Shloka 72
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
श्षशुर उवाच वातातपविशीर्णाज्ीं त्वां विवर्णा निरीक्ष्य वै । कर्षितों सुव्रताचारे क्षुधाविद्वलचेतसम्,श्वशुरने कहा--बेटी! हवा और धूपके मारे तुम्हारा सारा शरीर सूख रहा है--शिथिल होता जा रहा है। तुम्हारी कान्ति फीकी पड़ गयी है। उत्तम व्रत और आचारका पालन करनेवाली पुत्री! तुम बहुत दुर्बल हो गयी हो। क्षुधाके कष्टसे तुम्हारा चित्त अत्यन्त व्याकुल है। तुम्हें ऐसी अवस्थामें देखकर भी तुम्हारे हिस्सेका सत्तू कैसे ले लूँ। ऐसा करनेसे तो मैं धर्मकी हानि करनेवाला हो जाऊँगा। अत: कल्याणमय आचरण करनेवाली कल्याणि! तुम्हें ऐसी बात नहीं कहनी चाहिये
śvaśura uvāca vāta-ātapa-viśīrṇāṅgīṁ tvāṁ vivarṇāṁ nirīkṣya vai | karśitāṁ suvratācāre kṣudhā-vidvala-cetasam ||
The father-in-law said: “Seeing you—your limbs worn down by wind and sun, your complexion faded, emaciated though you are a woman of excellent vows and conduct, and your mind distressed by the torment of hunger—I cannot bring myself to take even your share of the roasted barley flour. If I did so, I would become one who harms dharma. Therefore, O auspicious one whose conduct is for welfare, you should not speak in that way.”
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely ritual correctness but ethical sensitivity: one should not accept comfort or food at the cost of another’s suffering, especially when the other is weak and hungry. Compassion and fairness within the household are presented as integral to dharma.
A father-in-law addresses his daughter-in-law after noticing her body has been worn down by exposure and hunger. He refuses to take even her portion of simple food (sattū), saying that doing so would be a violation of dharma, and urges her not to propose such self-denying speech.