Shloka 36
Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality
अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः ।
भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा ॥
agraṃ caturguṇaṃ prāhur hantakāraṃ dvijottamāḥ / bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣām athāpi vā
Los mejores entre los nacidos dos veces declaran que la “primera porción” (agra) es cuádruple y que es el “hantakāra”. O bien llaman “hantakāra” a la comida misma, y del mismo modo a la primera porción o incluso a la limosna (con ese nombre).
{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Dharma is not only intention but also disciplined practice; the verse preserves technical conventions so that giving and offering are done with clarity and consistency.
Ancillary dharma-ritual detail; outside pancalakṣaṇa proper.
Naming and measuring the ‘first share’ sacralizes the threshold between possession and generosity—turning the act of eating into a controlled rite rather than impulse.