Shloka 78
The Greatness of Hari’s Janmāṣṭamī (Jayantī) Vow
राजोवाच । अन्नाभावान्ममाद्याशु प्राणा यास्यंति निश्चितम् । स्त्रिय ऊचुः । जन्माष्टम्यां हरे राजन्न भोक्तव्यं त्वयानघ
rājovāca | annābhāvānmamādyāśu prāṇā yāsyaṃti niścitam | striya ūcuḥ | janmāṣṭamyāṃ hare rājanna bhoktavyaṃ tvayānagha
രാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—“അന്നമില്ലായ്മകൊണ്ട് ഇന്ന് തന്നെ എന്റെ പ്രാണൻ വേഗം വിട്ടുപോകും; ഇത് നിശ്ചയം.” സ്ത്രീകൾ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ രാജാവേ, ഹേ നിർമലനേ, ജന്മാഷ്ടമിയിൽ, ഹരിയുടെ ജന്മദിനത്തിൽ, നീ ഭോജനം ചെയ്യരുത്.”
King (rājā), followed by the women (striyaḥ)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rājovāca → rājā + uvāca; annābhāvān → anna-abhāvāt (final -t before m); mamādyāśu → mama + adya + āśu; striya ūcuḥ → striyaḥ + ūcuḥ (visarga sandhi); rājanna → rājan (voc.); tvayānagha → tvayā + anagha.
FAQs
It references Janmāṣṭamī, the sacred observance commemorating the birth of Hari (commonly identified with Vishnu/Krishna), during which fasting or abstaining from food is enjoined.
First the king speaks, lamenting that without food his life may end; then the women respond, advising that he should not eat because it is Janmāṣṭamī—framing abstinence as a dharmic vow rather than mere scarcity.
It underscores steadfastness in vrata-dharma: even under hardship or fear, one should honor sacred disciplines dedicated to Hari, prioritizing spiritual commitment over immediate bodily impulse.