Shloka 13
अगस्त्यस्य वित्तयाचनं तथा इल्वलोपभिक्षणनिर्णयः
Agastya’s request for wealth and the decision to seek resources from Ilvala
एवं स ब्राह्मणान् राजन् भोजयित्वा पुन: पुन: । हिंसयामास दैतेय इल्वलो दुष्टचेतन:,राजन! इस प्रकार दुष्टहृदय इल्वल दैत्य बार-बार ब्राह्मगोंको भोजन कराकर अपने भाईद्वारा उनकी हिंसा करा देता था (इसीलिये अगस्त्यमुनिने वातापिको नष्ट किया था)
evaṁ sa brāhmaṇān rājan bhojayitvā punaḥ punaḥ | hiṁsayāmāsa daiteya ilvalo duṣṭacetanaḥ ||
O King, having repeatedly fed the Brahmins, the Daitya Ilvala—wicked in mind—would then cause them to be slain (through his brother). Thus he turned hospitality into a trap, violating dharma by using a sacred act of feeding as a means of violence.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns the perversion of dharmic acts: feeding guests—especially Brahmins—is a sacred duty, but when used as a cover for harm it becomes grave adharma. Intention (cetana) matters; wicked intent turns even outwardly pious conduct into sin.
Ilvala repeatedly invites Brahmins to a meal and, after feeding them, arranges their killing through his brother (in the wider tale, Vatāpi). This sets the background for why the sage Agastya later destroys Vatāpi, ending their murderous deception.