Mahabharata 1.78.10 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 78, Shloka 10
ययाति-देवयानी-शर्मिष्ठा विवादः — Śukra’s Curse and the Disclosure of Lineage
याचतत्त्वं हि दुहिता स्तुवतः प्रतिगृह्नतः । सुताहं स्तूयमानस्य ददतो<प्रतिगृह्नतः
yācattvaṃ hi duhitā stuvataḥ pratigṛhṇataḥ | sutāhaṃ stūyamānasya dadato 'pratigṛhṇataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “You are the daughter of one who begs—of one who praises in order to receive. But I am the daughter of one who is praised, who gives to others, and who does not accept gifts in return.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two value-systems: living by flattering others to obtain gifts versus living by generosity and self-restraint in not accepting. It frames honor as tied to giving and independence, and shame as tied to begging and transactional praise.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) rebukes another woman by asserting superior lineage and conduct: the other is said to come from a household that praises to receive, while the speaker claims descent from one who is praised and who gives without taking.
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