Shloka 5
Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / कृत्वा निरशनं यो वै मृत्युमाप्नोति को ऽपि चेत् / मानुपीं तनुमुत्सृज्य मम तुल्यो विराजते
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / kṛtvā niraśanaṃ yo vai mṛtyumāpnoti ko 'pi cet / mānupīṃ tanumutsṛjya mama tulyo virājate
พระศรีกฤษณะตรัสว่า “ผู้ใดก็ตามทำการนิราศนะ (ถือศีลอดอย่างสิ้นเชิง) แล้วประสบความตาย ผู้นั้นละกายมนุษย์และรุ่งเรืองเสมอด้วยเรา”
Śrī Kṛṣṇa (identified here as the divine speaker, aligned with the Vishnu-Kṛṣṇa voice in Purāṇic discourse)
Afterlife Stage: Moksha
Concept: One who undertakes nirāśana (complete fasting) and meets death, abandoning the human body, shines equal to Kṛṣṇa.
Vedantic Theme: Grace and transformation at death through concentrated vow and God-centeredness; movement toward divine likeness/attainment (interpretable as sālokya/sāmīpya/sārūpya depending on tradition).
Application: Use fasting as a devotional intensifier paired with remembrance and ethical restraint; approach mortality with disciplined surrender rather than panic.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata-mahātmyas and death-related attainments; Pretakalpa’s emphasis on end-of-life conditions shaping gati (general)
FAQs
This verse presents fasting as a potent dharmic austerity; if death occurs while observing it, the merit is portrayed as elevating the departed to a state of divine radiance and proximity to the Supreme.
It emphasizes the condition of mind and discipline at the time of death: abandoning the human body while engaged in a vow-like austerity is said to yield an exalted post-death state, described as “shining equal to” the Lord.
Observe fasting or restraint as a sincere spiritual discipline (with clarity and non-harm), and cultivate steadiness and remembrance of the divine—especially during illness, old age, and life’s final transitions.