Papamocani Ekadasi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "0 Supreme Lord, I have heard from You the
explanation of Amalaki Ekadasi, which occurs during the light fortnight of the
month of Phalguna [February-March], and now I wish to hear about the Ekadasi
that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Caitra [March-April]. What
is its name, 0 Lord, and what results can one attain by observing it?"
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, replied, "0 best of kings,
for the benefit of everyone I shall gladly describe to you the glories of this
Ekadasi which is known as Papamocani. The history of this Ekadasi was once
narrated to the emperor Mandhata by Lomasa Risi. King Mandhata addressed the
risi, '0 great sage, for the benefit of all people, please tell me the name of
the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Caitra, and
please explain the process for observing it. Also, please describe the benefits
one gains by observing this Ekadasi.'
"Lomasa Risi replied, 'The Ekadasi that occurs during the dark part of the month
of Caitra is named Papamocani Ekadasi For the faithful devotee it removes the
influences of ghosts and demons. 0 lion among men, this Ekadasi also awards the
eight perfections of life, fulfills all kinds of desires, purifies one's life of
all sinful reactions, and makes a person perfectly virtuous.
"'Now please listen to a historical account concerning this Ekadasi and
Citraratha, the chief of the Gandharvas [heavenly musicians]. During the spring
season, in the company of heavenly dancing girls, Citraratha once came upon a
beautiful forest bursting forth with a great variety of flowers. There he and
the girls joined other Gandharvas and many Kinnaras, along with Lord Indra
himself, the king of heaven, who was enjoying a visit there. Everyone felt that
there was no better garden than this forest. Many sages were also present,
performing their austerities and penance The demigods particularly enjoyed
visiting this celestial garden during the months of Caitra and Vaisakha
[April-May].
" 'A great sage named Medhavi resided in that forest, and the very attractive
dancing girls would always attempt to seduce him. One famous girl in particular,
Manjughosa, contrived many ways to allure the exalted muni, but out of great
respect for the sage and fear of his power, which he had attained after years
and years of asceticism, she would not come very close to him. At a spot two
miles from the sage, she pitched a tent and began singing very sweetly as she
played a tamboura. Cupid himself became excited when he saw and heard her
perform so nicely and smelled the fragrance of her sandal-paste unguent. He
remembered his own unfortunate experience with Lord Siva and decided to take
revenge by seducing Medhavi.'
"'Using the eyebrows of Manjughosa as a bow, her glances as a bowstring, her
eyes as arrows, and her breasts as a target, Cupid approached Medhavi in order
to tempt him to break his trance and his vows. In other words, Cupid engaged
Manjughosa as his assistant, and when she looked at that powerful and attractive
young sage, she also became agitated by lust. Seeing that he was highly
intelligent and learned, wearing a clean white brahmana's thread draped across
his shoulder, holding a sannyasi's staff, and sitting handsomely in the asrama
of Cyavana Risi Manjughosa came before him.
"'She began to sing seductively, and the small bells on her belt and around her
ankles, together with the bangles on her wrists, produced a delightful musical
symphony. The sage Medhavi was enchanted. He understood that this beautiful
young woman desired union with him, and at that instant Cupid increased his
attraction for Mahjughosa by releasing his powerful weapons of taste, touch,
sight, smell, and sound.
"'Slowly Manjughosa approached Medhavi, her bodily movements and sweet glances
attracting him. She gracefully put her tamboura down and embraced the sage with
her two arms, just as a creeper winds itself around a strong tree. Captivated,
Medhavi gave up his meditation and decided to sport with her-and instantly his
purity of heart and mind abandoned him. Forgetting even the difference between
night and day, he went away with her to sport for a long, long time.
"'Seeing that the young yoga's sanctity had become seriously eroded, Manjughosa
decided to abandon him and return home. She said, "0 great one, please permit me
to return home."
"'Medhavi replied, "But you have only just arrived, 0 beautiful one. Please stay
with me at least until tomorrow."
"'Fearful of the sage's yogic power, Manjughosa stayed with Medhavi for
precisely fifty-seven years, nine months, and three days, but to Medhavi all
this time seemed like a moment. Again she asked him, "Please permit me to
leave."
" 'Medhavi replied, "0 dear one, listen to me. Stay with me for one more night,
and then you may leave tomorrow morning. Just stay with me until after I have
performed my morning duties and chanted the sacred Gayatri mantra. Please wait
until then."
"Manjughosa was still fearful of the sage's great yogic power, but she forced a
smile and said, "How long will it take you to finish your morning hymns and
rituals? Please be merciful and think of all the time you have already spent
with me."
"'The sage reflected on the years he had been with Manjughosa and then said with
great astonishment, "Why, I have spent more than fiftyseven years with you!" His
eyes turned red and began to emanate sparks. He now regarded Manjughosa as death
personified and the destroyer of his spiritual life. "You rascal woman! You have
turned all the hard-earned results of my austerities to ashes!" Trembling with
anger, he cursed Manjughosa "0 sinful one, 0 hard-hearted, degraded one! You
know only sin! May all terrible fortune be yours! 0 rascal woman, I curse you to
become an evil hobgoblin pisaca!"
"'Cursed by the sage Medhavi, the beautiful Manjughosa humbly beseeched him, "O
best of the brdhmanas, please be merciful to me and revoke your curse! 0 great
one, it is said that association with pure devotees gives immediate results but
their curses take effect only after seven days. I have been with you for
fifty-seven years, 0 master, so please be kind to me!"
"'Medhavi Muni replied, "0 gentle lady, what can I possibly do? You have
destroyed all my austerities. But even though you have done this sinful deed, I
shall tell you a way you can be released from my wrath. In the dark fortnight of
the month of Caitra there is an allauspicious Ekadasi that removes all one's
sins. Its name is Papamocani, 0 beautiful one, and whoever fasts on this sacred
day becomes completely freed from having to take birth in any kind of devilish
form."
" 'With these words, the sage left at once for his father's asrama. Seeing him
enter the hermitage, Cyavana Muni said, "0 son, by acting unlawfully you have
squandered the wealth of your penances and austerities."
"'Medhavi replied, "O Father, kindly reveal what atonement I must perform to
remove the obnoxious sin I have incurred by privately associating with the
dancing girl Manjughosa''
"'Cyavana Muni answered, "Dear son, you must fast on Papamocani Ekadasi. which
occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Caitra. It eradicates all sins,
no matter how grievous they may be."
"'Medhavi followed his father's advice and fasted on Papamocani Ekadasi. Thus
all his sins were destroyed and he again became filled with excellent merit.
Similarly, Manjughosa observed the same fast and became free of the hobgoblin
curse. Ascending once again to the heavenly spheres, she too returned to her
former position.'
"Lomasa Risi continued, 'Thus, 0 king, the great benefit of fasting on
Papamocani Ekadasi is that whoever does so with faith and devotion will have all
his sins completely destroyed.'
Sri Krsna concluded, "0 King Yudhisthira, whoever reads or hears about
Papamocani Ekadasi. obtains the very same merit he would get if he donated a
thousand cows in charity, and he also nullifies the sinful reactions he may have
incurred by killing a brahmana, killing an embryo through abortion, drinking
liquor, or having sex with his guru's wife. Such is the incalculable benefit of
properly observing this holy day of Papamocani Ekadasi, which is so dear to Me
and so meritorious."
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