Shloka 13
श्रीशक्रसंवादः — The Dialogue of Śrī
Lakṣmī) and Śakra (Indra
भृत्यातिथिषु यो भुडुक्ते भुक्तवत्सु सदा सदा | अमृतं केवल भुड्क्ते इति विद्धि युधिष्ठिर
bhṛtyātithiṣu yo bhuṅkte bhuktavatsu sadā sadā | amṛtaṃ kevalaṃ bhuṅkte iti viddhi yudhiṣṭhira ||
قال بهيشما: «يا يودهيشثيرا، اعلم هذا: إنَّ من لا يأكل أبدًا إلا بعد أن يأكل المعالون والضيوف—الخدم ومن يجب إعالتهم—فإنما يتناول حقًّا رحيقَ الخلود (الأمريت) وحده.»
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should eat only after feeding those who depend on one’s care—family members to be supported, servants, and guests. Prioritizing others in matters of food is presented as a mark of dharma, making one’s own meal ‘like nectar’ (amṛta) in moral quality.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of household and social ethics. Here he highlights hospitality and responsibility: the righteous householder does not eat first, but ensures others are fed before taking his own meal.