Shloka 38
Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)
कदाचिद् द्वादशे काले कदाचिदपि षोडशे । आहारमकरोदू राजा मूलानि च फलानि च,वे कभी बारहवें दिन और कभी सोलहवें दिन फल-मूलका आहार कर लेते थे
kadācid dvādaśe kāle kadācid api ṣoḍaśe | āhāram akarod rājā mūlāni ca phalāni ca ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Tantôt au douzième jour, tantôt même au seizième, le roi prenait de la nourriture, ne vivant que de racines et de fruits.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores tapas (austerity) and self-control: the king limits his intake drastically and irregularly (12th or 16th day), modeling endurance and disciplined restraint as ethically meaningful when directed toward a higher dharmic aim.
Vaiśampāyana describes the king’s regimen: he does not eat daily, but only after long intervals, and even then consumes only simple forest fare—roots and fruits—indicating a period of ascetic observance or hardship.