What is the objective of Ekadashi Vrat?

The Ekadashi vow is kept to please Vishnu; the source calls it the vow that calms all sins, fulfils all wishes and grants liberation.

How to do Ekadashi Vrat?

1. Dashami (the day before): rise early, clean your teeth, bathe the image of Vishnu as prescribed and worship with your senses restrained, and eat only one meal that day. 2. Ekadashi: bathe and worship Janardana with fragrance, flowers and other offerings; take no food all day and keep your senses restrained. 3. Before the deity, say this resolve: "Having fasted on Ekadashi, I will eat on the next day; O lotus-eyed Achyuta, be my refuge", and offer your fast to him with devotion. 4. The source prescribes bathing the deity with panchamrita on Ekadashi and with milk on Dvadashi. 5. Keep a night vigil before the deity with songs, music, dance and listening to the Puranas; if you sleep, sleep near Vishnu. 6. Dvadashi: rise early, bathe, worship Vishnu and pray that, pleased by this vow, he grants the vision of knowledge. 7. Feed brahmins as far as you can and give them gifts; then, with your family and after the five daily offerings, eat in silence.

What are the benefits of Ekadashi Vrat?

It calms all sins and gives the fruit of every wish. It grants liberation to those who keep it with devotion. Even someone burdened with grave sins reaches the highest state by fasting on Ekadashi. Whoever keeps the Ekadashi vow with discipline goes to Vishnu's abode, from which return is rare.

What should you keep in mind on Ekadashi Vrat?

According to the source, the vow is open to everyone: all four varnas and women. The vow applies to the Ekadashi of both fortnights, Shukla and Krishna, so twice a month. One who wants the full fruit gives up four meals: the evening meal on the day before and the day after, and the whole day and night in between. Breaking the fast on Dvadashi morning is called parana. Many people follow the parana time given in their Panchang. (common practice) People who cannot fast completely commonly eat fruit and avoid grains, especially rice. This is common practice, not what the verses above state. (common practice) Look after your health before fasting. Anyone who is pregnant, ill, diabetic, elderly or on regular medication should keep a strict or waterless fast only on medical advice; such people commonly keep a lighter rule, such as fruit only or a single meal. (common practice)

What should you not do on Ekadashi Vrat?

Do not eat on the Ekadashi of either fortnight. Do not even wish to eat on Ekadashi; the source says such a person is, in effect, wanting to eat all sins. While keeping the vow, do not converse with atheists, people who break moral bounds, slanderers or backbiters.

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Ekadashi Vrat

Ekadashi Vrat: Meaning, Procedure and Source Text

Vrat · 3 verses · original in Sanskrit

About Ekadashi Vrat

According to the Narada Purana, the Ekadashi vow is dear to Vishnu, and one should not eat on the Ekadashi of either fortnight (Shukla or Krishna). The rule given is one meal on Dashami and Dvadashi and no food on Ekadashi. (This summary is limited to the quoted verses.)

Text: Narada Purana (Purvardha, ch. 23) (Puranic)

Meanings and summaries are editorial, written for this library from the cited edition.

Practical guidance

Objective

The Ekadashi vow is kept to please Vishnu; the source calls it the vow that calms all sins, fulfils all wishes and grants liberation. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.1-3

Benefits

It calms all sins and gives the fruit of every wish. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.1
It grants liberation to those who keep it with devotion. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.2
Even someone burdened with grave sins reaches the highest state by fasting on Ekadashi. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.10
Whoever keeps the Ekadashi vow with discipline goes to Vishnu's abode, from which return is rare. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.23

How to do it

Dashami (the day before): rise early, clean your teeth, bathe the image of Vishnu as prescribed and worship with your senses restrained, and eat only one meal that day. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.7, 23.12
Ekadashi: bathe and worship Janardana with fragrance, flowers and other offerings; take no food all day and keep your senses restrained. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.13-14
Before the deity, say this resolve: "Having fasted on Ekadashi, I will eat on the next day; O lotus-eyed Achyuta, be my refuge", and offer your fast to him with devotion. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.15-16
The source prescribes bathing the deity with panchamrita on Ekadashi and with milk on Dvadashi. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.19
Keep a night vigil before the deity with songs, music, dance and listening to the Puranas; if you sleep, sleep near Vishnu. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.13, 23.17
Dvadashi: rise early, bathe, worship Vishnu and pray that, pleased by this vow, he grants the vision of knowledge. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.18, 23.20
Feed brahmins as far as you can and give them gifts; then, with your family and after the five daily offerings, eat in silence. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.21-22

What to keep in mind

According to the source, the vow is open to everyone: all four varnas and women. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.2
The vow applies to the Ekadashi of both fortnights, Shukla and Krishna, so twice a month. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.4
One who wants the full fruit gives up four meals: the evening meal on the day before and the day after, and the whole day and night in between. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.5
Breaking the fast on Dvadashi morning is called parana. Many people follow the parana time given in their Panchang. (common practice)
People who cannot fast completely commonly eat fruit and avoid grains, especially rice. This is common practice, not what the verses above state. (common practice)
Look after your health before fasting. Anyone who is pregnant, ill, diabetic, elderly or on regular medication should keep a strict or waterless fast only on medical advice; such people commonly keep a lighter rule, such as fruit only or a single meal. (common practice)

What not to do

Do not eat on the Ekadashi of either fortnight. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.4
Do not even wish to eat on Ekadashi; the source says such a person is, in effect, wanting to eat all sins. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.6
While keeping the vow, do not converse with atheists, people who break moral bounds, slanderers or backbiters. Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.25

Sourced items paraphrase the cited verses in plain language. Items marked "common practice" are editorial notes written for this library.

