Shloka 85
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
यदि चाहमनुग्राह्मो भवतो दयितो5पि वा । क्रियतां तावदाहारस्ततो वेत्स्याम्यहं परम्
yadi cāham anugrāhyo bhavato dayito ’pi vā | kriyatāṁ tāvad āhāras tato vetsyāmy ahaṁ param ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Wenn ich einer bin, dem du Gunst erweisen willst — ja, wenn ich dir lieb bin — dann lass zuerst Speise bereiten und nimm sie zu dir. Danach werde ich erkennen, was als Nächstes zu tun ist (und welcher höhere Weg zu gehen ist).“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic propriety: before pursuing weighty decisions or higher aims, one should first attend to basic duties like offering and taking food—an ethical emphasis on hospitality, care, and orderly conduct.
The speaker (Vaiśampāyana, narrating) conveys a request framed as an appeal to affection and favor: “If you care for me, first arrange the meal; afterward I will determine the next (or higher) course.” It signals a pause for sustenance before proceeding with further action or counsel.