Shloka 21
अरण्यवृत्ति-वैराग्योपदेशः | Forest Discipline and the Program of Non-Attachment
अल्पं वास्वादु वा भोज्यं पूर्वालाभेन जातुचित् । अन्येष्वपि चरेँल्लाभमलाभे सप्त पूरयन्
alpaṁ vā svādu vā bhojyaṁ pūrvālābhena jātucit | anyeṣv api carel lābham alābhe sapta pūrayan ||
Entah makanan sedekah yang kuterima sedikit atau hambar, aku akan menerimanya tanpa meratapi apa yang dahulu tak kudapat. Jika di satu rumah aku tak memperoleh sedekah, aku akan melangkah ke rumah-rumah lain; bila kudapat, itu sudah cukup. Namun bila tidak, aku akan mendatangi tujuh rumah secara berurutan dan tidak pergi ke rumah kedelapan.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Practice contentment and restraint: accept whatever alms comes without craving for better food, and set a disciplined limit (seven houses) to prevent greed, harassment of householders, and dependence.
Yudhiṣṭhira describes a rule of conduct for seeking alms: he will not lament earlier failure, will try other houses if refused, and will stop after approaching seven houses, avoiding an eighth.