Text and meaning

Narada Purana 1.23.3

एकादशीव्रतं नाम सर्वाभीष्टप्रदं नृणाम् ।. कर्त्तव्यं सर्वथा विप्रविष्णुप्रीतिकरं यतः ।। २३-३ ।।

ekādaśīvrataṃ nāma sarvābhīṣṭapradaṃ nṛṇām |. karttavyaṃ sarvathā vipraviṣṇuprītikaraṃ yataḥ || 23-3 ||

The vow called Ekadashi grants people all they desire. It should certainly be kept, O brahmin, because it pleases Vishnu.

Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.3

Narada Purana 1.23.4

एकादश्यां न भुञ्जीत पक्षयोरुभयोपरि ।। यो भुंक्ते सोऽत्र पापीयान्परत्र नरकं व्रजेत् ।। २३-४ ।।

ekādaśyāṃ na bhuñjīta pakṣayorubhayopari || yo bhuṃkte so'tra pāpīyānparatra narakaṃ vrajet || 23-4 ||

One should not eat on the Ekadashi of either fortnight. Whoever eats is sinful here and goes to hell hereafter.

Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.4

Narada Purana 1.23.7

भवेद्दशम्यामेकाशीद्वादश्यां च मुनीश्वर ।। एकादश्यां निराहारो यदि मुक्तिमभीप्सति ।। २३-७ ।।

bhaveddaśamyāmekāśīdvādaśyāṃ ca munīśvara || ekādaśyāṃ nirāhāro yadi muktimabhīpsati || 23-7 ||

O best of sages, one who seeks liberation should eat once on Dashami and Dvadashi and take no food on Ekadashi.

Source: Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659, Purvardha 23.7

Frequently asked questions

What is the objective of Ekadashi Vrat?: The Ekadashi vow is kept to please Vishnu; the source calls it the vow that calms all sins, fulfils all wishes and grants liberation.
How to do Ekadashi Vrat?: 1. Dashami (the day before): rise early, clean your teeth, bathe the image of Vishnu as prescribed and worship with your senses restrained, and eat only one meal that day. 2. Ekadashi: bathe and worship Janardana with fragrance, flowers and other offerings; take no food all day and keep your senses restrained. 3. Before the deity, say this resolve: "Having fasted on Ekadashi, I will eat on the next day; O lotus-eyed Achyuta, be my refuge", and offer your fast to him with devotion. 4. The source prescribes bathing the deity with panchamrita on Ekadashi and with milk on Dvadashi. 5. Keep a night vigil before the deity with songs, music, dance and listening to the Puranas; if you sleep, sleep near Vishnu. 6. Dvadashi: rise early, bathe, worship Vishnu and pray that, pleased by this vow, he grants the vision of knowledge. 7. Feed brahmins as far as you can and give them gifts; then, with your family and after the five daily offerings, eat in silence.
What are the benefits of Ekadashi Vrat?: It calms all sins and gives the fruit of every wish. It grants liberation to those who keep it with devotion. Even someone burdened with grave sins reaches the highest state by fasting on Ekadashi. Whoever keeps the Ekadashi vow with discipline goes to Vishnu's abode, from which return is rare.
What should you keep in mind on Ekadashi Vrat?: According to the source, the vow is open to everyone: all four varnas and women. The vow applies to the Ekadashi of both fortnights, Shukla and Krishna, so twice a month. One who wants the full fruit gives up four meals: the evening meal on the day before and the day after, and the whole day and night in between. Breaking the fast on Dvadashi morning is called parana. Many people follow the parana time given in their Panchang. (common practice) People who cannot fast completely commonly eat fruit and avoid grains, especially rice. This is common practice, not what the verses above state. (common practice) Look after your health before fasting. Anyone who is pregnant, ill, diabetic, elderly or on regular medication should keep a strict or waterless fast only on medical advice; such people commonly keep a lighter rule, such as fruit only or a single meal. (common practice)
What should you not do on Ekadashi Vrat?: Do not eat on the Ekadashi of either fortnight. Do not even wish to eat on Ekadashi; the source says such a person is, in effect, wanting to eat all sins. While keeping the vow, do not converse with atheists, people who break moral bounds, slanderers or backbiters.

Sources and licence

Narada Purana, Purvardha ch. 23, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 144659. CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription); underlying text public domain

The verses are copied character for character from the source page, including its small errors (e.g. "।." in 23.3 and "उभयोपरि" in 23.4, probably for "उभयोरपि"). The source's list of people a fasting person should not look at, speak to or honour (23.24, 23.26-28) is based on caste and occupation; it is left out of the guidance here, and only the non-discriminatory part of 23.25 is given.