Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi=7-6-2006

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During the hottest season (northern hemisphere), if one can perform upavasa

without water one is performing a great feat. One may take only charanamrta and

achamana water. Bhima the mighty warrior of the Pandava dynasty requested one

vrata day by which he could obtain the fruits of all the other days of vrata

that he was incapable of observing. Vyasadeva advised him to follow this

difficult vrata.

One should worship the Lord in the evening by bathing him in milk.

 

On the dvadasi one should give full pots of water to brahmanas and feed them

before breaking one's fast.

 

SAMVATSARASYA YA MADHYE EKADASYO BHAVANTI HI

TASAM PHALAM AVAPNOTI PUTRA ME NA ATRA SAMSAYAH

ITI MAM KESAVAH PRAHA SANKHA CAKRA GADADHARAH

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/25 from PADMA PURANA Vyasadeva speaks to Bhimasena)

 

Oh son, Lord Keshava, Who holds the club, disk, conch and lotus flower in His

hand, personally told me that all of the merit achieved by fasting on whatever

EkAdasis fall in one year can be attained by fasting on this one EkAdasii

(nirjalA EkAdasii). Of this, there is no doubt.

 

ATMADROHAH KRTASTES TU YAIR ESA NA HY UPOSITA

PAPATMANO DURACARA DUSTAS TE NA ATRA SAMSAYAH

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/33 from PADMA PURANA Vyasadeva speaks to Bhimasena)

 

Anyone who does not fast on this particular EkAdasii (nirjalA EkAdasii), they

should be understood to be sinful, corrupted and suicidal person without a

doubt.

 

The Story of PANDava NirjalA EkAdasii:

 

PANDava NirjalA EkAdasii - Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii - from Brahma-vaivarta

PurANam.

 

Once Bhimasena, the younger brother of Maharaja Yudhisthira, asked the great

sage Shrila VyAsadeva, the grandfather of the PANDavas, if it is possible to

return to the spiritual world without having observed all the rules and

regulations of the EkAdasii fasts.

 

Bhimasena then spoke as follows, “Oh greatly intelligent and learned

grandfather, my brother Yudhisthira, my dear mother Kunti, and my beloved wife

Draupadi, as well as Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, fast completely on each

EkAdasii and strictly follow all the rules, guidelines and regulative

injunctions of that sacred day. Bring very religious, they always tell me that

I should also fast on that day too. But, Oh learned grandfather, I tell them

that I cannot live without eating, because as the son of VAyudeva –

Samanaprana, (the digestive air) hunger is unbearable to me. I can give widely

in charity and worship Lord Keshava properly with all manner of wonderful

upacharas (items), but I cannot be asked to fast on EkAdasii. Please tell me

how I can obtain the same merits result without fasting.”

 

Hearing these words, the grandsire of Bhima, Srila VyAsadeva said, “If you want

to go to the heavenly planets and avoid the hellish planets, you should indeed

observe a fast on both the light and dark EkAdasiis.”

 

Bhima replied, “Oh great saintly intelligent grandfather, please listen to my

plea. Oh greatest of munis, since I cannot live if I eat only once in a day,

how can I possibly live if I fast completely? Within my stomach burns a special

fire named Vrika, the fire of digestion. Agni the fire-god, descends from Lord

Vishnu through BrahmA, from BrahmA to Angirasa, from Angirasa to Brihaspathi,

and from Brihaspathi to Samyu, who was Agni'’ father. He is the gatekeeper in

charge of Nairritti, the south-eastern direction. He is one of the eight

material elements, and Parikshit MahArAja, he is very expert at examining

things. He examined MahArAja Shibi once by turning into a dove (for further

information on this incident see Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s

Srimad Bhagavatam commentary to 1:12:20. Purport.)

 

Agni is divided into three categories; DavAgni, the fire in wood, JatharAgni,

the fire in the digestion in the stomach, and VadavAgni, the fire that creates

fog when hot and cold streams mix in for example the ocean. Another name for

the fire of digestion is Vrika. It is this powerful fire that resided in

Bhima’s stomach.

 

Only when I eat to my full satisfaction does the fire in my stomach become

satisfied. Oh great sage, I might possibly be able to fast only once, so I beg

that you tell me of an EkAdasii that is worthy of my fasting and that includes

all other EkAdasiis. I shall faithfully observe that fast and hopefully still

become eligible for liberation’s release.”

