Mokshada Ekadashi Katha

In the golden age of Dwapara Yuga, there lived a righteous king named Vaikhanasa in the city of Champakavati. He was devoted to dharma and governed his kingdom with great care and wisdom.

One night, the king had a disturbing dream in which he saw his father suffering in a hellish realm — his arms raised in anguish, crying out for release. The king awoke in great distress and immediately called upon his ministers and family priests, but none could offer solace.

He traveled to the hermitage of the great sage Parvata Muni and prostrated before him, describing the dream in detail. The sage entered meditation and after some time revealed: "O King, your father committed a great sin in his past life by deceiving his devoted wife. Because of this, he fell into Yamaloka after death."

The king, stricken with grief, asked: "O sage, what can I do to free my father from this suffering?" The sage replied: "Observe the Mokshada Ekadashi that falls in the Shukla Paksha of the Margashirsha month. Fast with full devotion, worship Lord Vishnu with Tulsi, and transfer the merit of this observance to your father."

The king returned and observed the Ekadashi with complete devotion — fasting, keeping vigil through the night, and chanting the names of Lord Vishnu. On the Dwadashi, he performed the parana (breaking of fast) and with folded hands dedicated the entire merit of his observance to his father.

Immediately, flowers rained from the heavens. The king's father was seen ascending in a celestial chariot, freed from the hellish realm, radiating divine light. He blessed his son and rose to the higher realms. Thus, the Mokshada Ekadashi grants liberation even to departed souls when observed with sincerity.