Adhyaya 58

Asked by Yudhiṣṭhira about the Ekādaśī that falls in the dark fortnight (kṛṣṇa pakṣa) of Āśvina, Śrī Kṛṣṇa identifies it as Indirā Ekādaśī and proclaims its great power to destroy sins. The chapter then presents an instructive tale: the devout King Indrasena of Māhiṣmatī receives Nārada in his court. Nārada reports that the king’s father has been seen in Yama’s assembly because a vow was left incomplete, and urges the king to perform a remedy. Nārada prescribes the Indirā-vrata—preparations on Daśamī, fasting on Ekādaśī, worship of Hari (especially Śālagrāma), a night vigil, and on Dvādaśī the performance of śrāddha and feeding of brāhmaṇas. By this observance the father is raised to Viṣṇu’s abode, and the text concludes by promising purification and release from sin for those who hear or read it with devotion.