Shloka 10
अगस्त्यस्य वित्तयाचनं तथा इल्वलोपभिक्षणनिर्णयः
Agastya’s request for wealth and the decision to seek resources from Ilvala
ततो वातापिमसुरं छागं कृत्वा सुसंस्कृतम् । त॑ ब्राह्मणं भोजयित्वा पुनरेव समाह्दयत्,उस दिन वातापि दैत्यको बकरा बनाकर इल्वल उसके मांसका संस्कार किया और उन ब्राह्मणदेवको वह मांस खिलाकर पुन: अपने भाईको पुकारा
tato vātāpim asuraṁ chāgaṁ kṛtvā susaṁskṛtam | taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ bhojayitvā punar eva samāhvayat ||
Then Ilvala turned the demon Vātāpi into a goat and had it well prepared as food. After feeding that meat to the brāhmaṇa, he again called out to his brother—setting in motion his cruel deception against a guest, a grave violation of dharma.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adharma through the betrayal of a guest: using hospitality as a trap and feeding forbidden, violent fare to a brāhmaṇa. It underscores the ethical gravity of atithi-dharma and the moral consequences of deceit and cruelty.
Ilvala transforms his brother Vātāpi into a goat, cooks him, and feeds the meat to a brāhmaṇa. After the meal, Ilvala calls Vātāpi back—part of their notorious scheme to kill guests by making Vātāpi burst forth from within.