Once, the sage Nārada approached Mahādeva, the great Lord Śiva, with a pressing question. “O Master of all,” Nārada asked reverently, “what is the nature of the supreme Mahādvādaśī? What is the fruit of its observance? Please tell me, O Lord.” Śiva replied, “O Brāhmaṇa, this Ekādaśī brings immense merit and auspicious results. It is to be observed by the foremost sages, especially when joined with auspicious lunar mansions and yogas. There are three sacred days—Jaya, Vijaya, and Jayantī—which destroy sin and remove all faults. Those who seek blessings should carefully observe them. Let me explain further. When the Ekādaśī of the bright fortnight coincides with the lunar mansion Punarvasu, that day is known as Jayā, the best among lunar days. Fasting on Jayā frees a person from sins—there is no doubt about it. Then, when the bright Dvādaśī falls on the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, that day is called Vijaya, another most auspicious day. On Vijaya, giving gifts or feeding Brāhmaṇas yields a thousandfold result. Performing homa and fasting on Vijaya also grants a thousand times the merit. When the bright Dvādaśī coincides with the lunar mansion Prājāpatya, that day is called Jayantī. Jayantī removes all sins, even those committed over seven births, whether small or great. Worshipping Govinda on Jayantī surely washes away all such sins. Furthermore, when the bright Dvādaśī falls on the lunar mansion Puṣya, whenever it occurs, that day becomes supremely meritorious and destroys sins. Whoever gives a prastha of sesame each year on this day, or fasts on it, both are considered equal in merit. On this day, Lord Hari, the Lord of the world, is especially pleased. He truly becomes manifest, and the fruit of the observance is said to be infinite. Great kings like Sagara, Kakutstha, and Nahuṣa attained success by observing it. On this day, when Kṛṣṇa is worshipped, He grants everything on earth. Sins committed by speech, mind, or body are washed away, freeing one from the sins of seven births—of this, there is no doubt. By fasting on this single day, joined with an auspicious lunar mansion, a person attains the fruit of a thousand Ekādaśīs. Bathing, giving, recitation, homa, self-study, and worship of deities—whatever is performed on this day yields imperishable fruit. Therefore, those who desire results should observe it carefully. After performing his fifth Aśvamedha sacrifice and bathing, the righteous-souled Yudhiṣṭhira questioned Kṛṣṇa, the scion of the Yadu line. “O Lord,” Yudhiṣṭhira asked, “please tell me fully what merit and fruit belong to fasting, night-fasting, or eating once a day.” The Blessed Lord Kṛṣṇa replied, “When the beautiful month of Mārgashīrsha arrives in winter, O Pārtha, one should observe fasting on the Dvādaśī that falls in the dark fortnight, with a pure mind and firm resolve, taking only one meal on the tenth day. Knowing this, one should always be restrained on the tenth day, eating at night, when the sun has become faint in the eighth portion of the day. Understand that ‘eating at night’ does not mean eating during the night; for householders, eating at night is prescribed when the stars become visible. For ascetics, eating during the eighth portion of the day is prohibited at night; afterwards, at dawn, the vow-holder should perform the prescribed observances. At midday, O Pārtha, the pure one should bathe. Bathing in a well is considered inferior, in a pond is middling; bathing in a lake is superior, and in a river is even higher, where creatures are pressed together in the water. When one bathes there, O Pārtha, sin and merit become equal. Bathing at home is also excellent, but the water must be purified. Therefore, O best of the Pāṇḍavas, one should bathe at home, on earth trodden by horses, chariots, and by Viṣṇu. One should pray: ‘O clay, remove my sins which I have accumulated previously; abandoning anger and greed, with single-mindedness and firm resolve.’ One should avoid those who speak falsely, imposters, those devoted to falsehood, and those who revile Brāhmaṇas. Also avoid those of bad conduct, those engaged in forbidden relations, those who steal others’ property, and those who approach others’ wives. After worshipping Keśava, one should offer food there, and give a lamp in the house with a mind filled with devotion. On that day, O Pārtha, one should avoid sleep and sexual intercourse, and spend the whole day engaged in the enjoyment of Dharmaśāstra. At night, remaining awake with devotion, O best of kings, one should give gifts to Brāhmaṇas, bowing down and seeking forgiveness. Just as on the dark fortnight, so also on the bright, one should perform the observance in this manner; a twice-born should not make any distinction between the two Ekādaśīs, O Pārtha. He who acts thus, hear what fruit he attains: after bathing at the rising of the conch, and seeing the Lord holding the mace. Even sixteen parts of the merit from fasting on Ekādaśī cannot be matched by one who gives four hundred thousand at the solstices, O best of kings. Even sixteen parts of the merit from fasting on Ekādaśī cannot be matched by the merit gained at Prabhāsa Kṣetra or during the lunar or solar eclipses. Surely, that is the fruit gained by one who fasts on the Ekādaśī; having drunk water in a field, there is no further rebirth. In the same way, O Partha, Ekādaśī destroys the stay in the womb. Whatever fruit is obtained on earth by the Ashvamedha sacrifice, the merit of one who fasts on Ekādaśī is a hundred times greater than that; in whose house ascetics and excellent twice-borns partake of food. Surely, that is the fruit gained by one who fasts on Ekādaśī; the merit obtained by giving a thousand cows to one learned in the Vedas.” Thus, the supreme nature and immense fruits of Ekādaśī and Mahādvādaśī observances were revealed, showing the path to liberation and blessing for all who follow with devotion and purity.