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

Mārkaṇḍeya berkata: “Demikianlah, wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, dia sentiasa menyara dirinya dengan makanan—manisan dan hidangan yang dimasak—namun semuanya hanyalah baki setelah suaminya makan. Begitulah dia hidup setiap hari, setia kepada tuannya, menerima sisa suami sebagai bahagiannya.”

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.