Shloka 64
The Greatness of Hari’s Janmāṣṭamī (Jayantī) Vow
अपि वर्षशतेनापि लभ्यते वा न लभ्यते । विना ऋक्षं न कर्तव्या नवमीसंयुताष्टमी
api varṣaśatenāpi labhyate vā na labhyate | vinā ṛkṣaṃ na kartavyā navamīsaṃyutāṣṭamī
Selbst nach hundert Jahren mag es erlangt werden — oder auch nicht. Ohne das rechte Nakṣatra (Mondhaus) soll die mit Navamī verbundene Aṣṭamī nicht begangen werden.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Brahma-khaṇḍa Adhyaya 13)
Concept: Vrata efficacy depends on śuddha-kāla: without the proper nakṣatra, even a rare conjunction should not be undertaken.
Application: Before observing fasts or special worship days, consult a reliable pañcāṅga; prioritize correctness over haste or social pressure.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene sage sits beside a palm-leaf pañcāṅga, pointing to a star-map wheel where nakṣatras encircle the moon’s phases. A devotee waits patiently with folded hands, a lamp and offering tray untouched, as if honoring the sanctity of the ‘right moment’ more than the act itself.","primary_figures":["a Vaishnava sage (vrata-nirṇaya teacher)","a devoted householder","personified Moon (Candra) as a subtle celestial presence"],"setting":"Hermitage veranda overlooking a quiet riverbank; a low altar with a conch, lamp, and tulasī pot kept aside, awaiting the proper nakṣatra.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","indigo night-sky","moon-silver","lamp-flame amber","leaf-green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a seated sage with a palm-leaf almanac and circular nakṣatra-mandala behind him, devotee with añjali-mudrā, brass oil lamp and conch on a small altar, ornate gold leaf halos, rich maroon and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, South Indian iconographic symmetry emphasizing sacred time.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate sage and devotee on a veranda, cool indigo sky with a luminous moon and a ring of tiny nakṣatra symbols, lyrical riverbank foliage, refined faces, soft shading, minimal architecture, contemplative stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, sage gesturing to a nakṣatra wheel, stylized moon with expressive eyes, warm red and yellow background gradients, green foliage borders, temple-wall aesthetic with ritual objects (lamp, conch) rendered in flat iconic forms.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central circular mandala of moon phases and nakṣatras framed by lotus borders, small Vaishnava teacher figure at the bottom, hanging lamps, intricate floral vines, deep blue ground with gold detailing, devotional calm rather than narrative action."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","turning palm leaves","night insects","distant flowing water","brief silence between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वर्षशतेनापि = वर्ष-शतेन + अपि; बुधेऽपि इव: (not here); नवमीसंयुताष्टमी = नवमी-संयुता-अष्टमी
FAQs
It regulates observance of a specific calendrical combination: Aṣṭamī that is conjoined with Navamī, stating it should not be performed without the proper nakṣatra (lunar mansion).
It emphasizes rarity and uncertainty: the qualifying conditions (especially the nakṣatra requirement) may occur very infrequently, so one should not force the observance when the requisite astronomical condition is absent.
Dharma is to be practiced with precision and restraint: religious observances are not merely about intent, but also about following the prescribed rules (vidhi), including correct timing and conditions.