Mohinī Ekādaśī 2213

Sri Krishna told Yudhishthira how the sage Vasishtha once described this Ekadashi to Sri Rama. In the city of Bhadravati on the banks of the Sarasvati lived the pious merchant Dhanapala, whose youngest son Dhrishtabuddhi wasted his life in vice.

Cast out by his family, Dhrishtabuddhi fell into theft and wandered the forests in misery. By chance he came to the hermitage of the sage Kaundinya and, touched by the sage's presence, begged for a way out of his sorrow. Kaundinya told him to fast on the Mohini Ekadashi of Vaishakha Shukla.

Dhrishtabuddhi observed the vow with sincerity. His sins were destroyed, and at the end of his life he rose to the abode of Vishnu. Mohini means the enchanting one: the vow is said to cut through the delusion that binds the soul.