Papmochani Ekadashi 2026: King Mandhata asked Maharishi Lomash, the expert of the deepest secrets of religion, 'O great sage! How is it possible to redeem man's sins? Please tell me some simple solution by which one can easily get rid of sins.
Maharishi Lomash said that the name of Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month is Papamochani Ekadashi. Due to the effect of his fast, many sins of humans are destroyed. Let me tell you the story of this fast, in ancient times there was a forest named Chaitrarath. Apsaras used to roam there with eunuchs. There was always spring season there, which means different types of flowers were always blooming at that place. Sometimes the Gandharva girls used to roam around, and sometimes Devendra himself used to play with other gods.
In the same forest, a sage named Medhavi also used to remain engrossed in penance. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. One day an Apsara named Manjughosha tried to take advantage of his proximity by captivating him, hence she sat at some distance and started singing in a melodious voice, playing the veena. At the same time, Kamadeva also started trying to win Shiva devotee Maharishi Medhavi.
Kamadeva made a bow from the eyebrows of that beautiful nymph. Sarcasm was made his weapon and his eyes were made the commander of Manjughosha Apsara. In this way Kamadeva was ready to conquer his enemy. At that time Maharishi Medhavi was also in his youth. Seeing that sage, Manjughosha, who was under the control of Kamadeva, slowly started singing on the veena with a melodious voice and Maharishi Medhavi also got fascinated by the melodious singing of Manjughosha and her beauty. That Apsara knowing that the intelligent sage was suffering from Kamadeva, started embracing him.
Maharishi Medhavi, fascinated by the beauty of that Apsara, forgot the secret of Shiva and, under the influence of lust, started having fun with her. Due to being under the influence of lust, the sage had no knowledge of day and night at that time and both of them continued to enjoy for a very long time. After this, Manjughosha said to the sage – “O Rishivar! Now it has been a long time for me, so please allow me to go to heaven.
Hearing the words of the Apsara, the sage said, “O Mohini! You have come in the evening, stay for a while and leave when the morning comes. In the same way, both of them spent a long time together. Manjughosha again asked the sage to go to heaven but the sage again asked the Apsara to stay. Hearing the words of the sage, the Apsara said, “O Rishivar! Your night is very long. Think for yourself, how much time has passed since I came to you, is it appropriate to stay any longer?
Hearing the words of Apsara, the sage became aware of the time and started thinking seriously. When he came to know about the time that fifty-seven (57) years had passed while he was enjoying, he started considering that Apsara as the form of time. He became very angry at having wasted so much time in pleasures.
Now, burning with fierce anger, he started looking at the apsara who was destroying penance. In a voice trembling with anger, the sage said to the nymph, “You wicked one who is destroying my penance! You are a great sinner and a very wicked person, you become a vampire due to my curse.
Due to the angry curse of the sage, that Apsara became a vampire. Seeing this, she became distressed and said, “O Rishivar! Now give up your anger on me and be happy and please tell me how this curse will be removed. Scholars have said that the company of sages gives good results and I have spent many years with you, so now you become happy with me, otherwise people will say that Manju Ghosha had to become a vampire due to living with a virtuous soul.
Hearing Manjughosha's words, the sage felt extremely guilty over his anger and was also afraid of his infamy, hence the sage said to Manjughosha, who became a vampire, “You have done a great harm to me, but still I will tell you the solution to get rid of this curse. The Ekadashi of the Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month is named Papamochani. By fasting on that Ekadashi, you will get rid of the body of a vampire.” It will be done.
Saying this, the sage explained to him all the rules of the fast. After that, he went to his father Sage Chyavan to atone for his sins. Seeing his intelligent son, Rishi Chyavan said, “O son! What have you done that all your penances have been destroyed? Due to which all your brilliance has been tarnished.
The wise sage bowed his head in shame and said, “Father! I have committed a great sin by having fun with an Apsara. Due to this sin, perhaps all my glory and my penance have been destroyed. The sage said, “O son! You fast on Papmochani Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month as per the rituals and with devotion, all your sins will be destroyed by this.
Hearing the words of his father Rishi Chyavan, the wise sage observed the fast of Papmochani Ekadashi as per the rituals. Due to his influence all his sins were destroyed. Manjughosha Apsara also got freed from the body of the vampire by fasting on Papmochani Ekadashi and again assumed her beautiful form and went to heaven.
Lomash Muni said, “O King! Due to the effect of this Papmochani Ekadashi, all the sins are destroyed. By listening and reading the story of this Ekadashi, one gets the result of donating a thousand cows. By observing this fast, the terrible sins like murder of a Brahma, theft of gold, drinking alcohol and going astray etc. are also destroyed and in the end one attains heaven.
