Shloka 28
रामस्य पम्पातीरगमनम्, सुग्रीवसख्यं, वालिवधः, सीतारक्षणवृत्तान्तश्च
Rāma at Pampā; alliance with Sugrīva; Vālin’s fall; Sītā’s guarded captivity
ते चावतीर्णा: सलिले कृतवन्तोडघमर्षणम्,वे मुनिलोग उस समय जलमें उतरकर अघमर्षण मन्त्रका जप कर रहे थे। सहसा उन्हें पूर्ण तृप्तिका अनुभव हुआ; बार-बार अन्नरससे युक्त डकारें आने लगीं। यह देखकर वे जलसे बाहर निकले और आपसमें एक-दूसरेकी ओर देखने लगे। (सबकी एक-सी अवस्था हो रही थी।) वे सभी मुनि दुर्वालाकी ओर देखकर बोले--“ब्रह्मर्ष! हमलोग राजा युधिष्ठिरको रसोई बनवानेकी आज्ञा देकर स्नान करनेके लिये आये थे, परंतु इस समय इतनी तृप्ति हो रही है कि कण्ठतक अन्न भरा हुआ जान पड़ता है। अब हम कैसे भोजन करेंगे? हमने जो रसोई तैयार करवायी है, वह व्यर्थ होगी। उसके लिये हमें क्या करना चाहिये”
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca—te cāvatīrṇāḥ salile kṛtavanto ’ghamarṣaṇam; sahasā teṣāṃ parama-tṛptir abhavat, punaḥ punaḥ anna-rasayuktā udgārāḥ samajāyanta. Tad dṛṣṭvā te jalād utthāya parasparaṃ samīkṣya tiṣṭhanti sma. Te sarve munayo Durvāsasaṃ prati nirīkṣya ūcuḥ—“brahmarṣe, vayaṃ rājānaṃ Yudhiṣṭhiraṃ pākaṃ kārayitum ājñāpya snātum āgatāḥ; idānīṃ tu tathā tṛptāḥ smaḥ yathā kaṇṭha-paryantam annaṃ pūrṇam iva pratibhāti. kathaṃ nu bhojanaṃ kariṣyāmaḥ? asmābhiḥ yo ’yaṃ pākaḥ kāritaḥ sa vyarthaḥ syāt. tatra kiṃ kartavyam?”
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having descended into the water, the sages performed the Aghamarṣaṇa rite. All at once they felt completely satisfied, and again and again belches arose as though they had already consumed rich food and drink. Seeing this, they came out of the water and looked at one another, for the same condition had come upon them all. Then, turning their gaze toward the sage Durvāsas, they said: “O brahmarṣi, we had instructed King Yudhiṣṭhira to have a meal prepared and came here to bathe; yet now we feel so full that it seems our throats are filled with food. How can we eat now? The cooking we ordered will be wasted. What should be done about this?”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma as practical responsibility: hospitality to guests is a serious ethical obligation, yet circumstances can become paradoxical. The sages’ sudden satiation creates a dilemma about wasting food and fulfilling social-ritual expectations, showing how duty often requires wise resolution rather than mere intention.
After ordering Yudhiṣṭhira to prepare a meal, Durvāsas and the sages go to bathe and perform the Aghamarṣaṇa rite. Miraculously they feel fully fed, evidenced by belching, and return perplexed—wondering how they can eat and what should be done about the meal already prepared.