Parama Ekadashi Vrat Katha · परमा एकादशी व्रत कथा

The story of the poor brahmin Sumedha and his devoted wife, whose poverty ended after the sage Kaundinya taught them the Parama Ekadashi fast of the extra month, retold from the published versions.

The story, retold

Krishna said that the Ekadashi of the dark fortnight of the extra month (Adhika masa) is called Parama, and told its story.

In the city of Kampilya lived a pious brahmin named Sumedha with his devoted wife. Because of some past wrong, they lived in deep poverty. His wife served him faithfully, and would feed a guest and go hungry herself.

One day Sumedha told his wife that a household cannot run without money, and that he must go to a distant land to earn a living. She replied that a wife should do as her husband says, but that each person receives the fruit of past deeds and what fate has written cannot be avoided; whatever was in their fate would come to them here. So he did not go.

Some time later the sage Kaundinya came to their home. They bowed to him, gave him a seat and food, and the wife asked him for a way to end their poverty. Kaundinya told them that the fast of Parama Ekadashi in the dark fortnight of the extra month destroys all sins, sorrow and poverty, and makes whoever keeps it prosperous; the night should be spent in vigil with songs of the Lord. By this fast, he said, Kubera was made lord of wealth by Shiva, and the truthful King Harishchandra regained his son, wife and kingdom.

As the sage taught, the brahmin and his wife kept the Parama Ekadashi fast for five days. When it was over, a prince came to them and, inspired by Brahma, gave them a fine house and a village for their livelihood. Their poverty ended, and after many happy years on earth they went to heaven.

This katha is given as a retelling only: published versions tell it in different words and with different details, and we have not compared an original text for it. Every point in it appears in at least two of the published versions linked below.

About this text

Parama Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) of the extra month (Adhika or Purushottama masa). Its story belongs to the series in which each Ekadashi's glory is told, often as Krishna's answer to the Pandavas. It comes only in years that have an extra lunar month (Adhika masa), which is why there are 26 Ekadashis in such a year instead of 24.

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 Ekadashi.