 

Shrila VyAsadeva replied, Oh king, you have heard from me about the various

kinds of occupational duties, such as elaborate Vedik ceremonies and pujas. In

the Kali-yuga, however, no one will be able to observe all these occupational,

functional duties properly. I shall therefore tell you how, at practically no

expense, one can endure some small austerity and achieve the greatest benefit

and resultant happiness. The essence of what is written in the Vedic

literatures known as the PurANas is that one should not eat on either the dark

or light fortnight EkAdasiis.” As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (Mahabhagavat

PurANam) 12:13:12 and 15.) the Bhagavat PurANam is itself the essence or cream

of all VedAnta philosophy (sara-vedAnta-sAram), and the Srimad Bhagavatam’s

unequivocal message is that of full surrender to Lord Sri Krishna and the

rendering of loving devotional service to Him. Observing EkAdasii strictly is a

great aid in that process, and here Shrila VyAsadeva is simply

stressing to Bhima the importance of the EkAdasii vratam. “…One who fasts on

EkAdasiis saved from going to the hellish planets.”

 

Hearing Shrila VyAsadeva’s words, the son of VAyu, Bhimasena, the strongest of

all warriors, became frightened and began to shake like a leaf on a banyan tree

in a strong wind. The frightened Bhimasena then said, “Oh grandfather, what

should I do? I am completely unable and ill equipped to fast twice in a month

throughout the year! Please tell me of the one fasting day that will bestow the

greatest benefit upon me!”

 

VyAsadeva replied, “Without drinking even water, you should fast on the

EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha

(May-June) when the sun travels in the sign of Taurus (Vrishabh) and Gemini

(Mithun), According to learned personalities, on this day one may bathe and

perform Achamana for pratiprokshana purification. But while performing Achamana

one may drink only that amount of water equal to a drop of gold, or that amount

it takes to immerse a single mustard seed. Only this amount of water should be

placed in the right palm for sipping, which one should form to resemble a cow’s

ear. If one drinks more water than this, he might as well have drunk wine –

despite the soaring heat of summer (in the northern hemisphere and cold in the

southern hemisphere).

 

“One must certainly not eat anything, for if he does so he breaks his fast.

This rigid fast is in effect from sunrise on the EkAdasii day to sunrise on the

DwAdashii day. If a person endeavours to observe this great fast very strictly,

he easily achieves the result of observing all twenty-four other EkAdasii fasts

throughout the entire year.

 

“On DwAdashii the devotee should bathe early in the morning. Then, according to

the prescribed rules, guidelines and regulative injunctions, and of course

depending on his ability, he should give some gold and water to worthy

brAhmaNas. Finally, he should cheerfully honour prasAdam with a brAhmaNa.

 

“Oh Bhimasena, one who can fast on this special EkAdasii in this manner reaps

the benefit of having fasted on every EkAdasii during the year. There is no

doubt of this, nor should there be. Oh Bhima, now hear the specific merit one

gets by fasting on this EkAdasii. The Supreme Lord Keshava, who holds a conch,

discus, club and lotus, personally told me, ‘Everyone should take shelter of Me

and follow My instructions.’ Then He told me that one who fasts on this

EkAdasii, without taking even drinking water or eating, becomes free of all

sinful reactions, and that one who observes the difficult nirjalA fast on

Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii truly reaps the benefit of all other EkAdasii fasts.

 

“Oh Bhimasena, in the Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, when all the

principles of the Vedas will have been destroyed or greatly minimised, and when

there will be no proper charity or observance of the ancient Vedik principles

and ceremonies, how will there be any means of purifying the self? But there is

the opportunity to fast on EkAdasii and become free of all one’s past sins.

 

“Oh son of VAyu, what more can I say to you? You should not eat during the

EkAdasiis that occur during the dark and light fortnights, and you should even

give up drinking water (nir = no jalaa= water) on the particularly auspicious

EkAdasii day of Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii. Oh Vrikodara (veracious eater),

whoever fasts on this EkAdasii receives the merits of bathing in all the places

of pilgrimage, giving all kinds of charities to worthy persons, and fasting on

all the dark and light EkAdasiis throughout the year, in one go. Of this there

is no doubt.

 

Oh tiger among men, whoever fasts on this EkAdasii truly becomes a great person

and achieves all manner of opulence and wealth, grains, strength, and health.

