Sri Pausha Putrada Ekadashiपौष पुत्रदा एकादशी

Maharaja Yudhishthira once asked Lord Sri Krishna: "O Janardana, what is the name of the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of Pausha, and what is its glory?" Lord Krishna replied: "This is the famous Pausha Putrada Ekadashi — the second Putrada Ekadashi of the year, after the one in Shravana. It is the day on which I, Sri Hari, fulfil the heartfelt prayers of My devotees who long for noble and dharmic offspring. To impress its glory upon you, listen to the story of King Suketuman of Bhadravati."

In the great city of Bhadravati there ruled a noble king named Suketuman. He was just, dharmic and generous; his queen Saibya was equally pious. The kingdom prospered, the brahmanas were honoured, the cows were protected, and dharma flourished. Yet one sorrow consumed the royal couple: although many years had passed, they had not been blessed with a child. Day after day they would offer fervent prayers, perform every prescribed sacrifice and feed every passing brahmana. No result came. The thought that all their wealth, kingdom and lineage would have no heir to continue the worship of their forefathers gave them no rest.

One day, unable to bear his sorrow any longer, King Suketuman quietly left his palace and rode alone into the deep forest. He wandered without direction, lost in thought, until at last his horse, exhausted, brought him to the banks of a beautiful lake. As he dismounted, he was astonished to find a charming ashrama on the lakeshore, inhabited by a group of radiant sages — the divine Vishvedevas, the protector-sages of dharma, who were performing their afternoon prayers.

The king bowed humbly before them. The Vishvedevas, seeing the royal visitor, said: "O king, who are you, and what brings you alone into this remote forest? Your face reveals a great sorrow." With folded hands the king narrated his entire predicament. The sages were moved. After a moment's reflection their leader spoke: "O great king, this very moment we sages are gathered for the bright Ekadashi of Pausha — the famous Putrada Ekadashi. Observe this Ekadashi with us today, with full devotion, and Lord Sri Vishnu will most certainly fulfil your heart's desire."

King Suketuman accepted with joy. He bathed in the holy lake, took sankalpa with the sages, fasted from grains and pulses, offered tulasi at the feet of Lord Vishnu, chanted His holy names through the day, kept jagaran with the sages through the night, and on Dvadashi broke his fast in their blessed company. The Vishvedevas then gave him their parting blessing: "O king, return to your palace. Within a short time the queen will conceive, and you will be blessed with a noble son who will be a great devotee of Sri Hari and a protector of dharma."

It happened exactly as the sages had foretold. Within months Queen Saibya conceived, and in due course she gave birth to a magnificent son. The boy grew into an extraordinary prince — strong, beautiful, learned, devoted to Lord Vishnu and beloved of his subjects. He became the joy of his parents, the protector of dharma in the kingdom, and a credit to the lineage of Bhadravati.

Lord Krishna concluded to Yudhishthira: "O king, this Putrada Ekadashi is most dear to those who sincerely long for noble offspring. But its scope is not merely material: 'Putrada' also means 'the giver of the qualities of a true child of God' — that is, the qualities of a pure devotee. Therefore even renounced devotees who have no thought of household life observe this Ekadashi, praying that they may become true children of Sri Hari. There is no Ekadashi in the cold month of Pausha greater than this one."