Pulastya Muni once had occasion to rescue the ten headed demon Ravana from the prison of Kartaviry Arjuna, and upon hearing of this event Narada Muni asked his friend,
"Oh greatest of sages, since this Ravana defeated all the demigods, including Lord Indradev, how could Kartaviry Arjuna defeat Ravana, who was so skilled in battle?"
Pulastya Muni replied, "Oh great Narada, during the Tretayuga, Kartavirya (Kartaviry Arjuna's father) took birth in the Haihaya dynasty. His capital city was Mahishmati, and he had one thousand Queens, whom he loved very dearly.None of them, however, was able to give him the son he wanted so badly. He performed sacrifices and worshipped the devas (demigods) and forefathers (pitris), but due to the curse of some sage he was unable to beget a son - and without a son, a king cannot enjoy his kingdom, just as a hungry man can never really enjoy his senses.
King Kartavirya carefully considered his plight and then decided to perform severe austerities to achieve his goal.Thus he donned a loincloth made of bark, grew matted locks, and turned over the reins of his kingdom to his ministers.
One of his queens, Padmini - who was born in the Ikshvaku dynasty, who was the best of all women, and who was the daughter of King Harishchandra - saw the king leaving.She felt that, since she was a chaste wife, her duty was to follow in the footsteps of her beloved husband.Removing all the regal ornaments from her beautiful body and donning but one piece of cloth, she thus followed her husband into the forest.
At last Kartavirya reached the summit of Mount Gandhamadana, where he performed severe austerities and penances for ten thousand years, meditating and praying to Lord Gadadhara, who wields a club. But still he did not get a son.
Seeing her husband waste away to mere skin and bone, Padmini thought of a solution to problem.
She went to the chaste Anasuya. With great reverence, Padmini said,
'Oh great lady, my dear husband, Kartavirya, has been performing austerities for the last ten thousand years, but Lord Krishna (Keshava), who alone can remove one's past sins and present difficulties, has not yet become pleased with him. Oh most fortunate one, please tell me a fast day we can observe and thus please the Supreme Lord with our devotion, so much so that He will bless me with a nice son who will later rule the world as emperor.'
Upon hearing the appealing words of Padmini, who was very chaste and deeply devoted to her husband, the great Anasuya replied to her in a very cheerful mood: 'Oh beautiful, lotus-eyed lady, usually there are twelve months in a year, but after every thirty-two months an extra month is added, and the two Ekadasis that occur during this month are called Padmini Ekadasi and Parama Ekadasi.They fall on the Dvadasis of the light and dark part of the month, respectively.You should fast on these days and remain awake throughout the night. If you do so, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, will bless you with a son.'
Oh Narada, in this way Anasuya, the daughter of the sage Kardama Muni, explained the potency of these special Ekadasis.
Hearing this, Padmini faithfully followed the instructions to fulfill her desire for a son. Padmini fasted completely, even from water, and remained awake all night, chanting the glories of God and dancing in ecstasy.
Lord Keshava thus became most pleased with her devotion and appeared before her, riding on the back of the great Garuda. The Lord said,
'Oh beautiful one, you have greatly pleased Me by fasting on the special Ekadasi of the extra month of Purushottama. Please ask Me for a benediction.'
Hearing these sublime words from the overseer of the entire universe, Padmini offered the Supreme Lord devotional prayers and asked Him for the boon her husband desired. Lord Keshava (Krishna) was moved to reply,
'Oh gentle lady, I am very happy with you, for there is no month dearer to Me than this, and the Ekadasis that occur during this month are the most dear to Me of all Ekadasis. You have followed My devotee Anasuya's instructions perfectly, and therefore I shall do what will please you. You and your husband will have the desired son that you wish.'
The Lord, who removes the distress of the world, then spoke to King Kartavirya: 'Oh King, please ask of Me any boon that will fulfill your heart's desire, for your dear wife has pleased Me greatly with her devotional fasting.' The king was very happy to hear this. Naturally he asked for the son he had desired for so long:
'Oh master of the universe, Oh killer of the Madhu-demon, kindly grant me a son who will never be conquered by the demigods, human beings, snakes, demons, or hobgoblins, but whom only You can defeat.' The Supreme Lord immediately replied, 'So be it!' and disappeared.
The king became so very pleased with his wife and returned to his palace in her company. Padmini soon became pregnant, and the mighty-armed Kartaviry Arjuna appeared as her son. He was the mightiest person in all the three worlds, and thus even the ten-headed Ravana could not defeat him in battle. Except for Lord Narayana, who holds a club, a disc, and other symbols in His hands no one could overcome him. By the merit that resulted from his mother's strict and faithful observance of Padmini Ekadasi, he could defeat even the dreaded Ravana.
This is not at all surprising, Oh Naradji, for Kartaviry Arjuna was the fulfillment of the benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
With these words, Pulastya Muni departed.'
