Shloka 13
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
भृत्यातिथिषु यो भुंक्ते भुक्तवत्सु नर: सदा | अमृतं केवल भुंक्ते इति विद्धि युधिछ्चिर
bhṛtyātithiṣu yo bhuṅkte bhuktavatsu naraḥ sadā | amṛtaṃ kevalaṃ bhuṅkte iti viddhi yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhishma dit : «Ô Yudhiṣṭhira, sache-le : l’homme qui ne mange qu’après que ses dépendants et ses hôtes ont mangé doit être tenu pour celui qui ne se nourrit que de nectar.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should practice dharma in daily life by feeding dependents and guests first; such selfless, disciplined hospitality is praised as spiritually elevating—equivalent to consuming “nectar.”
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma advises King Yudhiṣṭhira on household ethics, highlighting the merit of serving dependents and honoring guests before oneself.