Shloka 12

Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)

Devanagari script

आहारेणाथ भक्ष्यैश्न भोज्यै: सुमधुरैस्तथा । उच्छिष्ट भाविता भर्तुर्भुड्धक्ते नित्यं युधिष्ठिर

Transliteration

āhāreṇātha bhakṣyaiś ca bhojyaiḥ sumadhurais tathā | ucchiṣṭa-bhāvitā bhartur bhṛtya-bhakte nityaṁ yudhiṣṭhira ||

Translation

ഹേ യുധിഷ്ഠിരാ! അവൾ മധുരമായ ഭക്ഷ്യഭോജ്യങ്ങളാൽ ജീവിച്ചിരുന്നുവെങ്കിലും, അതെല്ലാം ഭർത്താവ് ഭക്ഷിച്ചതിന് ശേഷം ശേഷിച്ച ഉച്ഛിഷ്ടം മാത്രമായിരുന്നു; നിത്യവും അതെയായിരുന്നു അവളുടെ അംശം.

Word by Word

आहारेणby/with food (diet)

अथthen/and

भक्ष्यैःwith eatables (solid foods)

चand

भोज्यैःwith foods fit to be eaten (dishes)

सुमधुरैःwith very sweet (ones)

तथाthus/likewise

उच्छिष्टleftover food; leavings

भाविताmade/treated; prepared (as)

भर्तुःof the husband/lord

भुङ्क्तेeats/partakes

नित्यम्always

युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Yudhiṣṭhira

bhartṛ (husband/lord)

ucchiṣṭa (leftover food/remnants)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethic of humble, disciplined devotion within household life: placing duty and service above personal preference, symbolized by accepting even sweet foods only after the husband has eaten.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a woman’s daily conduct to Yudhiṣṭhira: she consistently eats only her husband’s leftovers, portraying steadfast, servant-like loyalty and self-effacing dedication.