Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 116
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
अभावाच्चैव दुग्धस्य दु:खिता जननी तदा । ततः पिष्टं समालोड्य तोयेन सह माधव
abhāvāccaiva dugdhasya duḥkhitā jananī tadā | tataḥ piṣṭaṃ samāloḍya toyena saha mādhava
ਵਾਸੁਦੇਵ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— “ਦੁੱਧ ਨਾ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਮਾਂ ਦੁਖੀ ਹੋ ਗਈ। ਫਿਰ, ਹੇ ਮਾਧਵ, ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਟੇ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਾਲ ਚੰਗੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਘੋਲ ਲਿਆ।”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights compassionate realism in dharma: when resources are lacking, one responds with care and ingenuity rather than despair, especially in fulfilling basic duties of nurture and support.
Vāsudeva describes a situation of scarcity—there is no milk, the mother grieves, and she prepares a substitute by mixing flour with water, indicating hardship and an attempt to provide despite deprivation.