Yudhisthira Maharaj said, "Oh Supreme Lord, I have heard the glories of the Nirjala Ekadasi, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha (May - June).
Now I wish to hear from You about the suddha Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashadha (June - July).
Kindly describe to me all about it in detail, Oh killer of the Madhu demon (Madhusudana)."
The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, then replied, "Oh king, I shall indeed tell you about the best of all fasting days, the Ekadasi that comes during the dark part of the month of Ashadha.
Famous as Yogini Ekadasi, it removes all kinds of sinful reactions and awards supreme liberation.
"Oh best of kings, this Ekadasi delivers people who are drowning in the vast ocean of material existence and transports them to the shore of the spiritual world.
In all the three worlds, it is the chief of all sacred fasting days.
I shall now reveal this truth to you by narrating a history recounted in the Puranas.
"The king of Alakapuri - Kuvera, the treasurer of the devas (demigods) - was a steadfast devotee of lord Shiva.
He employed a servant named Hemamali as his personal gardener.
Hemamali, a Yaksha like Kuvera, was very lustfully attracted to his gorgeous wife, Swarupavatii, who had large, enchanting eyes.
"Hemamali's daily duty was to visit Manasarovara Lake and bring back flowers for his master, Kuvera, with which he would use them in the puja offerings to lord Shiva.
One day, after picking the flowers, Hemamali went to his wife instead of returning directly to his master and fulfilling his duty by bringing the flowers for the puja.
Absorbed in loving affairs of a bodily nature with his wife, he forgot to return to the abode of Kuvera.
"Oh king, while Hemamali was enjoying with his wife, Kuvera had begun the worship of lord Shiva as normal in his palace and soon discovered that there were no flowers ready to be offered in the midday puja.
The lack of such an important item (upachara) angered the great Koshad-yaksha (treasurer of the devas) even more, and he asked a Yaksha messenger, 'Why has dirty-hearted Hemamali not come with the daily offering of flowers?
Go find out the exact reason and report back to me in person with your findings.'
The Yaksha returned and told Kuvera, 'Oh dear lord, Hemamali has become lost in freely enjoying coitus with his wife.'
"Kuvera became extremely angry when he heard this and at once summoned lowly Hemamali before him.
Knowing that he had been remiss and dawdling in his duty and exposed as meditating on his wife's body, Hemamali approached his master in great fear.
The gardener first paid his obeisances and then stood before his lord, whose eyes had become red with anger and whose lips trembled in rage.
So enraged, Kuvera cried out to Hemamali, 'Oh you sinful rascal! Oh destroyer of religious principles! You are a walking offense to the devas!
I therefore curse you to suffer from white leprosy and to become separated from your beloved wife! Only great suffering is deservedly yours!
Oh lowborn fool, leave this place immediately and betake yourself to the lower planets to suffer!'
"And so Hemamali fell at once from grace in Alakapuri and became ill with the terrible affliction of white leprosy.
He awoke in a dense and fearful forest, where there was nothing to eat or drink.
Thus he passed his days in misery, unable to sleep at night due to pain.
He suffered in both winter and summer season, but because he continued to worship lord Shiva himself with faith, his consciousness remained purely fixed and steady.
Although implicated by great sin and its attendant reactions, he remembered his past life because of his piety.
"After wandering for some time here and there, over mountains and across plains, Hemamali eventually came upon the vast expanse of the Himalayan mountain ranges.
There he had the wonderful good fortune to come in contact with the great saintly soul Markandeya Rishi, the best of ascetics, whose duration of life it is said, extends to seven of the days of Brahma.
"Markandeya Rishi was seated peacefully at his Ashrama, looking as effulgent as a second Brahma.
Hemamali, feeling very sinful, stood at a distance from the magnificent sage and offered his humble obeisances and choice prayers.
Always interested in the welfare of others, Markandeya Rishi saw the leper and called him near, "Oh you, what sort of sinful deeds have you done to earn this dreadful affliction?'
