Shloka 44
चित्रसेन-समागमः / The Engagement with Citrasena and the Gandharvas
दशान्यानि सहस्राणि येषामन्न॑ सुसंस्कृतम् हियते रुक्मपात्रीभिययतीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम्,“इनके सिवा दूसरे दस हजार और ऊर्ध्वरेता यति उनके यहाँ रहते थे, जिनके लिये सुन्दर ढंगसे तैयार किया हुआ अन्न सोनेकी थालियोंमें परोसकर पहुँचाया जाता था
daśānyāni sahasrāṇi yeṣām annaṃ susaṃskṛtam hīyate rukmapātrībhir yayatīnām ūrdhvaretasām |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Besides these, there were another ten thousand ascetic mendicants—men of continence—residing there as well. For them, carefully prepared food was regularly served, being brought and offered in golden dishes.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic hospitality: society (especially householders and rulers) sustains renunciants through respectful, abundant provisioning. Ethical emphasis lies in honoring self-controlled ascetics and supporting spiritual life through generous, well-ordered giving.
Vaiśampāyana describes the presence of a very large community of celibate ascetics living at a certain place, and notes that they were regularly served carefully prepared food, brought to them in golden vessels—indicating extraordinary patronage and reverence.