travelling to various places of

pilgrimage. The brahmin saw Shobhana in all his resplendent glory and thought

he might be the son-in-law of his own king Muchakunda. When Shobhana saw the

brahmin approaching, he immediately rose up from his seat and welcomed him.

After Shobhana had paid his respectful obeisances he asked the brahmin about

his well-being and about the health and welfare of his (Shobhana’s)

father-in-law, his wife and all the residents of the city.

“Somasharma then said, ‘O king, all the residents and subjects are well in

your father-in-law’s kingdom, and Chandrabhaagaa and your other family members

are also quite well. Peace and prosperity reign throughout the kingdom. But

there is one thing, I’m quite astonished to find you here! Please tell me about

yourself. Nobody has ever seen such a beautiful city as this! Kindly tell me

how you obtained it.’

“King Shobhana then began to tell his story, ‘Because I observed the Ramaa

Ekadasi, I was given this splendid city to rule over. But for all of its

grandeur, it is only temporary. I beg you to do something to correct this

deficiency. You see, this is only an ephemeral city, a place of this material

world. How may I make its beauties and glories permanent? Kindly reveal this to

me by your instructions.

“The brahmin then asked, ‘Why is this kingdom unstable and how will it

become stable? Please fully explain this to me, and I shall try to help you.’

“Shobhana then answered, ‘Because I fasted on the Ramaa Ekadasi without

any faith, this kingdom is impermanent. Now hear how it can become permanent.

Please return to Chandrabhaagaa, the beautiful daughter of king Muchukunda, and

tell her what you have seen and understood about this place and about me.

Surely, if you, a pure hearted brahmin, tell her this, my city will soon become

permanent.’

“Thus the brahmin returned to his city and related the entire episode to

Chandrabhaagaa, who was both surprised and overjoyed to hear this news of her

husband. She said, ‘O brahmana, is this a dream you have seen, or is it

actually a factual thing?’

“Somasharma the brahmin replied, ‘O Princess, I have seen your late

husband face to face in that wonderful kingdom, which resembles a realm of the

denizens’ of heavens playgrounds. But you former husband has asked me to relate

to you that he says that his kingdom is unstable and could vanish into thin air

at any moment. Therefore he hope you can find a way to make it permanent.’

“Chandrabhaagaa then said, ‘O sage among the brahmins, please take me to

that place where my husband resides at once, for I greatly desire to see him

again! Surely I shall make his kingdom permanent with the merit that I have

acquired by fasting on every Ekadasi throughout my life. Please reunite us at

once, again. It is said that one who reunites separated persons also obtains

very great merit.’

“The humble brahmin Somasharma then led Chandrabhaagaa to Shobhana’s

effulgent kingdom. Before reaching it, however, they stopped at the foot of Mt.

Mandaracala, at the sacred ashrama of Vamadeva. Upon hearing their story,

Vamadeva chanted hymns from the Vedas and sprinkled holy water from his samanya

arghya upon Chandrabhaagaa. By the influence of that great Rishi’s rites, the

merit she had accrued by fasting for so many Ekadasis made her body

transcendental. Ecstatic, her eyes beaming in wonder, Chandrabhaagaa continued

on her journey.

“When Shobhana saw his wife approaching him high on Mount Mandarachala, he

was overwhelmed with joy and called out to her in great happiness and

jubilation. After she arrived , he seated her on his left side and she said to

him, ‘O dearest Patiguru, please listen as I tell you something that will

benefit you greatly. Since I was eight years old I have fasted regularly and

with full faith on every Ekadasi. If I transfer to you all the merit I have

accumulated, your kingdom will surely become permanent, and its prosperity will

grow and grow until the coming of the great inundation !’ “

Lord Sri Krishna then continued to address Yudhisthira as follows, “O

Yudhisthira, in this way Chandrabhaagaa who was beautifully decorated with the

finest ornaments and had an exquisitely transcendental body, at last enjoyed

peace and happiness with her husband. By the potency of Ramaa Ekadasi, Shobhana

found his kingdom on the peaks of Mt. Mandarachala able to fulfill all his

desires and bestow upon him everlasting happiness, like that achieved from the

transcendental Kaama-dhenu milch cow.

“O greatest of kings, I have thus narrated to you the glories of Ramaa

Ekadasi that falls in the dark fortnight of the month of Karttika.

 

“Anyone who observes sacred Ekadasi during both the light and the dark

fortnight of each month is undoubtedly freed from the reactions to the sin of

killing a brahmin. One should not differentiate between the Ekadasis of the

light and dark parts of the month. As we have seen, both can award pleasure in

this world and liberate even the most sinful and fallen souls. Just as black

cows and white cows give equally good quality milk. So the Ekadasis of the dark

fortnight (Krishna paksha) and the light fortnight (shukla or Gaura paksha)

award the same high degree of merit and eventually liberate one from the

repeated cycle of birth and death. Anyone who simply hears this narration of

the glories of the sacred day of Ramaa Ekadasi, is freed from all kinds of sin

and attains the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu.”

 

Thus ends the narration for the glories of the sacred Karttika-krsna Ekadasi,

or Ramaa Ekadasi, from the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana of Srila Krishna Dwaipayana

Veda Vyaasa.