Shloka 72
Sūrya-stava: Dhaumya’s Counsel and the Aṣṭaśata-nāma of Sūrya
:६3 कौरवोंद्वारा विराटकी गायोंका हरण गृह्नीष्व पिठरं ताम्र॑ं मया दत्त नराधिप । यावद् वर्त्स्यति पाञ्चाली पात्रेणानेन सुव्रत,राजन! यह मेरी दी हुई ताँबेकी बटलोई लो। सुव्रत! तुम्हारे रसोईघरमें इस पात्रद्वारा फल, मूल, भोजन करनेके योग्य अन्य पदार्थ तथा साग आदि जो चार प्रकारकी भोजन- सामग्री तैयार होगी, वह तबतक अक्षय बनी रहेगी, जबतक द्रौपदी स्वयं भोजन न करके परोसती रहेगी
gṛhṇīṣva pitharaṁ tāmraṁ mayā dattaṁ narādhipa | yāvad vartsyati pāñcālī pātreṇānena suvrata || rājan etad mama dattaṁ tāmra-pātraṁ gṛhāṇa | asmin pātre phala-mūla-bhojya-dravya-śāka-ādi caturvidhā bhojana-sāmagrī yāvat pāñcālī svayaṁ na bhuktvā pariveṣayati tāvat akṣayā bhaviṣyati ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O king, accept this copper vessel that I have given you. So long as Pāñcālī (Draupadī), faithful to her vow, continues to serve others without eating herself, whatever fourfold food—fruits, roots, other edible preparations, and greens—gets prepared through this vessel in your kitchen will remain inexhaustible. O ruler, take this copper pot of mine.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sustenance is linked to dharmic conduct: the vessel’s ‘inexhaustibility’ depends on Pāñcālī’s disciplined practice of serving others before herself, highlighting self-restraint, hospitality, and responsibility in scarcity.
A copper vessel is given to the king as support during forest exile. It will keep producing sufficient food items as long as Draupadī continues to serve everyone and has not yet eaten, ensuring the household can fulfill duties to guests and dependents.