Kamada Ekadashi Parana

Kamada Ekadashi Vrat Katha 

Kamada Ekadashi Vrat Katha  

Story of Gandharva couple Lalit–Lalita and King Pundarika

Arjuna once humbly said to Shri Krishna:

“O Kamalnayan, O Jagdishwar, please narrate the Ekadashi that falls in the Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month.
What is the name of this Ekadashi? Who observed it first, and what spiritual results are obtained by observing this vrat?”

Shri Krishna replied:

“O Arjuna, long ago the same question was asked by King Dilip to his revered guru Vashishtha. I shall now narrate that sacred story to you.”

King Dilip respectfully asked Guru Vashishtha:

“O Gurudev, what is the name of the Ekadashi of Chaitra month’s Shukla Paksha?
Which deity is worshipped on this day and what are the rules of this fast?”

Guru Vashishtha said:

“O King, the Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month is called Kamada Ekadashi.
It destroys all sins. Just as fire reduces wood to ashes, in the same way, the power of Kamada Ekadashi burns away even the gravest sins. By observing this vrat, a person becomes free from sinful reactions, is blessed with a radiant and virtuous progeny, and finally attains higher spiritual realms.

Now listen to the sacred history of this Ekadashi.”

In ancient times, there was a prosperous city named Bhagipur. It was ruled by King King Pundarika.
His kingdom was filled with Gandharvas, Apsaras and Kinnaras, and divine music echoed throughout the land.

In that same city lived a Gandharva couple named Lalit and Lalita. Both were highly skilled singers and deeply devoted to each other. Their love was so intense that even the thought of separation caused them pain.

Once, King Pundarika was seated in his royal court. Lalit was performing music before the king along with other Gandharvas. On that day, Lalita was not present in the assembly.

While singing, Lalit became absorbed in thoughts of his beloved wife. Because of this distraction, mistakes began to occur in his performance. Seeing this, the serpent king Karkotaka complained about Lalit to King Pundarika.

The king became extremely angry and cursed him:

“O foolish one! You remember your wife even while performing before me. Therefore, you shall become a cruel, flesh-eating demon and suffer the results of your negligence.”

Immediately, Lalit was transformed into a terrifying demon.
His face became hideous, his eyes blazed like the Sun and the Moon, flames came out of his mouth, his nose appeared like a mountain cave, his arms became two yojanas long and his body stretched to eight yojanas. In this dreadful form, he began to suffer intensely.

Seeing the miserable condition of her beloved husband, Lalita was overwhelmed with grief. She kept thinking:

“Where should I go? What should I do? By which means can I free my husband from this terrible suffering?”

Lalit, in his demonic state, lived in dense forests and committed many sinful acts. Lalita, however, did not abandon him and continued to follow him with unwavering devotion.

One day, while searching for a solution, Lalita reached the sacred Vindhyachal mountains. There she found the ashram of the great sage Shringi.

She bowed respectfully and said:

“O Maharishi, I am Lalita, the daughter of the Gandharva Veerdhanva. My husband has become a dreadful demon due to the curse of King Pundarika. I am deeply distressed by his suffering. Please show me a sacred way by which my husband may be freed from this demonic form.”

After hearing her entire story, Sage Shringi said:

“O daughter, the Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month is known as Kamada Ekadashi. By observing this fast, all sincere desires of a living being are fulfilled.

If you observe this vrat with devotion and offer its merit to your husband, he will surely be released from the demonic form and the effect of the king’s curse will be pacified.”

Following the sage’s instructions, Lalita observed the Kamada Ekadashi fast with full faith and devotion. On the day of Dwadashi, in the presence of Brahmins, she offered the merit of her vrat to her husband and prayed:

“O Lord, may the fruits of the Kamada Ekadashi fast I have observed be transferred to my husband, so that he may be freed from this demonic life.”

At that very moment, Lalit was liberated from the curse. His dreadful form disappeared and he regained his original divine Gandharva body. He adorned himself with beautiful clothes and ornaments and once again walked happily with Lalita as before.

By the powerful influence of Kamada Ekadashi, after the end of their earthly lives, both Lalit and Lalita attained Vishnu Loka, travelling in the celestial Pushpaka Vimana.

Shri Krishna concluded:

“O Arjuna, by regularly observing Kamada Ekadashi, all sins are destroyed. Even severe sins such as Brahma-hatya and the reactions of demonic births are removed. There is no fast in this world superior to Kamada Ekadashi. By listening to, reading, and narrating its greatness, one obtains immeasurable spiritual merit.”

Synopsis (Katha-Saar)  

Thinking about one’s happiness is natural for every living being, but when such attachment diverts a person from duty and responsibility, it leads to severe suffering. Lalit, due to a moment of emotional distraction, fell into a demonic life and endured great pain. Yet, there is no limit to the compassion of Lord Shri Hari.

Through sincere devotion and the sacred power of Kamada Ekadashi, even the most difficult destiny can be transformed.