Shloka 493
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
सक्तुप्रस्थचतुर्भागं गृहाणेमं प्रसीद मे । पतिके ऐसा कहनेपर ब्राह्मणी बोली--'ब्रह्मन! हम दोनोंके धर्म और अर्थ समान हैं
saktuprasthacaturbhāgaṃ gṛhāṇemaṃ prasīda me |
सक्तुप्रस्थचतुर्भागं गृहाणेमं प्रसीद मे । इत्युक्ते पत्या ब्राह्मणी प्रत्युवाच—ब्रह्मन्, आवयोर्धर्मार्थौ समौ; अतः मयि प्रसीद, मम भागमिमं पादप्रस्थं सक्तून् गृहाण, अतिथये दातुम् ॥
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in poverty, one should uphold atithi-dharma (duty to a guest) and practice generosity with humility; the moral worth lies in intention and sacrifice, not in the quantity given.
Nakula urges acceptance of a small, precisely measured share of sattu, framing it as a sincere offering and requesting goodwill—highlighting a moment where scarce resources are still offered in the name of dharma.