Shloka 17
Mohinī-Ākhyāna: Rukmāṅgada’s Refusal to Eat on Harivāsara
Ekādaśī
परित्यजाम्येष निजं हि जीवितं लोकैः समेतः सहदारभृत्यैः । न त्वेव कुर्यां मधुसूदनस्य दिने सुपुण्येऽन्ननिषेवणं हि ॥ १७ ॥
parityajāmyeṣa nijaṃ hi jīvitaṃ lokaiḥ sametaḥ sahadārabhṛtyaiḥ | na tveva kuryāṃ madhusūdanasya dine supuṇye'nnaniṣevaṇaṃ hi || 17 ||
I would rather relinquish this very life—together with my people, my wife, and my attendants—than ever partake of food on the supremely holy day of Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu).
Narada (teaching the greatness of Vishnu’s sacred observance-day and restraint in diet)
Vrata: Hari-vāsara (Madhusūdana’s sacred day; likely Ekādaśī-related observance)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It elevates vrata-discipline as an expression of Viṣṇu-bhakti: the devotee values fidelity to Madhusūdana’s holy day more than bodily life, showing that devotion is proven through self-restraint and dharmic resolve.
Bhakti here is not merely emotion but committed observance—refusing anna-niṣevaṇa (food consumption) on Viṣṇu’s supuṇya day as a concrete act of surrender, reverence, and prioritizing the Lord over personal comfort.
It primarily reflects Kalpa (ritual discipline) through vrata-niyama (rules of observance) and also relies on Jyotiṣa-based sacred calendrical timing implied by “dine supuṇye” (the holy day), which governs when fasting/food-restraint is to be practiced.