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Mokshdaa Ekadashee falls on Maargsheersh Shukla Ekaadashee. Observance of this Ekaadashee sends even one's ancestors to Swarg.

Bhavishya-Uttar Puraan says that Mokshdaa Ekaadashee is a very special Ekaadashee in two regards; this day Lord Shree Krishn spoke the Bhaagavat Geetaa to Arjun in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, at the place now known as Jyotish Teerth. Anyone who gifts a Bhagavat Geetaa away to a deserving person on this day is bestowed profuse blessings by the Shree Krishn Bhagavaan.

Brahmaand Puraan gives the following story about Mokshdaa Ekaadashee --

Yudhishthir Mahaaraj said, "O Vishnu, master of all, O delight of the three worlds, O Lord of the entire Universe, O Creator of the world, O oldest personality, O best of all beings, I offer my most respectful obeisance unto You. O Lord of lords, for the benefit of all living entities, kindly answer some questions that I have. What is the name of the Ekaadashee that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Maargsheersh (November-December) and removes all sins? How does one observe it properly, and which Deity is worshipped on that holiest of days? O my Lord please explain this to me in full."

Lord Krishn replied, "O dear Yudhishthir, your enquiry is very auspicious in itself and will bring you fame. Just as I previously explained to you about the dearest Utpannaa Mahaa-Dwaadashee - which occurs during the dark Paksh of the month of Maargsheersh, which is the day when Ekaadashee Devee appeared from My body to kill the demon Mur, and which benefits everything, animate and inanimate, in the three worlds - so I shall now relate to you regarding this Ekaadashee that occurs during the light part of the month of Maargsheersh. This Ekaadashee is famous as Mokshadaa because it purifies the faithful devotee of all sinful reactions and bestows liberation upon him. The worshipable Deity of this all auspicious day is Lord Daamodar. With full attention one should worship Him with incense, a ghee lamp, fragrant flowers, and Tulasee Manjaree (Tulasee flowers).

"O best of saintly kings, please listen as I narrate to you the ancient and auspicious history of this wonderful Ekaadashee. Simply by hearing this history one can attain the same merit as earned by performing a horse sacrifice. By the influence of this merit, one's forefathers, mothers, sons, and other relatives who have gone to hell can turn around and go to the heavenly kingdom. For this reason alone, O king, you should listen with rapt attention to this narration.

Story of Mokshdaa Ekaadashee
This story appears in Brahmaand Puraan

"There once was a beautiful city named Champak Nagar, which was decorated with devoted Vaishnav Bhakt. There the best of saintly kings Mahaaraaj Vaikhaanas ruled over his subjects as if they were his very own dear sons and daughters. The Braahman in that capital city were all expert in four kinds of Vaidik knowledge. The king, while ruling properly, had a dream one night in which his father was seen to be suffering the pangs of hellish torture in one of the hellish planets ruled over by the Yam Raaj. The King was overwhelmed with compassion for his father and shed tears. The next morning, Mahaaraaj Vaikhaanas described to his council of twice born learned Braahman what he had seen in his dream.

"O Braahman," the King addressed them, "I saw my father suffering on a hellish planet last night in a dream. He was crying out in anguish, "O son, please deliver me from this torment of this hellish condition!" Since then I have no peace in my mind, and even this beautiful kingdom has become unbearable to me. Not even my horses, elephants, and chariots and my vast wealth in my treasury that formerly brought so much pleasure, gives me any pleasure at all after that dream.

"Everything, O best of the Braahman, even my own wife and sons, have become a source of unhappiness since I have beheld my father suffering the tortures of that hellish condition so. Where can I go, and what can I do, O Braahman, to alleviate this misery? My body is burning with fear and sorrow! Please tell me what kind of charity, what mode of fasting, what austerity, or what deep meditation, and in service upon which Deity I may have to perform to deliver my father from that agony and bestow upon liberation upon my forefathers. O best among the Braahman, what is the use of one's being a powerful son if one's father must suffer on a hellish planet? Truly, such a son's life is utterly useless, to him and to his forefathers."

