SB 9.4.40 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

ब्राह्मणातिक्रमे दोषो द्वादश्यां यदपारणे । यत् कृत्वा साधु मे भूयादधर्मो वा न मां स्पृशेत् ॥ ३९ ॥ अम्भसा केवलेनाथ करिष्ये व्रतपारणम् । आहुरब्भक्षणं विप्रा ह्यशितं नाशितं च तत् ॥ ४० ॥

Verse text

brāhmaṇātikrame doṣo dvādaśyāṁ yad apāraṇe yat kṛtvā sādhu me bhūyād adharmo vā na māṁ spṛśet ambhasā kevalenātha kariṣye vrata-pāraṇam āhur ab-bhakṣaṇaṁ viprā hy aśitaṁ nāśitaṁ ca tat

Synonyms

brāhmaṇa — atikrame — in surpassing the rules of respect to the brāhmaṇas ; doṣaḥ — there is a fault ; dvādaśyām — on the Dvādaśī day ; yat — because ; apāraṇe — in not breaking the fast in due time ; yat kṛtvā — after doing which action ; sādhu — what is auspicious ; me — unto me ; bhūyāt — may so become ; adharmaḥ — what is irreligious ; vā — either ; na — not ; mām — unto me ; spṛśet — may touch ; ambhasā — by water ; kevalena — only ; atha — therefore ; kariṣye — I shall execute ; vrata — pāraṇam — the completion of the vow ; āhuḥ — said ; ap — bhakṣaṇam — drinking water ; viprāḥ — O brāhmaṇas ; hi — indeed ; aśitam — eating ; na aśitam ca — as well as not eating ; tat — such an action .

Translation

The King said: “To transgress the laws of respectful behavior toward the brāhmaṇas is certainly a great offense. On the other hand, if one does not observe the breaking of the fast within the time of Dvādaśī, there is a flaw in one’s observance of the vow. Therefore, O brāhmaṇas, if you think that it will be auspicious and not irreligious, I shall break the fast by drinking water.” In this way, after consulting with the brāhmaṇas, the King reached this decision, for according to brahminical opinion, drinking water may be accepted as eating and also as not eating.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The King said: "To transgress the laws of respectful behavior toward the brāhmaṇas is certainly a great offense. On the other hand, if one does not observe the breaking of the fast within the time of Dvādaśī, there is a flaw in one's observance of the vow. Therefore, I shall break the fast by drinking water so that I can have auspiciousness of the vow and also not be touched by irreligion. The brāhmaṇas say that drinking water is eating and not eating.” Since it is a fault to insult the brāhmaṇa by eating and also a fault not to break the fast on Dvādaśī, you should tell me what can be done so that I obtain auspiciousness and do not break dharma. Seeing the brāhmaṇas silent, unable to resolve the issue, he considered the issue himself and made a decision. O brāhmaṇas! I will drink water. Thus on the Dvādaśī I will have eaten. Since water is not considered food, I will not have eaten, and thus will not have insulted the brāhmaṇa. Śruti also says ap ‘śnāti tannaivāśitam naivānaśitam: taking water is both eating and not eating.

Purport

When Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, in his dilemma, consulted the brāhmaṇas about whether he should break the fast or wait for Durvāsā Muni, apparently they could not give a definite answer about what to do. A Vaiṣṇava, however, is the most intelligent personality. Therefore Mahārāja Ambarīṣa himself decided, in the presence of the brāhmaṇas, that he would drink a little water, for this would confirm that the fast was broken but would not transgress the laws for receiving a brāhmaṇa. In the Vedas it is said, apo ’śnāti tan naivāśitaṁ naivānaśitam. This Vedic injunction declares that the drinking of water may be accepted as eating or as not eating. Sometimes in our practical experience we see that some political leader adhering to satyāgraha will not eat but will drink water. Considering that drinking water would not be eating, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa decided to act in this way.