Source
Padmini Ekadasi, the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the extra, leap-year month of Purushottama, from the Skanda Purana.
http://www.iskcondesiretree.com/page/padmini-ekadasi
https://www.youtube.com/results?q=Padmini+Ekadashi
"Oh greatest of sages, since this Ravana defeated all the demigods, including Lord Indradev, how could Kartaviry Arjuna defeat Ravana, who was so skilled in battle?"
Pulastya Muni replied, "Oh great Narada, during the Tretayuga, Kartavirya (Kartaviry Arjuna's father) took birth in the Haihaya dynasty. His capital city was Mahishmati, and he had one thousand Queens, whom he loved very dearly.None of them, however, was able to give him the son he wanted so badly. He performed sacrifices and worshipped the devas (demigods) and forefathers (pitris), but due to the curse of some sage he was unable to beget a son - and without a son, a king cannot enjoy his kingdom, just as a hungry man can never really enjoy his senses.
King Kartavirya carefully considered his plight and then decided to perform severe austerities to achieve his goal.Thus he donned a loincloth made of bark, grew matted locks, and turned over the reins of his kingdom to his ministers.
One of his queens, Padmini - who was born in the Ikshvaku dynasty, who was the best of all women, and who was the daughter of King Harishchandra - saw the king leaving.She felt that, since she was a chaste wife, her duty was to follow in the footsteps of her beloved husband.Removing all the regal ornaments from her beautiful body and donning but one piece of cloth, she thus followed her husband into the forest.
At last Kartavirya reached the summit of Mount Gandhamadana, where he performed severe austerities and penances for ten thousand years, meditating and praying to Lord Gadadhara, who wields a club. But still he did not get a son.
Seeing her husband waste away to mere skin and bone, Padmini thought of a solution to problem.
She went to the chaste Anasuya. With great reverence, Padmini said,
'Oh great lady, my dear husband, Kartavirya, has been performing austerities for the last ten thousand years, but Lord Krishna (Keshava), who alone can remove one's past sins and present difficulties, has not yet become pleased with him. Oh most fortunate one, please tell me a fast day we can observe and thus please the Supreme Lord with our devotion, so much so that He will bless me with a nice son who will later rule the world as emperor.'
Upon hearing the appealing words of Padmini, who was very chaste and deeply devoted to her husband, the great Anasuya replied to her in a very cheerful mood: 'Oh beautiful, lotus-eyed lady, usually there are twelve months in a year, but after every thirty-two months an extra month is added, and the two Ekadasis that occur during this month are called Padmini Ekadasi and Parama Ekadasi.They fall on the Dvadasis of the light and dark part of the month, respectively.You should fast on these days and remain awake throughout the night. If you do so, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, will bless you with a son.'
Oh Narada, in this way Anasuya, the daughter of the sage Kardama Muni, explained the potency of these special Ekadasis.
Hearing this, Padmini faithfully followed the instructions to fulfill her desire for a son. Padmini fasted completely, even from water, and remained awake all night, chanting the glories of God and dancing in ecstasy.
Lord Keshava thus became most pleased with her devotion and appeared before her, riding on the back of the great Garuda. The Lord said,
'Oh beautiful one, you have greatly pleased Me by fasting on the special Ekadasi of the extra month of Purushottama. Please ask Me for a benediction.'
Hearing these sublime words from the overseer of the entire universe, Padmini offered the Supreme Lord devotional prayers and asked Him for the boon her husband desired. Lord Keshava (Krishna) was moved to reply,
'Oh gentle lady, I am very happy with you, for there is no month dearer to Me than this, and the Ekadasis that occur during this month are the most dear to Me of all Ekadasis. You have followed My devotee Anasuya's instructions perfectly, and therefore I shall do what will please you. You and your husband will have the desired son that you wish.'
The Lord, who removes the distress of the world, then spoke to King Kartavirya: 'Oh King, please ask of Me any boon that will fulfill your heart's desire, for your dear wife has pleased Me greatly with her devotional fasting.' The king was very happy to hear this. Naturally he asked for the son he had desired for so long:
'Oh master of the universe, Oh killer of the Madhu-demon, kindly grant me a son who will never be conquered by the demigods, human beings, snakes, demons, or hobgoblins, but whom only You can defeat.' The Supreme Lord immediately replied, 'So be it!' and disappeared.
The king became so very pleased with his wife and returned to his palace in her company. Padmini soon became pregnant, and the mighty-armed Kartaviry Arjuna appeared as her son. He was the mightiest person in all the three worlds, and thus even the ten-headed Ravana could not defeat him in battle. Except for Lord Narayana, who holds a club, a disc, and other symbols in His hands no one could overcome him. By the merit that resulted from his mother's strict and faithful observance of Padmini Ekadasi, he could defeat even the dreaded Ravana.
This is not at all surprising, Oh Naradji, for Kartaviry Arjuna was the fulfillment of the benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
With these words, Pulastya Muni departed.'
Source
Padmini Ekadasi, the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the extra, leap-year month of Purushottama, from the Skanda Purana.
http://www.iskcondesiretree.com/page/padmini-ekadasi
https://www.youtube.com/results?q=Padmini+Ekadashi
No comments:
Post a Comment