|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
Bavishothara
Puranam describes the glory of Putrada
Shukla Ekadashi which falls on the waxing period of the moon. Lord
Krishna explains the glories of the Putrada Ekadashi to King Yudhishtira.
The legend has that there was a king named
Sukethamana ruled the city Badravati. The King Sukethamana and his wife
Saivya had no offspring for a long time, this very reason made their life
totally distressed. The King Sukethamana was righteous and he was
sincerely occupied in all religious activities. The offerings made by the
King to his forefathers were found unsatisfactory because of lack of
offspring. King Suktethumana realized that the practice of performance of
homage to forefathers without any offspring would be difficult in future; it brought
great anguish among the ancestors and the King as well. The king found no
happiness and peace in the association of friends and the ministers of his
assembly. The King recognized the truth that life without offspring is
miserable. Children are the blessings in the family; virtuous
children born to parents only with the blessing of Lord Vishnu with several
pious deeds. Strong faith and devotion to Lord could alone bring
virtuous offspring followed by wealth and knowledge. The depressed king
Sukethamana left on his horse back to the forest.
King
Sukethamana arrived in a dense forest of wild animals.
The forest was full of herbs and
huge trees , like Peepal, Neem, Banyan, Date, Tamarind, Palm, Shala,
Maulasiri, Saptaparna, Thilaka, Thamala, Sarala, Hingota, Arjuna, Lavera,
Baheda, Salki, Patala, Kateechu, Palasa, etc.. He was stranded through
the wild forest for many hours and became tired of
thirst and hunger. He was tormented by the thoughts of the
sufferings he was going through his life. Finally, he arrived at a
place where he found a beautiful lake similar to Manasarovar. He could
see the lake full of Lotus, Swans, Chakora and Chakravaha Birds gracefully
floating on the crystal water. On the bank of the lake, there were a few
Sages chanting Vedic hymns. King Sukethamana got down from his horse
and prostrated before the Sages assembled over there. The most
pleased Sages revealed that they are Vishwadevas son of Vasu who
came to have ablations.
The King
explained his distressing story of life to the Sages assembled. The sages
began to narrate the importance of Putrada Ekadashi which could bring
virtuous offspring to the King. They advised the King to observe the
Ekadashi with severe austerity and pray to Lord Vishnu for progeny. As advised
by the Vishwadevas, King Sukethamana underwent severe austerity with utmost
faith and devotion to the Lord on the day of Putrada Ekadashi. On the
next day of Dwadashi, the king completed fast/Parana by paying obeisance
to the Vishwadevas. The Sages blessed King Sukethamana and he returned to
his palace. In due course of time, King Sukethamana's wife
Saivya got pregnant with a child and gave birth to a beautiful son. King
Sukethamana ruled his kingdom for several years with the blessings of his
forefathers.
Lord Krishna
explained, fasting on the Putrada Ekadashi brings abundance of merits to the
observers such as liberation from all the sins. Moreover,
whoever observes this Ekadashi would attain the epitome of Knowledge and fame. Lord Krishna
concluded whoever listens to the glories of Putrada Ekadashi would attain
the merits of Ashwamedha Yagam and whoever observes fast and undergo
austerities on this auspicious day would be blessed with virtuous
offspring.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
