Shloka 26

चित्रसेन-समागमः / The Engagement with Citrasena and the Gandharvas

Devanagari script

प्रमृष्टभाण्डा मृष्टान्ना काले भोजनदायिनी । संयता गुप्तधान्या च सुसम्मृष्टनिवेशना,“मैं घरके बर्तनोंको माँज-धोकर साफ रखती हूँ। शुद्ध एवं स्वादिष्ट रसोई तैयार करके सबको ठीक समयपर भोजन कराती हूँ। मन और इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखकर घरमें गुप्तरूपसे अनाजका संचय रखती हूँ और घरको झाड़-बुहार, लीप-पोतकर सदा स्वच्छ एवं पवित्र बनाये रखती हूँ

Transliteration

pramṛṣṭabhāṇḍā mṛṣṭānnā kāle bhojanadāyinī | saṃyatā guptadhānyā ca susammṛṣṭaniveśanā ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “I keep the household vessels scrubbed and clean. I prepare pure, well-cooked food and serve meals to everyone at the proper time. With my mind and senses restrained, I discreetly store up grain within the home, and I keep the dwelling thoroughly swept, plastered, and maintained—always clean and sanctified.”

Word by Word

प्रमृष्टभाण्डाshe whose vessels are well-cleaned

मृष्टान्नाshe whose food is clean/choice (well-prepared)

कालेat the proper time

भोजनदायिनीgiver of meals (one who serves food)

संयताself-restrained

गुप्तधान्याshe whose grain stores are kept hidden/secure

चand

सुसम्मृष्टनिवेशनाshe whose dwelling/household is very well-cleaned and arranged

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

household vessels (bhāṇḍa)

food/meal (anna/bhojana)

grain stores (dhānya)

dwelling/house (niveśana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights gṛhastha-dharma: disciplined self-control, punctual hospitality, careful management of provisions, and maintaining cleanliness and purity in the home—ethical order expressed through everyday duties.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration, a woman (speaking in the surrounding context) describes her exemplary household conduct—keeping utensils and the home clean, preparing pure food on time, and discreetly storing grain—presenting an ideal of domestic responsibility.