Shloka 14
श्रीशक्रसंवादः — The Dialogue of Śrī
Lakṣmī) and Śakra (Indra
(अदत्त्वा योउतिथिभ्योऊचन्न न भुडुक्ते सोडतिथिप्रिय: । अदत्त्वान्न दैवतेभ्यो यो न भुडुक्ते स दैवतम् ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
adattvā yo ’tithibhyo ’śnan na bhuṅkte so ’tithipriyaḥ |
adattvānnaṃ daivatebhyo yo na bhuṅkte sa daivatam ||
abhuktavatsu nāśnānḥ satataṃ yastu vai dvijaḥ |
abhojanena tenāsya jitaḥ svargo bhavaty uta ||
Bhishma said: “He who does not eat without first giving food to guests is truly dear to guests; and he who does not partake of food without first offering it to the gods is devoted to the gods. The twice-born who, whenever dependents and guests have not eaten, continually refrains from eating himself—by that merit of self-restraint in food, he indeed wins the attainment of heaven.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not eat selfishly: first feed guests and dependents, and offer to the gods; such disciplined hospitality and reverence constitute dharma and generate great merit leading to heaven.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira ethical household discipline—prioritizing guests, dependents, and divine offerings before one’s own meal.