Mohini Ekadashi Vrat Katha · मोहिनी एकादशी व्रत कथा

Rama once asked the sage Vasishtha for a vow that would destroy all sins and sorrows. Vasishtha told him of Mohini Ekadashi, the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, and told this story.

In the city of Bhadravati on the banks of the river Saraswati, ruled by a king of the lunar dynasty, lived a rich and pious vaishya, devoted to Vishnu, who built wells, lakes and rest-houses for the people. He had five sons. The fifth, Dhrishtabuddhi, was wicked: he gambled, kept company with courtesans, cared nothing for the gods or his elders, and squandered his father's wealth. At last his father threw him out of the house.

Abandoned by his companions, Dhrishtabuddhi wandered in misery. One day, in the month of Vaishakha, he came to the ashram of the sage Kaundinya just as the sage was returning from bathing in the Ganga. Overcome by his own suffering, he stood before the sage with folded hands and begged for a vow that would free him from his sins.

Kaundinya told him to keep the fast of Mohini Ekadashi in the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, which destroys even sins as great as Mount Meru, gathered over many births. Dhrishtabuddhi kept the fast as the sage taught him. By its power his sins were destroyed, and he went to Vishnu's abode, riding on Garuda.

Vasishtha ended by saying that there is no better vow in the world for removing delusion (moha) and sin.

Mohini Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight (Shukla paksha) of Vaishakha. Its story belongs to the series in which each Ekadashi's glory is told, often as Krishna's answer to the Pandavas.

The published versions are in Hindi prose and differ in wording and in some names and details. The retelling above keeps only what at least two of the versions linked below agree on. For this year's date, see Mohini Ekadashi.

The katha is read or heard on Mohini Ekadashi as part of the worship of Vishnu. Customs vary by family and region.