Shloka 4.52.16
स्वयंप्रभा-संवादः (Svayamprabha’s Dialogue with the Vanaras)
आतिथ्यधर्मदत्तानि मूलानि च फलानि च।।।।अस्माभिरुपभुक्तानि बुभुक्षापरिपीडितैः।
ātithyadharmadattāni mūlāni ca phalāni ca | asmābhir upabhuktāni bubhukṣāparipīḍitaiḥ ||
The roots and fruits you gave in keeping with the dharma of hospitality were eaten by us, oppressed by hunger.
'You have given us roots and fruits out of hospitality and we have been taken them driven by hunger and thirst.
Ātithya-dharma: the righteous duty of offering food and care to those in need. The verse highlights that hospitality is a moral obligation, not merely courtesy.
The monkeys acknowledge that Svayaṃprabhā fed them with roots and fruits as an act of hospitality while they were suffering from hunger.
Svayaṃprabhā’s generosity and compassion, and the monkeys’ truthful acknowledgment of receiving help.