Shloka 38
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
कुटीं प्रवेशयामासु: क्षुधार्तमतिथिं तदा । ब्राह्मण-परिवारके सब लोग विशुद्धचित्त
kuṭīṁ praveśayāmāsuḥ kṣudhārtam atithiṁ tadā | idaṁ arghyaṁ ca pādyaṁ ca āsī ca iyaṁ tavānagha |
Alors ils conduisirent l’hôte, tourmenté par la faim, dans la hutte. Ils dirent : « Ô irréprochable, voici les offrandes d’accueil : l’arghya et l’eau pour laver les pieds (pādya), et voici un siège pour toi. » Et, avec révérence, ils lui présentèrent aussi le sattū très pur, acquis par des moyens justes.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights atithi-dharma: a guest—especially one in distress—must be welcomed with honor (arghya, pādya, seat, and food), offered with purity, humility, and honestly earned resources, free from pride, anger, and envy.
A hungry Brahmin guest arrives, and the hosts lead him into their hut and formally receive him by presenting the customary items of welcome—arghya, water for washing the feet, and a seat—along with pure provisions such as saktu.