Shloka 96
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
तोयपूर्व प्रदायान्नमतिथि भ्यो विशाम्पते । पश्चाद् भुञज्जीत मेधावी न चाप्यन्यमना नर:
toyapūrvaṃ pradāyānnam atithibhyo viśāmpate | paścād bhuñjīta medhāvī na cāpy anyamanā naraḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ପ୍ରଜାପତି! ପ୍ରଥମେ ଅତିଥିମାନଙ୍କୁ ଜଳ ଅର୍ପଣ କରି, ପରେ ଅନ୍ନ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ। ତା’ପରେ ମାତ୍ର ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନ ପୁରୁଷ ନିଜେ ଭୋଜନ କରିବ; ଭୋଜନବେଳେ ମନ ଅନ୍ୟତ୍ର ହେବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hospitality is a primary duty: one should first honor guests by offering water and food, and only then eat oneself; moreover, eating should be done with attentive, undistracted mind as part of disciplined conduct (dharma).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on righteous conduct (dharma), he addresses the king and lays down a rule of household ethics: prioritize the needs of guests through proper offerings, then partake of one’s meal with mental composure.