Shloka 28
द्रोण–सात्यकि द्वैरथम्
Droṇa and Sātyaki: The Chariot Duel
पायसं वा यवान्नं वा शाकं कूसरमेव वा । संयावापूपमांसानि ये च लोका वृथाश्रताम्
pāyasaṃ vā yavānnaṃ vā śākaṃ kūsaram eva vā | saṃyāvāpūpamāṃsāni ye ca lokā vṛthāśratām ||
Arjuna said: “Whether it is sweet rice, barley-gruel, vegetables, or even coarse fare; whether it is thickened milk-preparations, cakes, or meat—those who cook and prepare such foods in vain (without a worthy purpose or proper offering) gain only fruitless results.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that the moral value of food-preparation is determined not merely by the items cooked but by intention and proper purpose—especially whether it is connected to rightful duty, hospitality, or offering. Without such grounding, the effort becomes ‘vṛthā’ (fruitless) and yields no meaningful merit.
Arjuna is speaking and enumerates various kinds of foods—from refined sweets to coarse fare—to make a general point: regardless of the menu, actions like cooking become spiritually and ethically empty when done ‘in vain,’ i.e., without proper dedication, rightful recipients, or dharmic intent.