पाप मोचनी एकादशी व्रत कथा

महाराज युधिष्ठिर ने भगवान श्री कृष्ण से चैत्र (गुजरात महाराष्ट्र के अनुसार फाल्गुन) मास के कृष्ण पक्ष की एकादशी के बारे में जानने की इच्छा प्रकट की तो वे बोले : ‘राजेन्द्र ! मैं तुम्हें इस विषय में एक पापनाशक उपाख्यान सुनाऊँगा, जिसे चक्रवर्ती नरेश मान्धाता के पूछने पर महर्षि लोमश ने कहा था।’

 

मान्धाता ने पूछा: भगवन्! मैं लोगों के हित की इच्छा से यह सुनना चाहता हूँ कि चैत्र मास के कृष्ण पक्ष में किस नाम की एकादशी होती है, उसकी क्या विधि है तथा उससे किस फल की प्राप्ति होती है? कृपया ये सब बातें मुझे बताइये।

 

लोमश जी ने कहा: नृपश्रेष्ठ ! पूर्वकाल की बात है। अप्सराओं से सेवित चैत्ररथ नामक वन में, जहाँ गन्धर्वों की कन्याएँ अपने किंकरो के साथ बाजे बजाती हुई विहार करती हैं, मंजुघोषा नामक अप्सरा मुनिवर मेघावी को मोहित करने के लिए गयी। वे महर्षि चैत्ररथ वन में रहकर ब्रह्मचर्य का पालन करते थे। मंजुघोषा मुनि के भय से आश्रम से एक कोस दूर ही ठहर गयी और सुन्दर ढंग से वीणा बजाती हुई मधुर गीत गाने लगी। मुनिश्रेष्ठ मेघावी घूमते हुए उधर जा निकले और उस सुन्दर अप्सरा को इस प्रकार गान करते देख बरबस ही मोह के वशीभूत हो गये।

मुनि की ऐसी अवस्था देख मंजुघोषा उनके समीप आयी और वीणा नीचे रखकर उनका आलिंगन करने लगी। मेघावी भी उसके साथ रमण करने लगे। रात और दिन का भी उन्हें भान न रहा। इस प्रकार उन्हें बहुत दिन व्यतीत हो गये। मंजुघोषा देवलोक में जाने को तैयार हुई। जाते समय उसने मुनिश्रेष्ठ मेघावी से कहा: ‘ब्रह्मन्! अब मुझे अपने देश जाने की आज्ञा दीजिये।’

 

मेघावी बोले: देवी! जब तक सवेरे की संध्या न हो जाय तब तक मेरे ही पास ठहरो। अप्सरा ने कहा: विप्रवर! अब तक न जाने कितनी ही संध्याँए चली गयीं! मुझ पर कृपा करके बीते हुए समय का विचार तो कीजिये!

 

लोमशजी ने कहा: राजन्! अप्सरा की ये बात सुनकर मेघावी चकित हो उठे। उस समय उन्होंने बीते हुए समय का हिसाब लगाया तो मालूम हुआ कि उसके साथ रहते हुए उन्हें सत्तावन वर्ष हो गये। उसे अपनी तपस्या का विनाश करने वाली जानकर मुनि को उस पर बड़ा क्रोध आया। उन्होंने शाप देते हुए कहा: ‘पापिनी! तू पिशाची हो जा।’ मुनि के शाप से दग्ध होकर वह विनय से नतमस्तक हो बोली: ‘विप्रवर! मेरे शाप का उद्धार कीजिये। सात वाक्य बोलने या सात पद साथ साथ चलने मात्र से ही सत्पुरुषों के साथ मैत्री हो जाती है। ब्रह्मन्! मैं तो आपके साथ अनेक वर्ष व्यतीत किये हैं, अत: स्वामिन्! मुझ पर कृपा कीजिये।’

 

मुनि बोले: भद्रे! क्या करुँ? तुमने मेरी बहुत बड़ी तपस्या नष्ट कर डाली है। फिर भी सुनो। चैत्र मास के कृष्ण पक्ष में जो एकादशी आती है उसका नाम है ‘पापमोचनी।’ वह शाप से उद्धार करने वाली तथा सब पापों का क्षय करने वाली है। सुन्दरी! उसी का व्रत करने पर तुम्हारी पिशाचता दूर होगी।

 

ऐसा कहकर मेघावी अपने पिता मुनिवर च्यवन के आश्रम पर गये। उन्हें आया देख च्यवन ने पूछा : ‘बेटा! यह क्या किया? तुमने तो अपने पुण्य का नाश कर डाला!’

