Falgun Krishna (Vijaya) Ekadashi Vrat Katha (फाल्गुन कृष्ण (विजया) एकादशी व्रत कथा)

Arjuna is filled with joy on hearing the greatness of Ekadashi from Lord Krishna. After knowing the greatness of Jaya Ekadashi, Arjuna says that what is the significance of Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Madhav Falgun, I want to know from you, so please tell the story about it.

On being asked by Arjuna persuasively, Shri Krishnachand ji says, Dear Arjuna, the Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month is known as Vijaya Ekadashi. One who observes this Ekadashi fast always remains victorious. O Arjuna, you are my dear friend, so I am telling you the story of this fast, till date I have not narrated the story of this fast to anyone. Before you, only Devarshi Narad was able to hear this story from Brahma ji. You are my dear, so you listen to this story from me.

It is a matter of Tretayug, Shri Ramchandra ji, who was an incarnation of Vishnu, reached the seashore in search of his wife Sita. On the seashore lived a bird named Jatayu, the supreme devotee of the Lord. The bird told that Sita Mata has been taken by Ravana, the king of the city of Lanka across the ocean and the mother is currently in Ashoka Vatika. Knowing the address of Sita by Jatayu, Shri Ram Chandra ji started preparing to attack Lanka with his monkey army, but reaching Lanka through the inaccessible road filled with water creatures of the ocean stood as a question.

Lord Shri Ram wanted to set an example for the understanding of the world in this incarnation as Maryada Purushottam, so he became worried like a common man. When he could not find any way to cross the ocean, then he asked Lakshmana that, O Lakshman, I can not find any way to cross this ocean, if you have any solution, then tell me. Listening to Shri Ramchandra ji, Lakshman said, Lord, nothing is hidden from you, you yourself are almighty, yet I would say that half a yojana away from here is the abode of the supreme wise Vakdalbhya Muni, we should ask him the solution.

Lord Shri Ram along with Lakshman reached the ashram of Vakdalbhya Muni and after bowing to him put his question in front of him. The sage said, "O Ram, you keep a fast on Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month along with your army, by fasting on this Ekadashi you will surely cross the ocean and defeat Ravana. On the arrival of the said date, Shri Ramchandra ji, along with his army, kept a fast on Ekadashi according to the law given by the sage and built a bridge over the ocean and climbed on Lanka. Ram and Ravana fought in which Ravana was killed.