The glories of Mohini Ekadasi, which occurs during the waxing moon in the month of April/May, are described in the Surya Purana.

Once Maharaja Yudhisthira asked Lord Krsna, “O Janardana! What is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the waxing moon in the month of April/May, and what is the process for observing this Ekadasi? Also what is the merit one obtains by following this Ekadasi? Please explain all these to me in detail.”

Lord Krsna replied, “O son of Dharma! Please hear Me attentively as I describe the story that sage Vasistha once told Lord Ramacandra.

“One time long ago Lord Ramacandra said to great sage Vasistha, ‘O respected sage! I am feeling great distress due to separation from Sita, the daughter of King Janaka. Kindly explain to Me the great vow to follow which will mitigate all one’s sinful reactions and distress.’ “The great sage Vasistha, who was the original spiritual master of Ramacandra, said, ‘My dear Rama, Your intelligence is sharp and mixed with faith. Moreover, Your question is beneficial for the entire humanity. Just by chanting and remembering Your all auspicious holy names all living entities can become purified and eligible to achieve all auspiciousness. Still, for the benefit of the ordinary people, I will describe to you about a great vow. O Lord Rama! The Ekadasi that occurs during the waxing moon in the month of April/May is famous as Mohini Ekadasi and is very auspicious. By following this Ekadasi all one’s sinful reactions, material miseries and a network of illusion are destroyed. Now please hear attentively as I narrate the most pious topics of this Ekadasi.

“There was a beautiful city named Bhadravati situated on the bank of the sacred river Sarasvati which was ruled by a king named Dyutimana. O Lord Rama! This king was born in the dynasty of the moon, and he was tolerant and truthful. There was a pious and prosperous devotee of Lord Visnu named Dhanapala who also lived in the city. He was a vaisya (mercantile community) by profession. For the benefit of the ordinary people this devotee Dhanapala built many dharmashalas, or guesthouse, schools, temples of Lord Visnu, charitable hospitals, wide roads and market places. He also made arrangements for distributing water and foodstuff, he dug wells for cool drinking water and ponds for clear water, he also build gardens for flowers and fruits. In this way he properly utilized his wealth for the benefit of all and thus successfully demonstrated the true meaning of his name. This pious devotee of Lord Visnu who was always peaceful, a benefactor of others and engaged in devotional service to Visnu had five sons namely Samana, Dytimana, Medhavi, Sukriti and Dhrstabuddhi.

His son Dhrstabuddhi was most sinful. He was extremely wicked, ill natured, always engaged in bad association, and having illicit connection with unchaste women. He was also fond of gambling and drinking wine. He even took pleasure in killing and torturing other living entities. In this way he engaged in all kinds of sinful activities and soon turned into an abominable son of a most pious father and was a disgrace to the family. He never showed respect to the demigods, guests, old forefathers or brahmanas. He was constantly engaged in thinking of committing sinful activities and thus lived a contemptible life. The sinful wretch Dhrstabuddhi misused all his father’s wealth in many useless activities. He always ate abominable foodstuff and remained always absorbed in drinking wine. One day on seeing his shameless son walking in the public place while placing his hand on the shoulder of a prostitute, Dhanapala became extremely hurt. On that very day he threw out his spoiled son from the house. Dhrstabuddhi then became bereft of everyone’s affection including his father, mother, brothers, relatives and friends. He was degraded from his position in caste society and the pious community and became an object of hatred for everyone.

“After being thrown out from his father’s house, Dhrstabuddhi continued his sinful propensities with the money he received by selling his personal clothes and ornaments. Soon that also came to an end. Gradually, due to lack of sufficient food, his body became weak and skinny. On realizing that he had become poor, his so called deceitful friends left him, condemning him on various pretexts.

“Dhrstabuddhi was now full of anxiety. He had no food or clothes and was extremely afflicted with hunger. So he began to contemplate, ‘What should I do now? Where should I go? By which means will I survive? After contemplating in this way, he decided that there was no other alternative than to start stealing for his survival. So with a desire to steal he began to wander throughout the city. Sometimes the King’s guard would arrest him and after considering his father’s greatness he would release him. After being caught and released in this way many times, he was once again formally arrested for committing a special kind of theft. He was taken to the King who awarded him severe punishment. The King said, ‘O sinful foolish creature you cannot stay within this kingdom any more for you are the greatest sinner. I am releasing you for now, but leave this kingdom immediately and go where ever you wish.’

“Dhrstabuddhi, afraid of being punished again, left the kingdom. He went far away and entered into a dense forest. Within the forest he became so afflicted with hunger and thirst that he began to kill beasts and birds indiscriminately and ate their raw flesh. For many years he wandered throughout the forest like a hunter, holding a bow and arrow in his hands and killing innocent animals and engaging in sinful activities.

“Dhrstabuddhi was always miserable and anxious, but one day, due to some past pious deeds, he arrived at the sacred asrama of the great sage and ascetic Kaundinya while wandering about the forest. It was the month of Vaisakha (April/May) and the great sage Kaundinya was just returning home after taking bath in the Ganges. At that time by Providence, Dhrstabudhi, who was very aggrieved by distress and lamentation, happened to touch a drop of water falling from the sage’s cloth. Dhrstabuddhi was immediately relieve of his sinful reactions. With folede hands and great humility he said to sage Kaundinya, ‘O geat brahmana, I am the most sinful person. There is no sin that I have not committed. Now please instruct me about a topmost type of atonement which a most wretched person like me can easily perform. As a result of committing unlimited sinful activities till now I have been bereft of my house, wealth, relatives and friends. I am drowning in the ocean of mental agony.’

“After hearing these lamentations of Dhrstabuddhi the great sage Kaundinya, feeling distress by seeing other’s distress said, ‘I am telling you a sublime method by which all your sinful reactions can easily be nullified in a very short time; please hear me attentively. Mohini Ekadasi, which occurs during the waxing moon in the month of April/May, totally destroys a mountain of sinful reactions as big as Mt. Sumeru accumulated from many many lifetimes. Therefore you should faithfully observe this Ekadasi.’

“Hearing these words from the great sage, Dhrstabuddhi became joyful and properly observed that Ekadasi according to the rules and regulations instructed by the sage. O best of kings! By observing this Mohini Ekadasi the most sinful Dhrstabuddhi soon became devoid of all sinful reactions, and after assuming a divine body he returned to the all-auspicious abode of Lord Visnu by riding on the back of Garuda. O Ramacandra! This vow certainly removes all kinds of illusion and the darkness of ignorance. Any piety accumulated by taking bath in the holy waters, giving in charity and performance of sacrifice cannot be compared with the piety one attains by observing this Mohini Ekadasi.