Shloka 493

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

सक्तुप्रस्थचतुर्भागं गृहाणेमं प्रसीद मे । पतिके ऐसा कहनेपर ब्राह्मणी बोली--'ब्रह्मन! हम दोनोंके धर्म और अर्थ समान हैं, अतः आप मुझपर प्रसन्न हों और मेरे हिस्सेका यह पावभर सत्तू ले लें (और लेकर इसे अतिथिको दे दें)

Transliteration

saktuprasthacaturbhāgaṃ gṛhāṇemaṃ prasīda me |

Translation

Nakula said: “Please accept this quarter-portion of a prastha of roasted barley flour (sattu). Be gracious to me.” In the ethical frame of the episode, the speaker offers even a meagre share with humility, treating hospitality and right conduct (dharma) as paramount despite scarcity.

Word by Word

सक्तुof roasted flour (sattu)

प्रस्थof a prastha-measure

चतुर्भागम्a fourth part (quarter share)

गृहाणtake (accept)

इमम्this

प्रसीदbe pleased

मेof me / towards me

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nakula

saktu (sattu)

prastha (measure)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in poverty, one should uphold atithi-dharma (duty to a guest) and practice generosity with humility; the moral worth lies in intention and sacrifice, not in the quantity given.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula urges acceptance of a small, precisely measured share of sattu, framing it as a sincere offering and requesting goodwill—highlighting a moment where scarce resources are still offered in the name of dharma.