Shloka 17
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
पतिकी सेवा करते-करते उस मंगलमयी दृष्टिवाली देवीको भिक्षाके लिये खड़े हुए ब्राह्मगकी याद आयी ।। व्रीडिता साभवत् साध्वी तदा भरतसत्तम । भिक्षामादाय विप्राय निर्जगाम यशस्विनी,भरतवंशविभूषण! अपनी भूलके कारण वह यशस्विनी साध्वी स्त्री बहुत लज्जित हुई और ब्राह्मणके लिये भिक्षा लेकर घरसे बाहर निकली
Markaṇḍeya uvāca: patikī-sevāṃ kurvatī kurvatī sā maṅgalamayī dṛṣṭivālī devī bhikṣārthaṃ sthitaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ smṛtavatī. vrīḍitā sābhavat tadā, bharatasattama. bhikṣām ādāya viprāya nirjagāma yaśasvinī, bharatavaṃśavibhūṣaṇa.
Markandeya berkata: Ketika terus melayani suaminya, perempuan yang bermartabat dan berpandangan jernih itu tiba-tiba teringat pada brāhmaṇa yang berdiri meminta sedekah. Menyadari kelalaiannya, ia pun sangat malu, wahai yang terbaik di antara keturunan Bharata. Lalu ia mengambil sedekah untuk sang brāhmaṇa dan keluar dari rumah untuk memberikannya—dengan sikap penuh kesopanan dan kesadaran dharma yang kembali teguh.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when absorbed in one’s primary duties (here, household and spousal service), one must not neglect obligations toward guests and mendicants. Recognizing a lapse, feeling appropriate shame, and promptly correcting it are presented as marks of dharmic character.
A virtuous woman, busy serving her husband, suddenly remembers a Brahmin waiting for alms. Realizing she delayed him, she feels ashamed, takes the alms, and goes out to give it to him—restoring proper hospitality and duty.