puṣya putrada ekādaśi

dharmarāja yudhiṣṭira said, “O Lord! You have shown your immense grace on us by telling us the significance of saphala ekādaśi. Now O Merciful! Please tell us about the ekādaśi falling in śuklapakṣaṃ of puṣya māsaṃ. What is the name of this ekādaśi and what is the procedure to observe this. Kindly tell us everything in detail.” Lord Shri Krishna said, “The ekādaśi in śuklapakṣaṃ of puṣya māsaṃ is known as putrada ekādaśi. Lord nārāyaṇa is worshipped on this day. There is no other vrataṃ as powerful as putrada ekādaśi to grant your wishes. People should observe this vrata with utmost importance. The merits attained by putrada ekādaśi make person wise, saint like and rich at the same time. I will tell you about a popular story about this vrataṃ. Once upon a time a King named suketumān used to rule bhadrāvati city. His wife's name was caṃpaka. The royal couple were childless though. Queen caṃpaka always remained dejected as she didn't have any progeny. King was also greatly worried that without a son who will perform the piṃḍapradānaṃ (offering food to ancestors in the form of piṃḍa) rituals for him and his ancestors. At the time of piṃḍapradānaṃ, the ancestors of the King suketumān, used to take the piṃḍa offerings, lamenting the fact that there would be no one after suketumān to offer them piṃḍās. King had everything a happy and wealthy man could have had. He had bothers, relatives, ministers, elephants, horses, kingdom and vast wealth. King was always worried who will give piṃḍa after his death and if he didn't have any son who would be able to pay the debt of his ancestors and Gods. King had various thoughts hovering over his mind all the time: The house without a son is dark & lustreless; therefore, he should make every effort to beget a son. Life is worth for only those who have seen the face of son; only such person gets glory in this world and peace in afterlife. A person begets a sons & wealth with the merits attained by good deeds done in his previous life. Thus King was tormented by different kind of thoughts and used to remain worried all the time. He did several 'putrakāmeṣṭi yāgaṃ' (Yajna to beget a son) but none of those bore any fruit to King. He bowed down to Gods but never got the blessing he desired. The King lost all his hope and started mulling over that he should commit suicide by drinking poison. That way, he would become ghost but at least he would not have to worry about his pain anymore. Once King even prepared himself to commit suicide but he realised that by committing suicide he will incur a sin and thus he did not do it. Thus King, worried and immersed in his own thoughts, once rode on his horse to the forest. He saw all kinds of animals, birds, trees etc there. He observed deer, tiger, boar, lion and monkey, snake etc roaming in the forest. Elephant was roaming along with cow elephant and calves. Somewhere the jackals were howling and owls were hooting in their cacophonous voices. King saw every creature with playing their offsprings. King started cursing his fate; he thought these animals and birds are luckier than him. His sorrow exacerbated with these sights. He started thinking why is he devoid of any progeny. He thought he had done many yajñās, donated amply to learned Brahmans, fed poor people but why still didn't get any son. He kept on thinking and thus she spent long time and two third of the day passed. King started feeling pinch of acute thirst by then. He tried to find water but didn't know any source. After an intense searching for some time, he finally managed to find a small pond in jungle. The pond was full with blossomed lotuses and with numerous kinds of aquatic fauna: fishes, crocodiles, cranes, swans etc. King's right organs started quivering. It was a good omen and definite sign of some immediate good happening. There were few small makeshift hermitages of Sages around the pond. King went to Sages and offered them his 'Sastanga daṃḍa pranāmaṃ' (People bow down on ground as if a stick falls on ground, stretching both hands above forehead and toes & whole body on ground- A sign of deep respect shown only towards highly enlightened divine forces). After paying respects to sages, King suketumān sat down there. Sages offered suitable seat to King suketumān and said, “O King! We are highly pleased with your humble manners. Tell us what do you want?” The King asked, "O Great Sages! Kindly tell me who are you and why have you come so deep in jungle at this time." Sages replied,"O King! We are viṣvedeva ṛṣis. We are here to obtain the great merits of bathing in upcoming holy māgha māsaṃ. Today is putrada ekādaśi, which has great merits and can even grants on to people. Since this is ekādaśi & māgha māsaṃ will start in four days from now. This pond is holy and that's why we have gathered here to spend the holy māgha māsaṃ while taking our daily holy ablutions.” King was highly pleased upon knowing about the great viṣvedeva ṛṣis. He immediately requested what he wanted most. He said, "O holy one if you are pleased, kindly grant me the boon to beget a son for I don't have any child and highly distressed by this great misfortune of mine." Rishis replied with great kindness,"O King! You are very fortunate. Today is great putrada ekādaśi. This ekādaśi grants progeny to even most unfortunate people. You should observe this vrataṃ with full rituals today. Soon you will get your desired wish by the grace of Lord Vishnu." King couldn't believe his luck suddenly. He asked to re-affirm again, "O Sages! I do not wish you dishonour your words. But will I really get a son by observing this vratam." Sages replied, “Try and see it for yourself son!" King suketumān ,thus being reassured by Rishis, observed Putrada Ekadashi on that day with Rishis and did the ‘pāraṇa’(Act of breaking the fast , usually by giving gifts etc to Brahmans and feeding them and then taking food himself). Next day, King paid his respects to Rishis and came back to his kingdom. His wife bore him a son after sometime. The prince became a very brave, valorous, virtuous, pious, and famous later on. He was very wealthy and very loving and father like for his subjects during his reign. Lord Shri Krishna said,"O yudhiṣṭira! There is no other vrataṃ like putrada ekādaśi to beget a son. Therefore one should observe putrada ekādaśi vrataṃ to beget a virtuous son. Anyone who reads or hears this story & significance of putrada ekādaśi, he earns great merits & attains heaven in his afterlife due the grace of Lord nārāyaṇa.        



All ekādaśi Vishnusahasra parayana is recommend