Chapter 1
Victory Over Demon Shankhasura and the Boon of Chaturmas
Lord Brahma narrates to Sage Narada how Lord Vishnu battled the demon Shankhasura for ages to recover the stolen Vedas, rested for four months during the monsoon, and awakened on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi as the Devas sang prayers of Prabodhan.
Devarshi Narada asked Lord Brahma: 'O Pitamaha! Why does Lord Sri Hari sleep for four months, and what is the glory of His awakening on Kartik Shukla Prabodhini Ekadashi?' Lord Brahma replied: 'O Narada! The merit of Prabodhini Ekadashi surpasses a thousand Ashwamedha sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya yajnas.
In ancient times, the mighty demon Shankhasura stole the four Vedas and hid in the ocean depths. Answering the prayers of the Devas, Lord Vishnu waged a long cosmic battle, slew Shankhasura, and restored the Vedas. Resting after the cosmic exertion, the Lord entered Yoga Nidra in the Ocean of Milk on Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi for the four monsoon months of Chaturmas.
When Kartik Shukla Ekadashi arrived, Lord Brahma, Indra, and all the celestial sages gathered on the shores of the Kshirasagara. Sounding conches and celestial drums, they chanted the sacred awakening verse: "Uttishtha Uttishtha Govinda Tyaja Nidram Jagatpate! Tvayi Supte Jagannatha Jagat Suptam Bhaved Idam!" (Awake, awake, O Govinda! Forsake Your slumber, O Lord of the Universe! While You sleep, the entire cosmos lies dormant; when You awaken, all auspiciousness and life stir once more!) Pleased by their devotion, Lord Hari opened His lotus eyes, blessing the universe with joy and auspicious beginnings.'
Spiritual Moral: When divine consciousness awakens within the heart, all spiritual and auspicious endeavors bear fruit.
Chapter 2
The Queen Whose Entire Kingdom Fasted on Ekadashi
A lazy man enters a pious kingdom where food is never sold or cooked on Ekadashi, but fruits are offered freely to fasters. Forced by hunger to eat only fruit and stay awake under a Peepal tree, he eventually pleases Lord Vishnu by devoutly awakening Him on Devutthana Ekadashi.
According to traditional lore, there once lived a devout king in whose realm everyone observed Ekadashi. One day, a traveler arrived seeking employment. The king agreed to hire him on one condition: he would receive daily meals, except on Ekadashi when only fruits would be served.
When Ekadashi arrived, the man begged for grains, claiming fruit could not satisfy his hunger. The king gave him flour, rice, lentils, and ghee, instructing him to cook by the riverbank. After bathing and cooking the meal, the man innocently called out: 'O Lord! Come and partake of this food!' Moved by his simple call, Lord Vishnu Himself appeared in four-armed form and consumed the entire meal, leaving the man unintentionally fasting on Ekadashi!
On the next EkadashiтАФKartik Shukla Devutthana EkadashiтАФthe man requested double the rations, cooked a grand feast by the river, and called the Lord again. Once more, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi appeared and ate everything. Exasperated, the man cried: 'O Lord! You eat all the food every time while I starve! What am I to do?' Smiling radiantly, Lord Vishnu revealed His divine form: 'O devotee! Today is Devutthana Ekadashi. By remaining grain-free on two Ekadashis and feeding Me with simplicity, your sins are washed away!' The Lord blessed him with immense fortune and ultimate liberation to Vaikuntha.
Spiritual Moral: Even a simple, guileless offering made to the Lord on Devutthana Ekadashi invites direct divine grace.
