Shloka 30
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
वरान् ग्रामान् व्रीहिरसं यवांश्व रत्नं चान्यद् दुर्लभ कि ददानि | नास्मिन्नभक्ष्ये भावमेवं कुरुध्व॑ पुष्टयर्थ व: कि प्रयच्छाम्यहं वै
varān grāmān vrīhirasam yavāṁś ca ratnaṁ cānyad durlabhaṁ ki dadāni | nāsminn abhakṣye bhāvam evaṁ kurudhva puṣṭyarthaṁ vaḥ ki prayacchāmy ahaṁ vai ||
Bhishma dit : «Outre cela, je puis vous accorder d’excellents villages, du riz et son essence nourrissante, de l’orge, des joyaux et d’autres biens rares. Dites-moi : que dois-je vous donner ? Ne tournez pas votre esprit vers la consommation de ce qui est interdit. Parlez : pour fortifier vos corps, que dois-je vous octroyer ?»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic restraint in consumption: one should not be inclined toward what is prohibited (abhakṣya). Instead, legitimate means of nourishment and well-being should be sought, and a patron should offer lawful, beneficial support.
Bhishma addresses a group (plural ‘vaḥ’) who appear to be seeking or proposing something improper to eat. He redirects them by offering lawful gifts—land, grains, and valuables—and asks what they need for bodily nourishment, urging them to abandon desire for forbidden food.