Shloka 3.69.44
अयोमुखी-दर्शनम् तथा कबन्ध-प्रवेशः (Ayomukhi Encounter and the ظهور of Kabandha)
वदतं कार्यमिह वां किमर्थं चागतौ युवाम्।।।।इमं देशमनुप्राप्तौ क्षुधार्तस्येह तिष्ठतः।
vadataṃ kāryam iha vāṃ kimarthaṃ cāgatau yuvām |
imaṃ deśam anuprāptau kṣudhārtasyeha tiṣṭhataḥ ||
“Tell me: what business do you have here, and for what purpose have you come? You have arrived at this place at just the right moment—for me who stand here tormented by hunger.”
For what purpose have you come? What work have you here ? You have come at the right time as my food, since I am hungry.
Uncontrolled appetite becomes a metaphor for adharma: hunger without restraint turns into violence; dharma requires self-governance.
Kabandha interrogates them while openly indicating his intention to devour them.
Moral contrast is set up: the brothers’ purposeful quest versus Kabandha’s hunger-driven predation.