Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 14
श्रीशक्रसंवादः — The Dialogue of Śrī
Lakṣmī) and Śakra (Indra
(अदत्त्वा योउतिथिभ्योऊचन्न न भुडुक्ते सोडतिथिप्रिय: । अदत्त्वान्न दैवतेभ्यो यो न भुडुक्ते स दैवतम् ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
adattvā yo ’tithibhyo ’śnan na bhuṅkte so ’tithipriyaḥ |
adattvānnaṃ daivatebhyo yo na bhuṅkte sa daivatam ||
abhuktavatsu nāśnānḥ satataṃ yastu vai dvijaḥ |
abhojanena tenāsya jitaḥ svargo bhavaty uta ||
Bhishma berkata: “Sesiapa yang tidak makan tanpa terlebih dahulu memberi makanan kepada tetamu, dialah yang dikasihi tetamu; dan sesiapa yang tidak menjamah makanan tanpa terlebih dahulu mempersembahkannya kepada para dewa, dialah yang berbakti kepada para dewa. Dan dvija yang, setiap kali tanggungan dan tetamu belum makan, sentiasa menahan diri daripada makan—dengan pahala pengekangan diri itu, dia benar-benar meraih pencapaian syurga.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not eat selfishly: first feed guests and dependents, and offer to the gods; such disciplined hospitality and reverence constitute dharma and generate great merit leading to heaven.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira ethical household discipline—prioritizing guests, dependents, and divine offerings before one’s own meal.