Shloka 52
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
आसन चैव पाद्यं च तस्मै दत्त्वा द्विजातये | प्रोवाचौघवती विप्रं केनार्थ: कि ददामि ते
āsanaṃ caiva pādyaṃ ca tasmai dattvā dvijātaye | provācaughavatī vipraṃ kenārthaḥ kiṃ dadāmi te ||
ब्राह्मण को बैठने के लिए आसन और पाद्य (पैर धोने का जल) देकर ओघवती ने उस विप्र से कहा—“विप्रवर! आपको किस वस्तु की आवश्यकता है? मैं आपकी सेवा में क्या भेंट करूँ?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches atithi-dharma: a guest—especially a learned Brahmin—is to be honored with respectful reception (seat and foot-water) and then asked sincerely what they need, so that one’s giving is purposeful and service-oriented rather than merely formal.
In Bhīṣma’s narration, Oghavatī receives a Brahmin guest properly by offering him a seat and water to wash his feet, and then asks him what he requires and what gift she may present.