Kalki Dwadashi Vrat Katha

Sage Durvasa said to the hunter Satyatapa - "Listen to the religious merit (Punya) obtained by observing the Kalki Dwadashi Vrat, similar to the previously mentioned fasts.

In ancient times, in Kashipuri, there was a very valiant and heroic king named Vishal. Later, people of King Vishal's own clan deceitfully snatched away his kingdom and all his wealth. After becoming kingdomless, King Vishal began to reside in the holy Badrivan region located on the Gandhamadana mountain and perform penance.

The king was deeply absorbed in rigorous penance when one day, by divine chance, two supernatural sages named Nara-Narayana arrived there. Those Nara-Narayana are famous in all the worlds, all the gods bow to them repeatedly, and all become powerless before their radiance. Those Lords Nara-Narayana thought to themselves - 'This king has been meditating and performing penance for the Supreme Brahman, Lord Vishnu, in this forest for a long time. Therefore, his wish should be fulfilled.'

Thinking thus, they both went near King Vishal and said - 'O King! We are very pleased with your devotion and penance towards the Supreme Being, so we have come to grant you a boon for your welfare. Ask for a boon according to your heart's desire.'

King Vishal said - 'O Sages! I do not know who you two are. Therefore, before whom should I pray for obtaining a boon? My supreme deity, whom I worship, I desire that I should receive the boon from Him only.'

Upon the king saying this, Sri Nara-Narayana said - 'O King of kings! Whom do you worship? Who is your deity and what boon do you desire in your heart? We are interested in knowing this, tell us.'

King Vishal said - 'I worship Lord Vishnu.' And saying only this much, the king became silent. Seeing this, Sri Nara-Narayana again said to the king - 'O King! By the supreme grace of that very Lord of gods, Lord Vishnu, we have come to grant you a boon. Tell us the desire of your heart.'

The king said - 'O Lord! I want to worship Lord Yajneshvara by performing sacrifices (Yajnas) completed with various types of donations (Dakshina). Please fulfill this wish of mine as a boon.' At that time, both Lord Nara and Narayana were present before the king.

Hearing the king's words, Lord Nara said - 'This is Lord Narayana! He mainly guides the entire moving and non-moving world. He Himself is proficient in the creation of the universe and has come to this forest with me for the purpose of penance. He is the same Lord Shri Hari, who has previously incarnated in the forms of Matsya, Varaha, Narsimha, Vamana, and Parashurama. His power is limitless and He is almighty. He is the one who incarnated as King Shri Ramachandra, the son of King Dasharatha. In that incarnation, His beauty was very attractive. At that time, He unburdened the earth by destroying the unrighteous demons.

In earlier times, on being prayed to by humans, He incarnated in the Narsimha form. He incarnated in the Vamana form to protect the gods from King Bali, and also in the form of Parashurama to obtain the kingdom from the Kshatriyas. To destroy the cruel and sinful enemies, this very Lord Narayana appeared as Shri Krishna. Therefore, learned people worship this very Supreme Person, the Almighty.

A wise man should worship the child form of Lord Krishna with the desire to obtain a son. Those who desire beauty should worship the Buddha incarnation of the Lord, and those who desire the destruction of enemies should worship the Kalki incarnation. There is no doubt of any kind in this principle.'

After thus praising the glory of Lord Narayana, the divine sage Nara preached the Bhadrapada Shukla Dwadashi Vrat to King Vishal. King Vishal performed the ritual of the Dwadashi Vrat with devotion and full rituals according to the instructions of the divine sage Nara, as a result of which he was established as a Chakravarti (emperor) king in the world."

Sage Durvasa says - "O Sage! Because of that King Vishal, this Badrivan became famous in all the worlds by the name of Badri Vishal. That best of kings enjoyed excellent comforts throughout his life and at the end of his time went to Badrivan. After completing various types of divine sacrifices in Badrivan, he attained the supreme state of Lord Shri Hari."

|| Thus ends the glory of Kalki Dwadashi Vrat described in Shri Varaha Purana ||