Aparā Ekādaśī on 23.5.2025

 Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja said: "O Janārdana, what is the name of the Ekādaśī that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Jyeṣṭha (May–June)? I am desirous of hearing from Thee the glories of this sacred day of Hari. I pray Thee, narrate all thereof unto me in full."

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa replied: "O King, thy inquiry is most commendable, for the answer thereto shall be of immense benefit to the whole of mankind. This Ekādaśī is of such sublime and exalted merit that even the gravest of sins may be effaced by its potency. O great sovereign, the name of this immeasurably meritorious Ekādaśī is Aparā Ekādaśī. Whosoever observes a fast on this holy day shall become renowned throughout the universe. Even such heinous transgressions as the killing of a brāhmaṇa, a cow, or an embryo; calumny; or engaging in intercourse with another man’s wife are entirely eradicated by the observance of Aparā Ekādaśī.

"O King, they who bear false witness are verily amongst the most sinful. Likewise, one who falsely or mockingly extols another; one who engages in deceit whilst weighing goods; one who neglects the duties of his varṇa or āśrama (such as an unqualified man presuming to act as a brāhmaṇa, or one who recites the Vedas improperly); one who fabricates his own scriptures; one who cheats others; one who feigns knowledge as a charlatan astrologer, a deceitful accountant, or a fraudulent physician of Āyurveda—all such persons are assuredly akin to false witnesses, and all are destined for infernal punishment. Yet merely by observing Aparā Ekādaśī, all such transgressors are entirely absolved of their sinful reactions.

"Warriors who abandon their kṣatriya-dharma and flee the field of battle fall into a dreadful hell. But, O Yudhiṣṭhira, even such a derelict kṣatriya, should he fast on the sacred Aparā Ekādaśī, is delivered from the weight of that grievous sin and is elevated to heaven.

"That disciple is accounted the greatest sinner who, having received proper spiritual instruction from his guru, thereafter turns against him and vilifies him. Such a reprobate suffers torments without end. Nevertheless, even he—though a knave and miscreant—if he but observes Aparā Ekādaśī, may attain unto the spiritual realm. Hearken, O King, as I relate unto thee further glories of this Ekādaśī.

"The merit gained by one who performs all the following acts of piety is equivalent to that obtained by one who observes the Aparā Ekādaśī: bathing thrice daily at Puṣkara-kṣetra during the month of Kārtika (October–November); bathing at Prayāga during the month of Māgha (January–February) when the sun is in the sign of Capricorn; rendering service unto Lord Śiva at Varāṇasī on the night of Śivarātri; offering oblations to one’s forefathers at Gayā; bathing in the sacred River Gautamī when Jupiter transits Leo; beholding Lord Śiva at Kedārnātha; having darśana of Lord Badrinātha when the sun passes through Aquarius; bathing during a solar eclipse at Kurukṣetra and there giving cows, elephants, and gold in charity. All the merit accruing from these acts of righteousness is likewise obtained by one who faithfully observes the fast of Aparā Ekādaśī. Moreover, the merit gained by donating a pregnant cow, together with gold and fertile land, is also acquired by one who observes this fast.

"In brief, Aparā Ekādaśī is as an axe that fells the vast forest of matured sinful deeds; it is a blazing forest fire that consumes sins as if they were mere twigs; it is the radiant sun that dispels the darkness of misdeeds; it is a lion stalking the timid deer of iniquity. Therefore, O Yudhiṣṭhira, he who truly fears the burden of his past and present sins must observe Aparā Ekādaśī with utmost austerity and devotion. Whoso neglects this observance must be reborn in the material world, like one bubble amidst a multitude in a boundless ocean, or like a tiny ant among countless other species.

"Thus must one devoutly observe the sacred Aparā Ekādaśī and offer worship unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Trivikrama. He who does so shall be absolved of all his sins and promoted to the eternal abode of Lord Viṣṇu.

"O scion of the Bhārata dynasty, for the welfare of all humanity have I described unto thee the supreme sanctity of this holy Aparā Ekādaśī. Whosoever hears or recites this narration is verily freed from all manner of sins, O King."

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Jyeṣṭha-kṛṣṇa Ekādaśī, known as Aparā Ekādaśī, as found in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, as spoken by a resident of Vṛndāvana.

Source: pgs. 59 - 61, Ekadasi, The Day of Lord Hari by Krsna Bala Ram Swami