Shloka 78
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
अवेक्ष्या इति कृत्वाहं दृढ्भक्तेति वा द्विज । चिन्त्या ममेयमिति वा सक्तूनादातुमहसि,अतः आप मुझे अपना दृढ़ भक्त, रक्षणीय और विचारणीय मानकर अतिथिको देनेके लिये यह सत्तू स्वीकार कीजिये
avekṣyeti kṛtvāhaṃ dṛḍha-bhakteti vā dvija | cintyā mameyam iti vā saktūn ādātum arhasi | ataḥ āpa mām ātmanaḥ dṛḍha-bhaktaṃ rakṣaṇīyaṃ ca vicāraṇīyaṃ ca matvā atithaye dātum idaṃ saktūṃs svīkuru ||
ଅତଃ ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜ! ଆପଣ ମୋତେ ଆଶ୍ରିତା ବୋଲି ଭାବନ୍ତୁ, କିମ୍ବା ଦୃଢ଼ ଭକ୍ତା ବୋଲି ଜାଣନ୍ତୁ, ଅଥବା ଆପଣଙ୍କ ବିଚାର ଓ ରକ୍ଷାର ଯୋଗ୍ୟା ବୋଲି ଗଣନ୍ତୁ—ଅତିଥି-ସେବା ପାଇଁ ଏହି ସତ୍ତୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରନ୍ତୁ।
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds atithi-dharma and compassionate giving: even a small, simple offering (saktu) becomes ethically weighty when given with humility, devotion, and concern for another’s duty to honor a guest.
A speaker addresses a brāhmaṇa, urging him to accept a humble food offering (sattu). The acceptance is framed not as personal consumption but as enabling proper hospitality toward an arriving guest, emphasizing protection and considerate regard for the giver.