Shloka 18

Rāma’s Abhiṣeka Plan, Kaikeyī’s Boon, and the Initiation of the Exile

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account

Devanagari script

एवं द्वितीये सम्प्राप्ते यथाकाले मनीषिण: । आगम्य बुभुजे सर्वमन्नमुछ्छोपजीविन:,इसी प्रकार दूसरा पर्वकाल आनेपर दुर्वासा ऋषिने पुन: आकर उज्छवृत्तिसे जीवन- निर्वाह करनेवाले उन मनीषी महात्मा मुदूगलके यहाँका सारा अन्न खा लिया

Transliteration

evaṁ dvitīye samprāpte yathākāle manīṣiṇaḥ | āgamya bubhuje sarvam annam ucchopajīvinaḥ ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: When the second seasonal period arrived in due course, the sage came again and ate up all the food belonging to that wise great soul Mudgala, who sustained himself by gleaning the leftover grains (uccha-vṛtti). The episode underscores the ethic of patient endurance and unwavering hospitality even under repeated testing.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

द्वितीयेin the second (time/occasion)

सम्प्राप्तेhaving arrived/when (it) had come

यथाकालेat the proper time

मनीषिणःthe wise (men/sages)

आगम्यhaving come

बुभुजेate/consumed

सर्वम्all, the whole

अन्नम्food

उच्छोपजीविनःthose who live on gleanings/leftovers

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Durvāsā

Mudgala

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?

True dharma is shown through steadfast hospitality and contentment: even when one lives on meager gleanings, one does not abandon generosity or equanimity when tested repeatedly.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the next period/season arrives, Durvāsā returns and consumes all the food at Mudgala’s hermitage; Mudgala, who survives by collecting leftover grains, is again put to the test of endurance and righteous conduct.