Uttar Bhaag of Naarad Puraan (p 577-750, about 175 pages) contains many stories - Rukmaangad, Indradyumn, Raam, Parashuraam, Krishn, glory of Gayaa and Gangaa, importance of Teerth

Ekaadashee Vrat

Maandhaataa asked Vashishth Jee - "Please tell me which fire can burn all kinds of sins? A sin committed unknowingly is called Shushk (dry) and knowingly is called "Aardra" (wet). How to burn those sins, I wish to know that." Vashishth Jee said - "Whoever keeps fast on Vishnu's day, Ekaadashee, worships Him, and wakes up in the night taking bath with Aamalaa, his all sins are washed away. This Vrat can wash even those sins which were committed even 100 years ago. Until a person doesn't keep fast on this day, till then only he is attached to those sins. Thousands of Ashwamedh Yagya and hundreds of Raajsooya Yagya cannot be equal to even 1/16th part. Whatever sin is committed through the 11 Indriyaan, it all is washed away by this Vrat.

Even if this Vrat is kept for some other purpose, then also one does not see Yam Raaj. This Ekaadashee is the giver of Swarg and Moksh and good wife and health. Neither Gangaa, nor Gayaa, nor Kaashee, nor Pushkar, nor Kurukshetra, nor Narmadaa, nor Yamunaa is holier than this Ekaadashee. By doing this Vrat, one attains Vishnu Dhaam easily. By keeping fast and waking in the night on this day one gets free from all sins and goes to Vishnu Lok. All should keep fast on Ekaadashee, by doing this one never comes back on Prithvi. who keeps fast on this day, he uplifts even 10 generations of his mother's, father's, and wife's families. Who keep the fast on Dwaadashee (united with Ekaadashee), they go to Vishnu Dhaam. But who desire for unattainable desires and pleasures, they should keep fast on Ekaadashee only."

Vashishth Jee further said - "Braahman further asked Soot Jee - "You know all Puraan and Mahaabhaarat, please clear our one doubt that one should keep fast in the earlier part of the Tithi or in the later part of the Tithi?" Soot Jee said - "One should do fast in the later part of the Tithi if one wants to please Devtaa. But Pitar like the earlier part of the Tithi. Therefore who desire for ten-fold fruits, they should keep fast in the later part of the Tithi. But who are doing this to observe Dharm and to please Pitar, they should do it in the earlier part of the day.

Who have desire of Dharm, Arth (Paramaatmaa), and Kaam, they should not do fast on 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 11th if they are Poorv Viddhaa (joined with their previous Tithi); while on 7th, Amaavasyaa, Poornimaa and the day of annual Shraadh of father, one must adopt Poorv Viddhaa Tithi. If there is even a little time of previous Tithi present at sunrise time, one should consider that day Tithi as Poorv Viddhaa, but if the present Tithi has already come before sunrise, it is called "Prabhootaa". This Tithi is used at the time of Paaran and in a person's death. The same Tithi should be used for the Pitar Karm which is present at sunset time. Tithi's time period depends on the Sun's and Moon's speed. Who know these speeds, they know the time periods of the Tithi.

Now I tell you the method of Snaan, worship and donations etc on that day. If the Tithi is not clean (single Tithi in a single day), then worship in the night. All work of the day time should be completed in Pradosh Kaal. This method has been prescribed for Vratee people. If there is even little Dwaadashee (12th) at the time of sunrise, then one should do all Snaan, worship, Hom and donation on the same day only. If Vrat is in 12th and Paaran is in pure 13th, then one gets the fruit of Prithvi donation, or he gets the Punya of doing 100 Yagya.

If there is no 12th Tithi on next day (13th with 12th) then take bath in the morning, do Tarpan for Devtaa and Pitar and do Paaran in Dwaadashee itself. If one does not do it like this, this Dwaadashee harms a person a lot. If one gets 12th Tithi while deteriorating, or growing and at sunrise time, then one should do fasting on the same day, but if it is joined by previous Tithi, then this day should not be taken."

Braahman asked - "Soot Jee, If the 12th Tithi is not there in 11th Tithi day, then how people should do fasting? When the fasting day is united by previous Tithi, and the next day there is no Ekaadashee left, then how one should do fasting?" Soot Jee said - "If there is no Dwaadashee till half sunrise time on first day Ekaadashee, then one should do fast on next day only. When Braahman are in confusion, one should do fasting on Dwaadashee and do Paaran in Trayodashee (13thTithi). When Ekaadashee is united by Dashmee (10th Tithi), and there is Shravan Yog in Dwaadashee, then one should do fasting on holy Dwaadashee."

Braahman said - "Now please tell us about the Karm worth doing on Yug beginning Tithi and Sun Sankraanti Tithi." Soot Jee said - "One should take Ayan's auspicious period the whole day. Sankraanti's auspicious period is up to 16 Ghadee (1 Ghadee = 24 minutes; 16 Ghadee = 16x24 = 384 minutes = 6 hours and 24 minutes). Vishuv time has been told as immortal Punya time period.

One should abandon both Paksh's Dashamee Viddhaa Ekaadashee, because all Punya earned on this day are destroyed as Sun destroys darkness." [Why? Its story is given in next seven pages.]