 

मेघावी बोले: पिताजी! मैंने अप्सरा के साथ रमण करने का पातक किया है। अब आप ही कोई ऐसा प्रायश्चित बताइये, जिससे पातक का नाश हो जाये।

 

च्यवन ने कहा: बेटा ! चैत्र मास के कृष्ण पक्ष में जो ‘पापमोचनी एकादशी’ आती है, उसका व्रत करने पर पापराशि का विनाश हो जायेगा। पिता का यह कथन सुनकर मेघावी ने उस व्रत का अनुष्ठान किया। इससे उनका पाप नष्ट हो गया और वे पुन: तपस्या से परिपूर्ण हो गये। इसी प्रकार मंजुघोषा ने भी इस उत्तम व्रत का पालन किया। ‘पापमोचनी’ का व्रत करने के कारण वह पिशाचयोनि से मुक्त हुई और दिव्य रुपधारिणी श्रेष्ठ अप्सरा होकर स्वर्गलोक में चली गयी।

 

भगवान श्री कृष्ण कहते हैं: राजन्! जो श्रेष्ठ मनुष्य ‘पापमोचनी एकादशी’ का व्रत करते हैं उनके सारे पाप नष्ट हो जाते हैं। इसको पढ़ने और सुनने से सहस्र गौदान का फल मिलता है। ब्रह्महत्या, सुवर्ण की चोरी, सुरापान और गुरुपत्नीगमन करने वाले महापातकी भी इस व्रत को करने से पापमुक्त हो जाते हैं। यह व्रत बहुत पुण्यमय है।

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Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, “Oh Supreme Lord, I have heard from You the explanation of Amalaki Ekadasi which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February-March), and now I wish to hear about the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra (March-April). What is its name, Oh Lord, and what results can one attain by observing it?” The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, replied, “O best of kings, for the benefit of everyone I shall gladly describe to you the glories of this Ekadasi, which is known as Papamochani.

 

The history of this Ekadasi was once narrated to the Emperor Mandhata by Lomasa Rishi. King Mandhata addressed the Rishi, ‘Oh great sage, for the benefit of all people, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra, and please explain the process for observing it. Also, please describe the benefits one gains by observing this Ekadasi.’

 

Lomasa Rishi replied, “The Ekdasi that occurs during the dark part of the month of Chaitra is named Papamochanii Ekadasi. For the faithful devotee it removes the influences of ghosts and demons. Oh lion among men, this Ekadasi also awards the eight perfections of life, fulfils all kinds of desires, purifies one’s life of all sinful reactions, and makes a person perfectly virtuous.

 

Now please listen to a historical account concerning this Ekadasi and Chitraratha, the chief of the Gandharvas (heavenly musicians). During the spring season, in the company of heavenly dancing girls, Chitraratha once came upon a beautiful forest bursting forth with a great variety of flowers. There he and the girls joined the Gandharvas and many Kinnaras, along with Lord Indra himself, the king of heaven, who was enjoying a visit there. Everyone felt that there was no better garden than this forest. Many sages were also present, performing their austerities and penances. The demigods particularly enjoyed visiting this celestial garden during the months of Chaitra and Vaisakha (April-May).

 

A great sage named Medhavi resided in that forest, and the very attractive dancing girls would always attempt to seduce him. One famous girl in particular, Manjughosha, contrived many ways to allure the exalted Muni, but out of great respect for the sage and feat of his power, which he had attained after years and years of ascetics, she would not come very close to him. At a spot two miles from the sage, she pitched a tent and began singing very sweetly as she played a tamboura. Cupid himself became excited when he saw and heard her perform so nicely and smelled the fragrance of her sandal-paste unguent. He remembered his own unfortunate experience with Lord Shiva and decided to take revenge by seducing Medhavi. 

 

Using the eyebrows of Manjughosha as a bow, her glances as a bowstring, her eyes as arrows, and her breasts as a target, Cupid approached Medhavi in order to tempt him to break his trance and his vows. In other words, Cupid engaged Manjughosha as his assistant, and when she looked at that powerful and attractive young sage, she also became agitated by lust. Seeing that he was highly intelligent and learned, wearing a clean white brahmana’s thread draped across his shoulder, holding a sannyasi’s staff, and sitting handsomely in the asrama of Chyavana Rishi, Manjughosha came before him.

