Shloka 3
शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा
The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal
उष्णाढ्यस्योदनस्यात्र राशय: पर्वतोपमा:।मृष्टान्नानि च सूपाश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च।।1.53.3।।नानास्वादुरसानां च षाडबानां तथैव च।भाजनानि सुपूर्णानि गौडानि च सहस्रश:।।1.53.4।।
uṣṇāḍhyasyodanasya atra rāśayaḥ parvatopamāḥ |
mṛṣṭānnāni ca sūpāś ca dadhikulyās tathaiva ca || 1.53.3 ||
সেখানে গরম ভাতের পাহাড়সম স্তূপ ছিল; সঙ্গে ছিল নানাবিধ সুস্বাদু ভোজন, সূপ, আর দইয়ের যেন প্রবহমান ধারা—অতিশয় সমৃদ্ধ আপ্যায়ন।
Heaps of hot rice as high as mountains, savoury food, condiments and on abundance of curd, various kinds of soups, containers in their thousands completely filled with edibles with all six tastes and preparations made of jaggery (were distributed).
FAQs
It highlights atithi-dharma: honoring guests through generous, respectful hospitality, offered without meanness or calculation.
Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage provides lavish provisions to host Viśvāmitra’s party; the abundance sets the stage for Viśvāmitra’s later desire for Śabalā.
Vasiṣṭha’s generosity and capacity to sustain others through righteous abundance.