Shloka 40
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
इत्युक्त: प्रतिगृह्याथ सक्तूनां कुडवं द्विज: । भक्षयामास राजेन्द्र न च तुष्टिं जगाम स:,राजेन्द्र! ब्राह्यणके ऐसा कहनेपर अतिथिने एक पाव सत्तू लेकर खा लिया; परंतु उतनेसे वह तृप्त नहीं हुआ
ity uktaḥ pratigṛhyātha saktūnāṃ kuḍavaṃ dvijaḥ | bhakṣayāmāsa rājendra na ca tuṣṭiṃ jagāma saḥ ||
Thus addressed, the brahmin accepted a kuḍava measure of parched grain-flour (saktu). He ate it, O best of kings, yet even after eating he did not attain satisfaction—showing that mere receipt of a small gift, without true fulfillment of need or inner contentment, does not bring contentment.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that charity and hospitality must genuinely address need; a token offering may be accepted and even consumed, yet it may not bring true satisfaction—pointing to the ethical importance of adequacy, intention, and real relief rather than mere formality.
After being spoken to, a brahmin guest accepts a small measured portion (kuḍava) of saktu and eats it, but remains unsated. The speaker (Nakula) reports this to the king addressed as rājendra, emphasizing the guest’s continued lack of satisfaction.