Shloka 8
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
प्रविष्टस्तत् कुलं॑ यत्र पूर्व चरितवांस्तु सः । देहीति याचमानो सौ तिषछेत्युक्त: स्त्रिया ततः,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--भरतश्रेष्ठ) इस प्रकार बार-बार पछताकर वह दिद्दान ब्राह्मण गाँवमें भिक्षाके लिये गया। उस गाँवमें जो लोग शुद्ध और पवित्र आचरणवाले थे, उन्हींके घरोंपर भिक्षा माँगता हुआ वह एक ऐसे घरपर जा पहुँचा, जहाँ पहले भी कभी किक्षा प्राप्त कर चुका था। दरवाजेपर पहुँचकर ब्राह्मण बोला--'भिक्षा दें!” भीतरसे किसी स्त्रीने उत्तर दिया--“ठहरो! (अभी लाती हूँ)”
praviṣṭas tat kulaṃ yatra pūrvaṃ caritavāṃs tu saḥ | dehīti yācamāno ’sau tiṣṭhety uktaḥ striyā tataḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: He entered that household where he had formerly gone before. As he begged, saying, “Give (alms),” a woman from within replied, “Wait (a moment),” and so he stood there.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights everyday dharma: the seeker of alms must practice restraint and patience, while the householder’s side of dharma is to respond to a request for food with due attention rather than neglect.
A man (in context, a Brahmin seeking alms) arrives at a house he has visited before and asks for alms. A woman inside tells him to wait, setting up the next moment in the story where his conduct and the household’s response become ethically significant.