Shloka 90
क्षुधा निर्णुदति प्रज्ञां धर्मबुद्धि व्यपोहति,“भूख मनुष्यकी बुद्धिको चौपट कर देती है। धार्मिक विचारको मिटा देती है। क्षुधासे ज्ञान लुप्त हो जानेके कारण मनुष्य धीरज खो देता है। जो भूखको जीत लेता है, वह निश्चय ही स्वर्गपर विजय पाता है इति श्रीमहाभारते आश्वमेधिके पर्वणि अनुगीतापर्वणि नकुलाख्याने नवतितमो<ध्याय:
kṣudhā nirṇudati prajñāṃ dharmabuddhiṃ vyapohati |
Hunger drives away discernment and erases one’s sense of dharma. When knowledge is obscured by hunger, a person loses steadiness and self-control. Therefore, one who conquers hunger is said to win a sure victory—attaining merit and the heavenly goal through mastery over bodily craving.
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hunger is portrayed as a powerful force that can overthrow wisdom and moral judgment; ethical steadiness requires mastery over bodily cravings, and conquering hunger is praised as a spiritual victory leading to higher merit.
In the Anugītā context within the Nakula episode, an elder (identified as the śvaśura) instructs by highlighting how physical deprivation—especially hunger—can destabilize a person’s mind and dharmic resolve, urging restraint and endurance.