"Hearing this, Hemamali painfully and ashamed replied, 'Dear sir, I am a Yaksha servant of lord Kuvera, and my name is Hemamali.
It was my daily service to pick the flowers from the Manasarovara lake for my master's worship of lord Shiva, but one day I was negligent and was late in returning with the offering because I had become overwhelmed with lusty passion for enjoying bodily pleasures with my wife.
When my master discovered why I was late, he cursed me in great anger to be as I am before you.
Thus I am now bereft of my home, my wife, and my service.
But fortunately I have come upon you, and now I hope to receive from you an auspicious benediction, for I know that devotees such as you are as merciful as the Supreme Lord (Bhakta Vatsala) and always carry the interest of others uppermost in their hearts.
That is their - your nature. Oh best of sages, please help me!'
"Softhearted Markandeya Rishi replied, 'Because you have told me the truth, I shall tell you about a fast day that will benefit you greatly.
If you fast on the Ekadasi that comes during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashadha, you will surely be freed of this terrible curse.'
Hemamali fell to the ground in complete gratitude and offered him his humble obeisances again and again.
But Markandeya Rishi stood there and lifted poor Hemamali to his feet, filling him with inexpressible happiness.
"Thus, as the sage had instructed him, Hemamali dutifully observed the Ekadasi fast, and by its influence he again became a handsome Yaksha.
Then he returned home, where he lived very happily with his wife."
Lord Sri Krishna concluded, "So, you can readily see, Oh Yudhishthira that fasting on Yogini Ekadasi is very powerful and auspicious.
Whatever merit one obtains by feeding eighty-eight thousand brahmins is also obtained simply by observing a strict fast on Yogini Ekadasi.
For one who fasts on this sacred Ekadasi, she (Ekadasi Devi), destroys heaps of past sinful reactions and makes him most pious.
Oh King, thus I have explained to you the purity of Yogini Ekadasi."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Ashadha-krishna Ekadasii, or Yogini Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
Now I wish to hear from You about the suddha Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashadha (June - July).
Kindly describe to me all about it in detail, Oh killer of the Madhu demon (Madhusudana)."
The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, then replied, "Oh king, I shall indeed tell you about the best of all fasting days, the Ekadasi that comes during the dark part of the month of Ashadha.
Famous as Yogini Ekadasi, it removes all kinds of sinful reactions and awards supreme liberation.
"Oh best of kings, this Ekadasi delivers people who are drowning in the vast ocean of material existence and transports them to the shore of the spiritual world.
In all the three worlds, it is the chief of all sacred fasting days.
I shall now reveal this truth to you by narrating a history recounted in the Puranas.
"The king of Alakapuri - Kuvera, the treasurer of the devas (demigods) - was a steadfast devotee of lord Shiva.
He employed a servant named Hemamali as his personal gardener.
Hemamali, a Yaksha like Kuvera, was very lustfully attracted to his gorgeous wife, Swarupavatii, who had large, enchanting eyes.
"Hemamali's daily duty was to visit Manasarovara Lake and bring back flowers for his master, Kuvera, with which he would use them in the puja offerings to lord Shiva.
One day, after picking the flowers, Hemamali went to his wife instead of returning directly to his master and fulfilling his duty by bringing the flowers for the puja.
Absorbed in loving affairs of a bodily nature with his wife, he forgot to return to the abode of Kuvera.
"Oh king, while Hemamali was enjoying with his wife, Kuvera had begun the worship of lord Shiva as normal in his palace and soon discovered that there were no flowers ready to be offered in the midday puja.
The lack of such an important item (upachara) angered the great Koshad-yaksha (treasurer of the devas) even more, and he asked a Yaksha messenger, 'Why has dirty-hearted Hemamali not come with the daily offering of flowers?
Go find out the exact reason and report back to me in person with your findings.'
The Yaksha returned and told Kuvera, 'Oh dear lord, Hemamali has become lost in freely enjoying coitus with his wife.'
"Kuvera became extremely angry when he heard this and at once summoned lowly Hemamali before him.
