Shloka 20
The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada
Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma
अकार्यमेतन्नहि भूमिपाल वाक्येन ते हन्मि सुतं स्वकीयम् । किंत्वेवमेतद्व्रतकर्म भूयः करोमि सौम्यं नरदेवनाथ ॥ २० ॥
akāryametannahi bhūmipāla vākyena te hanmi sutaṃ svakīyam | kiṃtvevametadvratakarma bhūyaḥ karomi saumyaṃ naradevanātha || 20 ||
“Ini bukan perbuatan yang wajar, wahai pelindung bumi; atas kata-katamu aku tidak dapat membunuh anak lelakiku sendiri. Namun, wahai yang lembut, wahai tuan di antara manusia, aku akan sekali lagi melaksanakan amalan vrata ini.”
A devotee/vrata-observer addressing a king (bhūmipāla / naradevanātha) within the Uttara-bhāga narrative
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It establishes that dharma sets limits on obedience: even a king’s command cannot justify an adharmic act like killing one’s own child, while sincere vrata-practice should be continued in a righteous way.
By prioritizing moral purity over coercion, the verse implies that true religious observance (vrata) and devotion must be aligned with compassion and righteousness, not with violence or blind compliance.
The verse highlights dharma-nīti (ethical discernment) within ritual life: a vrata (vow-ritual) is valid only when consistent with right conduct, reflecting the practical application of śāstric decision-making rather than technical Vedāṅga procedures.