Shloka 21

अल्पं वास्वादु वा भोज्यं पूर्वालाभेन जातुचित्‌ । अन्येष्वपि चरेँल्लाभमलाभे सप्त पूरयन्‌,भिक्षा थोड़ी मिली या स्वादहीन मिली, इसका विचार न करके उसे पा लूँगा। यदि कभी एक घरसे भिक्षा नहीं मिली तो दूसरे घरोंमें भी जाऊँगा। मिल गया तो ठीक है, न मिलनेकी दशामें क्रमश: सात घरोंमें जाऊँगा, आठवेंमें नहीं जाऊँगा

alpaṁ vā svādu vā bhojyaṁ pūrvālābhena jātucit | anyeṣv api carel lābham alābhe sapta pūrayan ||

अल्पं वास्वादु वा भोज्यं पूर्वालाभेन जातुचित् । अन्येष्वपि चरेँल्लाभमलाभे सप्त पूरयन् ॥

अल्पम्little (quantity)
अल्पम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअल्प
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
अस्वादुtasteless, not delicious
अस्वादु:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअस्वादु
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
भोज्यम्food, something to be eaten
भोज्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभोज्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पूर्वfrom the previous (one)
पूर्व:
Apadana
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्व
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
अलाभेनby/with non-attainment, by failure to get (alms)
अलाभेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअलाभ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
जातुever, at any time
जातु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootजातु
चित्even, at all (enclitic)
चित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootचित्
अन्येषुin/among others (houses/people)
अन्येषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural
अपिalso, even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
चरेत्should go about, should seek
चरेत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
लाभम्gain, obtaining (alms)
लाभम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootलाभ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अलाभेin the case of non-attainment
अलाभे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअलाभ
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
सप्तseven
सप्त:
TypeNoun
Rootसप्त
पूरयन्filling, completing
पूरयन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपूरयत् (from causative धातु पूरय- < पूर्)
FormPresent active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
A
alms (bhikṣā)
H
houses (implied: householders’ doors)

Educational Q&A

Practice contentment and restraint: accept whatever alms comes without craving for better food, and set a disciplined limit (seven houses) to prevent greed, harassment of householders, and dependence.

Yudhiṣṭhira describes a rule of conduct for seeking alms: he will not lament earlier failure, will try other houses if refused, and will stop after approaching seven houses, avoiding an eighth.