Shloka 17
Mohinī-Ākhyāna: Rukmāṅgada’s Refusal to Eat on Harivāsara
Ekādaśī
परित्यजाम्येष निजं हि जीवितं लोकैः समेतः सहदारभृत्यैः । न त्वेव कुर्यां मधुसूदनस्य दिने सुपुण्येऽन्ननिषेवणं हि ॥ १७ ॥
parityajāmyeṣa nijaṃ hi jīvitaṃ lokaiḥ sametaḥ sahadārabhṛtyaiḥ | na tveva kuryāṃ madhusūdanasya dine supuṇye'nnaniṣevaṇaṃ hi || 17 ||
Eu preferiria abandonar esta própria vida—junto com meu povo, minha esposa e meus servos—do que comer alimento no dia supremamente santo de Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu).
Narada (teaching the greatness of Vishnu’s sacred observance-day and restraint in diet)
Vrata: Hari-vāsara (Madhusūdana’s sacred day; likely Ekādaśī-related observance)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It elevates vrata-discipline as an expression of Viṣṇu-bhakti: the devotee values fidelity to Madhusūdana’s holy day more than bodily life, showing that devotion is proven through self-restraint and dharmic resolve.
Bhakti here is not merely emotion but committed observance—refusing anna-niṣevaṇa (food consumption) on Viṣṇu’s supuṇya day as a concrete act of surrender, reverence, and prioritizing the Lord over personal comfort.
It primarily reflects Kalpa (ritual discipline) through vrata-niyama (rules of observance) and also relies on Jyotiṣa-based sacred calendrical timing implied by “dine supuṇye” (the holy day), which governs when fasting/food-restraint is to be practiced.