Shloka 24
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्र धर्मज्ञैर्बहुभिव॒ते | उज्छवृत्तिद्विज: कश्चित् कापोतिरभवत् तदा
Nakula uvāca | dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre dharmajñair bahubhir vṛte | ucchavṛttir dvijaḥ kaścit kāpotir abhavat tadā |
Sinabi ni Nakula: Sa Dharmakṣetra, Kurukṣetra—na dinadalaw ng maraming rishi at mga taong bihasa sa dharma—noon ay may isang brāhmaṇa na nanirahan doon. Namumuhay siya sa pagtipon ng mga natirang butil. Gaya ng kalapati, pinupulot niya ang mga butil na naiwan, at sa munting pagkaing iyon ay itinaguyod niya ang kanyang sambahayan.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic living through restraint and contentment: a brāhmaṇa sustains his family without exploitation, taking only what is left over, exemplifying ethical livelihood (ājīvika) and humility even while remaining a householder.
Nakula begins a moral tale set in sacred Kurukṣetra, introducing an unnamed brāhmaṇa who lives by gleaning scattered grains ‘like a pigeon’ and supports his household through this austere, non-possessive way of life.