Mahabharata 1.222.2 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 222, Shloka 2

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणो बहुभोक्तास्मि भुड्जेडपरिमितं सदा । भिक्षे वार्ष्णेयपार्थो वामेकां तृप्तिं प्रयच्छतम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | brāhmaṇo bahubhoktāsmi bhuñje 'parimitaṃ sadā | bhikṣe vārṣṇeyapārtho vāṃ ekāṃ tṛptiṃ prayacchatam ||

Translation

ਮੈਂ ਵੱਡੀ ਭੁੱਖ ਵਾਲਾ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਹਾਂ; ਸਦਾ ਬੇਹਿਸਾਬ ਅੰਨ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਹੇ ਵਾਰਸ਼ਣੇਯ, ਹੇ ਪਾਰਥ—ਮੈਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਭਿੱਖ ਮੰਗਦਾ ਹਾਂ; ਇਕ ਵਾਰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੀ ਦਿਓ।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बहु-भोक्ता: one who eats much; great eater
• बहु-भोक्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुभोक्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (to be)
• Form: Present (Lat), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भुञ्जे: I eat
• भुञ्जे: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (to eat/enjoy)
• Form: Present (Lat), 1st, Singular, Atmanepada

• अपरिमितम्: unlimited; immeasurable
• अपरिमितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपरिमित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• भिक्षे: I beg; I ask for alms
• भिक्षे: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिक्ष् (to beg)
• Form: Present (Lat), 1st, Singular, Atmanepada

• वार्ष्णेय-पार्थौ: O Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa) and Pārtha (Arjuna)!
• वार्ष्णेय-पार्थौ: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ष्णेय + पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Dual

• वाम्: you two
• वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: 2nd, Accusative, Dual

• एकाम्: one (single)
• एकाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तृप्तिम्: satiation; satisfaction
• तृप्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रयच्छतम्: give (you two) / grant
• प्रयच्छतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (to give)
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 2nd, Dual, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Brāhmaṇa (unnamed)
• Kṛṣṇa (Vārṣṇeya)
• Arjuna (Pārtha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights atithi-dharma and dāna: a righteous person should honor a guest’s request and give with sincerity, even when the request is demanding. The ethical focus is on generosity that meets genuine need rather than convenient charity.

What is happening in the narrative?

An unnamed brāhmaṇa approaches Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna and asks for alms in the form of a complete meal, stating that he habitually eats in great quantity. His appeal sets up a situation where the two heroes’ commitment to hospitality and dharma can be demonstrated.