Padmini Ekadashi Vrat Katha

Yudhishthira asked Shri Krishna about the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of the extra month, Adhik maas. Krishna said that it is called Padmini, that it is very holy and leads to the Lord's abode, and told this story.

In the Treta yuga, King Kritavirya of the Haihaya dynasty ruled the city of Mahishmati. He had many queens, but no son, and no one to carry on his kingdom. He performed many sacrifices and gave many gifts, but no son was born.

At last the king decided to do penance. He handed the kingdom to his ministers, and set out for the forest dressed as an ascetic. His queen Padmini, born in the Ikshvaku line and the daughter of King Harishchandra, gave up her ornaments and went with him. On Mount Gandhamadana they did hard penance for ten thousand years, but still they were not granted a son. The king grew thin and weak.

Seeing her husband's suffering, Padmini went to Anasuya, the devoted wife of the sage Atri, and asked how they could have a son. Anasuya said: "There is an Ekadashi in the bright fortnight of the Adhik maas, which comes once in about three years. Keep its fast with devotion, stay awake through the night and worship Lord Vishnu, and he will surely grant you a son."

Padmini kept the fast as Anasuya taught her, fasting on Ekadashi and spending the night in worship. Pleased, Lord Vishnu appeared before her on Garuda and asked her to choose a boon. Padmini asked him to bless her husband. The Lord told the king that he would have a son unconquerable in the three worlds, whom no one but the Lord himself could defeat.

In time Padmini gave birth to a son, Kartavirya Arjuna, also known as Sahasrabahu, the thousand-armed. He became so mighty that he even defeated and captured Ravana.

Shri Krishna said that whoever keeps this fast, or hears this story, gains fame and reaches the abode of the Lord.