Shloka 22
भुक्तवत्यस्म्यहं देव तस्मादन्न न विद्यते । तब भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने द्रौपदीसे कहा--“कृष्णे! इस समय मुझे बड़ी भूख लगी है; मैं भूखसे अत्यन्त पीड़ित हो रहा हूँ। पहले मुझे जल्दी भोजन करा; फिर सारा प्रबन्ध करती रहना।” उनकी यह बात सुनकर द्रौपदीको बड़ी लज्जा हुई। वह बोली--'भगवन्! सूर्यनारायणकी दी हुई बटलोईसे तभीतक भोजन मिलता है जबतक मैं भोजन न कर लूँ। देव! आज तो मैं भी भोजन कर चुकी हूँ; अतः अब उसमें अन्न नहीं रह गया है” || २०-२१ >॥ ततः प्रोवाच भगवान् कृष्णां कमललोचन:
bhuktavaty asmy ahaṃ deva tasmād anna na vidyate |
Draupadī said, “O Lord, I have already eaten; therefore no food remains.” In the ethical tension of hospitality and helplessness, she explains the condition of the divine vessel: it provides food only until she herself has eaten. Having eaten that day, she is ashamed to admit that she cannot immediately feed the hungry guest, even though the duty of honoring a guest is paramount.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights atithi-dharma (the duty to feed and honor a guest) and the humility of admitting limitation. It sets up the theme that sincere devotion and truthfulness, even amid scarcity, invite divine intervention and protection of dharma.
Kṛṣṇa expresses hunger and asks for food. Draupadī, embarrassed, explains that the boon-vessel given by Sūrya provides food only until she has eaten; since she has already eaten, no food remains in it at that moment.