And at the fearful moment of death, the terrible YamadUtas, whose complexions

are yellow and black and who brandish huge maces and twirl mystic pAsha ropes

in the air for binding their victims, will refuse to approach him. Rather, such

a faithful soul will at once be taken to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu by

the Vishnu-dUtas, whose transcendentally beautiful forms are clothed in

gorgeous yellowish garments and who each hold a disk, club, conch and lotus in

their four hands, resembling Lord Vishnu. It is to gain all these benefits that

one should certainly fast on this very auspicious and important EkAdasii, even

from water.”

 

When the other PANDavas heard about the benefits to be gained by following

Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii, they resolved to observe it exactly as their

grandfather Srila VyAsadeva had explained it to their brother, Bhimasena. All

the PANDavas observed it by refraining from eating or drinking anything, and

thus this day is also known as PANDava NirjalA DvAdashii (technically it is a

Maha-DvAdashii).

 

Shrila VyAsadeva continued, Oh Bhimasen, therefore you should observe this

important fast to remove all your past sinful reactions. You should pray to the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna in this way making your

sankalpa declaration, ‘Oh Lord of all the devas (demigods), Oh Supreme

Personality of Godhead, today I shall observe EkAdasii without taking any

water. Oh unlimited Anantadev, I shall break fast on the next day, DwAdashii.’

Thereafter, to remove all his sins, the devotee should honour this EkAdasii

fast with full faith in the Lord and with full control over his senses. Whether

his sins are equal in volume to Mount Sumeru or to MandarAchala Hill, if he or

she observes this EkAdasii, the sins that have been accumulated all become

nullified and are burned to ashes. Such is the great power of this EkAdasii.

 

“Oh best of human beings, although a person should also give water and cows in

charity during this EkAdasii, if for some reason or other he cannot, then he

should give a qualified brAhmaNa some cloth or a pot filled with water. Indeed,

the merit achieved by giving water alone equals that gained by giving gold ten

million times a day.

 

“Oh Bhima, Lord Sri Krishna has said that whoever observes this EkAdasii should

take a Holy bath, give charity to a worthy person, chant the Lord’s Holy names

on a japa-mAla, and perform some kind of recommended sacrifice, for by doing

these things on this day one receives imperishable benefits. There is no need

to perform any other kind of religious duty. Observance of this EkAdasii fast

alone promotes one to the supreme abode of Sri Vishnu. Oh best of the Kurus, if

one donates gold, cloth, or anything else on this day, the merit one obtains is

imperishable.

 

“Remember, whosoever eats any grains on EkAdasii becomes contaminated by sin

and verily eats only sin. In effect, he has already become a dog-eater, and

after death he suffers a hellish existence. But he who observes this sacred

Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii and gives something in charity certainly achieves

liberation from the cycle of repeated birth and death and attains to the

supreme abode. Observing this EkAdasii, which is merged with DwAdashii, frees

one from the horrible sin of killing a brAhmaNa, drinking liquor and wine,

becoming envious of one’s spiritual master and ignoring his instructions, and

continually telling lies.

 

“Furthermore, Oh best of beings (Jivottama), any man or woman who observes this

fast properly and worships the Supreme Lord JalshAyi (He who sleeps on the

water), and who on the next day satisfies a qualified brAhmaNa with nice sweets

and a donation of cows and money – such a person certainly pleases the Supreme

Lord Vasudeva, so much so that one hundred previous generations in his family

undoubtedly go to the Supreme Lord’s abode, even though they may have been very

sinful, of bad character, and guilty of suicide, etc. Indeed, one who observes

this amazing EkAdasii rides on a glorious celestial airplane (vimAna) to the

Lord’s abode.

 

“One who on this day gives a brAhmaNa a waterpot, an umbrella, or shoes surely

goes to the heavenly planets. Indeed, he who simply hears these glories also

attains to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord, Shri Vishnu. Whoever

performs the Shraddha ceremony to the forefathers on the dark-moon day called

amAvasya, particularly if it occurs at the time of a solar eclipse undoubtedly

achieves great merit, but this same merit is achieved by him who simply hears

this sacred narration – so powerful and so dear to the Lord is this EkAdasii.

 

“One should clean his teeth properly and, without eating or drinking, observe

this EkAdasii to please the Supreme Lord, Keshava. On the day after EkAdasii

one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form as Trivikrama

by offering Him water, flowers, incense, and a brightly burning lamp. Then the

devotee should pray from the heart, ‘Oh God of gods, Oh deliverer of everyone,

Oh Hrishikesha, master of the senses, kindly bestow upon me the gift of

liberation, though I can offer you nothing greater than this humble pot filled

with water.’ Then the devotee should donate the waterpot to a brAhmaNa.

