Pātivratya-kathana
The Narrative of the Pativrata
बाह्याभ्यंगविहीनाहं संस्थास्ये दिनसंचयम् । जीवतां रोगहीनो हि भर्ता मे शरदां शतम् ॥ ८१ ॥
bāhyābhyaṃgavihīnāhaṃ saṃsthāsye dinasaṃcayam | jīvatāṃ rogahīno hi bhartā me śaradāṃ śatam || 81 ||
“بیرونی ابھینجَن (تیل کی مالش) کے بغیر میں دن بدن گھلتی جاؤں گی۔ جب تک میں زندہ ہوں، میرا شوہر بیماری سے پاک رہ کر سو خزاں (یعنی سو برس) جئے۔”
A devoted wife (pativratā) speaking (narrative voice within Uttara-Bhaga Mahatmya context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
It expresses vrata-minded self-restraint and self-sacrifice for another’s welfare, framing bodily austerity as a dharmic offering directed toward the husband’s ārogya (freedom from disease) and dīrghāyu (long life).
Bhakti here appears as steadfast dedication (niṣṭhā) and loving intention: the speaker accepts personal hardship while praying for the beloved’s well-being, reflecting devotion expressed through vow, prayer, and faithful conduct.
A practical takeaway aligns with Kalpa (ritual discipline) and Dharmaśāstra-style vrata practice: regulated abstinence (e.g., from abhyaṅga) is treated as a vow-component, coupled with a longevity benediction ('śaradaḥ śatam').