Parashurama Dwadashi Vrat Katha

Sage Durvasa says - "Listen to the fruit obtained by observing the Parashurama Dwadashi fast which falls in the Shukla Paksha of the month of Vaishakha. In ancient times, there was a very valiant and heroic king named Veersen. Although the king was very fortunate, he had no son. Therefore, with the desire to obtain a son, King Veersen was performing rigorous penance. Near the place where the king was absorbed in penance, the ashram of Maharishi Yajnavalkya was located.

One day Maharishi Yajnavalkya came to meet King Veersen, who was absorbed in penance. Seeing the great sage coming near him, King Veersen stood up with folded hands and greeted him and appropriately welcomed and honored Maharishi Yajnavalkya.

Thereafter, Maharishi Yajnavalkya asked the king - 'O righteous King! What is the purpose of your performing such difficult penance? For the fulfillment of which desire are you striving or what task do you desire to accomplish?'

King Veersen said - 'O best of sages! I am childless. I have no offspring. O Maharishi! That is why I am wasting away my body through penance.'

Sage Yajnavalkya said - 'O King! Performing penance is not easy; one has to endure extreme suffering in it. Therefore, give up this thought. I provide you with a very simple and easy remedy for obtaining a son. By doing that remedy, you will definitely obtain a jewel of a son.'

Saying this, Maharishi Yajnavalkya described the Parashurama Dwadashi Vrat to be performed in the Shukla Paksha of the month of Vaishakha before King Veersen. With the longing for a son, the king followed this meritorious fast according to the sage's instructions with full rituals.

By the miracle of the Parashurama Dwadashi Vrat, King Veersen obtained an excellent and supremely religious son. That son became famous in the whole world as King Nala. Even at present, the entire world praises the fame of King Nala.

This is only a relevant description of this fast; in fact, the one who follows the Parashurama Dwadashi Vrat according to the rules easily obtains an excellent son, knowledge, radiance, and Shri, i.e., wealth and prosperity.

Now listen to the otherworldly glory of this fast. A person who performs the Parashurama Dwadashi Vrat with full rituals and rules resides in the Brahmaloka of Lord Brahma along with celestial nymphs for a period of one Kalpa. Thereafter, at the beginning of the new creation, that person becomes a Chakravarti emperor and obtains a long life of 30,000 years."

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