All the gods, filled with fear and bereft of refuge, gathered before Lord Vishnu, seeking his protection. “O Lord, you alone are our shelter,” they prayed with folded hands. “You are the master of all, the intellect, the creator, and the cause of everything. You are both mother and father to the universe, the sustainer of all who seek your refuge. O blessed Lord of gods, we, the gods, have come to you, frightened and defeated.” The gods then explained their plight: “A terrible and mighty demon named Mura has overcome us. He is exceedingly fierce and has cast all the gods out of heaven. O Lord, hearing Indra’s words, Vishnu turned to Shakra (Indra) and asked, ‘What sort of demon is this, O Shakra? What is his form and strength? Where does this wicked one dwell, and what powers and boons does he possess? Tell me everything, O wise one.’” Indra replied, “O Lord of gods, long ago, in the lineage of Brahma, there was a fierce demon named Talajangha. His son, Mura, is even more terrible and powerful, a terror to all the gods. He dwells in the city of Chandravati. By his might, he has defeated and driven all the gods from heaven. He has even installed another Indra, as well as replacements for Vata, Agni, the moon, the sun, Vayu, and Varuna. All this was done by him alone, O Janardana. The world of the gods has been emptied of its rightful rulers.” Hearing these words, Lord Janardana (Vishnu) became angry. “I will slay that wicked demon, the terror of the gods,” he declared. Accompanied by the gods, Vishnu proceeded to the city of Chandravati. There, the gods saw the demon king, Mura, roaring again and again. Mura had conquered all the gods, who then fled in all directions. But when he saw Hari (Vishnu), the demon challenged him, shouting, “Stop! Stop!” With eyes reddened by anger, the Blessed Lord addressed the demon: “O wicked one, behold my arm!” Then, all the demons who stood before Vishnu were struck down by his celestial arrows, overwhelmed by fear. Krishna released his discus into the demon army, cutting down hundreds and bringing many to their end. Yet, one demon remained—Mura himself—who fought on relentlessly. He destroyed all the gods and even defeated Madhusudana (Vishnu) in battle. Mura engaged Vishnu in a hand-to-hand combat that lasted a thousand years. At last, Vishnu was overcome with anxiety; all the gods were lost, and he was defeated. Vishnu withdrew to the hermitage of Badarika. There, in a cave called Simhavati—twelve yojanas long with a single entrance—Janardana lay down to sleep, exhausted from the great battle. While Vishnu slept, the demon Mura, full of pride and deception, crept in from behind, intent on killing the Lord. Seeing Vishnu asleep, Mura rejoiced, thinking, “Now I will surely slay the terror of the demons.” But at that moment, a radiant maiden emerged from Vishnu’s own body—a beautiful, auspicious being armed with divine weapons. Born from a portion of his radiance, she shone with strength and valor. The demon king Mura saw her and challenged her to battle. The maiden, skilled in all forms of combat, engaged him fiercely. With her resounding cries, the great demon Mura was reduced to ashes. When Vishnu awoke and saw the fallen demon, he was filled with wonder. “By whom was this fierce and terrible enemy slain?” he asked. The maiden replied, “A most terrible deed was done by me, out of compassion. By this demon, the gods, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, and Rakshasas—all were conquered and driven from heaven. I found you asleep, O Hari, and Mura had approached from behind.” She continued, “If sleep and old age were to be removed, she (the maiden) would destroy the three worlds.” Hearing her words, Vishnu questioned, “He who defeated even me—how were you able to conquer him?” The maiden replied, “O Lord, by your grace I have slain the great demon.” Pleased, the Blessed Lord said, “The sages and gods in the three worlds rejoice. Tell me, O blessed one, what is in your heart. I will grant it without doubt, even if it is difficult for the gods to obtain.” The maiden, Ekadashi, replied, “If you are pleased with me, O Lord, and if my words are true, then I desire a boon in my heart. Grant me three wishes, O Lord of the universe.” The Lord replied, “Truly, truly, I have spoken. O virtuous one, I will certainly grant you three wishes. There will be no falsehood here.” Ekadashi then asked, “O Lord of gods, let it be so in the three worlds and throughout the four ages. By your grace, let me become the foremost of all sacred places, the remover of obstacles, the goddess who bestows all accomplishments. May those who observe me with devotion, and those devoted to you, O Janardana, attain all accomplishments if you are pleased with me. And to those who observe fasting, night-vigil, or take but one meal on my day, O Madhava, grant them wealth, righteousness, and liberation.” Thus, by the grace of Vishnu, Ekadashi became the most auspicious of days, the remover of all difficulties, and the bestower of all blessings to those who honor her and the Lord with devotion.