FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.4.39-40

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 ॥
brāhmaṇātikrame doṣo
[braahmanaatikrame dosho]
dvādaśyāṁ yad apāraṇe
[dvaadashyaam yad apaarane]
yat kṛtvā sādhu me bhūyād
[yat kritvaa saadhu me bhooyaad]
adharmo vā na māṁ spṛśet
[adharmo vaa na maam sprishet]
ambhasā kevalenātha
[ambhasaa kevalenaatha]
kariṣye vrata-pāraṇam
[karishye vrata-paaranam]
āhur ab-bhakṣaṇaṁ viprā
[aahur ab-bhakshanam vipraa]
hy aśitaṁ nāśitaṁ ca tat
[hy ashitam naashitam cha tat]
Word-for-word
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.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
brāhmaṇātikrame doṣo
brāhmaṇa-atikrame
in surpassing the rules of respect to the brāhmaṇas
doṣaḥ
there is a fault
dvādaśyāṁ yad apāraṇe
dvādaśyām
on the Dvādaśī day
yat
because
apāraṇe
in not breaking the fast in due time
yat kṛtvā sādhu me bhūyād
yat kṛtvā
after doing which action
sādhu
what is auspicious
me
unto me
bhūyāt
may so become
adharmaḥ
what is irreligious
adharmo vā na māṁ spṛśet
vā
either
na
not
mām
unto me
spṛśet
may touch
ambhasā kevalenātha
ambhasā
by water
kevalena
only
atha
therefore
kariṣye vrata-pāraṇam
kariṣye
I shall execute
vrata-pāraṇam
the completion of the vow
āhur ab-bhakṣaṇaṁ viprā
āhuḥ
said
ap-bhakṣaṇam
drinking water
viprāḥ
O brāhmaṇas
hi
indeed
hy aśitaṁ nāśitaṁ ca tat
aśitam
eating
na aśitam ca
as well as not eating
tat
such an action.
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.
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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
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, 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.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The brāhmaṇas can't decide, so Ambarīṣa himself reasons that water is both eating and not eating — and drinks. The mature devotee, in genuine ambiguity, makes a creative middle decision that honors both duties.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I waiting for clear instruction when intelligent navigation is required of me?
  • What 'water' — a creative both/and — could resolve a current either/or trap?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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