Shattila Ekadasi 1872

King Yudhishthira asked Sri Krishna about the Ekadashi of the dark half of Magha (Purnimanta; Pausha in Amanta). Sri Krishna said that it is called Shattila and that it destroys all sins. He recalled how the sage Dalbhya once asked the great sage Pulastya how people who fall into sin in this world can escape hell, and whether even a small gift can destroy sin. Pulastya answered with this Ekadashi and with sesame, tila, used in six holy ways, from which the day takes its name.

When asked what fruit Shattila brings, Sri Krishna told something He had seen with His own eyes.

Long ago a brahmana woman lived in the world of mortals. She was always keeping vows and worshipping the gods. She wore her body thin with fasting and penance, and she gave to the gods, to brahmanas and to maidens. But she never gave alms to those who begged, and she never fed brahmanas.

After a long time the Lord thought, "Her body is purified by vows and penance, but she has never given food, which brings the greatest satisfaction." So He came down to the world of mortals in the form of a kapala ascetic and held out His bowl for alms.

"Brahmana, why have you come? Where will you go next?" she asked.

"Beautiful lady, give me alms," He said again.

In great anger she threw a lump of clay into His copper bowl, and He went back to heaven.

After a long time, by the power of her vows, the woman reached heaven in her own body. Because of that lump of clay she was given a lovely house, but it was empty. There was no grain and nothing else in it. She went to the Lord in anger and said, "I worshipped You with so many vows, penances and fasts, and yet there is nothing in my house."

The Lord said, "Go home. The wives of the gods will come to see you, full of wonder. Do not open your door until they tell you about the holy Shattila."

She went home, and soon the wives of the gods came and said, "Open the door, lovely one. We have come to see you."

"If you wish to see me," she said, "tell me truly about the vow of Shattila."

At first none of them would tell her. Then one of them told her about the Shattila Ekadashi, and she opened the door. They had never seen anyone so lovely.

On their advice she kept the vow of Shattila, which gives both joy and liberation. In a moment she gained wealth and grain, clothes, gold and silver, and her house was filled with everything. She shone with beauty and grace.

Sri Krishna said that one should not be greedy, and one should give sesame and clothes as one is able. Such a person has good health in every life and never meets poverty, misery or misfortune, and is freed from all sins without trouble.