Shloka 85
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
यदि चाहमनुग्राह्मो भवतो दयितो5पि वा । क्रियतां तावदाहारस्ततो वेत्स्याम्यहं परम्
yadi cāham anugrāhyo bhavato dayito ’pi vā | kriyatāṁ tāvad āhāras tato vetsyāmy ahaṁ param ||
ഞാൻ നിന്റെ അനുഗ്രഹത്തിന് അർഹനാണെങ്കിൽ—നിനക്കു പ്രിയനുമാണെങ്കിൽ—ആദ്യം ആഹാരം ഒരുക്കി സ്വീകരിക്കൂ. അതിന് ശേഷം അടുത്ത (ഉന്നത) മാർഗം ഞാൻ അറിയും.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic propriety: before pursuing weighty decisions or higher aims, one should first attend to basic duties like offering and taking food—an ethical emphasis on hospitality, care, and orderly conduct.
The speaker (Vaiśampāyana, narrating) conveys a request framed as an appeal to affection and favor: “If you care for me, first arrange the meal; afterward I will determine the next (or higher) course.” It signals a pause for sustenance before proceeding with further action or counsel.