"The twice born Braahman replied, "O King, in the mountainous forest, not far from here, is the Aashram where a great saint Parvat Muni resides. Please go to him, for he is the Tri-Kaal Gyaanee (he knows everything of the past, present, and future of) and can surely help you in your gaining relief from your misery."

"Upon hearing this advise, the distressed King immediately set out on a journey to the Aashram of the famous sage Parvat Muni. The Aashram was indeed very big and housed many learned sages expert in chanting the sacred hymns of the four Ved (Rig, Yajur, Saam, and Atharv). Approaching the holy Aashram, the King beheld Parvat Muni seated among the assembly of sages adorned with hundreds of Tilak (from all the authorized Sampradaaya) like another Brahmaa or Vyaas.

Mahaaraaj Vaikhaanas offered his humble obeisance to the Muni, bowing his head and then prostrating his entire body before him. After the king had seated himself among the assembly Parvat Muni asked him about the welfare of the seven limbs of his extensive kingdom (his ministers, his treasury, his military forces, his allies, the Braahman, the sacrificial offerings performed, and the needs of his subjects). The Muni also asked him if his kingdom was free of troubles and whether everyone was peaceful, happy and satisfied. To these enquiries the King replied, "By your mercy O glorious and great sage, all seven limbs of my kingdom are doing very well. Yet there is a problem that has recently arisen, and to solve it I have come to you, O Braahman for your expert help and guidance."

Parvat Muni, the best of all sages, closed his eyes and meditated on the King's past, present and future. After a few moments he opened his eyes and said, "Your father is suffering from the results of committing a great sin, and I have discovered what it is. In his previous life he quarreled with his wife and forcibly enjoyed her sexually during her menstrual period. She tried to protest and resist his advances and even yelled out, "Someone please save me! Please, O husband, do not interrupt my monthly period in this way!" Still he did not stop or leave her alone. It is on account of this grievous sin that your father now has fallen into such a hellish condition of suffering."

"King Vaikhaanas then said - "O greatest among sages, by what process of fasting or charity may I liberate my dear father from such a condition? Please tell me how I can relieve and remove the burden of his sinful reactions, which are a great obstacle to his progress toward ultimate release (salvation - liberation - going back home)." Parvat Muni replied, "During the light fortnight of the month of Maargsheersh there occurs an Ekaadashee called Mokshdaa Ekaadashee. If you observe this sacred Ekaadashee strictly, with a full fast, and give directly to your suffering father the merit you thus attain, he will be freed from his pain and will be instantly liberated."

Hearing this, Mahaaraaj Vaikhaanas profusely thanked the great sage and then returned to his palace to perform his Vrat (austere rite). O Yudhishthir, when the light part of the month of Maargsheersh at last arrived, Mahaaraaj Vaikhaanas faithfully waited for the Ekaadashee Tithi to arrive. He then perfectly and with full faith observed the Ekaadashee fast with his wife, children, and other relatives. He dutifully gave the merit from this fast to his father, and as he made the offering, beautiful flower petals showered from the Devtaa who peered out from behind the clouds in the sky. The King's father was then praised by the messengers of the demigods (Devtaa) and was escorted to the celestial region. As he passed his son, as he traversed the lower to middle and then to higher planets, the father said to the King, "My dear son, all auspiciousness unto you."

At last he reached the heavenly realm from where he can again with his newly acquired merit performed devotional service to Krishn or Vishnu and in due course of time returned to home - back to Godhead.

So O son of Paandu, whosoever strictly observes the sacred Mokshdaa Ekaadashee, following the established rules and regulations, achieves full and perfect liberation after death. There is no better fasting day than this Ekaadashee of the light fortnight of the month of Maargsheersh, O Yudhishthir, for it is a crystal-clear and sinless day. Whoever faithfully observes this Ekaadashee fast, which is like Chintaa-mani (a gem that yields all desires), obtains special merit that is very hard to calculate, for this day can elevate one from hellish life to the heavenly planets, and for one who observes Ekaadashee for his own spiritual benefit, this elevates one to go back to Godhead, never to return to this material world."

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Maargsheersh Shukla Ekaadashee or Mokshdaa Ekaadashee, from the Brahmaand Puraan.

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