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 ||
سزا دینے کے بعد ہری کے دن سب کو بے خوراک (فاکہ) رکھا گیا۔ اسی سبب میں نے زمین پر ذرّہ بھر بھی خوشی کا مزہ نہیں چکھا۔
Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga; dialogue frame traditionally tied to Narada’s instruction)
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"karuna","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"From the fact of punishment and forced fasting to remorse and a lingering sense of joylessness on earth."}
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.