Shloka 20
स कम्मिंश्चित् क्षुधाविष्टः फलभारसमन्वितम् । बिल्व॑ ददर्श विप्रर्षिरारुरोह च त॑ तत:,शत्रुदमन! रास्तेमें एक स्थानमें उन्हें बड़े जोरकी भूख लगी। वहाँ पास ही फलोंके भारसे झुका हुआ एक बेलका वृक्ष दिखायी दिया। ब्रह्मर्षि उत्तंक उस वृक्षपर चढ़ गये और उस काले मृगचर्मको उन्होंने उसकी एक शाखामें बाँध दिया। फिर वे ब्राह्मणपुंगव उस समय वहाँ बेल तोड़-तोड़कर गिराने लगे
sa kammiṁścit kṣudhāviṣṭaḥ phalabhārasamanvitam | bilvaṁ dadarśa viprarṣir āruroha ca taṁ tataḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: Tormented by hunger at a certain spot, the brahmarṣi saw a bilva tree bent down under the weight of its fruit. He then climbed that tree and began to pluck and drop the bilva fruits there, seeking to relieve his pressing need—an episode that frames bodily necessity within the ongoing discipline of a sage’s conduct.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a sage experiences bodily needs like hunger; the narrative highlights how necessity is met through simple, nonviolent means (gathering fruit) while maintaining the broader discipline of dharma and restraint.
While traveling, the sage—afflicted by hunger—spots a fruit-laden bilva tree, climbs it, and starts plucking and dropping the fruits to eat and continue his journey.