Shloka 13
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
भृत्यातिथिषु यो भुंक्ते भुक्तवत्सु नर: सदा | अमृतं केवल भुंक्ते इति विद्धि युधिछ्चिर
bhṛtyātithiṣu yo bhuṅkte bhuktavatsu naraḥ sadā | amṛtaṃ kevalaṃ bhuṅkte iti viddhi yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Yudhisthira, ketahuilah: orang yang selalu makan hanya setelah para tanggungannya dan para tamunya selesai makan, patut dipandang sebagai orang yang menyantap nektar semata.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should practice dharma in daily life by feeding dependents and guests first; such selfless, disciplined hospitality is praised as spiritually elevating—equivalent to consuming “nectar.”
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma advises King Yudhiṣṭhira on household ethics, highlighting the merit of serving dependents and honoring guests before oneself.