Shloka 34
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
कुडवं कुडवं सर्वे व्यभजन्त तपस्विन: । तदनन्तर एक दिन पुनः छठा काल आनेतक उन्होंने सेरभर जौका उपार्जन किया। उन तपस्वी ब्राह्मणोंने उस जौका सत्तू तैयार किया और जप तथा नैत्यिक नियम पूर्ण करके अग्निमें विधिपूर्वक आहुति देनेके पश्चात् वे सब लोग एक-एक कुडव अर्थात् एक-एक पाव सत्तू बाँटकर खानेके लिये उद्यत हुए ।। ३२-३३ $ ।। अथागच्छद् द्विज: कश्चिदतिथिभर्भुज्जतां तदा,वे भोजनके लिये अभी बैठे ही थे कि कोई ब्राह्मण अतिथि उनके यहाँ आ पहुँचा। उस अतिथिको आया देख वे मन-ही-मन बहुत प्रसन्न हुए। उस अतिथिको प्रणाम करके उन्होंने उससे कुशल-मंगल पूछा
kuḍavaṁ kuḍavaṁ sarve vyabhajanta tapasvinaḥ | tadanantaraṁ ekadinaṁ punaḥ ṣaṣṭhaḥ kālaḥ āne-tak tebhyaḥ serabhara-yavopārjanaṁ kṛtam | te tapasvino brāhmaṇāḥ tasya yavasya sattūṁ kṛtvā japaṁ ca nityika-niyamān pūrayitvā agnau vidhivat āhutīḥ hutvā paścāt te sarve ekaikaṁ kuḍavam—ekaikaṁ pāva-sattūṁ—bhaktum udyatā babhūvuḥ || athāgacchad dvijaḥ kaścid atithir bhoktum āsatāṁ tadā | te bhojanāya upaviṣṭā eva āsan yat, tadā kaścid brāhmaṇa-atithis teṣāṁ gṛham ājagāma | tam atithiṁ dṛṣṭvā te manasā paramānanditāḥ | taṁ praṇamya te tasya kuśala-maṅgalaṁ papracchuḥ ||
Nakula said: The ascetic brāhmaṇas divided their scant measure of food—each receiving a single kuḍava. Then, on another day, they managed to gather only a little barley. From that barley they prepared sattū, roasted flour. Having completed their daily recitations (japa) and observances, and having duly offered oblations into the sacred fire, they were about to eat—each with his one kuḍava portion. Just as they had sat down for the meal, a brāhmaṇa guest (atithi) arrived at their dwelling. Seeing him, they felt inward joy; they bowed to him and asked after his welfare.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores atithi-dharma: honoring and welcoming a guest is a primary ethical duty, to be upheld even amid scarcity. It also shows dharma as a synthesis of inner discipline (japa, daily vows) and outward compassion (hospitality and sharing).
A group of ascetic Brahmins, having obtained only a small amount of barley, prepare sattū, complete their daily rites, and are about to eat their tiny portions. At that moment an unannounced Brahmin guest arrives; they rejoice, bow, and inquire after his welfare—setting the stage for a test of generosity under hardship.