Conversation on Aparaa Ekaadashi

Fast on the 11th day of Jyeshtha Krishna Paksha (the waning phase of the moon heading towards new moon) is Aparaa Ekaadashi. The name Aparaa comes from the word Apar meaning immense or boundless. This day confers immense benefits on those who undertake the fast.

Story in Short

More than a story or a parable, this chapter is told as a conversation between Lord Krishna and King Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas. Lord Krishna lists out the advantages of this fast to Yudhishthira. There is no specific story. Lord Krishna highlights that observing a fast on this day can bring about immense benefits. 

One does come across reference to a Mahabharata time story of King Mandhata, who ruled over the kingdom of Ayodhya and a poor farmer named Kuber when researching about Aparaa Ekaadashi. However, this story is not in the Ekaadashi Mahoutsav Varat Katha (published by Babu Madav Prasad Sharma, Varanasi). This is a good place to note that the reasons and inspirations for different people and communities in observing a particular auspicious day differ. But common thread is the importance and power of the said day. 

Sins Countered and the Benefits Conferred (Theme)

The common theme in the long list of sins this Ekaadashi fast provides deliverance from are sins that involve spoken words. Sins that we accumulate by telling lies, speaking in vain, defaming someone, gossiping, hurting people with words. Conspiracy and misleading people by our words are sins that this Ekaadashi focuses on cleansing. 

This Ekaadashi one may reflect on how they speak and the powers of everyday words. Even things said in jest can leave deep wounds. Wounds of body heal but wounds of the heart inflicted by carelessly chosen words heal very slowly or never. Thus, this Ekaadashi I am reflecting on how I speak. In an attempt to be witty, I have come to realise that I make people uncomfortable. I must check that as I am no longer a teen whose careless words can be blamed on youth. 

This need and pressure to be witty/ sarcastic humour is further fuelled when on social media by the constant attention it brings combined with the safety of anonymity and distance. Many people justify their rude behaviour in the guise of ‘brutal honesty’. Honesty does not require us to lose tact and diplomacy. 

The fast just doesn’t cleanse sins but also provides other benefits. The fast helps those seeking fame. The benefits of the fast are in line with the benefits one gets from carrying out numerous charity and selfless giving. It is a bodily purge that spiritually has similar benefits as to conducting charity. This makes it a good fit for people lacking the time and resource to carry out charity.

NOTE:

Important to remember the Hindi proverb, 

अप्रिय सत्य कभी मत बोलो, जब बोलो तब मिस्रि घोलो (apriya satya kabhi mat bolo jab bolo tab misri golo)

never speak the unpleasant truth, when you do speak it mix it in sugar

[Chapter 16 p. 110 of Ekaadashi Mahoutsav Varat Katha 

(published by Babu Madav Prasad Sharma, Varanasi)]

Ekaadashi Mahoutsav Varat Katha (published by Babu Madav Prasad Sharma, Varanasi) is a Nepali translation/commentary of the Sanskrit Ekaadashi Stories. Author is avoiding posting a straight translation of the Nepali commentary.