Rāma’s Abhiṣeka Plan, Kaikeyī’s Boon, and the Initiation of the Exile
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account
अभिगम्याथ तं॑ विप्रमुवाच मुनिसत्तम: । अन्नार्थिनमनुप्राप्तं विद्धि मां द्विजसत्तम,ब्रह्मर्षि मुदगुलके पास पहुँचकर मुनिश्रेष्ठ दुर्वासाने कहा--“विप्रवर! तुम्हें यह मालूम होना चाहिये कि मैं भोजनकी इच्छासे यहाँ आया हूँ
abhigamyātha taṁ vipram uvāca munisattamaḥ | annārthinām anuprāptaṁ viddhi māṁ dvijasattama ||
Tendo-se aproximado daquele brāhmane, o mais eminente dos sábios lhe disse: “Ó melhor entre os duas-vezes-nascidos, sabe que vim aqui em busca de alimento.” Esta afirmação enquadra a prova ética da hospitalidade: o pedido de sustento de um hóspede torna-se ocasião de sustentar o dharma por meio da generosidade e de uma recepção respeitosa.
व्यास उवाच
The verse foregrounds atithi-dharma: when a guest arrives seeking food, the householder (or host) is ethically called to respond with respect and generosity, treating the request as a dharmic opportunity rather than a burden.
A great sage approaches a brāhmaṇa and openly declares that he has come as a seeker of food. This sets up a moral situation in which the host’s conduct—hospitality, restraint, and truthfulness—will be revealed.