Knowing that he had been remiss and dawdling in his duty and exposed as meditating on his wife's body, Hemamali approached his master in great fear.
The gardener first paid his obeisances and then stood before his lord, whose eyes had become red with anger and whose lips trembled in rage.
So enraged, Kuvera cried out to Hemamali, 'Oh you sinful rascal! Oh destroyer of religious principles! You are a walking offense to the devas!
I therefore curse you to suffer from white leprosy and to become separated from your beloved wife! Only great suffering is deservedly yours!
Oh lowborn fool, leave this place immediately and betake yourself to the lower planets to suffer!'
"And so Hemamali fell at once from grace in Alakapuri and became ill with the terrible affliction of white leprosy.
He awoke in a dense and fearful forest, where there was nothing to eat or drink.
Thus he passed his days in misery, unable to sleep at night due to pain.
He suffered in both winter and summer season, but because he continued to worship lord Shiva himself with faith, his consciousness remained purely fixed and steady.
Although implicated by great sin and its attendant reactions, he remembered his past life because of his piety.
"After wandering for some time here and there, over mountains and across plains, Hemamali eventually came upon the vast expanse of the Himalayan mountain ranges.
There he had the wonderful good fortune to come in contact with the great saintly soul Markandeya Rishi, the best of ascetics, whose duration of life it is said, extends to seven of the days of Brahma.
"Markandeya Rishi was seated peacefully at his Ashrama, looking as effulgent as a second Brahma.
Hemamali, feeling very sinful, stood at a distance from the magnificent sage and offered his humble obeisances and choice prayers.
Always interested in the welfare of others, Markandeya Rishi saw the leper and called him near, "Oh you, what sort of sinful deeds have you done to earn this dreadful affliction?'
"Hearing this, Hemamali painfully and ashamed replied, 'Dear sir, I am a Yaksha servant of lord Kuvera, and my name is Hemamali.
It was my daily service to pick the flowers from the Manasarovara lake for my master's worship of lord Shiva, but one day I was negligent and was late in returning with the offering because I had become overwhelmed with lusty passion for enjoying bodily pleasures with my wife.
When my master discovered why I was late, he cursed me in great anger to be as I am before you.
Thus I am now bereft of my home, my wife, and my service.
But fortunately I have come upon you, and now I hope to receive from you an auspicious benediction, for I know that devotees such as you are as merciful as the Supreme Lord (Bhakta Vatsala) and always carry the interest of others uppermost in their hearts.
That is their - your nature. Oh best of sages, please help me!'
"Softhearted Markandeya Rishi replied, 'Because you have told me the truth, I shall tell you about a fast day that will benefit you greatly.
If you fast on the Ekadasi that comes during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashadha, you will surely be freed of this terrible curse.'
Hemamali fell to the ground in complete gratitude and offered him his humble obeisances again and again.
But Markandeya Rishi stood there and lifted poor Hemamali to his feet, filling him with inexpressible happiness.
"Thus, as the sage had instructed him, Hemamali dutifully observed the Ekadasi fast, and by its influence he again became a handsome Yaksha.
Then he returned home, where he lived very happily with his wife."
Lord Sri Krishna concluded, "So, you can readily see, Oh Yudhishthira that fasting on Yogini Ekadasi is very powerful and auspicious.
Whatever merit one obtains by feeding eighty-eight thousand brahmins is also obtained simply by observing a strict fast on Yogini Ekadasi.
For one who fasts on this sacred Ekadasi, she (Ekadasi Devi), destroys heaps of past sinful reactions and makes him most pious.
Oh King, thus I have explained to you the purity of Yogini Ekadasi."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Ashadha-krishna Ekadasii, or Yogini Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
Mahãraja Yudhisthira dijo, “Oh Kesava, ¿cuál es el nombre del Ekãdasi que ocurre durante la quincena clara del mes de Asãdha (Junio-Julio)? ¿Quién es la Deidad adorable para este día auspicioso y cuál es el proceso de observarlo?”
