Shloka 3
The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada
Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma
न व्रतं हि त्वया कार्यं यदि मामिच्छसि प्रियाम् । मुहूर्तमपि राजेंद्र न शक्नोमि त्वया विना ॥ ३ ॥
na vrataṃ hi tvayā kāryaṃ yadi māmicchasi priyām | muhūrtamapi rājeṃdra na śaknomi tvayā vinā || 3 ||
“Jika engkau menghendaki aku sebagai kekasihmu, engkau tidak perlu menjalankan sebarang vrata (nazar suci). Wahai raja segala raja, aku tidak mampu bertahan walau sesaat muhūrta tanpa dirimu.”
A beloved woman/queen addressing the king (dialogue context within Book 2 narrative)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It contrasts formal religious observance (vrata) with overpowering personal attachment, highlighting how desire can redirect or even obstruct disciplined dharmic practice.
Indirectly, it shows that intense attachment seeks exclusive presence; in bhakti literature this intensity is often redirected toward the Lord, but here it is portrayed in a worldly relationship, implying the need to discipline desire so it supports—not replaces—higher devotion.
The verse uses the time-unit “muhūrta,” a calendrical/astronomical measure associated with Jyotiṣa (a Vedāṅga), commonly applied when timing rituals and vratas.