Agastya-Māhātmya and Vasiṣṭha’s Protection of the Ādityas
Khalina Daityas; Sarayū Etiology
औपनआक्रात बछ। सर: पजञ्चत्रिशर्दाधिकशततमोब् ध्याय: जिनका अन्न ग्रहण करने योग्य है और जिनका ग्रहण करने योग्य नहीं है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | bhojyā brāhmaṇasyeha ke bhojyāḥ kṣatriyasya ha | tathā vaiśyasya ke bhojyāḥ ke śūdrasya ca bhārata ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ— ହେ ଭାରତ! ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କାହା ହାତରୁ ଅନ୍ନ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଯୋଗ୍ୟ? କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ କାହା ହାତରୁ? ଏହିପରି ବୈଶ୍ୟ ଓ ଶୂଦ୍ର କାହା କାହା ଘରେ ଭୋଜନ କରିପାରିବେ?
युधिछिर उवाच
The verse frames an inquiry into dharma concerning food acceptance: which sources of food are considered permissible or impermissible for each varṇa, implying that ethical conduct, purity, and the character of the giver affect what may be accepted.
Yudhiṣṭhira initiates a discussion by asking Bhīṣma (addressed here as ‘Bhārata’) to specify the proper households or persons from whom members of the four varṇas may take food, setting up a detailed ethical discourse in the chapter.