Shloka 14
Rāma’s Abhiṣeka Plan, Kaikeyī’s Boon, and the Initiation of the Exile
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account
स्वागतं ते$स्त्विति मुनिं मुदूगल: प्रत्यभाषत । पाद्यमाचमनीयं च प्रतिपाद्यार्घ्यमुत्तमम्,मुद्गलने उनसे कहा--“महर्षे!! आपका स्वागत है, ऐसा कहकर उन्होंने पाद्य, उत्तम अर्घ्य तथा आचमनीय आदि पूजनकी सामग्री भेंट की। तत्पश्चात् उन व्रतधारी अतिथिसेवी महर्षि मुद्गलने बड़ी श्रद्धाके साथ उन्मत्त-वेशधारी भूखे तपस्वी दुर्वासाको भोजन अर्पित किया। वह अन्न बड़ा स्वादिष्ट था। वे उन्मत्त मुनि भूखे तो थे ही, परोसी हुई सारी रसोई खा गये। तब महर्षि मुद्गलने उन्हें और भोजन दिया
svāgataṃ te 'stv iti muniṃ mudūgalaḥ pratyabhāṣata | pādyam ācamanaṃ ca pratipādyārghyam uttamam ||
Mudūgala greeted the sage, saying, “Welcome to you.” He then duly offered the customary honors of hospitality—water for washing the feet, water for sipping, and an excellent arghya offering. The scene underscores the dharma of receiving a guest: even an unexpected ascetic is to be honored with reverence and proper rites of welcome.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma: a guest—especially a holy person—should be welcomed with respectful words and the traditional offerings (pādya, ācamana, arghya). Ethical conduct is shown through prompt, reverent hospitality rather than judgment of the visitor’s appearance or circumstances.
Mudūgala receives a visiting sage, greets him with “Welcome,” and performs the standard rites of honoring a guest by offering water for the feet, water for sipping, and an excellent arghya. It sets the stage for the broader episode of testing and exemplifying hospitality.