Putrada Ekadasi / 9th -january-2006 !!!!

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famous and learned. "There was once a

kingdom named Bhadraavati, which was ruled by King Suketumaan. His queen was the

famous Shaibyaa. Because he had no son, he spent a long time in anxiety,

thinking, 'If I have no son, who will carry on my dynasty?' In this way the

king meditated in a religious attitude for a very long time, thinking, 'Where

should I go? What should I do? How can I get a pious son ( putra)? In this way

King Suketumaan could find no happiness anywhere in his kingdom, even in his

own palace, and soon he was spending more and more time inside his wife's

palace, gloomily thinking only of how he could get a son. "Thus both King

Suketumaan and Queen Shaibyaa were in great distress. Even when they offered

tarpana (oblations of water to their forefathers), their mutual misery made

them think that it was as undrinkable as boiling water. They

thus thought that they would have no descendents to offer tarpana to them when

they died and thus become lost souls ( ghosts). The king and queen were

especially upset to learn that their forefathers were worried that soon there

would be no one to offer them tarpana also. "After learning of their

forefather's unhappiness, the king and queen became more and more miserable,

and neither ministers, nor friends, nor even loved ones could cheer them up. To

the king, his elephants and horses and infantry were no solace, and at last he

became practically inert and helpless. "The king thought to himself, 'It is

said that without a son, marriage is wasted. Indeed, for a family man with no

son, both his heart and his splendid house remain vacant and miserable.

Bereft of a son, a man cannot liquidate the debts that he owes his forefathers,

the demigods (devas) and to other human beings. Therefore every married man

should endeavour to beget a son; thus he will become famous within this world

and at last attain the auspicious celestial realms. A son is proof of the pious

activities a man performed in his past one hundred lifetimes, and such a person

achievew a long duration of life in this world, along with good health and

great wealth. Possessing sons and grandsons in this lifetime proves that one

has worshipped Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the past.

The great blessing of sons, wealth, and sharp intelligence can be achieved only

by worshipping the Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna. That is my opinion.' "Thinking

thus, the king had no peace. He remained in anxiety day and night, from morning

to evening, and from the time he lay down to sleep at night until the sun rose

in the morning, his dreams were equally full of great anxiety. Suffering such

constant anxiety and aprehension, King Suketumaan decided to end his misery by

committing suicide. But he realised that suicide throws a person into hellish

conditions of rebirth, and so he abandoned that idea. Seeing that he was

gradually destroying himself by his all consuming anxiety over the lack of a

son, the king at last

mounted his horse and left for the dense forest alone. No one, not even the

priests and brahmins of the palace, knew where he had gone. "In that forest,

which was filled with deer and birds and other animals, King Suketumaan

wandered aimlessly, noting all the different kinds of trees and shrubs, such as

the fig, bel fruit, date palm, jackfruit, bakula, saptaparnaa, tinduka, and

tilaka, as well as the shala, taala, tamaala, saralaa, hingotaa, arjuna,

labheraa, bahedaa, sallaki, karondaa, patala, khaira, shaka, and palaasha

trees. All were beautifully decorated with fruits and flowers. He saw deer,

tigers, wild boar, lions, monkeys, snakes, huge bull elephants in a rut, cow

elephants with their calves, and four-tusked elephants with their mates close

by. There were cows, jackals, rabbits, leopards, and hippopotamuses. Beholding

all these animals accompanied by their mates and offspring, the king remembered

his own

menagerie, especially his palace elephants, and became so sad that he

absentmindedly wandered into their very midst. "Suddenly the king heard a

jackal howl in the distance. Startled, he began wandering about, looking around

in all directions. Soon it was midday, and the king started to tire. He was

tormented by hunger and thirst also. He thought, 'What sinful deed could

possibly have done so that I am now forced to suffer like this, with my throat

parched and burning, and my stomach empty and rumbling? I have pleased the

devas (demigods) with numerous fire sacrifices and abundant devotional worship.

I have given many gifts and delicious sweets in charity to all the worthy

brahmins too. And I have taken care of my subjects as though they were my very

own children. Why then am I suffering so? What unknown sins have come to bear

fruit and torment me in this dreadful way?' "Absorbed in these thoughts, King

Suketumaan struggled forward, and eventually, due to his pious credits, he came

upon a beautiful lotus bearing pond that resembled the famous Lake Maanasarova.

It was filled with aquatics, including crocodiles and many varieties of fish,

and gaced with varieties of lilies and lotuses. The beautiful lotuses had

opened to the Sun, and swans, cranes and ducks swam happily in its waters.

Nearby were many attractive ashramas, where there resided many saints and sages

who could fulfil the desires of anyone. Indeed, they wished everyone well. When

the king saw all this, his right arm and right eye began to quiver, a sakuna

sign (for a male) that something auspicious was about to happen.

"As the king dismounted his horse and stood before the sages, who sat on the

shore of the pond, he saw that they were chanting the holy names of God on japa

beads. The king paid his obeisances and, joining his palms, addressed them with

glorified praises. Observing the respect the king offered them, the sages said,

'We are very pleased with you, Oh king. Kindly tell us why you have come here.

What is on your mind? Please inform us what is your heart's desire.' "The

king replied, 'Oh great sages, who are you? What are your names, surely your

presence reveals that you are auspicious saints? Why have you come to this

beautiful place? Please tell me everything.' "The sages replied, 'Oh king, we

are known as the ten Vishvadevas (the sons of

Vishva; Vasu, Satya, Kratu, Daksha, Kaala, Kaama, Dhriti, Pururavaa, Maadrava,

and Kuru). We have come here tothis very lovely pond to bathe. The month of

Magha (Madhava mase) will soon be here in five days (from the Magh nakshatra),

and today is the famous Putradaa Ekaadasii. One who desires a son should

strictly observe this particular Ekaadasii.' "The king said, 'I have tried so

hard to have a son. If you great sages are pleased with me, kindly grant the

boon of having a good son (putra).' " 'The very meaning of Putradaa,' the

sages replied, '…is "giver of a putra, pious son." So please observe a complete

fast on this Ekaadasii day. If you do

so, then by our blessing – and by the mercy of Lord Sri Keshava invested in us –

surely you will obtain a son.' "On the advice of the Vishvadevas, the king

observed the auspicious fast day of Putradaa Ekaadasii according to the

established rules and regulations, and on the Dvaasasii, after breaking his

fast, he paid obeisances again and again to all of them. "Soon after

Suketumaan returned to his palace and united with his queen. Queen Shaibya

immediately became pregnant, and exactly as the Vishvadevas had predicted, a

bright faced, beautiful son was born to them. In due cource of time he became

famous as an heroic prince, and the king gladly pleased his noble son by making

him his successor. The son of Suketumaan took care of his subjects very

conscientiously, just as if they were his own children. "In conclusion, Oh

Yudhisthira, one

who wises to fulfill his desires should strictly observe Putradaa Ekaadasii.

While on this planet, one who strictly observes this Ekaadasii will surely

obtain a son, and after death he will achieve liberation. Anyone who even reads

or hears the glories of Putradaa Ekaadasii obtains the merit earned by

performing an horse sacrifice. It is to benefit all humanity that I have

explained all this to you." Thus ends the narration of the glories of

Pausha-shukla Ekaadasii, or Putradaa Ekaadasii, from the Bhavishya Purana of

Veda Vyaasadeva. These stories have been summarised and slightly changed,

abbreviated or added to from how they are found in the celebrated book,

"Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta

Institute Press.

"Why should you fear anything when you have such a Lord of the universe to take

care of you. I do everything for your good." - Baba

sairamdoris (AT) (DOT) es