Shloka 493
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
सक्तुप्रस्थचतुर्भागं गृहाणेमं प्रसीद मे । पतिके ऐसा कहनेपर ब्राह्मणी बोली--'ब्रह्मन! हम दोनोंके धर्म और अर्थ समान हैं
saktuprasthacaturbhāgaṃ gṛhāṇemaṃ prasīda me |
Nakula dit : « Je t’en prie, accepte ce quart d’un prastha de farine d’orge grillée (sattu). Sois-moi favorable. » Dans le cadre moral de l’épisode, le locuteur offre avec humilité jusqu’à une part infime, tenant l’hospitalité et la conduite juste (dharma) pour suprêmes malgré la pénurie.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in poverty, one should uphold atithi-dharma (duty to a guest) and practice generosity with humility; the moral worth lies in intention and sacrifice, not in the quantity given.
Nakula urges acceptance of a small, precisely measured share of sattu, framing it as a sincere offering and requesting goodwill—highlighting a moment where scarce resources are still offered in the name of dharma.