Shloka 18
The Dialogue between Rukmāṅgada and Dharmāṅgada
शासयित्वा कृताः सर्वे निराहारा हरेर्दिने । तेन मे न सुखं किंचिदवलीढं धरातले ॥ १८ ॥
śāsayitvā kṛtāḥ sarve nirāhārā harerdine | tena me na sukhaṃ kiṃcidavalīḍhaṃ dharātale || 18 ||
दंड दिल्यानंतर हरिच्या दिवशी सर्वांना निराहार ठेवले गेले. त्यामुळे पृथ्वीवर मला किंचितही सुखाचा आस्वाद मिळाला नाही।
Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga; dialogue frame traditionally tied to Narada’s instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
The verse highlights how enforced austerity—especially fasting on Hari’s sacred day—can become a source of suffering when it is imposed as punishment rather than embraced as devotion, leading to a sense of joylessness in worldly life.
By centering the observance on “Hari’s day,” the verse points to Vishnu-oriented vrata practice; it implies that true bhakti is voluntary, faith-filled restraint, not mere external fasting done under compulsion.
Ritual discipline (kalpa-style vrata practice) is implied through “nirāhāra” on a sacred tithi/day associated with Hari (commonly Ekādaśī), emphasizing correct observance of fasting rules as part of dharmic practice.