Mahabharata 3.2.53 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 53
ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः
Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction
संविभागो हि भूतानां सर्वेषामेव दृश्यते । तथैवापचमाने भ्य: प्रदेयं गृहमेधिना
saṃvibhāgo hi bhūtānāṃ sarveṣām eva dṛśyate | tathaivāpacamānebhyaḥ pradeyaṃ gṛhamedhinā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dijo: «Es evidente que todos los seres vivos tienen su parte legítima en lo que se prepara y se posee. Por ello, el cabeza de familia que sostiene la vida doméstica sagrada debe dar alimento a quienes no cocinan para sí—ofreciéndoles comida ya cocida como deber y compasión».
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a householder’s dharma includes recognizing that resources—especially food—are not solely for oneself; they must be shared. Giving cooked food to those who do not cook (such as ascetics, guests, or dependents) is presented as an ethical obligation rooted in compassion and social order.
Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a principle of righteous living during the Vana Parva context: even amid hardship and exile, dharma is upheld through generosity and proper household conduct—specifically, feeding those who rely on others for sustenance.
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