 

“Oh Bhimasena, after this EkAdasii fast and donating the recommended items

according to his ability, the devotee should feed brAhmaNas and thereafter

honour prasAdam silently.”

 

Shrila VyAsadeva concluded, “I strongly urge you to fast on this auspicious,

purifying, sin-devouring DwAdashii in just the way I have outlined. Thus you

will be completely freed of all sins and reach the supreme abode.”

 

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Jyeshtha-shukla EkAdasii, or

Bhimaseni-nirjalA EkAdasii,

from the Brahma-vaivarta PurANa.

 

These stories have been summarised and slightly changed or abbreviated from how

they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH

Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press. pages 87-91.

 

 

 

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Srimad Bhagavatam purport 1:12:20.

 

TRANSLATION

This child will be a munificent donor of charity and protector of the

surrendered, like the famous King Çibi of the Uçénara country. And he will

expand the name and fame of his family like Bharata, the son of Mahäräja

Duñyanta.

 

PURPORT

A king becomes famous by his acts of charity, performances of yajïas,

protection of the surrendered, etc. A kñatriya king is proud to give protection

to the surrendered souls. This attitude of a king is called éçvara-bhava, or

factual power to give protection in a righteous cause. In the Bhagavad-gétä the

Lord instructs living beings to surrender unto Him, and He promises all

protection. The Lord is all-powerful and true to His word, and therefore He

never fails to give protection to His different devotees. The king, being the

representative of the Lord, must possess this attitude of giving protection to

the surrendered souls at all risk. Mahäräja Çibi, the King of Uçénara, was an

intimate friend of Mahäräja Yayäti, who was able to reach the heavenly planets

along with Mahäräja Çibi. Mahäräja Çibi was aware of the heavenly planet where

he was to be transferred after his death, and the description of this heavenly

planet is given in the Mahäbhärata (Ädi-parva 96.6–9).

Mahäräja Çibi was so charitably disposed that he wanted to give over his

acquired position in the heavenly kingdom to Yayäti, but he did not accept it.

Yayäti went to the heavenly planet along with great åñis like Añöaka and

others. On inquiry from the åñis, Yayäti gave an account of Çibi’s pious acts

when all of them were on the path to heaven. He has become a member of the

assembly of Yamaräja, who has become his worshipful deity. As confirmed in the

Bhagavad-gétä, the worshiper of the demigods goes to the planets of the

demigods (yänti deva-vratä devän [bg. 9.25]); so Mahäräja Çibi has become an

associate of the great Vaiñëava authority Yamaräja on that particular planet.

While he was on the earth he became very famous as a protector of surrendered

souls and a donor of charities. The King of heaven once took the shape of a

pigeon-hunter bird (eagle), and Agni, the fire-god, took the shape of a pigeon.

The pigeon, while being chased by the eagle, took shelter on the lap

of Mahäräja Çibi, and the hunter eagle wanted the pigeon back from the King.

The King wanted to give it some other meat to eat and requested the bird not to

kill the pigeon. The hunter bird refused to accept the King’s offer, but it was

settled later on that the eagle would accept flesh from the body of the King of

the pigeon’s equivalent weight. The King began to cut flesh from his body to

weigh in the balance equivalent to the weight of the pigeon, but the mystic

pigeon always remained heavier. The King then put himself on the balance to

equate with the pigeon, and the demigods were pleased with him. The King of

heaven and the fire-god disclosed their identity, and the King was blessed by

them. Devarñi Närada also glorified Mahäräja Çibi for his great achievements,

specifically in charity and protection. Mahäräja Çibi sacrificed his own son

for the satisfaction of human beings in his kingdom. And thus child Parékñit

was to become a second Çibi in charity and protection.

Dauñyanti Bharata: There are many Bharatas in history, of which Bharata the

brother of Lord Räma, Bharata the son of King Åñabha, and Bharata the son of

Mahäräja Duñyanta are very famous. And all these Bharatas are historically

known to the universe. This earth planet is known as Bhärata, or Bhärata-varña,

due to King Bharata the son of Åñabha, but according to some this land is known

as Bhärata due to the reign of the son of Duñyanta. So far as we are convinced,

this land’s name Bhärata-varña was established from the reign of Bharata the

son of King Åñabha. Before him the land was known as Ilävati-varña, but just

after the coronation of Bharata, the son of Åñabha, this land became famous as

Bhärata-varña.

