118 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 9, Ch. 4

TRANSLATION

In the meantime, only a muhirta of the Dvadasi day was left on
which to break the fast. Consequently, it was imperative that the
fast be broken immediately. In this dangerous situation, the King
consulted learned brahmanas.

TEXTS 39-40

TAHA A eat IIT |

TA HAMAR PAAAL T a At PTAA AA
FAM Faster HCY aaTTy |

aren fon att ats a aq Weel!

brahmandatikrame doso
dvadasyam yad aparane
yat krtvd sadhu me bhiiyad

adharmo v4 na mam sprset

ambhasa kevalenatha
karisye vrata-padranam

Ghur ab-bhaksanam vipra
hy aSitam nasitam ca tat

brahmana-atikrame—in surpassing the rules of respect to the
brahmanas; dosah—there is a fault; dvddasy4m—on the Dvadasi day;
yat—because; apdrane—in not breaking the fast in due time; yat
krtva —after doing which action; sédhu—what is auspicious; me—unto
me; bhiiyat—may so become; adharmah—what is irreligious; va—
either; na—not; maém—unto me; sprset—may touch; ambhasd—by
water; kevalena—only; atha—therefore; karisye—I shall execute;
vrata-paranam—the completion of the vow; Ghuh—said; ap-
bhaksanam—drinking water; viprah—O brahmanas; hi—indeed;
aSitam—eating; na asitam ca—as well as not eating; tat—such an
action.

TRANSLATION

The King said: ‘*To transgress the laws of respectful behavior
toward the brahmanas is certainly a great offense. On the other
