The sage Nārada, filled with concern for those who commit sins such as stealing others' wealth or succumbing to vice, asked the venerable Pulastya, “O Brahman, how is it that such people do not go to hell? Please tell me the truth. And by what effortless means, or by what small gift, can sin be destroyed? You ought to reveal this, O Lord.” Pulastya responded joyfully, “Excellent, excellent, O great one! The secret you seek is very rare, not disclosed even by Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, or the gods themselves. But since you have asked, I shall tell you, O best of the twice-born. When the sacred month of Māgha arrives, a person who is pure, bathed, and self-controlled—free from desire, anger, pride, envy, greed, and slander—should remember the Lord of the gods. After washing his feet with water, he should take cow-dung fallen on the ground, mix it with sesame seeds and a piece of cloth, and form small balls. There is no need for further deliberation about the one hundred and eight; when Māgha arrives, if the constellation Āṣāḍhā is present, or if it is the root of the dark fortnight, or the auspicious eleventh day with its observances, one should perform the rite. Hear from me the procedure. After worshipping the Lord of gods and bathing thoroughly, with a pure and intent mind, one should recite the names of Krishna, especially if there is any error or omission. One should keep vigil through the night, first performing a fire offering and worshipping the Lord of lords. On the second day, Hari should be worshipped again, with sandalwood, aguru, camphor, and the offering of kṛsara, all the while remembering and repeatedly invoking the name of Krishna. With gourds, coconuts, or vessels filled with seeds, or if none of these are available, with suitable areca nuts, one should offer arghya according to the rite, having worshipped Janārdana. With devotion, one should pray: ‘O Krishna, Krishna, compassionate one, be the refuge of those who have none; O Supreme Person, have mercy on those immersed in the ocean of worldly existence. Salutations to you, O lotus-eyed one; salutations to you, creator of the universe; O Subrahmaṇya, salutations to you, ancient great person; accept the arghya offered by me together with Lakṣmī, O Lord of the world.’ This is the arghya-mantra. Thereafter, one should worship a brāhmaṇa and give him a water-pot, along with an umbrella, sandals, and cloth, saying, ‘May Krishna be pleased with me.’ A black cow, as one is able, should be given to the best of the twice-born, and a vessel filled with sesame seeds should be gifted. For bathing and for consumption, black sesame seeds are best, O sage. These should be given thoughtfully, according to one’s ability, to the best of the twice-born. As many sesame seeds as have sprouted should be given to kṣatriyas. For as many thousands of years as the number of sesame seeds given for bathing, anointing, fire offering, and water offering, one is honored in heaven. Whoever gives, consumes, bathes with, anoints with, offers in fire, and offers water with sesame—these six uses of sesame destroy sin. Nārada then asked, “O Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed, salutations to you, creator of the universe. What is the result of observing the Ṣaṭ-tilā Ekādaśī? Tell me, with its story, if you are pleased, O descendant of Yadu.” Śrī Krishna replied, “Hear, O king, as it happened; I will tell you what I saw. Long ago, on earth, there lived a brāhmaṇī, O Nārada, always devoted to vows and ever intent on worshipping the gods. She was steadfast in monthly fasts, ever devoted to me, always observing Krishna-fasts, and wholly dedicated to my worship. Her body was afflicted by austerities, O best of brāhmaṇas, through her devotion to the gods, brāhmaṇas, and maidens. She constantly gave away household goods, ever devoted to severe austerities at all times. But she did not give alms to beggars, nor did she satisfy the brāhmaṇas. After a long time, O twice-born, I reflected: surely her body has become pure through severe vows and austerities, without doubt. The world of Vishnu has indeed been worshipped by her through bodily hardship; but she did not give the gift of food, by which supreme satisfaction is attained. Knowing this, O Brahmin, I came to the mortal world, assuming the form of a skull-bearer, and begged with a mendicant’s bowl. She asked me, ‘Why have you come, O Brahmin? Where are you going? Tell me before me.’ Again I said to her, ‘Give alms, O beautiful one.’ Overcome by great anger, she threw a lump of clay into the copper vessel; and while this happened, O Brahmin, I returned again to heaven. Then, after a long time, that ascetic woman of great vows, by the power of her observances, ascended to heaven in her own body. By giving the lump of clay, she obtained a delightful house, but, O best of Brahmins, it was devoid of any heap of grain. As long as she looked around the house, she saw nothing there; so she left the house and came to me, O Brahmin. Overcome by great anger, she spoke these words: ‘Through many vows, severe austerities, and numerous fasts performed by me, the Lord, protector of all worlds, has been worshipped and propitiated; yet nothing is seen in my house, O Janārdana.’ Then I said to her, ‘Go to your house, O great-vowed one; many, filled with curiosity, will soon come to you. The wives of the gods, indeed, will come to see you, filled with wonder; do not open the door without reciting the merit of the Ṣaṭtilā vow.’ Thus addressed by me, she went as a human woman; meanwhile, O Vāḍava, the wives of the gods arrived. They said to her, ‘We have come together to see you; open the door now, O beautiful one, so we may behold you.’ The human woman replied, ‘If you truly wish to see me, you must especially speak the merit of the Ṣaṭtilā vow as the reason for opening the door.’ Śrī Krishna continued, “One of them spoke there about the Ṣaṭtilā Ekādaśī vow; by another it was described, and thus I, as a human, was to be seen.” Thus, the story reveals the great merit and secret of the Ṣaṭtilā Ekādaśī, and the profound importance of giving, especially the gift of sesame, in purifying sins and attaining heavenly honor.