Shloka 52
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
आसन चैव पाद्यं च तस्मै दत्त्वा द्विजातये | प्रोवाचौघवती विप्रं केनार्थ: कि ददामि ते
āsanaṃ caiva pādyaṃ ca tasmai dattvā dvijātaye | provācaughavatī vipraṃ kenārthaḥ kiṃ dadāmi te ||
Après avoir offert au brahmane deux-fois-né un siège et de l’eau pour laver ses pieds, Oghavatī s’adressa au savant : «Vénérable brahmane, de quoi as-tu besoin ? Quel don puis-je t’offrir en signe de service ?»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches atithi-dharma: a guest—especially a learned Brahmin—is to be honored with respectful reception (seat and foot-water) and then asked sincerely what they need, so that one’s giving is purposeful and service-oriented rather than merely formal.
In Bhīṣma’s narration, Oghavatī receives a Brahmin guest properly by offering him a seat and water to wash his feet, and then asks him what he requires and what gift she may present.