 

She began to sing seductively, and the small bells of her belt and around her ankles, together with the bangles on her wrists, produced a delightful musical symphony. The sage Medhavi was enchanted. He understood that this beautiful young woman desired union with him, and at that instant Cupid increased his attraction for Manjughosha by releasing his powerful weapons of taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. Slowly Manjughosha approached Medhavi, her bodily movements and sweet glances attracting him. She gracefully put her tamboura down and embraced the sage with her two arms, just as a creeper winds itself around a strong tree. Captivated, Medhavi gave up his meditation and decided to sport with her and instantly his purity of heart and mind abandoned him. Forgetting even the difference between night and day, he went away with her to sport for a long, long time. 
 

Seeing that the young yogi’s sanctity had become seriously eroded, Manjughosha decided to abandon him and return home. She said. “O great one, please permit me to return home.” ‘Medhavi replied, “But you have only just arrived, O beautiful one. Please stay with me at least until tomorrow.” ‘Fearful of the sage’s yogic power, Manjughosha stayed with Medhavi for precisely fifty-seven years, nine months, and three days, but to Medhavi all this time seemed like a moment.

Again she asked him, “Please permit me to leave.” ‘Medhavi replied, “O dear one, listen to me. Stay with me for one more night, and then you may leave tomorrow morning. Just stay with me until I have performed my morning duties and chanted the sacred Gayatri mantra. Please wait until then.” Manjughosha was still fearful of the sage’s great yogic power, but she forced a smile and said, “How long will it take you to finish your morning hymns and rituals? Please be merciful and think of all the time you have already spent with me. The sage reflected on the years he had been with Manjughosha and then said with great astonishment.

Why, I have spent more than fifty-seven years with you! His eyes turned red and began to emanate sparks. He now regarded Manjughosha as death personified and the destroyer of his spiritual life. You rascal woman! You have turned all the hard-earned results of my austerities to ashes! Trembling with anger, he cursed Manjughosha, “Oh sinful one, Oh hard-hearted, degraded one! You know only sin! May all terrible fortune be yours! Oh rascal woman, I curse you to become an evil hobgoblin – pishacha!” ‘Cursed by the sage Medhavi, the beautiful Manjughosha humbly beseeched him, “Oh best of the brahmanas, please be merciful to me and revoke your curse! Oh great one, it is said that association with pure devotees gives immediate results but their curses take effect only after seven days. I have been with you for fifty-seven years, Oh master, so please be kind to me!”

 

Medhavi Muni replied, “Oh gentle lady what can I possibly do? You have destroyed all my austerities. But even though you have done this sinful deed, I shall tell you a way you can be released from my wrath. In the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra there is an all-auspicious Ekadasi that removes all one’s sins. Its name is Papamochani, Oh beautiful one, and whoever fasts on this sacred day becomes completely freed from having to take birth in any kind of devilish form.” ‘With these words, the sage left at once for his father’s Ashram. Seeing him enter the hermitage, Chyavana Muni said, “Oh son, by acting unlawfully you have squandered the wealth of your penances and austerities.”

 

Medhavi replied, “Oh Father, kindly reveal what atonement I must perform to remove the obnoxious sin I have incurred by privately associating with the dancing girl Manjughosha. Chyavana Muni answered, “Dear son, you must fast on Papamochani Ekadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra. It eradicates all sins, no matter how grievous they may be. Medhavi followed his father’s advice and fasted on Papamochani Ekadasi. Thus all his sins were destroyed and he again became filled with excellent merit. Similarly Manjughosha observed the same fast and became free of the hobgoblin curse. Ascending once again to the heavenly spheres, she too returned to her former position. Lomasha Rishi continued, ‘Thus, Oh king, the great benefit of fasting on Papamochani Ekadasi is that whoever does so with faith and devotion will have all his sins completely destroyed.

 

Sri Krishna concluded, “Oh King Yudhishthira, whoever reads or hears about Papamochani Ekadasi obtains the very same merit he would get if he donated a thousand cows in charity, and he also nullifies the sinful reactions he may have incurred by killing a brahmana, killing an embryo through abortion, drinking liquor, or having sex with his guru’s wife. Such is the incalculable benefit of properly observing this holy day of Papamochani Ekadasi, which is so dear to Me and so meritorious.