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
द्विजश्रेष्ठाः ‘प्रथमभागः’ चतुर्विधः इति, स च ‘हन्तकारः’ इति वदन्ति। अथवा भोजनमेव ‘हन्तकारः’ इति, तथा प्रथमभागं भिक्षां वा तेनैव नाम्ना आहुः।
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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.