Sri Yudhishthira MahArAja asked of Lord Sri Krishna, “What is the name of that EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight (shukla paksha) of the month of BhAdrapada (August-September “Hrishikesha mase”) ? Who is the worshippable Deity for this EkAdasii, and what merit does one attain in observing it? Kindly reveal all of this to me my Lord.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna addressed His devoted Yudhishthira as follows, “This EkAdasii, Oh Yudhishthira, is called VAmana EkAdasii, and it bestows upon those who observe it both great merit and ultimate liberation from material bondage. Therefore, because it removes all one’s sinful reactions, it is also called Jayanti EkAdasii. Just hearing of its glories frees one from all his past misdeeds. So auspicious is this fast that observing it bestows the same merit as that earned by performing a horse sacrifice. There is no better EkAdasii than this, because it awards liberation so easily. Thus if one truly desires freedom from the punishing material world, one should fast on VAmana EkAdasii.
“While observing this holy fast, a Vaishnava should lovingly worship the Supreme Lord in His form as VAmandeva, the dwarf incarnation, whose eyes are like lotus petals. By doing so, he worships all other Deities as well, including BrahmA, Vishnu, and Shiva, and at death he undoubtedly goes to that abode of Sri Hari. In all the three worlds there is no fast that is more important to observe. The reason this EkAdasii is so auspicious is that it celebrates the day when the sleeping Lord Vishnu turns over on His other side; thus it is also known as Parivartinii EkAdasii.”
MahArAja Yudhishthira then asked of the Lord, “Oh JanArdana, please clear up a question I have. How is it that the Supreme Lord sleeps and then turns over on His side? Oh Lord, when You are asleep what happens to all the other living entities? Please also tell me how You bound the king of the demons, Bali DaityarAj (Bali MahArAja), as well as how one may please the brAhmaNas. How does one observe ChAturmAsya, which You mention in the ChAturmAsya-mahAtmya of the Bhavishya PurANa? Kindly be merciful to me and answer these questions.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna replied,
“Oh Yudhishthira, lion among Kings, I will gladly narrate to you an historical
event that, simply by hearing, eradicates all one’s sinful reactions.
“In the TretA-yuga there once was a king of the
name Bali. Though born in a family dynasty of demons (daityas), he was
very devoted to Me. He sang many Vedik hymns to Me and performed the homa
rituals (fire sacrifices) just to satisfy Me. He respected the twice-born
brahmins and engaged them in performing sacrifices daily. This great soul
had a quarrel with Indra, however, and eventually defeated him in battle.
Bali took over his entire celestial kingdom, which I Myself had given to
Indra. Therefore Indra and all the other devas (demigods), along with many
great sages, approached Me and complained about Bali MahArAja. Bowing their
heads to the ground and offering many sacred prayers from the Vedas, they
worshipped Me along with their spiritual master, Brihaspati. Thus I agreed
to appear on their behalf as a dwarf VAmanadeva, My fifth incarnation.”
King Yudhishthira further enquired, “Oh Lord, how was
it possible for You to conquer such a powerful demon, and only by coming
in the form of a dwarf brahmin? Please explain this clearly, for I am Your
faithful devotee.”
“The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna replied, “Though
a dwarf, I was a brAhmaNa, and I approached that pious king Bali to ask
him for alms in the form of land. I said, ‘Oh DaityrAj Bali, please give
Me just three steps of land in charity. Such a small piece of land will
be good as all the three worlds for Me.’ Bali agreed to grant My request
without lengthy consideration. But as soon as he vowed to give Me the land,
My body began to expand into a gigantic transcendental form. I covered
the entire Earth with My feet, all the Bhuvarloka with My thighs, the Swarga
heavens with My waist, Maharloka with My stomach, Janaloka with My chest,
Tapoloka with My neck, and Satyaloka with My head and face. I covered the
entire material creation. Indeed, all the planets of the universe, including
the Sun and the Moon, were encompassed by My gigantic form.”
“Seeing this astonishing pastime of Mine, all the demigods, including Indra and Shesha, the king of the snakes, began to sing Vedik hymns and offer prayers to Me. Then I took Bali by the hand and said to him, ‘Oh sinless one, I have covered the whole Earth with one step and all the heavenly planets with the second. Now where shall I place My foot to measure the third step of land you promised Me?’
“Upon hearing this, Bali MahArAja bowed down in humility
and offered Me his head to place My third step. Oh Yudhishthira, I placed
My foot on his head and sent him all the way to PAtAlaloka. Seeing him
thus humbled, I became very pleased and told Bali that henceforth I would
permanently reside in his palace. Thereafter, on Parivartinii EkAdasii,
which occurs during the light part of the month of BhAdra (August-September),
Bali, the son of Virochana, grandson of Prahlad, installed a Deity form
of Me in his residence.
“Oh king, until Haribodhinii EkAdasii, which occurs
during the light part of the month of Karttika,
I continue to sleep in the ocean of milk. The merit one accumulates during
this period is particularly powerful. One should therefore observe Parivartinii
EkAdasii carefully. Indeed, it is especially purifying and thus cleanses
one of all sinful reactions. On this day the faithful devotee should worship
Lord Trivikrama, VAmanadeva, who is the supreme father, because on this
day I turn over to sleep on My other side.
“If possible, on this day one should give a qualified
person some yogurt mixed with rice, as well as some silver, and then remain
awake throughout the night. This simple observance will free one of all
material conditioning. One who observes this sacred Parivartinii EkAdasii
in the way I have described will surely attain all kinds of happiness in
this world and the kingdom of God in the hereafter. One who simply hears
this narration with devotion will go to the abode of the demigods and shine
there like the Moon itself, so powerful is observance of this EkAdasii.
Indeed, this observance is as powerful as the performance of a thousand
horse sacrifices.”
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Parivartinii EkAdasii,
or VAmana EkAdasii, which occurs during the light
part of the month of BhAdrapada, from the Brahma-vaivarta PurANa.
These stories have been summarised and slightly changed or abbreviated from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press, Pages 117-119.
The Ekadashi Book is now available in its entirety -free to download
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