Shloka 36
Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality
अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः ।
भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा ॥
agraṃ caturguṇaṃ prāhur hantakāraṃ dvijottamāḥ / bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣām athāpi vā
Os melhores entre os duas-vezes-nascidos declaram que a “primeira porção” (agra) é quádrupla e que ela é o “hantakāra”. Ou chamam a própria refeição de “hantakāra”, e do mesmo modo a primeira porção, ou até a esmola, por esse nome.
{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Dharma is not only intention but also disciplined practice; the verse preserves technical conventions so that giving and offering are done with clarity and consistency.
Ancillary dharma-ritual detail; outside pancalakṣaṇa proper.
Naming and measuring the ‘first share’ sacralizes the threshold between possession and generosity—turning the act of eating into a controlled rite rather than impulse.