Shloka 14
श्रीशक्रसंवादः — The Dialogue of Śrī
Lakṣmī) and Śakra (Indra
(अदत्त्वा योउतिथिभ्योऊचन्न न भुडुक्ते सोडतिथिप्रिय: । अदत्त्वान्न दैवतेभ्यो यो न भुडुक्ते स दैवतम् ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
adattvā yo ’tithibhyo ’śnan na bhuṅkte so ’tithipriyaḥ |
adattvānnaṃ daivatebhyo yo na bhuṅkte sa daivatam ||
abhuktavatsu nāśnānḥ satataṃ yastu vai dvijaḥ |
abhojanena tenāsya jitaḥ svargo bhavaty uta ||
Bhishma dit : «Celui qui ne mange pas sans avoir d’abord donné de la nourriture aux hôtes est véritablement cher aux hôtes ; et celui qui ne prend pas son repas sans l’avoir d’abord offert aux dieux est dévoué aux dieux. Et le dvija qui, chaque fois que les personnes à sa charge et les hôtes n’ont pas mangé, s’abstient sans cesse de manger lui-même — par ce mérite de retenue dans la nourriture, il remporte assurément l’accès au ciel.»
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not eat selfishly: first feed guests and dependents, and offer to the gods; such disciplined hospitality and reverence constitute dharma and generate great merit leading to heaven.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira ethical household discipline—prioritizing guests, dependents, and divine offerings before one’s own meal.