Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi

Lord Krishna said, "O Arjuna! You are my very dear friend. O Partha! Now, I will tell you the story of Prabodhini Ekadashi, which eliminates sins and bestows merit and liberation. Listen with faith."

He then repeated the conversation between Devarshi Narada and Lord Brahma. Narada asked, "O father! What is the benefit of observing the Prabodhini Ekadashi fast? Please explain the procedure in detail."

Brahma Ji said, "O son! The reward for observing the Prabodhini Ekadashi fast during the Shukla Paksha of the Kartika month is equivalent to the merit gained from performing a thousand Ashvamedha Yajnas and a hundred Rajasuya Yajnas."

Narada asked further, "O father! What are the benefits of eating one meal in the evening, eating at night and fasting throughout the day? Please explain in detail."

Brahma Ji said, "O Narada! Eating one meal in the evening can erase the sins of two lifetimes while fasting throughout the day can eliminate the sins of seven lifetimes. That which is difficult to attain in the three worlds can be easily acquired by observing the Prabodhini Ekadashi fast. This fast has the power to instantly destroy even the greatest of sins."

Those who observe it according to their nature and by the proper procedures reap its full benefit. The merit gained by those who perform even a few virtuous deeds on this day with faith becomes as steadfast as a mountain, and those who sincerely contemplate in their hearts the desire to observe this fast have the sins of a hundred lifetimes erased.

Those who keep the night vigil on Prabodhini Ekadashi ensure that ten generations past and ten to come reside in Vishnu Loka; their ancestors, who have suffered many hardships in hell, also attain Vishnu Loka and know happiness there. Even the gravest sins, such as Brahmahatya, are absolved by keeping the vigil on this night, and its rewards are greater than those of sacrifices such as the Ashvamedha. The fruits of undertaking all pilgrimages, and of donating cows, gold and land, are equal to the reward of this one vigil.

A person's life in this world is truly successful if they purify their lineage by observing the Prabodhini Ekadashi fast. All the pilgrimages in the world, and all those that can be hoped for, reside in the home of the one who observes it. One should therefore keep this fast in the month of Kartika, setting aside all other activity to gratify Lord Shri Hari. Those who keep it become wealthy, attain the state of a yogi, live as ascetics and gain mastery over their senses; the observance is highly regarded by Narada and by Lord Vishnu, and by it a person may free themselves from the cycle of birth and death.

Through this fast the sins of all three kinds — physical, verbal and mental — are alleviated, and those who give charity, perform penance, offer oblations and sacrifices and do other virtuous acts on this day for the attainment of Lord Vishnu receive boundless blessings. Worshipping Shri Hari on this day destroys all sins, both of youth and of old age, and the reward for the vigil kept on this night is a thousand times greater than the ordinary reward of the day.

This is the day on which Lord Vishnu awakens from the yoga-nidra he entered on Devshayani Ekadashi. With his waking the four months of Chaturmas come to an end and auspicious works may be resumed, and for this reason the day carries the names Prabodhini, Haribodhini, Devutthana and Utthana Ekadashi.