The hunter of the Vindhyas
Krodhana was a Bhil hunter of the Vindhya forests — a man whose very name meant 'the wrathful'. He had killed for meat, for skins, for coin, and often for no reason but anger; he had cheated his own kin, dishonoured women who came to the forest for firewood, and profaned every ashram he had passed. No papa the shastra names had been left undone by him. In his old age, sitting one dusk beneath a peepal, he saw two dark forms approaching through the trees: Yama's messengers had come at last.
The flight to Angira
In terror, more animal than reasoned, Krodhana ran — not knowing why — towards the distant light of an ashram lamp. He crashed through thorns and streams and fell at last, bleeding and sobbing, at the feet of Rishi Angira who was completing sandhya. Angira, taking in the whole picture in a single tapa-drishti, saw that death would arrive before the following dawn.
The one instruction
Angira had only moments to give. He said in a level voice, 'Sit. Do not eat, do not drink. Today is Ashwina Shukla Ekadashi — Papankusha. Sit under this peepal and chant only these words until you die: Om Namo Bhagavate Padmanabhaya. Do not stop for pain, do not stop for fear, do not stop for the messengers when you see them. Only these words.' Krodhana sat down, folded his shaking hands, and began.
The verdict of Yama
Through the whole day and night the hunter chanted; he did not eat, he did not drink, he did not stop even when he saw the dark messengers come again and stand at his shoulder. At brahma-muhurat his breath left him with the mantra still on his lips. The yamadootas, unable to lay a hand on him, returned to Yama's court and reported. Yama himself rose from his seat and said, 'A single Papankusha Ekadashi kept without a break wipes out the papa of many janmas. Send Bhagwan Vishnu's own vimana for this hunter — he is not mine.' Krodhana ascended straight to Vaikuntha; and Yama declared to his messengers thereafter, 'For anyone who observes this Ekadashi with faith, do not approach.'
"Pierces and destroys accumulated papa — including sins from many past lives. Grants Vishnu-loka to even the most fallen who take shelter on this day. Prescribed for the dying and for those in the last quarter of life who wish to settle their karma before departure."