Shloka 20
The Bhīma-Dvādaśī
Kalyāṇinī) Vow and the Anangadāna-Vrata (with a Courtesan-Conduct Discourse
वासुदेव उवाच । यद्यष्टमी चतुर्द्दश्योर्द्वादशीषु च भारत । अन्येष्वपि दिनर्क्षेषु नशक्तस्त्वमुपोषितुम्
vāsudeva uvāca | yadyaṣṭamī caturddaśyordvādaśīṣu ca bhārata | anyeṣvapi dinarkṣeṣu naśaktastvamupoṣitum
Vāsudeva sprach: O Bhārata, wenn du am achten, am vierzehnten und am zwölften Mondtag nicht zu fasten vermagst, noch an anderen Tagen und günstigen Gelegenheiten,
Vāsudeva (Śrī Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
Concept: When strict fasting on common vrata-tithis (aṣṭamī, caturdaśī, dvādaśī, etc.) is not possible, the Lord provides an alternative foremost tithi and method.
Application: Do not abandon practice due to inability; adopt the prescribed alternative with faith; maintain regularity and purity of intention.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vāsudeva speaks with calm authority to a devoted Bhārata figure, gesturing toward a lunar calendar wheel where aṣṭamī, caturdaśī, and dvādaśī glow, while another tithi shines brighter as the ‘foremost’ alternative. The listener’s posture shows relief and renewed resolve, as if dharma has opened a door rather than imposed a burden.","primary_figures":["Vāsudeva (Vishnu/Krishna)","Bhārata (listener figure)"],"setting":"a hermitage teaching space with a visible moonlit sky; a stylized tithi-chakra diagram on a cloth or palm-leaf chart","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["silver white","deep blue","soft saffron","forest green","gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vāsudeva teaching with gold-leaf halo, a luminous lunar calendar wheel with highlighted tithis, Bhārata kneeling with folded hands, rich red-green textiles, ornate jewelry, sacred instructional mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: moonlit veranda scene, delicate tithi-wheel painted like a mandala, Krishna-like Vāsudeva pointing gently, cool blues and silvers, refined expressions conveying compassionate guidance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined Vāsudeva and devotee, stylized moon and circular tithi-chakra, saturated pigments, temple-wall didactic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: circular lunar mandala dominating composition, Vāsudeva centered with lotus motifs, ornate borders, deep indigo with gold highlights, devotional pedagogy rendered as sacred geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","night insects","distant temple bell","gentle conch cue"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यद्यष्टमी = यदि + अष्टमी; चतुर्द्दश्योः = चतुर्दशी + ओः; द्वादशीषु = द्वादशी + षु; अन्येष्वपि = अन्येषु + अपि; दिनर्क्षेषु = दिन + ऋक्षेषु; नशक्तस्त्वमुपोषितुम् = न + अशक्तः + त्वम् + उपोषितुम्
FAQs
The verse highlights fasting on Aṣṭamī (8th tithi), Caturdaśī (14th tithi), and Dvādaśī (12th tithi), which are commonly treated as important observances in Purāṇic vrata traditions.
Yes. It explicitly speaks to someone who is “not able to fast,” setting up compassionate, practical guidance that typically continues in the following verses.
The implied lesson is that devotion and discipline should be pursued according to one’s capacity; the tradition often provides accessible alternatives when rigorous fasting is not possible.