The Rama Ekadashi katha

Episode 1 of 4 in Kartik kathas: stories for the month of lamps.

Narrated with an AI voice.

Reading time
2 min
Listening time
2 min
By
DharmikStudio Originals
Narration
AI voice

In this episode

  • Rama Ekadashi is on Thursday 5 November, just before Diwali.
  • Chandrabhaga tells Shobhana honestly that the fast will be hard.
  • Her years of quiet Ekadashi make his city on the mountain steady.

Read along

Namaste. Welcome to Kartik kathas. Today is the story of Rama Ekadashi, the Ekadashi that comes just before Diwali. It is told in the Padma Purana, where Krishna explains each Ekadashi to Yudhishthira.

**

There was once an honest king named Muchukunda. In his kingdom everyone kept the Ekadashi fast. His daughter Chandrabhaga was married to Shobhana, a gentle prince who was not strong in body.

One Kartik, Shobhana came to stay with his in-laws just before Ekadashi. A drum went round the city: no one is to eat tomorrow. Shobhana was worried, and asked his wife what to do. Chandrabhaga did not hide the truth. Here, she said, no one eats on Ekadashi. If you cannot fast, it is better to go home before the day.

Shobhana chose to stay and keep the fast. The day was too long for him, and by the next morning he had passed away. Chandrabhaga stayed on in her father's house, and kept every Ekadashi.

**

Because of his fast, Shobhana was given a shining city on Mount Mandarachala. But the city was not steady, because he had fasted out of duty, without faith. A Brahmin named Somasharma, on pilgrimage, found him there and carried the news home.

Chandrabhaga went to the mountain with the help of the sage Vamadeva. She told Shobhana she had kept Ekadashi since she was eight years old, and she gave him the merit of all those fasts. The city became steady, and they lived there together.

**

Elders often say this is a story about steady faith, kept quietly for years. And one more thing, which matters: no one should fast beyond their strength. If you are unwell, pregnant, diabetic or on medicine, speak to your doctor first. Fruit and milk are part of the tradition too.

Rama Ekadashi is on Thursday 5 November. Check your panchang for the parana time the next morning. Namaste.

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