आमलकी एकादशी व्रत कथा (फाल्गुन शुक्ल एकादशी) · Amalaki Ekadashi Vrat Katha (Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi)

The Ekadashi of Phalgun's bright fortnight, falling four days before Holika Dahan, is called Amalaki Ekadashi. During these days Bhagwan is said to dwell within the amla (gooseberry) tree, so worshipping Him seated beneath it, and eating and donating amla, hold special significance. On this day, after bathing, one should worship the amla tree with incense, lamp, sandalwood, vermilion, flowers, and unbroken rice, and feed Brahmins beneath it. In the Treta Yuga, King Mandhata once asked the Brahmarshi Vashishtha, 'O sage, if you are pleased with me, kindly tell me some vow whose observance will bring my complete welfare.'

Maharishi Vashishtha replied, 'O King, all vows are indeed excellent, but among them, the vow of Amalaki Ekadashi is the finest. Observing this Amalaki Ekadashi of Phalgun's bright fortnight destroys every sin and grants merit equal to donating a thousand cows. Let me tell you a story about it — listen attentively. In a city named Vaidik, families of all four varnas — Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra — lived together in joy. The sound of Vedic chanting resounded there always, and no sinner or wicked soul dwelt within it. A moon-dynasty king named Chaitrarath ruled that city, and every one of its people was a supreme devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu, faithfully observing the vow of every Ekadashi.'

As in every year, the Amalaki Ekadashi of Phalgun's bright fortnight arrived. On that day, the king, his subjects, and young and old alike observed the vow joyfully. The king went with his people to the temple, set up a sacred kalash, and worshipped the Dhatri, the amla tree, with incense, lamp, offerings, and the five sacred gems, praying thus — 'O Dhatri, born of Brahma himself, destroyer of every sin, I bow to you. Accept now my offering. You are honored even by Ramchandra. I pray that you uproot and destroy all my sins.'

Everyone in the temple kept a vigil through the night. That night, a hunter came there — an exceedingly sinful and wicked man who sustained his family through killing living creatures. That day he had found no prey and so had to remain without food. Overcome with hunger and thirst, the hunter sat in a corner of the temple and began listening to the story of Bhagwan Vishnu and the glory of Ekadashi. In this way, like the others present, he too spent the entire night awake. In the morning he went home and ate. Some time later, the hunter died.

Because of observing the vow and vigil of Amalaki Ekadashi, in his next life the hunter was born in the house of King Vidurath and named Vasuratha. On reaching manhood, he came to command a fourfold army and abundant wealth, ruling over ten thousand villages. He was radiant like the sun, gracious like the moon, and patient as the earth itself. He grew into an exceedingly righteous, truthful, and valiant king, devoted to Vishnu, for whom protecting his subjects equally, performing yagyas, and giving charity were daily duties.

One day King Vasuratha went into the forest to hunt. By fate's turning, he lost his way and fell asleep beneath a tree. A while later, mountain-dwelling barbarians came upon him and, finding him alone, rushed at him shouting 'Kill him, kill him!' They cried that this wicked king had slain their parents, sons, and grandsons and driven them from their land, and so he must surely die. So saying, the barbarians struck at him with their weapons. Yet every weapon that fell upon the king's body shattered on the spot, its blow no more than the fall of flower petals. Then those very weapons turned back upon the barbarians themselves, wounding them instead.

At that very moment, a divine woman emerged from the king's own body. She was adorned in the most beautiful garments and ornaments, yet her brow was furrowed and blazing red fire poured from her eyes. She rushed upon the barbarians and, within moments, sent every one of them to the jaws of death. When the king awoke and saw the barbarians lying dead, he wondered who could have slain these foes. As he pondered this, a divine voice rang out from the sky — 'O King, who in this world could aid you besides Bhagwan Vishnu?' Hearing this celestial voice, the king returned to his city and ruled happily ever after.

Maharishi Vashishtha continued, 'O King, this was the power of the Amalaki Ekadashi vow. Whoever observes this vrat succeeds in every endeavor and, in the end, attains Vishnulok.'