पद्मा एकादशी व्रत कथा (भाद्रपद शुक्ल एकादशी) · Padma Ekadashi Vrat Katha (Bhadrapad Shukla Ekadashi)

The Ekadashi of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Bhadrapad is called Padma Ekadashi, the day on which Bhagwan Hrishikesh is worshipped. Narada once asked Brahma the glory of this Ekadashi, and this same account was later told by Bhagwan Krishna to Yudhishthira. On this day, a water-filled pot covered with cloth should be given in charity to a Brahmin along with curd and rice, and an umbrella and a pair of shoes should also be donated. While giving this charity, one recites the mantra — 'Namo namaste Govinda budhashravana-samjnaka, aghaugha-sankshayam kritva sarva-saukhya-prado bhava, bhukti-mukti-pradash-chaiva lokanam sukhadayakah' — invoking Govinda in his form as 'Budhashravan' to destroy all sins and grant happiness.

In the Suryavansha dynasty there was a truthful and mighty king named Mandhata, in whose realm there was neither famine nor disease nor sorrow. His treasury held only wealth earned justly, and all four varnas and ashramas lived happily, each following their own dharma. But because of the fruit of some past-life karma, no rain fell in his kingdom for three continuous years, and his subjects grew desperate with hunger. The suffering people came to the king and said that water itself is the abode of Bhagwan Vishnu — which is why he is called 'Narayana' — and that he alone, taking the form of clouds, sends the rain that grows the grain that sustains all life. Reflecting on himself, the king knew that scripture blames a king's own unrighteousness for such suffering, yet he could find no fault in his conduct; still, he resolved to act for the welfare of his people.

Leaving his palace with a few companions, King Mandhata bowed to Providence and set out into the forest, wandering among the hermitages of sages and ascetics until he reached the ashram of Maharishi Angira, son of Brahma. Dismounting from his horse and steadying his senses, he bowed before the sage. Angira blessed him, asked after the welfare of the seven limbs of his kingdom, and after offering him a seat and arghya, asked the purpose of his visit. The king explained that despite ruling righteously, no rain had fallen, and he could not understand why. Sage Angira told him that this was the Satyuga, the age in which dharma stands firm on all four legs and ordinarily only Brahmins perform tapasya — but in the king's realm, a Shudra was performing tapasya, and this violation of the age's order was the cause of the withheld rain. The king flatly refused to punish the innocent ascetic, saying he was merely absorbed in his devotions, and instead asked the sage for a remedy that would not harm him.

Sage Angira then gave the king the remedy: to observe the fast of Padma Ekadashi in the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad, with the assurance that if he performed it together with his family and subjects, good rain would surely follow. King Mandhata returned to his city and duly observed this Ekadashi vrat along with his subjects of all four varnas. As a result, the clouds poured rain, the earth turned green with flourishing crops once more, and all his people became happy again. Bhagwan Krishna told Yudhishthira that this vow must certainly be observed, for whoever reads or hears this story is freed from all sins.