This Saphala Ekadasi occurs during the waning moon in the month of December/January. The glories of this Ekadasi are described in the Brahmanda Purana in the conversation between Lord Krsna and Maharaja Ydhisthira.

Maharaja Yudhisthira said, “O Krsna, what is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the waning moon in the month of December/January, and how one observe it? Please explain this to me in detail.”

The Supreme Lord Sri Krsna replied, “O best of the Bharata Dynasty, just as Sesa is best amont the snakes, Garuda is best among the birds, the horse sacrifice is best among the sacrificies, the Ganges is the best among the rivers, Lord Visnu is best among the demigods and the brahmanas are best among the human beings, similarly among all the vows the day of Ekadasi is best. O best of kings, anyone who observes Ekadasi is very dear to Me. The amount of piety one accumulates by undergoing austerities for five thousand years, is achieved simply by observing Ekadasi.”

There was a famous king named Mahismata who lived in the city of Champavati. This King had four sons. Among them, the eldest son named Lumpaka was very sinful. He used to blaspheme the brahmanas, Vaisnavas and the demigods and was extremely attached to gambling and prostitution. Consequently his father, King Mahismata, exiled him. The exiled Lumpaka lived in the jungle and at night began to plunder wealth from the pople of his father’s kingdom. In spite of his stealing, the citizens would set him free knowing him to be the son of the King. Lumpaka spent his life by regularly eating raw meats and fruits.

There was a banyan tree in this forest who was as worshipable as the demigods. Lumpaka lived underneath this tree for some time.

Coincidentally when Lumpaka was living in this way, the Ekadasi of the waning moon of the month of November/December occurred. Due to fatigue and weakness, he became unconscious on the day before Ekadasi and regained his consciousness at mid-day on Ekadasi. Actually there was no possibility of Lumpaka’s killing any animal on that day because he was so weak being severly afflicted with hunger. Therefore he found some fruits and offered them to Lord Visnu for His pleasure, and by that time the sun had set. That night Lumpaka remained awake.

As a result of fasting and keeping awake he unknowingly observed Saphala Ekadasi. Lord Madhusudana accepts the worship and vow of this Ekadasi offered by the practitioner, so, a result of performing this Ekadasi Lumpaka got an opulent kingdom. On the next morning a divine horse came and stood before Lumpaka; at that time a voice from the sky was heard, “O Prince, by the mercy of Lord Madhusudana and by the influence of Saphala Ekadasi you will receive a kingdom and rule it without any difficulty. Return to your father and enjoy the kingdom.’ In accordance with this instruction Lumpaka returned to his father and accepted the responsibility of ruling the kingdom. Thereafter he got a beautiful wife and good sons. In this way Lumpaka happily ruled this kingdom.

By observing the vow of Saphala Ekadasi persons attain fame in this life and liberation in the next life. Those who follow this Ekadasi are glorious. By following this Ekadasi one attains the result of performing an Asvamedha sacrifice.