El Señor Sri Krsna replicó, “Oh cuidador de este planeta terrenal, te referiré con agrado una maravillosa historia que el Señor Brahmã narrara en una ocasión a su hijo Nãradji.
Un día Narada le preguntó a su padre: “ Cómo se llama el Ekãdasi que ocurre durante la parte clara del mes de Asãdha? Ten la amabilidad de decirme cómo debo observar este Ekãdasi y en tal sentido, complacer al Señor Supremo Visnu”.
El Señor Brahma replicó, “Oh gran orador, oh el mejor de todos los sabios, oh devoto purísimo del Señor Visnu, tu pregunta es excelente. No hay nada mejor que Ekãdasi, el día del Señor hari, en este o cualquier otro mundo. Anula incluso el peor de los pecados si es observado apropiadamente. Por este motivo, te hablaré sobre el Asadha-sukla Ekãdasi.
Ayunar en este Ekãdasi purifica de todos los pecados y cumple todos los deseos. Por consiguiente, quienquiera descuide la observación de este sagrado día de ayuno, es un buen candidato para entrar al infierno. Asãdha-sukla Ekãdasi es también famoso como Padmã Ekãdasi. Tan solo para complacer a Harikesa, el amo de los sentidos, uno debe ayunar en este día. Escucha cuidadosamente, oh Narada, mi relato de una maravillosa historia de las Escrituras concerniente a este Ekãdasi. Meramente por oír este relato, se destruye toda clase de pecados, junto con todos los obstáculos en el sendero hacia la perfección espiritual.
Oh hijo, había una vez un rey santo en la dinastía Sol cuyo nombre era Mãndhata. Dado que siempre honró a la verdad, fue designado emperador. El cuidó de sus súbditos como si fueran sus propios hijos. Debido a su piedad y gran religiosidad, en su reino no había pestilencia, sequía ni enfermedad de ninguna clase. Todos sus súbditos no solo estaban libres de toda clase de perturbaciones, sino que también eran muy ricos. El propio tesoro del rey era ajeno a cualquier dinero mal habido y de tal modo reinó felizmente por muchos años.
Una vez, sin embargo, debido a algún pecado en su reino, hubo una sequía que duró tres años. Las personas se morían de hambre. La falta de granos alimenticios les imposibilitó la ejecución de los sacrificios Védicos, el ofrecer oblaciones a sus antepasados y semidioses, ocuparse en la adoración ritual o siquiera estudiar las literaturas Védicas. Finalmente, todos se presentaron ante su amado rey en una gran asamblea y dijeron, “Oh, rey, tú siempre velas por nuestro bienestar, de modo que ahora solicitamos humildemente tu ayuda. Todos y todo en este mundo necesita del agua. Sin agua, prácticamente todo es inútil o está muerto. Los Vedas llaman al agua nãra y dado que la Suprema Personalidad de Dios duerme sobre el agua, Su nombre es Narãyana. Dios hace Su propia morada en el agua y descansa allí. (1) En Su forma como las nubes, el Señor Supremo está presente por todo el cielo y vierte el agua, de la cual crece el grano que mantiene a toda entidad viviente.
Oh rey, la severa sequía ha causado una gran falta de granos valiosos por lo que todos somos miserables y la población está mermando. Oh el mejor de los regentes en la tierra, por favor encuentra alguna solución a este problema y devuélvenos la paz y la prosperidad”.
El rey replicó, “Decís verdad pues los granos son como el Brahman, la Verdad Absoluta, que vive dentro de los granos y en consecuencia sustenta a todos los seres. Ciertamente, es debido a los granos que vive el universo entero. Ahora bien, ¿porqué hay una terrible sequía en nuestro reino? Las Escrituras sagradas analizan este tema muy acabadamente. Si un rey es irreligioso, tanto él como sus súbditos sufren. He meditado en la causa de nuestro problema por mucho tiempo, pero después de indagar en mi pasado y presenta, digo honestamente que no encuentro ningún pecado. Empero, para bien de todos ustedes, trataré de remediar la situación”.
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