Devshayana Ekadasi (Tholi Ekadasi) 2162

King Yudhishthira asked Sri Krishna about the Ekadashi of the bright half of Ashadha. Sri Krishna said that it is called Shayani. It is very holy, it gives heaven and liberation, and merely hearing of it brings the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. In Ashadha, He said, the great Lord Vamana is worshipped, and one who worships the lotus eyed Vamana with lotuses on this day has honoured the whole world and the three ancient gods.

Yudhishthira said, "Lord, I have a great doubt. How is it that You sleep? How did You come to stay with Bali?"

Sri Krishna said, "Listen to this great story, which removes sins merely by being heard."

"Long ago, in the Treta age, there was a demon king named Bali. He was deeply devoted to Me and worshipped Me every day. With great devotion he performed many sacrifices and kept many vows. Then, after taking counsel with Indra, Brihaspati and the other gods, I took the form of Vamana, My fifth incarnation, to overcome the demons, though Bali worshipped Me with hymns. Bali stood firm, holding only to truth, even when Shukra tried to stop him, saying, 'This is Vishnu.'

"I asked him for the land I could cover in three and a half steps. When he poured the water to seal his gift, I took on a form that filled the universe. My feet were in the world of Bhu and My knees in Bhuvas. My waist was in Svar and My belly in Mahas. My heart was in Jana and My neck in Tapas. My face was in Satya, and My head rose above it. The Moon, the Sun and the stars, Indra and the gods, the nagas, yakshas, gandharvas and kinnaras all praised Me with hymns from the Vedas.

"Taking Bali by the hand, I covered the earth in three steps, and I set the remaining half step on his head. So My devotee, the demon king, went down to the lower world. He bowed before Me in humility, and I was greatly pleased with him."

Sri Krishna said that from this day of the bright half of Ashadha, one form of the Lord stays with Bali, while another lies on the back of Shesha in the ocean until the Ekadashi of Kartika comes.

Sri Krishna said that there is no Ekadashi purer than this, nor one that destroys sins more. Even Brahma cannot measure its merit. Whoever keeps it with devotion, even an outcaste, lives always in the Lord's heaven, doing what is dear to Him. And whoever hears this great story, which removes sins, gains the fruit of a horse sacrifice.