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 ||
Sesudah dihukum, mereka semua disuruh tetap tanpa makanan pada hari suci Hari. Kerana itu, di bumi ini aku tidak pernah mengecap walau sedikit pun kebahagiaan.
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.