Significance and legend
Ankusha is the elephant goad, and this Ekadashi is said to control and drive away sin as a goad controls an elephant. Krishna tells Yudhishthira that its merit equals that of a thousand horse sacrifices, and that one who observes it never sees the realm of Yama. A traditional story associated with it tells of Krodhana, a cruel fowler who lived in the Vindhya mountains and spent his life in violence, theft and wrongdoing. As he grew old, the messengers of Yama warned him that his death was near, and he was seized by fear.
In desperation he went to the ashram of the sage Angira and begged for a way to escape the consequences of his deeds. The sage told him to observe the Ekadashi of the bright half of Ashwin, called Papankusha. Krodhana did so with all sincerity, worshipping Vishnu, and by its power his sins were destroyed and he attained Vishnu's abode.
How Papankusha Ekadashi is observed
Devotees take a single meal on Dashami and fast on Ekadashi, worshipping Vishnu as Padmanabha with lotus flowers, tulsi, incense and lamps. Charity of land, cows, grain, umbrellas, shoes and clothing is praised in the text. Reading the katha and chanting through the night complete the vrata. The fast is broken on Dwadashi after sunrise within the parana window, after offering food to Vishnu and the needy.