But despite all this, Bharata, the son of Mahäräja Duñyanta was not less

important. He is the son of the famous beauty Çakuntalä. Mahäräja Duñyanta fell

in love with Çakuntalä in the forest, and Bharata was conceived. After that,

Mahäräja forgot his wife Çakuntalä by the curse of Kaëva Muni, and the child

Bharata was brought up in the forest by his mother. Even in his childhood he

was so powerful that he challenged the lions and elephants in the forest and

would fight with them as little children play with cats and dogs. Because of

the boy’s becoming so strong, more than the so-called modern Tarzan, the åñis

in the forest called him Sarvadaman, or one who is able to control everyone. A

full description of Mahäräja Bharata is given in the Mahäbhärata, Ädi-parva.

The Päëòavas, or the Kurus, are sometimes addressed as Bhärata due to being

born in the dynasty of the famous Mahäräja Bharata, the son of King Duñyanta.

 

 

Morning Walk. June 7th 1976. Los Angeles

 

Rämeçvara: On the calendar it says it is Bhéma-ekädaçé.

Prabhupäda: Bhéma-ekädaçé, yes.

Rämeçvara: So I’ve been told that if one fasts on Bhéma-ekädaçé, that it is

like fasting on all the ekädaçés. Is that true?

Prabhupäda: Yes. Ekädaçé is meant for fasting, either Bhéma or Arjuna. But we

cannot fast, therefore we have to take little fruits and.... Otherwise, ekädaçé

means fasting.

Tamäla Kåñëa: If it is possible, should we go without eating at all?

Prabhupäda: Yes. But don’t lie down and sleep.

Mahendra: Eating mahä-prasädam is also fasting.

Prabhupäda: Who says?

Mahendra: You said that to Paramahaàsa Swami once.

Prabhupäda: And you heard from Paramahaàsa.

Mahendra: No, I was in the room. It was when he was trying to observe

Caturmäsya.

Prabhupäda: I never said that.

Mahendra: Oh, okay, I must have heard wrong.

Prabhupäda: If there is service and, on my fasting, service will be stopped,

then I can take. First consideration, service. Now if somebody feels weak, he

can take mahä-prasäda, render service.

Rämeçvara: That priest that has now become your disciple, he’s joining

Satsvarüpa Mahäräja’s party. He’s very interested, and Satsvarüpa Mahäräja has

said he would like him to come to travel together and study.

Prabhupäda: Very good.

 

( ACBSP. Morning Walk. June 7th 1976. Los Angeles)

 

Fasting:

"One who is physically unable to fast on Ekadasi may read the glories of each

Ekadasi when it occurs and recite all the names of the Ekadasis; thus he will

achieve the same goal as the person who observes the full Ekadasi vow."

 

Whether one is a Vaisnava or a Saivite, everyone should fast on Ekadasi day.

 

EKA BHUKTENA NAKTENA BALA VRDDHA ATURAH KSIPET

PAYO MULA PHALAIR VAPI NA NIRDVAD ASIKO BHAVET

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/91 from MARKANDEYA PURANA)

 

A child, an old man or a person unable to fast can take something to eat in the

evening or once in the day, whether it be milk, fruit or water, but should

properly follow the Ekadasi fast. One should not give up fasting on Ekadasi.

 

VYADHIBHIK PARIBHUTANAM PITTA ADHIKA SARIRINAM

TRINSAD VARSADHIKANAN CA NAKTA-ADI PRIKALPANAM

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/93 from BAUDHAYANA SMRTI)

 

Any person who is diseased, or who is dominated by bile or who has aged more

than thirty years (after householder life), they are advised to eat in the

evening on the Ekadasi day.

 

Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks, "Aging more than thirty years means after

household life ends. This is understood to be around sixty years of age, so

thirty years added to that is ninety years." Furthermore, "One should go to the

forest at the ate of fifty". According to this statement, a grhastha's life is

said to be fifty years, that is he has decided to live in his family life until

the age of fifty. Even then, if one adds thirty years, if becomes approximately

eighty years. Therefore, fasting is recommended until a minimum age of eighty

(actually it means throughout life).

 

ASTA ETANY AVRTAGHNANI APO MULAM PHALAM PAYAH

HAVIR BRAHMANA KAMYA CA GUROR VACANAM AUSADHAM

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 12/100 from MAHABHARATA, UDYOGA PARVA)

 

 

 

 

 

CHANT HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE AND BE HAPPY

Your humble servant

radhabhava gaur das