Shloka 66
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
भुक्त्वा तानपि सक्तून् स नैव तुष्टो बभूव ह । उज्छवृत्तिस्तु धर्मात्मा बत्रीडामनुजगाम ह,वह सत्तू खाकर भी ब्राह्मण देवताका पेट न भरा। यह देखकर उज्छवृत्तिधारी धर्मात्मा ब्राह्मण बड़े संकोचमें पड़ गये
bhuktvā tān api saktūn sa naiva tuṣṭo babhūva ha | ucchavṛttis tu dharmātmā brāhmaṇo 'nujagāma ha ||
Even after eating those roasted barley-flour morsels, he still was not satisfied. Seeing this, the righteous Brahmin who lived by gleaning (austere means of livelihood) followed along, inwardly troubled and hesitant—concerned about how to uphold his duty of hospitality when the guest’s hunger remained unappeased.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical pressure of atithi-dharma (duty to a guest): even when one offers what little one has, a righteous person feels responsible if the guest remains unsatisfied, and seeks a dharmic way to respond.
A guest eats the offered saktu yet remains hungry. The austere Brahmin, who lives by gleaning, notices this and follows along anxiously, implying he is searching for a way to provide further help despite limited means.